The academy declared a holiday. This was not only due to the magic department building destroyed by Guinevere but also because many other buildings suffered damage, large and small.

Especially affected was the Royal Stella Dormitory, the princess’s residence, precisely where the largest meteorite had fallen.

Fortunately, thanks to Siod quickly deploying a protective barrier, there were no significant casualties, except for one of the princess’s maids who was seriously injured.

Many friends came to inquire about Larisa’s health, and James Dylan, who was a friend of William, also attended, which was a rare occasion.

“The sole princess almost got hurt, but aside from cutting off the magic department professors, surprisingly, things are quiet.”

William pretended not to know the details.

“Well, maybe because Her Highness is safe.”

“William, you still don’t understand politics well. Her Majesty doesn’t miss opportunities to manipulate people.”

James, being from the largest neutral family, was sensitive to political issues.

“Anyway, it’s really fortunate that our Lala isn’t badly hurt. I wanted to rush over as soon as I heard about the accident, but since I’m still a newcomer, I have to be cautious about taking leave. Will you understand?”

“I appreciate your coming. Jimmy is a royal knight, so you must be busy, right?”

“Are you secretly upset because I came late?”

James playfully pinched Larisa’s cheek. William furrowed his brow.
“Larisa is not a child anymore.”

“Well, she’s a fine young lady. If she grows a bit more, can she get married to her older brother?”

“Oh my, not that again.”

As the two bantered playfully, William sighed loudly.

James always urged Larisa to get married whenever he saw her, almost as if he was brainwashing her. To William, Larisa, who refused to accept the proposal despite James’s constant suggestions, seemed to have a problem.

While the three were chatting away, the butler entered the open drawing-room door and spoke.

“Lord Viscount, the young lady’s guest has arrived.”

Following him, Alexander Bellveror appeared.

“Oh?”

Alexander paused for a moment without entering the drawing-room. Although it was a familiar face, Larisa seemed different from other people.

Her usually tightly tied-up pink hair was now gently arranged in a half-tied style, and the ivory-colored indoor dress had a lovely design.

“Alex!”

Larisa stood up with a bright smile.

“Is it for me?”

“…Yeah.”

It was just because Larisa’s mother insisted that it was polite to bring flowers for a hospital visit. But Larisa, who received the bouquet, seemed genuinely delighted. Closing her eyes and inhaling the fragrance, she dreamily said,

“I feel like it’s the first time I’ve received flowers as a gift.”

Alexander’s face turned bright red. Then, James pointed at Alexander, making a silly face, and muttered,

“…Sweet on her?”
James whispered to William, asking, “Is he my rival?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. He’s just a friend of Larisa.”

William deliberately emphasized the term ‘just a friend.’ Then he quickly ransacked his memory.

‘Didn’t I give her a bouquet of flowers? Did that happen in a previous life?’

His extensive memories caused confusion. William resisted the urge to let out a curse. He couldn’t believe he missed that.

“Alex, did you come for my hospital visit?”

“…Yeah. I heard you were hurt, but you look fine.”

“I really was injured. I even bled a lot.”

“But you look perfectly fine.”

Alexander bluntly stated. Larisa seemed so healthy that it felt unfair for him to worry.

“I was really in pain. Stupid.”

Calling himself stupid strangely didn’t make him feel bad. Alexander, with a bewildered expression, took Larisa’s hand, sat on the sofa, then abruptly stood up again to give a belated greeting to William.

“Viscount William, and Sir Dylan, isn’t it? I apologize for the late greeting.”

“Well, maybe you didn’t see us because you were only looking at Larisa.”

James laughed, making a bone-chilling remark. Then Alexander’s face blushed again.

“Jimmy, don’t tease. Alex is an innocent guy.”

“The third son of the Bellveror family, right?”

“Yes, Alexander Bellveror.”

As James was about to pry further, Larisa blocked Alexander and said, “Jimmy, don’t make fun. Alex is an innocent boy.”
“Now that my friend is here, Jimmy, play with William.”

“Am I being chased away now?”

“Hurry up.”

“Just a moment. I’ll go if you answer this one thing.”

Larisa raised both arms and asked with a pouting face, “What is it?”

“Between him and me, who is more handsome?”

“Jimmy is handsome.”

“Phew, that’s a relief.”

James let out an exaggerated sigh of relief and left with William.

“Sorry, Jimmy is an extreme prankster.”

“…Is that so?”

Alexander asked with an awkward expression.

‘Although he seems cheerful according to my brother, he seems to have a cautious personality.’

It’s not for nothing that Dylan is considered the mediator between the imperial and noble factions. Their carefulness has been proven over decades of tug-of-war between the imperial and noble factions.