Hearing the knock, Colette went to check who it was. And as expected, the one standing outside was Joran Ashfeld, wearing a military outfit that clearly highlighted his burly figure.

Giving him a nod of acknowledgement, she gestured for him to enter.

As the two of them entered, Joran offered a deep bow to the lady, receiving a nod from her in exchange. Colette, meanwhile, returned to her previous position, standing right behind her master.

The lady turned to her.

"Colette, did you think of an answer to the question I had asked you just now?"

She nodded.

"I have."

The lady then turned to Joran and asked him the same question she had asked Colette.

"Joran Ashfeld, what do you think is the essence of an individual’s growth? What is the most important factor that induces growth?"

Joran paused, looking back at her with a somewhat measuring gaze, as if trying to discern if that question had some deeper meaning. Then he began rubbing his small beard with a thoughtful look.

"Hmm... Although I am unsure what sort of answer you are expecting, I believe that the most important factor for growth is... one’s capability for growth. Growth isn’t possible if one is simply incapable of growing."

Her master nodded a few times as she heard his answer and then turned to Colette again.

"Now then, tell me your answer, Colette."

Colette steadied her breath and replied confidently.

"I believe the answer is: the desire for growth. Sir Joran’s answer could also be taken as the correct one. But what use is ability if someone has no desire to grow? They still wouldn’t grow."

Her master nodded along, smiling softly. Seeing that smile, she could feel the corners of her own lips curling.

’Looks like my answer was the correct one.’

But the lady’s next words broke that confidence as she spoke while shaking her head.

"Your answers were close, but I’m afraid both of you are wrong. The most correct answer would be obstacles. Only when one faces an obstacle does the need to overcome it arise. And that need is what gives birth to the desire for growth. Whether you are capable or not matters after that."

Colette couldn’t find any gap in that answer’s logic. Indeed, her master was correct. Or it was more so that she had simplified the answer to its most basic and simplistic form.

’But really, why is she asking this?’

The lady never did anything for the sake of it; she always had some purpose behind her actions. This was something Colette had learned after spending as ‌long a time as she had with her master. So there was no doubt in her mind that she was planning something again.

It didn’t take long for her master to confirm her guess.

The lady leaned in and supported her chin with a hand. There was ‌a strange intensity in her gaze.

"I was thinking, what is the best way to ensure Adi’s growth? Then I concluded that... he needs an obstacle. He needs something that constantly forces him to continue growing and never stagnate because of complacency."

Then she leaned back in her chair.

"But who will be that obstacle? The first one who came to my mind was Aristeia."

Colette thought about the eldest child of House Ravenshade.

While not outright abnormal like Young Master Adrian, Young Lady Aristeia was a genius in her own right. She had always outperformed others her age. It was obvious why she was the first candidate who came to the lady’s mind. It was just that...

Her master sighed.

"It’s not going to work.

Indeed, it wouldn’t work. There was a huge gap in ability between the two of them due to the age difference. No matter how talented Young Master Adrian was, it was impossible for him to overcome someone like Young Lady Aristeia.

It was simply illogical.

And it could have the opposite effect on Young Master Adrian than intended. If he gets defeated too one-sidedly by the Young Lady or comes to understand the sheer gap between them, it would probably crush even his existing will to grow stronger.

Joran suddenly coughed lightly, drawing their attention.

"My Lady, if you need someone to be an obstacle for Young Master Adrian, then isn’t there someone who fits the role perfectly? His own fiancée, Evangeline Florivelle."

’He’s right.’

The two of them were basically the same age and were considered to be on the same level. Young Master Adrian’s genius leaned more toward his own talent, while her genius leaned toward the fact that she was more gifted.

And more than anything, the two of them were in a position to be compared to each other. She really was the perfect candidate, no matter how much Colette thought.

She excitedly turned to her master, expecting the lady to share the same thoughts as her. But her master was lightly shaking her head instead.

"I have a feeling that isn’t going to work either. And besides, I don’t wish for them to be in any unnecessary conflict with each other, at least in the long run, since that will create problems for me."

The two of them lowered their heads, and she heard Joran sigh.

’Then there is no one else.’

No one else could even come close to Young Master Adrian’s level or threaten him enough to be recognised as an obstacle.

But just when the two of them had lost hope, the lady smiled softly. It was a smile that should’ve looked gentle to them, but for some reason, it didn’t.

"But if the goal is to make him develop the desire for growth, his obstacle doesn’t necessarily have to be someone as strong as him, right? What I need is for him to fear the possibility of becoming inferior to his obstacle."

Colette frowned.

’What is she... trying to say?’

"That fear, it’s exactly what I need in him. Because that fear is what will constantly drive him to grow. And so, the one who fits the description the best would be his own younger brother... El."

Colette’s heart grew cold the moment she heard Young Master Elias’ name. She clenched her fists behind her back.

’No... W-why? My lady, isn’t that-?’

Still smiling, her master met eyes with the burly knight standing in front of her.

"This is the reason I have called you, Joran. Now that Adi has a new teacher, and you have taught him all that you could, he no longer needs you, isn’t that right?"

Joran lightly nodded, though there was a slight frown on his face.

"Then it is now time for you to start teaching El. Do everything to make sure that El becomes exactly what I need him to be. The perfect obstacle for Adi. It doesn’t matter what methods you use; all that I care about are results."

Joran stood quietly, his expression unreadable as he stared at the ground. He must have heard her, yet he didn’t react at all after she finished.

Having met with silence, the lady asked, her tone a bit sharper this time.

"Joran Ashfeld, do you understand what you need to do?"

As those words left the lady’s mouth, a heavy, invisible pressure suddenly descended in the room. It was as if a heavy boulder were pressing down on them from above.

Colette was instinctively about to offset the pressure by thickening her own presence, but she restrained herself since such an action could be considered rude. Sweat trickled down from her chin as she struggled to remain standing.

Then Joran lowered his head slightly and finally replied in a courteous tone.

"...I understand. You can leave this task to me, and I will do my best not to disappoint you, Duchess."

The invisible pressure disappeared the moment he finished speaking. The lady offered him a kind smile.

"I am pleased to hear that. That was all I needed from you, so you may go now."

Joran bowed deeply and turned away, leaving the office. With his exit, the room grew quiet. Her master leaned back in her chair, looking at the ceiling above. She looked rather satisfied, and there was a hint of curiosity and expectation in her gaze.

But standing behind her, Colette’s mind was nowhere near as calm.

’Why, My Lady? Why? You knew where to draw the line, so why would you? I could understand your actions regarding Young Master Adrian, but... why would you drag Young Master Elias into this?’

She clenched her hands even more tightly behind her back.

But then, she took a deep breath, trying her best to calm herself. Her clenched fists loosened.

It was not her job to think about such things. All she needed to do was follow orders and work hard for her master’s prosperity and happiness. Nothing else mattered.

Which was why she slowly opened her mouth and asked a single question.

"My Lady, are you happy?"

All she needed was a single answer, the same answer she had always received.

’So please... say yes. Please.’

But her master turned around, and against all of Colette’s expectations, tilted her head in confusion.

"Colette, what are you suddenly talking about?"

’Ah...’

The cold feeling in Colette’s chest solidified, causing a sharp ache.

***

Unknown to everyone who had been present in the office, someone had been watching them, witnessing everything that had transpired inside up until now.

It was a black bird, sitting on a tree branch near the window, curiously watching everything happening in the room through the small gap between the curtains.

Suddenly, the bird stretched its dark wings wide and flew off the tree branch. As it flew, the bird’s dark colour mixed with the now dark sky, working as ‌camouflage. It would’ve been a perfect camouflage if not for the lingering rays of the setting sun still barely visible at the boundary of the horizon.

Soon, the bird dove down and landed on the shoulder of a boy who was sitting with his back against a tree trunk. There was another black bird, perfectly identical to this one, sitting on the boy’s other shoulder.

The two black birds began whispering into the boy’s ears one after the other, reciting everything that had happened inside the office.

As they finished, the boy slowly opened his eyes and spoke in a dry tone.

"Alisardarc, it looks like you aren’t as useless as I thought you were."