"Phew..."
After watching Ray's match, Lydia had returned home with Carla. Having finished dinner together, she was currently unwinding in her room.
Even while relaxing, however, she was looking over a thesis she had recently authored.
Lydia had never originally intended to become a researcher. The only reason she had chosen to walk that path was because of Ray.
Ray felt that Lydia had given him so much.
He always addressed her as "Master" with a deep sense of reverence. On the other hand, Lydia was equally grateful to him. For her, meeting Ray was nothing short of destiny.
She was truly glad they had met.
Lydia loved Ray enough to feel that with every fiber of her being.
"Hey, Ray. You..."
She looked up at the sky through the window.
Moonlight illuminated the room, and under its silver glow, she took a sip of wine. She didn't usually drink heavily, but tonight she was indulging more than usual.
She was just that happy.
Naturally, she was delighted by Ray's success. She loved him enough to stalk him, after all, so just seeing him excel on a public stage was enough to make her smile.
But what made her happiest of all... was seeing Ray smile.
Lydia could still recall her first meeting with Ray as if it were yesterday. A child she had happened upon in the middle of a mission. That was Ray.
It had taken years before he was finally able to smile naturally.
"To think so much time has passed already."
It had been nearly ten years since she met Ray. Thinking back on the past, Lydia found herself lost in reflection.
Part of her wanted to stay by his side forever. However, recommending that he enroll in the Academy had been her final act of parental affection.
Ray must not stay with her any longer.
Lydia had come to that conclusion after the Far East Campaign. They had lived together all that time, but she felt that staying together any longer would be detrimental to both of them.
It ultimately came down to the fact that they had grown too close.
For better or worse, Ray had grown up surrounded by adults—by soldiers. To him, they were comrades-in-arms who had survived the battlefield together, rather than friends.
He’d never had a single friend his own age.
Once the Far East Campaign ended, Lydia realized that Ray no longer needed an adult to lead him.
What he needed was a friend to walk beside him.
In truth, Lydia wished she could be that person. But the age gap was a barrier that could not be overcome. Furthermore, Ray would likely never be able to view Lydia as an equal.
And so, she had decided they should part ways.
Of course, parting with him was painful, which was why she found herself stalking him so frequently...
Lydia also had another objective. It wasn't her desire alone, but one shared by the upper echelons of the Magic Association—specifically, a secret known only to a select few sorcerers.
There was another motive behind Ray's enrollment in the Academy. Lydia had consented to it, knowing that she couldn't bind Ray with her affection alone.
"Excuse me."
A dignified voice echoed through the room.
"Is that you, Carla? What is it?"
Lydia had told Carla she didn't need to knock anymore, so now the maid simply announced herself before entering.
"I've brought a late-night snack."
"Ah. Now that you mention it, I believe I did ask for something."
Walking with measured steps, Carla placed the snack on the table.
She had recently acquired some excellent potatoes, so she had prepared a potato salad.
Carla had an extraordinary passion for cooking and took great pride in serving her best dishes to Lydia.
"Potato salad, hm?"
"Yes. I was able to get my hands on some very fine potatoes."
"Oh, it looks delicious."
"Indeed. It is one of my better creations."
Carla was usually expressionless and detached, but when she was alone with Lydia like this, a gentle smile graced her lips.
As a side dish for wine, the potato salad was a perfect choice.
"I'll have some, then."
"Please do."
Lydia lifted a forkful of the warm potato salad and slowly brought it to her mouth. A faint smile played across her face.
"It's wonderful. As expected of you, Carla."
"I am honored."
Carla bowed and prepared to take her leave, but Lydia spoke up.
"Would you like a glass?"
Lydia lightly tapped the wine bottle.
"Then, just a little."
Carla brought a fresh glass, sat on the sofa opposite Lydia, and took a sip of the wine.
"It is quite good, isn't it?"
"Right? I haven't opened a bottle this fine in a long time."
"...Was it a gift? I don't recognize the vintage."
"Yes. I received it from Carol."
"I see."
Carla kept track of almost everything in the house. Since she didn't recognize it, she correctly guessed it was a gift.
"I've been so happy about Ray's performance lately. It makes the wine taste even better."
"Indeed. He has been very active of late."
"Fufu. He has. Ray has truly grown up."
Deeply moved, Lydia spoke with heavy emotion. She often talked about Ray to Carla, but tonight her tone was remarkably serious.
"The tournament seems to be proceeding well."
"Yes. Seeing Ray do so well brings me nothing but joy."
"...Is his Overheat all right?"
"You remember the Covenant, don't you?"
"I do."
"As long as that Covenant isn't released, I can suppress his rampaging from here. Of course, the trade-off is that my own treatment can't progress... but it's a small price to pay."
The Covenant had been established after the Far East Campaign. At the time, Ray was suffering from daily bouts of Overheat. The choice Lydia had made back then was to sacrifice her own body.
Ray believed the fact that Lydia couldn't use her legs was his fault. Lydia, meanwhile, believed it was due to her own immaturity.
A single decision in the final stage—that had been the first and last time Lydia’s judgment had ever faltered.
To protect Ray, she had sacrificed herself, and as a result, Ray had awakened.
Lydia remembered that moment vividly; it was the instant she had caught a glimpse of the pinnacle of what a sorcerer could become.
Having witnessed that, she had decided to dedicate herself to him. However, she felt that even this state was only a matter of time.
Ray's condition was improving significantly. Lydia could sense it.
If a little more time passed, the Covenant could be released.
Then, she would be able to focus on her own treatment. Once that happened, she would be able to stand on her own two legs again. She would no longer need Carla to care for her.
Perhaps sensing the direction of these thoughts, Carla spoke with a hint of loneliness.
"Once your legs are healed, will I no longer be necessary?"
Lydia was momentarily stunned by the sudden question.
"Well, yes. Once my legs are back to normal, I won't need anyone's help. You'll be free to do as you wish, Carla."
"If you would permit it, would it be wrong for me to remain by your side?"
That was unexpected. Lydia considered Carla a friend, but she had assumed their current dynamic couldn't last forever. She had expected they would part ways once she recovered.
"Are you sure? It would be a great help to me, personally."
"Yes. To begin with, Lady Lydia, you are quite incapable of taking care of yourself, are you not?"
"Ugh... well..."
Lydia made a face as if she had swallowed a bitter bug, but it was the undeniable truth. She was a genius when it came to magic, but in almost every other aspect of life, she was well below average.
She had pushed various household chores onto Ray under the guise of "training for his future," but in reality, she’d had him do them because she was helpless herself.
"The cooking, the laundry, the general housework... I remember how disastrous things were before I arrived as if it were only yesterday."
"...Well, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses."
"Indeed. Which is why I will stay by your side."
Carla had originally come to her as a maid through a referral. When they first met, they hadn't been particularly close.
However, they had gradually bridged the gap, and now they shared a bond of absolute trust.
Furthermore, Carla simply couldn't bring herself to leave Lydia alone.
The woman was a magical genius with a brilliant mind, but she plummeted to sub-average levels the moment chores were involved. Carla couldn't bear to leave her in such a state. Besides, Carla herself was satisfied with her current life.
Though she did wish Lydia would stop stalking Ray eventually...
"Phew... Well, I'm going to bed soon. Thank you for the company."
"Not at all. I also found our time together quite meaningful. Good night, then."
"Yeah. Good night."
As Carla left the room, Lydia leaned back deeply into her chair.
She continued working on her thesis for a short while longer before finally retiring for the night.
That night, for a change, she dreamed of the days she had spent with Ray in the past.