"Mmm... It’s... it’s tight..."
Early morning.
Ariane tried to wake up at her usual time. Or rather, her mind was already awake. The problem lay elsewhere.
"Mmm. Hehe..."
Amelia, sleeping beside her, was clinging to her with all her might.
Today was a day off.
Taking advantage of the occasion, Ariane had decided to stay the night in Amelia’s room. They had slept together often as children, but this was the first time they had shared a bed since growing up.
Naturally, they had plenty to catch up on. While they hadn't stayed up all night, they had talked for a significant amount of time.
Even so, Ariane woke up in the early hours as was her habit.
She wanted to begin her training immediately, but her body was screaming in protest after days of relentless exercise.
The Ainsworth-style Boot Camp.
Ariane had known it would be harsh, but she hadn't realized just how grueling it truly was until she experienced it firsthand. She had felt its severity enough to finally understand why Amelia would try to run away from it.
"Amelia. Please let go."
She shook her.
She tried to release Amelia’s hold by repeatedly shaking and tapping her, but there was no sign of her waking up.
"Ah... Ray, really, not there... Mmh... No, I said stop... Hehe..."
"..."
Ariane was well aware of Amelia’s intense interest in the opposite sex.
Since those of the Three Great Noble Families were raised in such a suppressed environment, Ariane didn't particularly want to judge her for it.
However, seeing her with such a dopy face while having what was likely a scandalous dream... Ariane couldn't help but feel a little bit repelled.
"Amelia! Wake up!"
"...Fyah?!"
She let out a cry that was hardly befitting a noble lady.
A sharp strike to the nose forced Amelia awake.
"O-Ouch... Hey, what was that for?!"
"Why don't you check the situation for yourself?"
"...Ah!"
She realized. She realized she was clinging to Ariane with every ounce of her strength.
Then, as she recalled the dream she had been having until a moment ago, Amelia’s face turned a deep crimson.
"A-Ah, um... Sorry about that, okay?"
"I don't particularly mind, but..."
Climbing out of bed, Ariane began to stretch.
She wasn't specifically bothered by the hug, but Amelia had seemed so giddy lately... or something to that effect.
They had talked their fill about that matter the previous night.
Reflecting on it once more, she thought:
Love is blind. A well-worn phrase, indeed.
She couldn't help but be amazed that the Amelia she knew had changed this much.
"Well then. What shall we do today?"
"Ah. Why don't we go to the city together? It's been a while."
"That sounds lovely."
The two of them changed from their pajamas into their everyday clothes. Ariane had made sure to bring several outfits for her stay.
"Alright, let's go."
"Indeed."
Their bodies still didn't move quite right due to the muscle pain, but it had been a long time since the two of them had gone out together.
Neither had any objection to the plan.
They headed out toward the Central District. Just as they were thinking of enjoying some shopping, Ariane spotted a familiar face.
"Oh? Isn't that Ray?"
"It’s true. Ray came to the city too."
"Shall we join him?"
"Well... if you really want to, Ariane, I guess it’s fine?"
Amelia twined a lock of her crimson hair around her finger, stealing a glance toward him.
She wasn't being honest with herself. After how much they had discussed those feelings last night, Ariane could only think that a maiden in love was a truly troublesome thing.
Ariane was about to speak, but then...
"Oh? Perhaps Ray was meeting someone."
"Eh... is that...?"
Yes.
What the two witnessed was the moment Ray and Lieselotte met.
For Ray, it was a chance encounter, and he had only known Lieselotte for a short time.
However, to a third party, it looked quite different.
The two appeared to be conversing so naturally that one might think they were old friends.
Even more striking was Lieselotte’s sheer beauty.
While Ray was certainly handsome, Lieselotte was in a league of her own when it came to aesthetics. It was a self-evident victory.
Amelia was genuinely shaken to see him with such a beautiful acquaintance.
"A-That is, um..."
"I don't think they are lovers, but..."
"Alright. Let's investigate."
The two of them hid in an alleyway, peeking out to observe the situation.
Then, from somewhere behind them, another voice spoke up.
"I agree. I think that’s a fine idea."
A beautiful woman with flowing black hair smiled sweetly at them.
"R-Rebecca-senpai?! Why are you here...?"
Amelia managed to squeeze out the question. Ariane, on the other hand, was so stunned she was practically in a trance.
"I was planning to spend the day with Ray-san, but I encountered an unexpected ambush. I’ve been on standby."
"Um... do you know her? That woman."
"Fufu. Do you want to know?"
She teased them.
Seeing Rebecca’s wicked, enchanting smile, Amelia groaned inwardly.
"I-I want to know..."
Since Rebecca was essentially implying she knew more about Ray than she did, Amelia quietly admitted defeat for the time being.
"Lieselotte Eden. She’s the Sorcerer of Fiction."
The S-Sorcerer of Fiction!!?
Amelia’s and Ariane’s voices overlapped in shock.
The Sorcerer of Fiction was a figure so elusive that many even among the Seven Grand Sorcerers didn't know her identity. There were even rumors questioning if she actually existed.
They never could have predicted that such a person would be chatting so harmoniously with Ray.
"However, she doesn't seem particularly interested in Ray-san... Hmm. This is hard to read."
Placing her hand to her chin, Rebecca stared at the two of them with a serious gaze.
Among the trio, only Ariane felt like an outsider—or rather, the only one being left behind.
She already knew how Amelia and Rebecca felt.
She had heard about Amelia’s feelings from the girl herself, and she had heard about Rebecca’s feelings from Amelia last night. Amelia had mostly been venting—or more accurately, she was intimidated because her rival was someone like Rebecca. With that in mind, Ariane was the only calm person present.
Even so, both of them are quite zealous.
She certainly thought Ray was a good man.
However, she didn't fully understand why Amelia and Rebecca were so completely engrossed in him.
Since she was from a different academy, her interactions with Ray were still limited. She understood his character to some extent, but it was merely superficial.
And now, Ariane wanted to know more.
She was starting to become genuinely curious about the person known as Ray White, who had managed to change these two so much.
"Alright! Then it’s decided—we’re tailing them, the three of us!"
Ariane declared loudly. Amelia and Rebecca nodded immediately.
Thinking back, this was the first time the eldest daughters of the Three Great Noble Families had gathered like this since they were children.
Since they were brought together again by Ray, there had to be something special about him.
Something as a human being, even beyond his status as the Ice Sword Sorcerer.
Ariane analyzed the situation in her own way. For her, it was the first time she had ever been this interested in another person.
And so, the three of them began their secret stalking, taking the utmost care not to be noticed by Ray and Lieselotte.
That said, the two targets weren't Grand Sorcerers for nothing.
They had already realized that an extraordinary number of gazes were fixed firmly upon them.