Smooth Sailing After the Vow

After that vow, everything went smoothly. The contract between a human and a spirit was simpler than I expected. There was no need for cumbersome rituals like chanting spells inside a massive summoning circle or exchanging blood. All it took was stating their true names and proceeding with the agreement.

The instant the contract finished, light wrapped around Arsienne’s body. When the glow faded and she opened her eyes, her irises had turned a brilliant gold.

It actually worked. So Rosalia really had been a spirit all along.

“Is it over?”

“I’m not entirely sure myself…”

When I placed my hands on the bewildered Arsienne’s shoulders, Rosalia’s voice echoed inside my head.

“Of course. Just as I thought, you truly were a genuine spirit, Rosalia.”

Rosalia’s figure was invisible, but if she had a physical body, she would surely be puffing her chest out with pride.

“Ah.”

Right. The whole reason I had mediated the contract between Arsienne and Rosalia was to avoid exactly this kind of ridiculous suggestion.

Arsienne seemed to realize it too. She tried to hide her flustered expression as she looked at me.

“Rosalia… the truth is, there is a wall standing between us…”

“That wall is…”

“Money.”

She declared it with such confidence. And it was completely true.

“That’s not the only issue, Rosalia. You, Lady Arsienne, and I are all far too young. In these bodies, we wouldn’t survive anywhere.”

“If we aren’t even in the same age group, love is still…”

“Then there are realistic reasons we must consider…”

I reminded the young spirit—who didn’t yet understand reality—exactly what reality entailed. Why were there no lovers eloping in this world? The answer was obvious. They had no money. No matter how much praise noble sons and daughters received, strip away their family names and they were nothing more than children who could barely suck on a bit of cotton candy.

Rosalia let out a frustrated groan, clearly wanting to argue.

“Loving someone doesn’t mean you have to run away with them.”

My words must have sounded tempting. Her voice grew slightly brighter.

“Of course. We’ll meet regularly and slowly get to know each other.”

I gripped Arsienne’s hand tightly. At that moment, her cheeks flushed a faint pink. Perhaps it was just the sunlight.

“Yes. We’ll get to know each other.”

My argument must have been convincing. Rosalia seemed pleased and accepted my suggestion.

We weren’t lovers, of course.

“Sounds good.”

My head-patting must have done the trick. Rosalia’s voice rang with delight.

“I’ll take my leave now. It was a pleasant time, Rosalia.”

“Lady Arsienne needs to return to the tea party now.”

“Rest well. I’ll visit the ducal residence next time.”

Evil spirits constantly whisper to their hosts, corroding their minds. No matter how strong someone’s will, hearing those whispers all day would eventually break them. Spirits, however, could sleep or wake at their contractor’s discretion. That was precisely why spirit users were so rare in this world. What spirit would willingly sign such an unfair contract—one so advantageous to the human and so restrictive to themselves?

Rosalia seemed to realize this only now. Her voice grew heavy and dark.

“Rosalia…”

After that, Arsienne and Rosalia continued their conversation. Since it was a mental exchange, Arsienne kept her eyes closed for several minutes. I waited quietly for them to finish.

Once Rosalia had departed, Arsienne walked over to me.

“Have you finished talking?”

“Yes… Thank you, Young Master Lumian. Thanks to you, everything seems to have wrapped up nicely.”

“I’m glad.”

“Hah…”

The tension must have finally left her body. Arsienne and I both collapsed onto the picnic blanket.

“What on earth just happened…”

“I was shocked too. To think I’d witness a spirit contract right in front of me.”

“…”

Arsienne stared at me with sharp, probing eyes.

“Young Master Lumian, you looked strangely accustomed to situations like this.”

“…Pardon?”

“While I’m grateful… could you perhaps explain?”

Her expression was half gratitude, half suspicion.

“Well, you see…”

*

“Lady Serian. Is something bothering you?”

“…No, not at all. I’m having a wonderful time.”

Serian was worried about her older brother, Lumian. Even at her young age, she could read the reactions of those around her—especially the other young noble ladies. Normally at a tea party like this, if the family’s eldest son was absent, people would at least ask out of courtesy, “Lady Serian, is Young Master Lumian perhaps…”

Yet throughout the entire event, not a single person mentioned Lumian. It was as if he had never existed in the first place.

That’s too much…

It really was. She had been anxious that her own talent might end up destroying him, but Lumian’s reaction had been completely different. Instead of resenting her, he took care of her and worried for her.

As expected, there’s no one like my brother. He must have stepped away today for my sake too.

It was obvious. If Lumian had been present, no one would have paid him any attention. Even if someone spoke to him, it would only be polite small talk while their eyes remained fixed on her.

Lumian himself might not mind the lack of attention, but the person who would feel most uncomfortable was Serian. So he had removed himself to prevent that situation.

“May, where is my brother?”

“Young Master Lumian is currently by the lake.”

While the other young ladies weren’t looking, she asked the maid for her brother’s location. He was probably doing sword training again. Serian didn’t like how hard he pushed himself with the sword. She would much rather he spent that time stroking her hair and listening to her troubles.

“Father is calling for me. I’ll return shortly.”

Using her father as an excuse, she slipped away from the young ladies. They responded with disappointed sounds but urged her to come back soon.

When did we become so close?

It felt burdensome. They were treating her like a best friend they had known for years when today was their first meeting. They had clearly been sent by their families to get closer to her. Once that realization hit, every friendly word and smiling face felt artificial.

I’d rather spend this time with my brother.

Circumstances prevented her from staying long, but her whole body itched with the desire to see his face right away. Clutching her uncomfortable dress, she hurried to the lake.

A familiar back. She ran toward him, intending to leap into his arms.

But she realized he wasn’t alone and stopped abruptly.

“Huh?”

Arsienne Harven. The young lady she had just been chatting with at the tea party.

It was possible to run into her by the lake by coincidence. Tea parties demanded constant control of one’s expression and speech; it wasn’t unusual to see young ladies quietly slip away when they grew tired of the atmosphere.

If they were simply talking, Serian would have naturally joined them. But.

Their hands. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Lumian and Arsienne were holding hands.

“There is a wall between us…”

“If we aren’t the same age, love is still…”

Because of the bushes where she hid and the distance, Serian couldn’t catch every word. But what she did hear was far from ordinary.

“…I’ll visit the ducal residence next time.”

Just from those fragments, it was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠clear their relationship wasn’t casual. But when? Until now, her brother Lumian had always been with her. Today had to be their first meeting. Yet they were having this kind of conversation? And planning a future visit to the ducal house?

Arsienne wore a gloomy expression and simply nodded. They had released each other’s hands, but they kept talking. Unable to watch any longer, Serian fled.

“That’s too much…”

Her chest felt tight. He had promised they would never change, that they would stay together forever. Where did he think he was going?

“…No.”

Serian shook her head fiercely. Her brother wasn’t that kind of person. He cherished her. There was no way he would change so easily.

The moment her talent had been revealed, many people claimed her brother would change. They had tried to separate the two of them. But Lumian never changed. Instead, he held her when she was exhausted and comforted her.

“Arsienne…”

She must have seduced him. From what Serian overheard, Lumian had been trying to refuse her. But her kind-hearted brother probably couldn’t bring himself to reject the girl outright. That must be why he had spoken of “next time.”

Yes, that was it. There was no way her brother would leave her behind.

“Hah…”

Once she organized her thoughts, her mind felt clearer. It was only natural that many girls would set their sights on her kind, good-natured brother.

‘Father, why do I have to learn magic?’

‘Serian, becoming strong means you can protect what is precious to you.’

‘What’s precious?’

‘What is precious to you, Serian?’

‘Brother!’

‘Haha! What about Father and Mother?’

‘I like them too!’

‘Good. If you become strong, no one will be able to touch our family.’

Serian’s eyes gleamed sharply. She hadn’t understood her father’s words at first, but now she did. If she became strong, she could easily drive away those masked thieving cats.

With calm, measured steps, Serian returned to the tea party.

*

“So what you’re saying is that Young Master has always had a deep interest in spirits and evil spirits?”

“Yes! That’s exactly what I mean.”

“Hmm…”

Only then did Arsienne finally drop the suspicious look in her eyes. My natural handling of the situation must have seemed suspicious at first. But claiming to be a spirit enthusiast was apparently enough to brush it off. Perhaps my persuasion of Rosalia had left an impression, because she showed no further doubt afterward.

“Um… Lady Arsienne. Shouldn’t you return to the tea party soon?”

“Ah.”

She finally remembered and stared at me with a dazed expression. Quite a bit of time had passed because of Rosalia’s contract.

“I’ll go on ahead!”

Our meeting ended so abruptly. After she left, the tea party concluded without further incident. Once the young ladies departed, I returned to my ordinary daily routine.

Time passed, and my memories of Arsienne gradually began to fade.

“Lumian.”

“Yes, Father.”

“This is a letter from Duke Harven.”

“…”

“What does this mean?”

Ah, right.