Irene was worried and felt burdened about reporting to Kalos every day, but it was easier than she had anticipated.

Talking about what she learned in class was like reviewing it.

Jerdin rarely talked about anything unrelated to the lessons, and even when he did, it was mostly insignificant boasting, so reporting wasn’t difficult, just a bit embarrassing.

It was also somewhat amusing to see Kalos frown or click his tongue in disbelief every time she reported Jerdin’s nonsense.

“Ah, really. Master, you’re too much.”

“It’s not that I’m being too much, don’t you think you’re the one making unreasonable requests without knowing your place?”

One of the reasons Irene could ease her burden was that the relationship between Kalos and Jerdin didn’t seem too bad.

But Kalos asking her to report everything Jerdin says, there must be some other circumstances.

Something about noble affairs that I don’t know about.

Irene thought that otherwise, there’s no way Kalos and Jerdin’s relationship could be that good, and she completely dismissed her concerns about that part.

“You could give it to me just once!”

“What’s not possible is not possible. If you keep insisting on this strange stubbornness, just go back to the Imperial Palace.”

…These two are still fighting.

Irene shook her head. Kalos was impressive for not giving in despite such pleading, but Jerdin was also impressive for not giving up and continuing to ask.

If it were me, I would have agreed as soon as Kalos said no.

But what are they fighting about?

When Irene arrived here, the two were already fighting, so she didn’t hear what they were arguing about.

Seeing that he’s asking for something, it seems like they’re fighting over an object… I wonder if Jessie knows the exact reason?

“Do you know why His Grace the Grand Duke and His Highness the Crown Prince are fighting?”

“It’s because of the maryeong.”

Jessie answered immediately.

“His Highness the Crown Prince is making an absurd demand for the maryeong, so my master is getting angry like that.”

“I see.”

Irene didn’t know what a maryeong was, but seeing Kalos absolutely refusing, she thought it must be something important to him.

“Ugh, you could just not accept it.”

In the fierce battle where neither side gave an inch, Jerdin was the one who finally raised the white flag.

“That’s why you’re disliked, Master.”

Of course, he didn’t just give up without throwing a barb.

Kalos raised an eyebrow as if dumbfounded.

“Who’s being disliked by whom?”

“Who else? Of course, it’s Irene.”

Huh? Me?

It was already startling to suddenly hear her name mentioned, but when both of their gazes turned to her, Irene fidgeted uncomfortably and lowered her gaze.

Tap, tap, the sound of footsteps on the lush grass grew closer. When the footsteps stopped in front of her, Irene swallowed dryly and raised her head.

At that moment, when a large hand touched her head, Irene’s eyes widened as big as saucers.

Kalos nonchalantly removed a fallen leaf that was stuck in Irene’s hair.

Oh, so that was stuck there. If you had told me, I would have removed it myself.

Irene lightly blushed and touched her hair.

The leaf that had escaped from Kalos’s hand fluttered away.

As Irene absent-mindedly followed the leaf with her eyes, she suddenly realized that the surrounding trees were bare.

It meant that so much time had passed.

Irene’s lips parted slightly as she newly realized the passage of time.

‘I’ve managed to stay alive until now, huh.’

It was amazing that she was still alive when she thought she would die soon.

“…”

At the same time, she wondered how long she could continue to live.

I heard before that they brought me here because I was needed, but even though the colorful autumn leaves have all fallen, I still haven’t heard why I’m needed.

‘I wonder when they’ll tell me.’

Could it be the reason why they can’t tell me?

If so… it probably isn’t good. If it were good, there would be no reason not to tell me.

The reason they’re treating me so well might be because of that too.

As the anxiety that she had momentarily forgotten in the peaceful daily life began to stir, goosebumps spread all over her body.

Just as Irene was hugging her trembling body, a coat was draped over her shoulders.

A scent both strange and familiar wafted over her. Irene looked up at Kalos while pulling the coat that was too big and slipping down around her.

Jerdin and Dewey also looked at Kalos with surprised eyes, while Jessie smiled at Kalos contentedly.

As if disliking the attention focused on him, Kalos frowned and turned away.

“Let’s go inside now.”

“But we were going to have lunch in the garden toda— urk.”

As Jerdin tried to interject tactlessly, Dewey beside him jabbed his side and covered his mouth.

Jessie also clicked her tongue as if exasperated, but when she spoke to Irene, she smiled brightly.

“Let’s go in now, miss.”

“Yes… ah!”

As the hem of the coat got caught under her foot, Irene lost her balance and tilted.

“Miss!”

Thankfully, she didn’t fall thanks to Jessie quickly catching her.

Jerdin, who had been bickering with Dewey behind them, came over and asked.

“Are you okay?”

Irene nodded silently.

Jerdin looked Kalos’s coat that Irene was wearing up and down, then clicked his tongue.

“The coat is too long and dragging on the ground. You might trip and fall again, so it’s better to take it off.”

Jerdin took off his coat and held it out to Irene.

“Wear mine instead.”

“It’s fine.”

It wasn’t like she was wearing it because she was cold in the first place.

Irene took off the coat, folded it in half, and then in half again.

Jessie held out her hand.

“I’ll carry it, miss.”

“No, I’ll carry it.”

Thinking it wasn’t right to entrust the coat to someone else when Kalos had shown her kindness, Irene refused.

Jessie withdrew cleanly without asking further.

Irene hugged the coat tightly to her chest, afraid she might drop it.

Perhaps because of that, Kalos’s unique scent wafted over her strongly.

If Kalos was scary, smelling his scent should make her feel bad, but it didn’t feel bad at all.

Rather, it felt nostalgic, which was truly strange.

*

Although Irene was the type to sleep in and couldn’t wake up on her own, when someone woke her, she got up immediately without dawdling.

It was a habit formed from long suffering under her father. If she didn’t get up right away, he would kick her, saying how dare she ignore her father’s words.

“Miss, wake up. It’s morning.”

That day was no different. As Irene woke to Jessie’s voice ringing out from beyond the canopy, she frowned as she felt a pain like being pricked with a needle near her heart.

Just then, Jessie, who had pulled back the canopy, noticed her expression and asked in alarm.

“Are you in pain somewhere, miss?”

“No, I’m fine.”

It wasn’t a lie; the pain had really disappeared.

Irene got up with a normal face as if she had never frowned.

Jessie immediately brought wash water.

“Shall I prepare breakfast simply as usual?”

Irene nodded, then put her hands in the wash water. The appropriately warm water comfortably enveloped her hands.

After finishing washing up cleanly, Irene suddenly looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Her cheeks, which had been somewhat gaunt from not eating properly, were now filled out.

Her complexion had improved incomparably from before, and her hair, which had been dry and lifeless, was now soft like silk.

Perhaps that’s why. Even though it was her own face, it felt unfamiliar.

Was I always like this? As she was absently touching her cheeks, Jessie, who had finished setting the table, called out.

“Miss, please eat.”

“Yes.”

Irene immediately moved to sit down and picked up her utensils.

When she first came to Esper Castle, she ate so little that it seemed questionable if it was enough, but now she cleaned her plate completely.

“Thank you for the meal.”

As this meant she had adapted to life at Esper Castle that much, Jessie watched contentedly as Irene even ate her dessert.

*

“Today, let’s learn about magical beasts.”

Jerdin, who had written ‘magical beasts’ in large letters on the green chalkboard, asked Irene.

“Do you know what magical beasts are?”

“They are evil monsters that harm people.”

Jerdin laughed at the immediate answer.

“As expected, that’s what you know. Well, it’s understandable since that’s what the temple taught, and it’s written that way in many books.”

“Are you saying that’s not correct?”

“No. It’s not completely wrong. Magical beasts do generally harm people.”

Jerdin wrote the word ‘magic’ next to ‘magical beasts’.

“Basically, magical beasts mean monsters that can use magic. Creatures like orcs, gargoyles, or slimes that can’t use magic are called monsters, not magical beasts.”

Irene carefully wrote down what Jerdin said in her notebook.

“So magical beasts are usually more intelligent than monsters. To begin with, magic is something that stupid creatures can’t use. There’s a lot to memorize, like formulas and magic circles.”

I see. For Irene, who hadn’t even properly learned the basics of magic yet, it was like a story from a distant land.

“That’s why magical beasts are extremely difficult to deal with. Even the lower-grade magical beasts are easy, but for A-grade ones, dozens of skilled knights or magicians have to swarm just to barely catch one.”

“Wow.”

So magical beasts are more amazing beings than I thought.

As Irene was marveling, she suddenly recalled hearing that magical beasts swarmed in the Esper territory.

There were ominous rumors that one should never go to the Esper territory for that reason, but despite that, Irene had never seen a magical beast even once until now.

‘Ah, I have seen one actually.’

When she was exploring Esper Castle during a walk, she had seen a cute magical beast named Yomi.

And on the way to Esper territory, she had also seen a hideous rabbit-like magical beast.

Oh, that one didn’t use magic, so was it just a monster?

Come to think of it, the Esper territory’s specialty was magical beast trophies, but what’s the difference?

“Are magical beasts and magical animals different?”

When Irene asked, Jerdin gave a thumbs up.

“Good question.”

Then he wrote ‘magical animals’ under ‘magical beasts’, and ‘maryeong’ next to it.

“Magical beasts can be broadly divided into two categories: magical animals and maryeong.”

So the maryeong that Jerdin had asked Kalos for before was a magical beast.

“Tamed magical beasts like livestock are called maryeong, while wild magical beasts are called magical animals.”

“Ah, so what Your Highness asked His Grace for before was a tamed magical beast.”

“That’s right.”

Recalling that incident, Jerdin wrinkled his nose.

“Master is too much. I’ve asked every year when the Poyeonje is held, but how can he never grant it even once?”

“Poyeonje?”

This is the first time I’ve heard of it. Is it the name of a festival?

“Ah, you wouldn’t know.”

Jerdin wrote ‘Poyeonje’ on the board as he explained.

“The day when the ceremony to give masters to tamed maryeong is held is called Poyeonje. Since Poyeonje is held only one day a year, if you miss this day, you have to wait until next year.”

I see. I’ve heard a lot of interesting stories today.

“And tomorrow is the Poyeonje…”

Jerdin trailed off and stared intently at Irene.

‘Why is he looking at me like that?’

Irene tensed up and gripped her pen at the meaningful gaze.

Jerdin smoothly raised the corners of his mouth in a smile and asked in an expectant voice.

“Don’t you want to see for yourself what the Poyeonje is like?”