“Welcome, Angel!”

It was a clear and beautiful voice, as if full of morning dew.

“Oh, not Angel, but Nigel, right?”

The beautiful face smiling playfully under the sunlight shining through the window was unbelievable to have been born on the same day as Nigel.

Nigel belatedly realized that she had been lost in thought. Also, that there was another person in this room besides Meriel.

Unlike Meriel with her black hair and gentle eyes, the sharply upturned eye corners were all inherited by Nigel from the elegant man before her.

“……Duke Dien. Thank you for the invitation.”

Nigel moved stiffly, not knowing how to properly greet him.

“I should be thanking you for coming to our mansion, ……Nigel.”

Nigel.

It was a name she had heard many times, but it felt different coming from the Duke and Meriel’s lips. It rolled off smoothly like sweet candy melting in the mouth, making her arms tingle for no reason.

While the three were having tea, with only Meriel’s questions and Nigel’s brief answers exchanged, Meriel excused herself saying she had something to prepare.

‘Will Duke Dien leave now too?’

Nigel secretly observed the Duke. The plush sofa the Duke was sitting on didn’t move an inch. And the Duke’s eyes were as sharp as if piercing through Nigel.

Breaking the awkward atmosphere, Nigel pressed down her robe and opened her mouth.

“Um…… Your Grace.”

“Kesnia.”

“Pardon?”

“Call me Kesnia.”

“……Duke.”

Fortunately, Kesnia’s stern face softened a bit, seemingly pleased with the title Nigel had chosen after brief consideration.

“You must be busy. Please don’t mind me and go about your business.”

It was beyond Nigel’s common sense that the Minister of Finance, who was often jokingly said to be busier than the Emperor, was wasting his precious time here.

A gentle yet firm answer came immediately.

“It’s alright.”

No, I’m not alright……

Nigel was well aware of his personality from the original work. He was only kind to those within his inner circle, and extremely averse to wasting time on unnecessary things for others.

The reason why he remained here, staring at Nigel with piercing eyes was…….

“I won’t cause any trouble for Young Lady Meriel and will leave quietly, so please don’t worry.”

Whether he had seen through her true thoughts or not, he remained silent for a while before speaking slowly.

“It’s really alright, child. While you’re here, think of this as your home and make yourself comfortable.”

Although he said it was fine, Kesnia was speaking awkwardly with his brows deeply furrowed.

My home. It was clearly just an empty phrase, but it held a different meaning for Nigel.

‘……Don’t waver, don’t give it meaning.’

They don’t know that I killed Abellina, that’s why they’re being politely courteous.

Nigel clenched her fist behind her back, steeling her resolve.

Creak.

Just then, as an awkward atmosphere lingered, the door to the reception room opened.

Behind Meriel, who was smiling brightly, Noah with his silver-blue hair entered the reception room, muttering something in a disgruntled tone.

“……Nigel?”

At the same time, Noah’s surprised gaze met Nigel’s. Noah’s surprise turned into a welcoming smile.

Meriel pushed Noah’s back, making him sit next to Nigel.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you in advance, Nigel. Since it’s the first session, I thought you might feel a bit awkward with just me, so I specially called Noah. You and Noah have been together at the academy all along, right!”

Noah gently waved at Nigel with a soft smile. Nigel dazedly moved her hand, following his gesture.

“By the way, Nigel, wasn’t it hard to be friends with Noah because he’s so boring?”

“Meriel, why so suddenly.”

Nigel was startled by Noah’s informal speech, which she had never heard before.

“Oh my~! Noah Beselion. Are you managing your image in front of Nigel right now?”

At Meriel’s playful, exaggerated tone, Noah lightly bit his lip. Duke Dien, seemingly used to such situations, elegantly sipped his tea without giving them a glance.

When Nigel’s gaze, secretly stealing glances, met directly with Duke Dien’s, she quickly turned her head away. It was a heart-pounding moment like a jewel thief passing in front of a guard.

After bickering for a while, Meriel and Noah suddenly turned to look at Nigel.

“Don’t pay too much attention to what Nigel says. She may look nice on the outside, but she often says strange things.”

Noah, who had been maintaining proper etiquette every moment, pointed playfully without restraint.

“You’re the one who’s been more stubborn than a dragon’s horn since childhood. How much trouble did you cause others with your unreasonable stubbornness.”

“This guy……?”

Since he had been more agreeable to Allen and Nigel’s words rather than voicing his own opinions at the academy, Nigel unconsciously spoke up.

Meriel smiled broadly like a fisherman looking fondly at a fish that had taken the bait.

“You didn’t know, right? Well, he wouldn’t hide anything in front of you, Nigel. He’s been stubborn since childhood. Usually just nodding along, but absolutely unyielding when it comes to things he’s decided on, you know?”

Thinking about how he disliked it when Nigel tried to treat her magic deficiency, it made sense.

“It was the same with Sienna. Everyone was so surprised when he said he was going to the academy when we all thought he’d naturally join the knighthood. Oh right, when he was young……”

“Meriel.”

Just then, a deep voice interrupted the conversation.

“It’s good to chat, but shouldn’t the guest come first? This child has taken precious time to come learn from you.”

“Yes, Father.”

Meriel quickly agreed and held out her hand to Nigel.

“Well then, shall we go train?”

Hesitating, Nigel took that hand as if enchanted by Meriel’s smile.

“This is the magic training ground, where you’ll be training for about two months from now on.”

As soon as Meriel finished speaking, Noah opened his mouth with a gentle smile.

“Nigel, I can also help……”

“No, non-magicians should sit quietly in the shielded seats for safety. Nigel might not be able to properly exert her magic because of you.”

“I think Meriel is right.”

Because my mind gets clouded when Noah is around.

Noah, who had opened his mouth to object, became a docile lamb at Nigel’s words and trudged to his seat.

“Then, since it’s the first day, shall we start by assessing your magic? Nigel, have you ever felt all the magic you possess?”

“No.”

“To control something, accurately grasping what you’re trying to control is the starting point.”

“But……”

Nigel’s body involuntarily shrank. Even a small amount of magic could seriously hurt someone, so unleashing all her magic without being able to control it seemed too reckless.

Moreover, the other person was none other than Meriel. She didn’t want to do anything that could harm Meriel or the mansion she lived in.

“It’s okay! This training ground is designed to withstand even a dragon’s attack several times, so feel free to use your magic without worry.”

Nigel stretched out her body that had shrunk at the bright voice that made her worries seem unfounded.

“Nigel can do it.”

Just then, Noah’s voice was heard from behind.

Startled by the voice that came without any presence, Nigel momentarily lost her footing. At the same time, as magic leaked out, Noah’s firm hand supported Nigel’s body to prevent her from falling.

“Are you alright?”

It’s because of you.

“It’s because of you, Noah Beselion.”

Apparently, Meriel had read Nigel’s mind. Meriel stared at Noah with a stern face.

Contrary to Nigel’s expectation that he would apologize to Meriel right away as he did in the original work, Noah lightly ignored the sharp gaze and smiled brightly at Nigel.

“Don’t worry, Nigel. You’re always someone who ends up accomplishing things no matter what.”

“……”

Nigel’s heart tickled at the strong trust evident in his voice. Even though she knew better than anyone that Noah’s feelings were friendship, it was embarrassing how her own heart kept interpreting things as it pleased, even in front of Meriel.

‘I’m glad I wore the robe.’

Nigel pressed down her robe deeply to make sure it wouldn’t come off.

“If you’re done with your business, why don’t you go back to your place, Mr. Knight?”

“Meriel, strictly speaking, aren’t I your guest too since you called me?”

“Do you really think you and Nigel are the same?”

Meriel said as if looking down on him. Noah raised both hands in surrender, smiling playfully.

Then, feeling Nigel’s gaze, he gently smiled and lightly shook his fist to show support.

“Alright, now that the troublemaker is gone, shall we start in earnest?”

Nod.

Nigel nodded and closed her eyes to concentrate. Magic was unstably released following its owner’s emotions.

Her hands were clammy with fear and anxiety that she, born as a villainess, would end up hurting someone.

Then, Noah’s words came to mind.

That she would always accomplish anything.

……So that’s why I liked you.

For believing in me from the moment we first met.

Along with a pleasant tremor, she felt her face under the robe burning up.

At the same time, magic began to be released as naturally as water flowing.

“……Oh my, Nigel.”

The faces of Meriel, Noah, and the knights wearing the Dien family crest were filled with surprise at Nigel’s magic enveloping the wide training ground.