……I can’t sleep.

Nigel tossed and turned for a while, then got up from the bed, certain that sleep was out of the question tonight.

The visible bedroom was too lavish to be a guest room.

Luxurious wallpaper mixed with pearl powder, cream-colored carpet with a soft touch beyond the slippers, furniture intricately carved down to the smallest corner. It was a magnificent room that seemed fit to be offered only when the emperor visited.

This comparison was certainly grounded, as the reference point was Allen’s villa.

Nigel, wrapped in a robe taken from the closet, slowly approached the door and grasped the antique wooden handle that felt aged.

“……”

After teatime, Meriel had briefly introduced the structure of the mansion.

While memorizing the layout, direction was not an area Nigel could control at will. So after hesitating for a long time, Nigel opened the door.

Since putting on the robe anyway, perhaps it would have been better to close the eyes and memorize as before.

Of course, it was too late to regret after becoming completely lost, unable to tell where this place was or where the bedroom was.

Nigel, without panicking, walked straight ahead for now.

After walking for who knows how long, a dead end was reached, dark and unlit even by magic candles.

In the pitch-black darkness, a massive frame filling the tall wall and a door across from it were faintly visible.

Nigel carefully created a small magic flame to illuminate the surroundings.

“……!”

The frame’s identity was revealed to be a portrait of Princess Abelin, a beauty with Meriel’s platinum blonde hair and Nigel’s purple eyes, smiling brightly. It was immediately clear whose beautiful smile Meriel had inherited.

Nigel, overwhelmed just by standing in front of the portrait, couldn’t take eyes off that smile for a long time.

That’s when it happened. There was a sign of movement from the room across.

Nigel, like a thief sneaking in to steal something, held breath and carefully put an ear to the door.

Voices were faintly audible through the door.

“……”

Nigel, who had been listening intently, quickly moved away from the door.

And with legs drained of all strength, managed to leave that place with great effort. Fortunately, with the help of a passing servant, the bedroom was reached.

As soon as the bedroom door closed, Nigel slumped down.

The sobs of Kesnia and Meriel heard earlier continued to buzz in the ears.

Their lips called the woman in the portrait by various names like Abelin, mother, and so on.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Nigel had lived quietly in Tillin not just for personal freedom, but in fact to protect the happiness and safety of Kesnia and Meriel.

So there was no need to expect anything. No matter what happened, Nigel should not get close to them or desire anything from them.

……The same applied to Noah Beselion.

When seeing Meriel and Noah smiling happily at each other in the training ground during the day, though the heart ached, Nigel was genuinely happy.

Because Meriel would surely be happy with Noah. So for Meriel’s sake, Nigel could gladly give up such shallow feelings.

Clearly that’s how it should be… but why wouldn’t it disappear?

The more Nigel tried to erase Noah by recalling Meriel’s sobs and smiles, the deeper Noah’s traces became.

……I must hide it. Both my feelings and my identity.

Mumbling as if brainwashing oneself, Nigel swallowed the pain until the night was over.

Contrary to initial worries, neither did Nigel’s robe come off, nor was Nigel’s identity revealed to Duke Dien and Meriel.

The people of the Dien ducal family, including Kesnia and Meriel, all treated Nigel kindly regardless of status, and Nigel’s magic control skills also improved little by little.

The problem was always with Noah Beselion, or more precisely, with Nigel.

Even on the day of the promotion exam, Nigel’s gaze diligently followed Noah, who was participating as an exam assistant.

Nigel and Allen, along with other magic department students, all looked quite unwell from being absorbed in preparing for the promotion exam from autumn to early winter.

There were plenty of students who frequented the library after the midterms, trying desperately to avoid failing.

To these magic department students, Nigel, who was always fixed in the library and in a regular seat in the lounge, was a good advisor and friend.

In reality, Nigel, unable to ask them for any advice, tried every night to completely forget Noah, to give up, using various magic, magical tools, and potions. There was even a time when Nigel sneaked around Nubilus’s lab to get ingredients for a love potion, only to slap self and return to the dormitory.

Of course, none of these methods had any power in the face of Noah’s smile.

“……!”

Even from so far away that the face was barely visible, Noah caught Nigel’s gaze well and smiled brightly, just like now.

As the heart began to prepare to flutter in earnest, Nigel quickly turned away and focused on Heres’s words.

Snap!

At that moment, Heres snapped fingers. Several bundles of paper appeared in the air and safely landed on each student’s desk, one sheet each.

“Although I’ve repeated the explanation so many times that you’re probably sick of it… but since today is the real thing, I guess an explanation is necessary?”

Heres smiled awkwardly, seeing Allen who was nauseous upon receiving the exam guide that had been read at least dozens of times, and continued the explanation.

“As you know, there will be a written test evaluating theory in the morning, and a practical test evaluating magic control in the afternoon.”

After finishing speaking, Heres glanced at Nigel next to Allen.

“By the way, no magical tools or potion consumption is allowed in the practical test. However, only students who have received prior permission from the supervisor due to personal circumstances are allowed to possess magical tools.”

And gave Nigel a warm smile as if to say it’s okay, don’t worry.

“And, in addition to the written and practical tests, there will be one more unannounced test. In conclusion, you must pass three tests to qualify for promotion.”

At Heres’s words, the pupils of the magic department children shook and the entire classroom buzzed with anxiety.

“By the way, the last test is conducted one-on-one under the supervision of assistant students. Information about the test is not provided to anyone in advance, but……”

Heres read the desperate looks of students wanting even a little hint and eventually softened.

“……I want to say, believe in yourself at any moment.”

Rationalizing that this much should be okay to tell, Heres smiled at the children’s faces, now much less tense.

Indeed, children look best when they’re bright.

“Then, I sincerely hope and pray that all of our magic department students will be promoted.”

And so, the promotion exam began.

Tick tock.

In the exam room where the written test was taking place, the footsteps of the supervising professors, the sound of clock gears turning, and the rustling of test papers played a quiet trio.

Nigel finished quickly and repeatedly reviewed the test paper until the end of the exam.

Dong. Dong.

The bell signaling the end of the exam rang from afar. Befitting the magic department, as soon as the bell rang, Heres’s magic instantly collected the students’ test papers.

And all the magic department students flocked to Nigel. Nigel obediently recited the answers in order to the students, kindly explained to students who objected to the answers, and diligently performed the hidden role of top student as a public answer key.

The students’ hearts fell to the maul field and returned to Kiellia’s side repeatedly with each word from Nigel.

And lunchtime.

Nigel, who had never been nervous at any time, shrank considerably before the magic control test, which was also the practical test.

The shock of receiving an F for the first time in life had a greater impact than Nigel thought.

Nigel tried to act as if nothing was wrong, but Allen, who immediately grasped Nigel’s state, gathered the magic department classmates and officially announced this news.

Then the magic department classmates, saying they should repay the teacher’s kindness, gave all sorts of advice they knew until just before the test started.

Most of the advice wasn’t very helpful to Nigel, who had vast magical power, but thanks to the children’s warm hearts, the tension eased.

And.

There was a small note in the robe pocket, unknown when or who had given it.

Because using an unauthorized magical tool would result in immediate disqualification, Nigel was able to unfold the note only after asking Allen to detect magic.

Noah’s neat handwriting, which had tormented Nigel all year, ridiculously made Nigel’s heart at ease.

Perhaps because of that, Nigel was able to quietly move objects to the target point without destroying buildings or emitting unidentifiable smoke.

The students watching with bated breath rejoiced at Nigel’s test results as if they were their own.

“Then, we will now proceed with the final test.”

And the magic department was now facing only the last hurdle of the promotion exam.