“Yes! I’m special, so it’s okay. I can make friends with someone who has magical talent!”

I came to this Children’s Academy to make connections. So, even if I don’t have magical talent, as long as I can be friends with someone who has it, that’s enough.

But was there something wrong with what I said?

Suddenly, a melancholy expression began to appear on Hepshiba’s gentle face. Upon closer inspection, her eyes were starting to turn red.

Did I say something in my words that triggered her sadness?
Soon, Hepshiba unraveled the mystery.

“Our brave child… you resemble Yuela a lot.”

At the mention of Yuela, I stiffened. I couldn’t not know that name.

She…

“…Is she my mother?”

“Yes.”

“…She comes often. I’ll tell you about your mother.”

“Yes.”

I nodded, extending the trailing end of my words, then paused.

‘Everyone said bad things, so I don’t have high expectations… but still, should I ask about Mom? I’m curious.’

Perhaps she read my thoughts. Grandmother and headmistress Hepshiba spoke with a small smile on her lips.

“She was a good person. Probably the smartest among the students I taught, I think.”

“…Really? People…”

People say my mom was a bad person.

Without the words escaping my mouth, they crumbled inside, like grains of sand.

With an indescribable expression, the headmistress added,

“At least, that’s what I believe.”

She handed me a small chocolate with a gentle smile.

“So, Sian, you can grow up to be a good person too.”

I nodded silently as I accepted the chocolate.

Dad seemed to have tried his best, but until now, I was the demon’s trial, the witch’s daughter.

I had heard many unfavorable rumors surrounding my mother, whose face I couldn’t even remember.

‘For the first time, someone spoke well of our mom.’

For a moment, I smiled, thinking that maybe our mom could be a good person.

“…Yes, ma’am!”

Busy surviving, I rarely thought about my mom. However, at least for today, I could think about her.

My heart warmed up like a steaming potato.

“Thank you!”

After returning to the principal’s office, I thought it was a good idea to hear Hepshiba’s story.

After Sian left, the headmistress sighed like a whisper, recalling Sian’s green eyes that asked, ‘Is it bad not to have mana?’

“Your child really resembles you, Yuela.”

The headmistress remembered all the past graduates.

Among them, Yuela was special. Entering as a prodigy, she surpassed numerous nobles, always ranking first in the academy.

The watery eyes still remained in her memory. Yuela unfolded her wrinkled hands and washed her face.

“Someday, the day will come when I’ll tell her your story…”

The infamous trial of the demon, orchestrated by Matthias Mirmode.

Yuela, Sian’s mother, left a small note for the headmistress before facing execution.

“I want to meet the god of time, Moira, teacher. When I come back, fate will have changed.”

To Yuela’s desperate question about how she could change fate, the headmistress responded with a faint smile.

But did fate really not change?
For reasons unknown, Yuela summoned a devil, not the god of time, Moira. And the conclusion was clear—Yuela, daringly summoning a demon, became a witch and was executed.

‘When I think of that day…’

Now, a name too dangerous to readily mention aloud.

The act of petitioning on Yuela’s behalf was remembered by society as the only disgrace of the headmistress. The voice still murmuring behind her was enough to stick to her.

Yet the headmistress liked her and never regretted her actions.

‘I’m like this too; Matthias Mirmode must be even worse.’

Thinking about him, who went on a rampage like crazy after Sian’s mother died, left a bitter taste in her mouth.

‘Why did I send Sian to the academy?’

Perhaps there was a sentimental meaning in suggesting to directly experience the academy where her mother had been.

At least here, Sian’s mother, Yuela, was happy.

…At least as far as she, the headmistress, knew.

“Yuela was quite lovely, and her daughter is even more so.”

Memories of the past, when everyone was happy, came to mind.

However, the beautiful era, like a dream, had faded like the evening glow.

Now an old lady with white hair, she raised her teacup with a bitter expression. The tea tasted strangely more bitter than usual.

On the way back after the meeting with Headmistress Hepshiba, I spoke to Leonhardt and Acid, asking what they talked about.

“No matter how I think about it, it’s strange.”

“What’s strange?”

“Headmistress Hepshiba seemed to really like our mom.”

“Ah.”

The atmosphere sank abruptly as soon as I mentioned my mom.

Understandable, given that our mom, Yuela, was executed for the demon trial case of the Mirmode family.

‘Everyone treats our mom badly, but Headmistress Hepshiba seems to have a positive evaluation of our mom.’

Just thinking about it, the stones in my heart that rose every time I thought of my mom fell to the ground like rolling pebbles.

‘Maybe… our mom might be a decent person.’

Although it was impossible for someone who summoned a demon to be a good person.

But just like in the original work “The Life of Melodia,” where all the protagonists are portrayed as bad people, and even in the Mirmode family, the antagonists in the original work, there are good people…

“Sian, what are you thinking?”

I snapped out of my deep contemplation about my mom.

“Good thoughts.”

The muscle maids who had been sitting quietly opened the carriage door.

We had already arrived at the Mirmode mansion!

But…

“Who could have come?”

The atmosphere in the mansion was surprisingly heavy and bustling.

I tilted my head in confusion.

“What’s going on?”