Night.
A few days had passed since then, and the turn of the year was finally coming the day after tomorrow. We were each spending the holidays as we pleased at home, and it seemed Stella had taken a great liking to Amelia and Rebecca-senpai.
No matter what she wanted to play, she invited them both, laughing with genuine happiness.
As her older brother, I was happy for her, but in truth, seeing Stella so absorbed in the two of them made me feel a little lonely.
"Now then."
I was in my room. Having already finished my bath, I lit the lamp to do some reading before bed. The book I chose this time was Lise-san’s new release.
Between the Magics War and the Carol Festival, I hadn't been able to find a solid block of time, so this year-end break was the perfect opportunity.
About thirty minutes had passed since I started reading when there was a knock at the door.
"...Amelia? What's wrong?"
When I opened the door, Amelia was standing there. Her hair was still slightly damp, and her cheeks were flushed. I recalled hearing that she was going to take a bath with Stella and Rebecca-senpai.
"Um... well. I finished up early and had some time, so I thought I’d like to talk with Ray for a bit... if that's okay?"
She looked up at me fixedly, appearing somewhat anxious.
I had no reason to refuse, so I immediately invited her inside.
"No, I don't mind. Please, come in."
"Y-Yeah! Thanks!"
My room was relatively simple. I didn't care much for gaudy decorations; as long as I had a table, chairs, and a bed, that was furniture enough for me.
"Oh. Were you reading?"
"Yeah. It's Lise-san's new book."
"Now that I think about it, Lise-san is a world-famous novelist, isn't she?"
"It seems so. I was quite surprised when I first heard."
"Heh... I've read her work too, since she's a bestseller. Her stories are very interesting."
"The character descriptions are wonderful. I feel like the internal conflicts of each person are portrayed very vividly."
We looked at the book sitting on the table and the conversation grew lively. Amelia also read quite a bit, and our tastes in books matched surprisingly well.
"But it's unexpected. You read romance novels, Ray?"
"I suppose. Usually, most of the novels I read are romance."
"D-Do you... maybe have an interest in that sort of thing?"
Her eyes looked as if they were searching for something, a glimmer of expectation within them.
She peered into my eyes, as if trying to read my thoughts.
As for whether I was interested or not—of course I was, considering I read them.
However, the fundamental reason surely lay elsewhere.
"...I think I am interested. Though, it's also because many of the books I was given to read in the past were from the romance genre. Besides, I'm sure I am searching."
"Searching?"
"...I want to know the subtleties of the human heart."
"The human heart, huh."
A brief silence followed. Then, I spoke again.
"Yeah. The environment I grew up in was unique. It couldn't exactly be called a normal life. People dying was a matter of course. I thought that one day, I too would die on that battlefield. Every time a comrade fell, it felt like a large hole was being carved into my heart."
"..."
Amelia listened to my story with a serious expression.
"Perhaps reading is a compensatory act. A way to fill the gaps in my heart. Well, I've said a lot of hyperbolic things, but there's also the simple reason that I just like them... What's wrong, Amelia?"
"Ugh... sniff... Um. S-Sorry."
Looking closely, I saw she was crying. She wiped away the flowing tears and, for some reason, apologized.
"I'm sorry. Did I do something to upset you?"
"No. Quite the opposite. Thinking about you, Ray, I just felt a bit of empathy."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. But I understand those kinds of feelings. I'm still searching, too."
"I see..."
That day. Right before the finals of the Magics Chevalier Newcomers' Tournament. I had connected my heart with Amelia’s.
I’m sure that was the major turning point.
Because I was able to lay bare my heart in that moment, I have been able to move straight forward ever since.
"Hey. The year’s about to end, isn't it?"
"It is."
The topic of conversation shifted toward the Academy.
"A lot happened this year..."
"I experienced many things as well."
"I made lots of friends, and we won the tournaments."
"That's right. That means Amelia won both the Magics Chevalier and the Magics War."
"Yes. At the Carol Festival party, they praised me so much it was almost annoying."
She gave a small smirk and shrugged, speaking in a joking tone.
"Haha. Isn't being praised a good thing?"
"No way. It was more like... how do I put it? It felt like they were smothering me with praise."
"I see. Overdoing anything can be problematic."
"Yeah. That’s for sure."
Come to think of it, it might have been a while since we’d had an idle chat like this with just the two of us. Considering how things used to be, it felt truly improbable.
"And about that... a-actually... talk about engagements has been... coming up, more or less?"
"I see. I hear engagements are important for nobles. When your time comes, Amelia, let's have a grand celebration. I don't know if an Ordinary like me will be able to attend, but if it's alright with you, please invite me."
"Muu...!"
Amelia puffed out her cheeks, clearly in a bad mood.
Had I made another mistake?
"Does Ray... is it okay with you if I get engaged to someone else?"
"No, I don't have the right to say anything. As an Ordinary, I cannot intervene in the affairs of nobles—especially the Three Great Noble Families. That remains true even for the Seven Grand Sorcerers."
"That's not what I mean! I want to hear how Ray himself feels!"
My own feelings?
No, Amelia getting engaged was something that was already expected. I had thought the same during Rebecca-senpai’s situation. Noble daughters get engaged early.
I’d heard that many of them officially marry in their early twenties.
I recalled Amelia mentioning before that she has an older brother, so she didn't have to worry too much about the succession.
"...Hey, what do you think, Ray?"
Her hand touched mine gently. It was Amelia’s warm, delicate hand.
What did I think...? If Amelia got engaged, we would surely see each other less than before. Once we graduated from the Academy, there might be almost no opportunities to meet at all.
In such a moment, what would I think?
Would I just get used to it, as I had with other new environments?
Or—
"Well... I can't say this too loudly, but I'm sure I would feel lonely."
"—!!"
Amelia’s body gave a start. Then, she squeezed my hand even tighter.
"No, I suppose I shouldn't think such things. However, if I can't see Amelia much after graduating from the Academy... I feel that I would be lonely."
"I-I see. O-Oh..."
I had rarely experienced such emotions before. I felt lonely when I left Master, but this felt like something different.
"However, it's fine. There's no need to indulge my selfishness. If you get engaged, Amelia, I will congratulate you from the bottom of my heart."
When I put it into words once more, Amelia gave a gentle smile.
"I see. Ray, you really are that kind of person. But I was happy to know how you feel. Sorry for asking such a weird thing."
"No. I don't mind."
"Well, I'm going to bed soon."
She stood up.
As I saw her off, she asked one last thing.
"Ray. Thank you so much for this year. Truly, you gave me so many things."
"The same goes for me. I received something irreplaceable from you as well, Amelia."
"Fufu. Well then, see you tomorrow."
"Yeah."
With her crimson hair fluttering, she departed.
What was this emotion swirling in my chest?
At this time, I didn't understand it at all.
However, a day would eventually come when I would have to face it.
—I had a feeling that would be the case.