It was banter. Ginevra playfully slapped Siod’s lips. Amidst the falling meteor debris, Ginevra sighed with relief.

However, when Siod, who was smiling, turned serious again, Ginevra couldn’t help but pause.

“Oh, those damned bastards.”

“Why?”

“We can’t stop that.”

“What?”

Siod descended rapidly. Professors had already erected a barrier only on top of the destroyed Magic Department building by Ginevra. However, the range of falling debris was wider than that.

“Aaah!”
The ground resembled a hellish scene, with burning debris falling all over the academy.

“Larisa!”

Ginevra shouted, hastily pressing the chrono button on her wristwatch, calling for Larisa.

“Larisa, where are you?”

However, there was no response.

Larisa was having tea time with the princess today as well. Whether the princess remembered the previous request or not, this time they were alone.

Of course, there were people outside the door, but for Larisa, just that made her feel relieved.

“Thank you for considering my request, Your Highness.”

“Larisa is special.”

The princess smiled brightly.

While she was always chatty in front of many people, the princess was relatively quiet when they were alone. Larisa found that aspect intriguing.

“By the way, would you like to come to the palace this weekend?”

“Huh?”

“I want to invite you to my room. Or we can take a stroll in the garden together.”

Being invited to the palace was a first. Larisa smiled, thinking she did well to learn palace etiquette.

“It’s an honor, Your Highness.”

“You’ll really come?”

The princess clasped her hands together joyfully.

“Of course. How could I refuse Your Highness’s invitation?”

“I thought Larisa might refuse. When we were young, you almost became my friend, didn’t you?”

“…”

“At that time, I heard Larisa say you didn’t want to play with me.”
The princess gave a mischievous smile. Larisa, taken aback, almost dropped her teacup. Barely managing to set the cup down safely, Larisa spoke.

“At that time, I was inexperienced.”

“I didn’t know how to play with a younger sibling. Actually, I thought I was an only child forever. It was soon after the prince was born, so I didn’t even realize it.”

Larisa recalled that the princess had a younger sibling.

“Oh, is His Highness the prince seven years old this year? He must be very cute.”

It was a formal greeting, but the princess just grinned. Larisa, unsure of what to do during the brief silence, lifted her teacup again.

Actually, we’re not that close.”

The princess said with a bitter smile. Larisa cautiously asked,

“Is it because of the significant age difference?”

“No, it’s not that. It’s more like, even if we’re siblings in the palace, we can’t get along freely. There are many rules to follow, and there are many eyes watching.”

As the princess spoke, she somehow seemed lonely. Despite thinking it was improper, Larisa felt sorry for the princess, who couldn’t experience the sibling bond.

“How about Miss Larisa? Do you get along with Duke Rodante’s younger sibling like siblings?”

“…Not really.”

When Larisa answered a beat late, the princess’s eyes narrowed.

“Even though you grew up in the same household?”

“Still, we’re different sexes.”
Larisa spoke with a quite composed expression. The princess’s face was tinged with curiosity.

“It’s unexpected. I thought Miss Larisa would get along well because she is kind.”

“I’m doing well. However, I still remember that we’re not blood-related and try not to cross the line. I am just Larisa, not Rodante.”

The princess poured tea into Larisa’s empty cup and said, “Well, Viscountess, Miss Larisa has been busy with territorial development since Viscount Rodante settled here.”

Larisa nodded her head. She wanted to give the impression that she wasn’t particularly close to William.

It was to avoid the princess using her as an opportunity to get closer to William.

Larisa disliked it, so she even refused to attend noble gatherings. Initially, Gwynevere, who was annoyed that she couldn’t show off Larisa, used to drag Larisa to various social events. However, when Larisa began refusing, even that stopped.

Thanks to that, Larisa remained veiled until she entered the academy, and this fact piqued the princess’s curiosity.

Then it happened.

“Wait.”

“Yes?”

“I hear screams outside.”

Larisa stood up abruptly, grabbed the princess’s wrist with alarmed eyes, and said, “Let’s evacuate outside…”

“Scream!”
With a terrifying force, Larisa dragged the princess as the window shattered. Realizing that heated stones were falling from the sky outside, Larisa quickly shielded the princess’s head with a tray.

“What’s happening?”

“I don’t know either. It’s dangerous, so please lower your head and…”

Successively, the sounds of the princess’s dormitory building collapsing echoed. There was no time to evacuate. Gritting her teeth, Larisa embraced the princess.