The next day, Dravena felt like an entirely different city from the one we had walked through yesterday.
Crowds of people packed the main thoroughfare.
The banners of the Stardust Troupe hanging from the streetlamps swayed in the wind, and what sounded like an orchestra tuning its instruments drifted over from the direction of the square.
Mingling with the hustle and bustle of the streets, Philie-san and I walked together down the main avenue.
"So many people... It hardly feels like the usual streets."
Walking beside me, Philie-san spoke with a slight look of trouble.
She was wearing a going-out dress with white as its base and blue accents. Her hair was neatly arranged, making her look a bit more mature than usual.
As promised yesterday, we were on our way to the Löwenthal luncheon. Our destination was a residential district in the prime real estate of Dravena, where a ridiculously huge mansion situated on a hill overlooking the town was apparently the Löwenthal family estate.
"Walker-kun."
"Hm?"
"Thank you for coming today. I'm sorry for being so selfish."
"Not at all. Don't worry about it."
Matching my stride to hers so she wouldn't get pushed around by the crowd, I answered Philie-san.
"Just don't push yourself too hard."
"I'll be fine. You don't need to worry so much."
It was a gentle reply.
It really didn't look like she had any intention of turning back.
After walking a short distance from the orphanage, we waited for our pickup at a stop near the station.
We had an agreement that if we waited here, a carriage sent from the Löwenthals would pick us up.
While sitting on the bench, Philie-san looked through a pocket-sized diary.
It was Director Magnolia's diary.
To her, it seemed to serve as a sort of good luck charm, and she frequently browsed through it whenever she had free time. For some reason, her profile looked just a little distant today.
The silence felt awkward.
Still, the public carriage stop was packed with people as well.
"...Feels like we might get separated."
When I voiced my thoughts aloud, Philie-san let out a soft chuckle for some reason.
"Don't worry. You make an easy landmark, Walker-kun."
"Do I really stand out that much?"
"Your dark brown hair is all wavy and curly, so you're surprisingly easy to spot."
My unruly hair was natural, but I had no idea it was that noticeable. Good to know.
Just then, a carriage bearing the Löwenthal crest entered the edge of my vision. All we had to do now was get on that.
Standing up, I pushed through the crowd toward the street.
At that moment, with a thud, a small figure crashed right into Philie-san.
"Gwah-eek!?"
The one who had bumped into her was a black-haired girl.
The girl fell on her backside, and in the process, Philie-san dropped her handbag.
"Ah..."
"Ahhh~!? I'm, I'm, I'm so sorrryyy~!!"
The girl, who was the first to apologize, had deep dark circles under her eyes and looked visibly unwell.
This person was the upperclassman from the Imperial Archmage Faculty who had been at the station when we first arrived in Dravena. What was her name again...?
"No, the fault is mine. Are you all right?"
"I-I'll pick it up right nowww...!"
Paying no heed to Philie-san's apologies in return, the black-haired girl frantically gathered up the contents of the bag. In mere seconds, she briskly packed everything back in and handed the bag over with trembling hands.
"Thank you very much. Were you hurt at all?"
"I-I'm... m-my body is sturdyyy... Both my adoptive mother and my adoptive father praised me for being healthyyy..."
I remembered. Right, that was Niko Bright-san.
A magical pneumatology genius and an upperclassman in the Imperial Archmage Faculty. She was the one who received a commendation award for taking down a ton of magical beasts during the raid incident.
"W-Well then, I-I'll be on my way... S-Sorry for the trouble..."
"Ah..."
Before Philie-san even had time to call out to her, Niko-senpai darted off like a shot. What an erratic person. Well, she wasn't the only eccentric upperclassman around.
"Hey, Walker-kun. Was that person just now..."
"Probably a senior."
"We weren't the only ones who came to Temcha, then."
After that brief commotion, the two of us boarded the carriage that had come to pick us up and headed for the Löwenthal estate.
I had never attended a formal dinner before, so I was a little nervous.
Glancing casually out the window, I noticed a small figure sprinting at full speed toward us from the direction of the stop we had just been at.
"W-Waittt~!"
Looking closely, it was Niko-senpai.
Wait, she's ridiculously fast on her feet.
"Waittt~! Y-You forgot one dropped itemmm~!"
She was shouting something, but I couldn't hear it clearly.
Was she chasing after us?
Maybe we should stop the carriage once────ah, she tripped.
"What's wrong, Walker-kun?"
"Ah, no..."
Brushing it off to Philie-san, I looked out the window once more.
Still on the ground from her fall, Niko-senpai was engaged in some sort of argument with the driver of a carriage that had stopped. Maybe she had almost collided with it.
While I was spacing out, our carriage passed through a large intersection. Turning back now would take some time.
I was a bit curious, but this wasn't the time for it.
I'd ask her about the circumstances once we got back to Magias.
◇
I had noticed a massive estate even before we arrived, and sure enough, that turned out to be the Löwenthal mansion.
A white mansion boasting a vast garden.
It had entrance gates unlike anything I had seen even in the royal capital's noble quarters, adorned with openwork iron filigree. The exterior walls were white, characteristic of Dravena, with understated gold decorations gracing the window frames and pillars.
It wasn't just a large house; it felt like the kind of place where experts would say "no luxury was spared."
"It's huge..."
"I'd heard the rumors, but seeing it in person is truly impressive."
"Even you haven't experienced something like this before, Philie-san?"
"Never. I've attended a few formal gatherings when brought along by my medical university professors, but I've never been to a place on this scale."
"It's definitely bigger than Mercedes's house."
"Huh?"
The carriage came to a complete halt.
We've arrived, then. That was surprisingly quick.
Stepping down from the carriage, Zectromeo-san and Celestia-san were waiting for us alongside a large retinue of servants.
"Welcome to the Löwenthal home."
Unlike yesterday's white coat, Zectromeo-san wore a well-tailored dark navy formal suit today. I had no idea what it was for, but holding a cane made him look pretty cool.
"I'm so glad you could come, Filiestra-san."
In contrast, Celestia-san wore a pale white dress.
The moment she laid eyes on Philie-san, a smile of genuine delight spread across her face.
"Thank you very much for inviting us today."
Philie-san bowed to the couple. It was a simple bow, but her comportment was every bit as graceful as Mercedes's. Despite what she said earlier, she seemed well-accustomed to formal settings.
"I gave my husband a firm talking-to, so please just relax and enjoy yourself today."
Celestia-san whispered softly into Philie-san's ear.
"Thank you for coming today as well, Walker-kun."
"Thank you."
"By the way, where is Vandenberg-san?"
"She happened to have some business to attend to today."
"I see... What a pity. But I put my heart into preparing plenty of food, so please eat your fill, including Vandenberg-san's share."
"I'm looking forward to it."
High-class Temcha cuisine—now that it was mentioned, I was curious.
What kind of dishes would be served?
I had wanted to try salted fish roe for a while now; would it be included?
"Come, step inside. The preparations are already complete."
Just like when we first met yesterday, Zectromeo-san's demeanor was elegant and gentle.
◇
The luncheon progressed in a surprisingly peaceful manner.
What was served was unexpectedly home-cooked fare.
By no means was it modest, but neither was it an overly extravagant menu, even featuring the Firekeeper Stew I had made at the orphanage.
However, a single bite was all it took to understand that its quality was on an entirely different level. The ingredients and the cooking process were fundamentally distinct. To my surprise, Celestia-san had apparently made it all by herself.
"How is it, Filiestra-san? I hope it suits your palate..."
"Um... it's very delicious."
When Philie-san replied with a hint of surprise, Celestia-san's face instantly lit up.
"Celes's Temcha cuisine rivals that of the Gourmet Guild. Please, don't hold back and eat as much as you like."
Just as Zectromeo-san said, it was roughly ten times more delicious than the version I had smugly whipped up.
In particular, this venison with some kind of... thick sauce over it was fantastic. What even was this thick stuff? It was thick and tasty. A fruity, gooey... what was it? Well, whatever.
"Come to think of it, Filiestra-san, according to the official registry, you turn eighteen this year, correct?"
"Yes."
"Um, if it's all right with you... would you allow us to help with your coming-of-age celebration?"
What Celestia-san was referring to was likely the nationwide coming-of-age ceremonies held during the summer break. While it varied by municipality, it was generally held in August during the long holiday period before snowfall made travel difficult.
"P-Please don't misunderstand. You can spend most of the time with the people from the orphanage. I would just be grateful if we could assist with the preparations, even just a little."
To Celestia-san, who spoke with an anxious expression, Philie-san answered with a smile.
"Yes, gladly."
"R-Really? Is it truly all right?"
"Yes. As long as you both don't mind."
"Of course we don't! Ah, I'm so happy, Philie!"
Beside Celestia-san, who looked overjoyed from the bottom of her heart, Zectromeo-san also breathed a sigh of relief. Having parted on poor terms yesterday, he must have been anxious deep down.
From there, casual conversation continued.
The couple asked mundane questions, and Philie-san readily answered.
How she spent her days, her favorite foods, hobbies, her time at medical university, and her research at Magias. It was a conversation that felt as though it were bridging seventeen years of lost time. Beside them, I was busy eating the gooey stuff.
Not once today did they touch upon the topic of Philie-san being of ducal blood.
It was a gentle, peaceful, and warm time.
Before long, post-meal tea was served, bringing the luncheon to a natural pause. Everything had ended without any issues.
The servants cleared the dishes.
A look of lingering reluctance gradually tinged Celestia-san's eyes.
"Philie."
Just as it seemed time to break up the gathering, Zectromeo-san spoke up quietly.
"Could I ask you to speak with me for just a little longer today? It won't take much of your time."
Philie-san paused for a few seconds, but answered decisively.
"I don't mind, provided Walker-kun can sit in as well."
"That suits me just as well. I wish to properly apologize for what happened yesterday."
If it was an apology, he must have meant the withdrawal proposal.
"Understood."
"Thank you────Celestia, please go rest for a bit."
"...Yes, understood."
Though Celestia-san looked somewhat uneasy, she eventually gave a slow nod.
"Philie-san. Once you're finished, please let me see you off properly."
"Yes."
With that, guided by Zectromeo-san, we moved to a reception room located a short distance from the dining hall. While not as large as the dining hall, it featured a wall lined with bookshelves, a fireplace, and sofas in subdued colors.
"First, allow me to apologize for yesterday."
Sitting directly across from us, Zectromeo-san lowered his head deeply.
"My remarks yesterday were far too thoughtless. Without properly understanding your hard work, your current position, or your friendships, I merely gave voice to my own one-sided desires."
"......"
"I am truly sorry, Philie."
Philie-san's profile remained expressionless.
She didn't look angry, nor did she look forgiving.
She simply kept her gaze fixed quietly on Zectromeo-san.
Watching him intently, as if observing.
"Of course, my desire to keep you far from danger remains unchanged even now. However, forcing that upon you was entirely my mistake."
So his stance that Magias was dangerous remained firm.
To be fair, that part was true.
"Furthermore, asking you to suddenly accept people you only met yesterday as your parents was an unreasonable request. The records had indeed been distorted, after all. I had lost my senses. I was simply so overwhelmed with joy at finally meeting you that I lost my composure."
With a steady cadence, Zectromeo-san slowly wove his words.
"At this point, you may forget the matter of being a descendant of Lady Anastasia. Therefore, I have a proposal."
"A proposal?"
Only then did Philie-san react with a slight twitch.
"Would you be willing to undergo a dragon vein appraisal?"
"An appraisal, you say?"
"Yes. You must feel unsettled as things stand, no? An appraisal would provide concrete evidence demonstrating whether or not a blood relation exists. Fortunately, Löwenthal Central Hospital possesses high-precision diagnostic equipment."
Zectromeo-san returned his gaze to Philie-san.
"You are a doctor. Diagnostic results should be far more believable to you than mere words."
Actions over words, or in this case, proof over claims.
Rather than relying solely on external resemblances with Celestia-san, he was proposing to verify definitive physical evidence together. It certainly made sense.
However, Philie-san shook her head decisively in refusal.
"There is no need for that. I have already conducted a dragon vein appraisal."
With that single sentence, Zectromeo-san froze.
"...What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said. The current director of the orphanage is a medical mage just like me, and all the necessary equipment for the examination was readily available."
"However, what of the specimen...?"
"Forgive me. Yesterday, when Celestia-san and I embraced, I took some hair..."
"No, even so, analyzing a dragon vein overnight should be exceedingly difficult..."
"Yes, it was quite an ordeal."
It really had been an ordeal.
I forged the missing equipment using refining, Amae-san used improvised chemicals to halt specimen degradation and handle impurity removal, and Philie-san spent the entire night analyzing the results────.
"Based on my appraisal, no dragon vein genetic traits could be confirmed between Celestia-san and myself. In other words, that woman is not my mother."
Philie-san stated the fact succinctly, remaining entirely composed.
"What I am about to present now is the proof."