I Don't Know Love
Even so, Lucius was in no position to reveal his true identity within the Magic Tower. It wasn't that he couldn't—it was because of his peculiar relationship with Pay. Either way.
Just as irritation threatened to consume him, something happened that overturned his tangled emotions entirely.
"Thank you so much!"
"Hey…!"
Pay set the scroll down and threw her arms around Lucius's neck, bouncing with excitement.
What is this?
The moment she dashed over and clung to him, Lucius's face hardened at the strange feeling that suddenly washed over him.
Yet he couldn't push her away. He simply stood frozen, unable to fully embrace her or shove her off.
His arms hung awkwardly in the air.
The brief moment of physical contact with another human felt endlessly long to him.
Warm, small, and soft. Yet overflowing with vitality.
Too excited over the scroll she'd received, Pay belatedly realized her mistake when she noticed how stiff Lucius had become.
"Ah…! I'm sorry."
Whoosh.
When her small, warm body quickly pulled away, Lucius felt strangely disappointed.
It was an unfamiliar emotion he had never felt even when ancient human women who had never seen his true form followed him around calling him their groom.
It was as if fluffy pink clouds were blooming inside his pounding heart.
You said you wanted my dragon heart, didn't you?
Lucius couldn't move, even as the most dangerous thought in the world crossed his mind.
"…No, it's fine."
Only after a long pause did he manage a casual reply.
Momo, who had been watching from his basket without taking a nap, quietly observed the awkward scene.
Pay carefully tucked away the scroll she'd been given as a gift and declared she would practice with some cheap ones instead, then rushed off alone.
He'd heard her grateful thanks at least ten times, but the memory already felt like a dream.
Lucius didn't bother following her. No—in fact, he felt he couldn't endure being alone with Pay right now. He needed to clear his head by himself.
Damn it. Feeling like he's floating on clouds? How ridiculous.
"Hmm."
Maybe reading some of the books he'd brought from the library would help.
The Drakan, who had been gauging his mood, boldly prepared to provoke him.
"Beep-beep-beep-beep~!"
"……?"
Lucius's black eyes snapped toward Momo when he realized the high-pitched cry sounded strangely different from usual.
But Momo didn't stop, even knowing the terrifying glare aimed at him.
The cunning Drakan was perfectly excited.
At last, he had discovered his master's absolute weakness. If so, he had to use it before the opportunity faded.
Oh, even if death approaches, he must carry this out. This alone would be the revenge that saves his wounded, bleeding soul…!
"Beep-beep-beep~ Beep-beep-beep~ Beep-beep-beep-beep-beep~!"
"Stop that!"
Thud!
Lucius quickly threw the soft cushion from behind his back, but Momo had already ducked his head beneath the basket's cloth.
Damn it!
Instead of grabbing Momo like a rat, however, Lucius slammed his feet onto the table and buried his face in a magic book.
He swore it wasn't because reading was more important than a power struggle with a Drakan.
The rhythm Momo had just cheerfully sung was none other than the timeless melody of the wedding march…
That damned reptile! How dare he pair me with a mere human female mage…! No, how dare he mock me? I won't let this slide!
Even then, he hadn't yet realized that his focus had unconsciously shifted from "pairing me with a lowly human mage" to simply "mocking me."
Lucius had become unable to tolerate anyone speaking carelessly about Pay except himself.
The silver hair of Lucius, who was now grumbling over the pages of the book, would need more time before it could fully confront the color of his own emotions.
* * *
The day of the Harvest Festival.
The fact that Silas had commissioned a certain mage from the Magic Tower was top secret. Therefore, Cassel, the eldest son of the Klein ducal house, had no idea what was going to happen at the festival.
He was simply pleased that the Crown Prince would be participating and that a small number of noblewomen and young ladies would also be attending.
Unlike Cassel's reaction, the Klein Duchess let out a deep sigh.
"Oh dear, you look even thinner than before. I'm glad I get to see you every day, but it's such a shame that it's only early mornings and late nights."
"My weight hasn't changed, Mother."
"There are plenty of people who could work in the capital, so I don't understand why so much work keeps falling on you alone."
"It is also my joy to serve the imperial family and the empire."
Cassel spoke the truth, but it did nothing to satisfy the Duchess.
"Enough. Since I'll be able to meet His Highness the Crown Prince officially this time, I must speak to him directly. I'll tell him you won't be allowed even one step outside the capital from now on. You always just say 'yes, yes' in front of His Highness."
"Mother."
"Don't try to stop me. Dorothea? If your preparations are done, don't sit down—stand until it's time to leave. You'll wrinkle your dress."
"Yes."
The Harvest Festival would begin with the Emperor offering sacrifices to the gods, and during the mock battle, the Crown Prince was scheduled to participate.
Cassel had learned this news from somewhere other than Silas himself.
He wasn't upset that the schedule hadn't been shared in advance. After all, that was simply the position of the empire's Crown Prince. No one should be trusted absolutely.
What bothered him more was that Dorothea—who was not even in the mansion—was acting as Tiana's Eina and would be attending the festival.
To him, Dorothea—more precisely, Dotricia—was someone he found deeply unsettling.
The fact that a thorough investigation of the area had turned up almost no information only made her more eerie.
I expected as much, but almost no one in the capital has used or heard the name Dotricia. The same goes for the nearby suburbs. Does that mean she came from quite far away, or that she's not even from the empire? What exactly is her identity?
Cutting through Cassel's deep thoughts, the Duchess's voice reached him.
"I hear that Empress Lanya and Prince Astain will also be attending this Harvest Festival. It doesn't feel good that they're stepping into higher positions after the Empress's passing, especially as outsiders."
"Mother."
Cassel was still wary of Dorothea.
But this time, the Duchess wouldn't back down either.
"Knowing the current state of politics is extremely important for an Eina, Cassel. Even if you inherit some of His Grace's duties, the role of the lady of the house remains mine."
She intended to raise Dorothea well and use her in various ways.
Cassel immediately showed an obedient attitude.
"I won't overstep into my parents' domain."
"Good."
The Duchess, who loved both her son and power, smiled with satisfaction, and under Cassel's courteous escort, they headed toward the Imperial Palace.
The opening ceremony of the Harvest Festival concluded without incident.
Specialties and game from each territory piled up diligently, as if proving the peace of the year. As Cassel gazed at the scene, Raphael approached and asked,
"I suppose we can say you've completely settled in the capital now, Sir Cassel?"
"I don't know why everyone asks me that the first time they see me. Not yet, at least."
"Hmm."
Raphael was the only son of the Duke of Orleans and a member of the imperial Crow Knight Order.
They weren't exactly close friends, but their similar status and positions meant they often found themselves in the same situations.
Each time, Cassel responded indifferently, while Raphael's attitude was always warm. The personalities of the two young dukes were remarkably different.
Instead of the taciturn Cassel, Raphael once again took the lead in the conversation.
"Well, someone like you could wear the armor of any other knight order and still look good, so I'll be looking forward to it."
"Looking forward to what?"
The sociable Raphael, unlike most only sons, nudged Cassel's arm with his elbow.
"There's no other knight in the Crow Order who fills out an outfit as well as you. If you're interested, you're welcome to join. You could aim for the vice-commander position and even the commander spot before long. The young ladies who frequent the palace would be delighted too."
"What do you mean by 'fills out an outfit'?"
Raphael smiled at the bewildered Cassel.
He possessed outstanding strength and straightforwardness befitting a knight, yet he didn't understand this kind of talk—which made him all the more appealing.
It would be even better if Cassel joined the Crow Knight Order while he was in the capital.
"First, take a look at this."
"Hmm?"
Raphael held out an olive branch he'd picked from a tree on the way.
When Cassel accepted it in confusion, Raphael bent at the waist with an exaggerated gesture.
"As expected! I should have brought a mirror to show you. Sir Cassel, just holding an olive branch instead of a sword makes you look like the god of beauty, wisdom, and medicine."
"……"
"Someone like you would make a perfect ornamental knight for the Crow Order. Don't waste that beauty—use it properly while you're young. How wonderful would that be?"
He's mocking me.
Realizing it too late, Cassel flung the olive branch away.
Raphael grumbled as if hurt.
"What, are you going to throw away my feelings for you too? Do you know how much effort I put into choosing and breaking off this branch?"
"…Sir Raphael!"
Raphael leaned closer to Cassel, continuing his nonsense.
"Before you get engaged or anything like that, you should spread your dignity and beauty throughout the capital…"
"Wait."
Cassel unconsciously turned his gaze and, startled, covered Raphael's mouth.
"Hmm? What's wrong?"
"…Sir Raphael, let's continue this conversation later. It looks like the mock battle is about to start, so why don't we meet again afterward?"
"Well, if you say so."
Having successfully teased Cassel to his heart's content, Raphael returned to his position without hesitation. After all, as Cassel had said, it was nearly time for the Emperor, Empress, and Crown Prince to appear.
And Cassel's pupils, fixed on one spot, were trembling violently.
Pay… Miss Pay? Why are you here…!
A precious and lovely memory from summer, almost the only one of its kind.
The mage Pay, whom he had personally escorted to the Magic Tower, was standing right there!
He blinked, wondering if he'd seen wrong at first, but it was definitely Pay.
Even from afar, her long light-pink hair stood out strikingly, tied back inside a black hood and completely capturing his gaze. She stood alone, with no one beside her.
Which position is that?
The mock battle at the Harvest Festival was less about determining superiority between families or knight orders and more about promoting harmony and cooperation.
Therefore, to prevent any incidents, only those with confirmed identities were allowed to attend.
Cassel quickly scanned the area and saw that Pay didn't belong to any noble house—she was standing at the very edge where the Crow Knight Order was positioned.
What happened? Why is Miss Pay standing in the Crow Knight Order's section?
Is she here as part of their cooperative relationship? Should he send Raphael back to ask?
But more than his discomfort, his curiosity about Miss Pay was greater. After going to the Magic Tower, her face had visibly brightened—would she struggle if she entered the Imperial Palace? That worry slowly wrapped around Cassel's ankles.