The bigger problem was that she was Petro’s younger sister.

For that reason alone, Camilla could never quite get free of her. You could say she was always fretting to stay on Elisha’s good side.

‘It was a real damned situation.’

Elisha knew that all too well, which was why her behavior toward Camilla often went too far.

Of course, only when the Duke of Jevillan or Petro wasn’t around.

‘So why would I ever want to come here.’

She wasn’t on Ravi’s level, but every time Camilla watched this world, Elisha was one of the people she’d wanted to grab by the hair and shake out.

“You’re here.”

“Camilla! I missed you so much.”

Elisha slid up and linked arms with her in a way anyone would have found irresistibly adorable.

Shorter than Camilla by a head, Elisha kept smiling with her eyes.

‘A little fox cub.’

She’d go very well with Ravi.

“Master, the Duke of Sephra has just arrived as well.”

At that moment a man who looked like a butler approached and murmured to the Duke of Jevillan.

Turning her head, Camilla saw a man entering the hall at an unhurried pace. The Duke of Sephra, neatly dressed in a black suit.

‘Arsian didn’t come.’

Well, he hated getting tangled with Petro. There was no way he’d walk into the Jevillan house of his own accord.

“Welcome.”

“We’ve been seeing a lot of each other lately.”

At his entrance, the dukes of Jevillan and Sorpel greeted him warmly.

They had noticed it too lately: he had changed.

He was not the sort to show up so readily just because they invited him.

Others wouldn’t know, but the Dukes of Sorpel and Jevillan had been with him since childhood; they could tell.

The minute change hidden in that impassive face!

‘His expression suddenly brightened.’

‘Exactly.’

What on earth had happened recently? He’d always had the air of shouldering every misfortune alone...

They were very curious, but there was no way for the two of them to find out.

After all, the other party was the Duke of Sephra.

No matter how capable they were, looking into something he didn’t reveal himself was difficult.

“You’re here.”

Ignoring the two dukes’ greetings with only a curt nod, the first person he actually spoke to was none other than Camilla.

Seeing her, the Duke of Sephra strode over to speak first.

“Yes. Have you been well?”

Camilla, meanwhile, covertly stroked the head of the Black Wolf Luna circling around her, careful that no one else would notice.

Because it wasn’t summoned, only the Duke of Sephra could see it.

[What’s this? Why are you two suddenly acting close?]

Perched on Camilla’s shoulder the moment she entered, the Red Eagle Guardian Jeti let out a complaint.

When it had flown in, Camilla hadn’t so much as acknowledged it, and now she was petting Luna with a pleased hello—no wonder it was annoyed.

‘Why do you think?’

Because we received help.

They’d only been able to make the Vinter couple lose their wits and confess their crimes thanks to Luna.

Without that creature, things would have gotten more complicated.

“So you’re happier to see my daughter than me, I take it.”

“Quite. I’m the one whose birthday it is today, though.”

The two dukes chuckled and came closer.

Finding herself wedged among the three dukes, Camilla let out a small sigh inside. Naturally, eyes gathered on them.

‘I’m used to those looks.’

She was also very used to the mix of jealousy and envy in that gaze. As an actress, it had always followed her around.

The problem was that someone who took Camilla being noticed like this very—really very—ill was here as well.

“Camilla!”

Elisha had slipped right up beside her and beamed.

But with Elisha pressed close, Camilla could tell. The girl’s eyes, turned on her, weren’t smiling at all.

“Father, can I take Camilla? Camilla, my friends are waiting—let’s go over there.”

Before the Duke of Jevillan could say a word, Elisha yanked hard on Camilla’s arm.

Camilla gently freed herself from that hand.

“One moment.”

“Pardon?”

“It is your birthday. I should at least give you your present before I go.”

Turning with a soft smile, Camilla left Elisha looking distinctly flustered.

It seemed she was quite shocked; Camilla had never once shot down her suggestion outright.

Seeing her face, /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ Camilla smiled inwardly.

“Happy birthday.”

Camilla approached the Duke of Jevillan, bowed with due respect, and handed over the gift she had brought.

“Thank you.”

The Duke looked slightly surprised; he hadn’t expected to receive a present from Camilla.

What she held out was a small box with a reddish sheen.

Click.

His eyes widened slightly when he opened it.

“This is...”

A brooch veined with deep blue.

Shaped like an eagle, a small diamond was set in its eye—overall not excessive, but refined.

‘But the design isn’t what matters here.’

Camilla’s aim lay elsewhere.

“A brooch made of mana stone.”

“Mana stone?”

At the Duke of Sorpel’s casual interjection, the Duke of Jevillan’s eyes grew even wider.

“It holds defensive magic.”

“What...!”

At the explanation that followed, those nearby—who had already been pricking up their ears for anything to glean—showed open astonishment.

“That tiny brooch is a magic artifact?”

“No way.”

People couldn’t accept it easily.

There were countless artifacts already in circulation. But no matter how low-grade the magic imbued, making one that small was difficult.

Naturally, how long a “magic formula would remain stable” depended on the quality and quantity of mana the mana stone—the medium—held.

To inscribe a powerful formula, the “quantity” side—the stone’s size—also had to be above a certain threshold; even a top-grade stone, if meager in size, saw its value plummet.

Knowing this well, a few nobles openly snorted that Camilla was bluffing.

“Even if it’s real, it can only hold something very low-grade. Honestly, the Lady of Sorpel will do anything to—”

Their sneers died as they met the Duke of Sorpel’s icy eyes.

Camilla shook her head slightly at her father, who looked ready to send them to the gods then and there.

“Father.”

That’s what happens when you run your mouth. Watching their faces go pale, Camilla clicked her tongue inside.

She then tried to lighten the mood in a lively voice as if nothing had happened.

Or she meant to.

“It’ll neutralize most attacks.”

“...! Truly?”

At the Duke of Sephra’s words, the hall fell into a whirl of shock.

Even the Duke of Jevillan, who a moment earlier had been glaring as if to burn up those who mocked Camilla, turned to him in surprise.

Neutralize most attacks?

That meant the defensive magic in that tiny brooch was immense.

Unbothered by anyone’s reaction, the Duke of Sephra continued.

The look in his eyes—enough to make Soul Managers or Reapers take fright and flee—remained fixed on the group who had maligned Camilla.

“I engraved the formula myself. I guarantee it.”

“You, personally?”

He cast a glance—taking advantage of the moment when some, faces white, were slipping out of the hall—at Camilla, who was idly toying with Luna’s paw, and nodded.

At the Duke of Sephra’s explicit assurance, awed murmurs broke out around them.

“Don’t tell me this is...!”

“It is. Made from the top-grade mana stones our house has been handling recently.”

With the addendum that it could easily bear a high-grade formula, the Duke of Jevillan’s jaw dropped.

Those who knew how frantic mages had lately become to get their hands on Sephra stones reacted the same way.

“That’s...”

“The mana stones from the rumor?”

“So they can even be worked into jewelry.”

The buzz swelled.

“Then why would this child...”

The Duke of Jevillan looked back and forth between his friend and Camilla, puzzled.

The new Sephra stones were in such short supply that they fetched whatever price one named.

He plainly couldn’t understand how Camilla could give him, as a gift, an artifact the Duke of Sephra had personally crafted from such a precious stone.

At his unspoken demand for a proper explanation, the Duke of Sephra spoke offhandedly.

“The idea to make the mana stone into a brooch was hers.”

She had a good sense for this sort of thing, so I asked her advice.

At the unexpected answer, eyes went round.

The Duke of Sorpel, who already knew, wore a triumphant smile.

“I got one too.”

A brooch in the shape of a tiger was pinned to the Duke of Sorpel’s chest as well.

Cute... baby tiger... patterned after King.

‘In the end, a tiger...’

Camilla averted her eyes from her father.

The tiger brooch, too, had a high-end, refined feel, but judged on design alone it was jewelry that would look better on children’s clothing.

It was only because the Duke of Sorpel canceled out the dissonance with his face that no one noticed.

Since it had come to this, Camilla had made the Duke of Jevillan’s brooch modeled on his Guardian—the eagle—as well.

That Guardian was an adult form, which was a relief.

‘Father’s a bit of a concern, but...’

Shame shared might be halved. There was a reason people called it the virtue of friendship.

“My brooch is under a protection spell as well.”

The Duke of Sorpel looked at Camilla with pride. She had personally pinned it to his chest.

“Wouldn’t that be the same for anyone?”

Camilla went on, as if she had been waiting, in a voice just a touch louder.

“It’s the same feeling for everyone—to wish that someone precious doesn’t get hurt.”

At that, eyes flashed.

In particular, those with sweethearts stared holes into the brooches worn by the two dukes, as if they had just discovered a new gift item.

‘Right, right. Sales start soon, so please buy a lot.’

Why give such an expensive brooch to the Duke of Jevillan of all people? It wasn’t as if they were especially close.

‘I carry a grudge a long time.’

Just the slights she had received from that man were enough to burst a belly. What was there to like?

There was only one reason for a gift that precious.

‘Promotional effect.’

The simple fact that two dukes were wearing them guaranteed it.

‘I gave one to Ludville too.’

It ought to catch on among younger knights as well.

It had meaning as a gift for one’s parents; it was perfect for family or lovers leaving on a journey.

“Thank you.”

“I’m glad it pleases you.”

“It pleases me very much.”

A genuine smile touched the Duke of Jevillan’s lips—one he had never once shown in front of Camilla before.

In that warm atmosphere, the only one looking awkward was Elisha.

She had always stood at the center of the hall; she found the present situation intolerable.

Her father used to frown just hearing Camilla’s name, but lately things had been strange.

It was hard to believe he himself had sent the invitation to Camilla.

When Elisha had pretended to be generous and said she would send an invitation, she had been told it was already on the way—how shocked she had been.

Since when had he been so solicitous of her!

“Father.”

“Mm? Ah! Right, right. We’ve been monopolizing you too long. Young people should spend time with young people. Off you go.”

“Yes!”

Elisha, suddenly bright again, grabbed Camilla’s arm and pulled.

Her grip was no joke—as if she didn’t want Camilla left a moment longer somewhere everyone was looking.

Saying her friends were waiting, she urged her steps, and Camilla decided to go along, as if reluctantly.

‘What nonsense is she going to try today.’

I’m oddly looking forward to it. Is that strange?

Up until she came here it had been annoying and tiresome, but once she faced Elisha, something stirred inside.

‘What stirred, you ask?’

The day she had first truly entered this world—when she had first truly faced Ravi!

The feeling she’d had when she’d smacked the back of his head with all her strength wriggled up again.

“Camilla, hurry!”

“...Sure. I want to hurry too.”

The corners of Camilla’s mouth lifted.