Nigel’s eyes showed no sign of opening even after 10 minutes had passed. The magical power surrounding Nigel around the training ground filled the entire arena.

Everyone was awestruck, staring at Nigel in amazement at the tremendous amount of magical power felt in their bodies.

Even Noah, who had seen Nigel’s magic most frequently, was busy gazing at Nigel with shining eyes.

Quietly, Meriel moved her steps to approach Noah.

“You have the face of a boy hopelessly in love, Young Viscount Beselion.”

“……Don’t say such things in front of Nigel.”

Unlike when conversing with Nigel, a gruff tone was heard from above.

“Why not? Love doesn’t begin by hiding one’s feelings. If you keep just watching Nigel, you’ll end up losing her to someone else.”

A coldly frozen face let out a dry sigh.

“I know, I almost missed being her partner at the ball this time too because I was too complacent.”

“I thought so. Oh, was Nigel’s previous partner Ashton by any chance?”

“……How did you know?”

“Why do you think I’m your childhood friend? It was obvious how you were glaring at Ashton. Try hiding your gaze like you hide your presence. Don’t startle Nigel unnecessarily like today.”

As Noah chuckled, Meriel stared straight at him.

“But why don’t you confess to Nigel?”

Realizing he couldn’t easily brush off his best friend’s resolute question, Noah looked at Nigel.

Nigel, standing at the center of the magical power with her robe pulled down deep, looked mysterious and free. Inside that robe was a girl who was bad with directions, loved desserts, and strangely weak to other girls, making him jealously petty towards women.

Noah withdrew his gaze regretfully and carefully opened his mouth.

“……She’s someone with a lot of burdens on her shoulders.”

At those words, Meriel’s face hardened immediately.

“Of course I want Nigel to know my feelings, and I want her to like me too. But I don’t want to show my feelings and burden her with another weight.”

“Then… aren’t you struggling?”

“Yeah, I want to lighten Nigel’s burdens, not create anything that could be even a small burden to her.”

“……You speak as if you’ve been watching Nigel for a long time.”

Noah smiled a deep smile that couldn’t easily reveal his emotions.

“I think I know.”

Meriel looked straight at Noah.

“Know what.”

“That child is the one you’ve been looking for all along.”

Noah, who rarely showed any emotion other than irritation to Meriel, revealed his surprise.

“So I was right?”

“……”

“I thought so. When you said you’d give up the Imperial Knights and go to the academy even if it meant dying by the Marquis’s sword, I had a strange feeling of déjà vu…… It’s exactly like when you used to insist on going to the northern villa every day when we were young.”

After a moment of silence, Noah let out a frustrated sigh.

“You still remember that, Meriel. ……Creepy.”

“Aren’t you creeped out every time we’re paired as fiancés? Your roommate was Allen Evans, right? Ask him to help ward off the knights.”

“……Talking nonsense again. Just try saying that in front of Nigel.”

“What, you can’t even confess.”

The two glared at each other before finally breaking into laughter.

“Noah Beselion, you should remember what happened today and be grateful to me. If it weren’t for me, you would have pathetically lurked around for two whole days unable to approach Nigel, only greeting her on Monday.”

As much as he wanted to deny it, it was all true, so Noah just grumbled unnecessarily.

“You too, don’t teach Nigel anything that might be too much for her.”

“Of course not.”

Meriel looked at Nigel, who was still emitting vast amounts of magical power, with a strange emotion.

And she looked up at her best friend, who was smiling tenderly at Nigel as if she were lovable and pitiful, an affectionate smile she had never seen before.

……When you were whining about going to Tillin because of your magic deficiency and poor health, I should have hugged and comforted you instead of just watching you cry. That cold winter when you were packing to go to the even colder north, instead of stopping you, why didn’t I trust you and look into it a bit more? I should have helped you.

Would many things have been different if I had?

Father wouldn’t suffer from insomnia every night, and he wouldn’t have to swallow his pain every time he saw me, projecting the child who disappeared in infancy, unable to even open his eyes.

Mother, who considered not seeing that child a lifelong regret even though she never mentioned it, could have closed her eyes peacefully.

“……!”

The flow of magic in the training ground changed. It was because Nigel’s magic, which had been endlessly pouring out, stopped its movement.

Meriel looked at Nigel with a desperate feeling.

I know, all of this is just an illusion I’ve created to suit myself. That I shouldn’t expect any more than this.

My family and I clung to that tiny possibility until it was tattered, repeatedly reopening unhealed wounds on top of old ones.

But I couldn’t give up for such trivial reasons. Because we’re family. Because she’s my sister I need to protect.

It was then.

As the passing wind slightly lifted Nigel’s robe, she slowly opened her eyes.

And those clear purple eyes, so much like our beloved mother’s, looked around before finding Meriel and curved into crescents.

This is not… an illusion.

Enaigel. This child was neither Engel nor Nigel, but clearly Enaigel.

……We thought you didn’t want to meet us because we couldn’t find you sooner, but you were left alone and still remembered us.

Feeling like tears might fall unbidden, Meriel clenched her fist tightly.

Any regrets about not meeting sooner or not being able to share your burdens had already disappeared far away.

Enaigel. It was enough just to watch you from afar.

Whatever burden kept you from approaching us, we were ready to bear it with you, and we could wait for you to return to us no matter how long it took.

As Nigel tilted her head questioningly, Meriel grinned, filled with joy.

And she muttered quietly, just loud enough for Noah to hear.

“You’ve got good taste in people.”

“Well, I suppose so.”

Disgustingly, her best friend didn’t deny it and smiled broadly as if just seeing her was enough.

You think anyone would just hand over their little sister?

Meriel, who had always taken her best friend’s side, was certain that this time she couldn’t support Noah.

Meriel approached Nigel step by step, savoring the heart-pounding excitement that felt like her heart might burst.

“……So, Nigel. I heard you released all your magical power, are you feeling alright?”

Cough cough, Meriel, who had been quietly enjoying the banquet, coughed impolitely.

When she rushed to tell Duke Dien about this right after the training ended, he had replied nonchalantly as if it were nothing, but his voice was low and hoarse as if he had cried alone in the end.

Nigel’s head, with her robe pulled down deep, tilted to the side once again.

……How cute.

So that’s her habit when she’s curious about something.

From the moment I knew this girl was my sister, every little action of hers became lovable.

It seemed the Duke felt the same way; although he had earnestly asked me not to show it to Father, his face was so kind and bright as he looked at Nigel.

Well, it couldn’t be helped. He had postponed his work to go to the Imperial Palace, insisting on seeing Nigel, and sat in the reception room for a long time.

Meanwhile, Nigel was at a loss for how to interpret the suddenly changed attitudes of the two.

Moreover, this banquet was too extravagant to have been prepared for a Sienna student receiving special training from Meriel. The basis for comparison was Allen Evans, so it was certain.

However, Nigel was not in a position to refuse this grand banquet, and having depleted so much magical power and then drawing it back into her body had left her quite hungry, so she gladly enjoyed even the dessert.

The problem was the tea time that opened after the banquet ended.

“……Thank you for your great hospitality, Your Grace. Then I’ll see you again tomorrow.”

As the conversation showed no signs of ending, Nigel carefully observed the situation and tried to find the right timing to return to Sienna.

“Nigel, are you leaving already?”

“Yes, you must be quite exhausted, you shouldn’t stay any longer.”

The Dien father and daughter smiled in unison and then pressured Nigel by offering different desserts.

“……”

After silently accepting the desserts for a while, Nigel only wanted to escape this place, so she racked her brain to come up with an excuse.

“Um, as you said, I’m not feeling very well, so I should return to Sienna now……”

“If that’s the case, all the more reason for you to stay here. There are plenty of rooms in this mansion, you know.”

“That’s right! Why don’t you stay over instead of going back and forth to Sienna?”

Faced with an insurmountable difference in status, Nigel sent a pleading look to Noah for help.

However, the trusted Noah, out of selfish desire to be able to comfortably watch Nigel again tomorrow, barely managed to ignore Nigel’s desperate gaze and didn’t open his mouth until the tea time ended.

……Didn’t he say he wouldn’t do anything to harm Nigel? It won’t be long before he confesses, unable to resist his own feelings.

Meriel chuckled and deducted one point from Noah.