Larisa wanted to go to elementary school.

“It’s not like you have to go.”

Despite what Siod said, Larisa really wanted to go to elementary school.

“But I want to go…”

“Why?”

“Don’t children have to go to school?”

Siod glanced down at Larisa’s tiny fist and chuckled. This child had a habit of clenching her fist when she wanted to muster courage, which was quite adorable.

However, it was a bit unfortunate that no one had told her about the lifestyle of the upper class. He wondered if even Guinevere and William might not know.

“Hmm. Usually, noble young ladies don’t go to school. Do you know why?”

“Why?”

“Because they get compared to others. Until they reach a certain level, it’s better to educate them at home with subject-specific tutors.”

Larisa didn’t know this. William had said he went to elementary school, and Guinevere had said she could go if she wanted to. Larisa’s eyes widened in surprise and she hesitated.

“But it seems you have a reason for wanting to go?”

“…Yes.”

“Can you tell your teacher?”

Larisa fidgeted nervously before answering in a small voice.

“…I want to receive a scholarship.”

Siod’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected answer.

“They say if you go to school and study well, you can get a scholarship. William said so.”

William had received a full scholarship and graduated early. Larisa thought William was truly amazing. And she thought that she should do the same to repay the Rodante family who was sponsoring her, even if just a little.

“You don’t need to worry about such things. As I said before, Guinevere has more money than she knows what to do with.”

“But…”

Larisa couldn’t find words to argue. Seeing her small head bowed silently, Siod sighed.

“I’m not saying you can’t go. If you want to go, you should.”

At that, Larisa looked up at Siod with her large, sparkling eyes. Siod inwardly admitted defeat.

‘She’s so cute, I’ve lost.’

“But you have to promise your teacher something.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t be upset if you can’t get a scholarship or if you fall a bit behind your friends.”

Siod said, holding out his pinky finger.

“Uh…”

He smiled as he watched Larisa hesitate. It was obvious she was worried about making a promise she might not be able to keep.

“If your school life isn’t enjoyable, it’s meaningless. So you have to promise.”

Larisa reluctantly linked her pinky with his. Siod ruffled her hair vigorously as if to say she’d done well. Although it messed up the half-up hairstyle that Daisy had neatly done for her, somehow it felt nice.

*

Guinevere found herself standing in front of the school, holding Larisa’s hand. Siod had been pestering her to go out since morning, and this is where they ended up.

Siod said with a bright smile:

“Don’t we look just like a family standing here like this? Mom, dad, and a cute daughter.”

It was absurd. Thinking Larisa would surely feel the same, she looked down, but Larisa was actually looking up at her nervously.

“Um… Are you not busy, Mother?”

“I’m not busy.”

She was busy. That damned time reversal magic was still impossible to decipher. But she couldn’t say such things in front of Larisa.

Looking down at Larisa’s flushed cheeks, Guinevere unconsciously reached out and pinched them.

“Mo-other?”

“Let’s go in.”

The school principal and staff, who had been lined up at the main gate, breathed sighs of relief.

Though it was unlikely, the principal had been worried that Guinevere, who looked displeased, might find fault with something. He bowed as politely as possible.

“Welcome. Ah, it’s an honor to meet Lady Rodante, Adelia’s guardian.”

“That’s quite a grand greeting.”

“We didn’t expect Lady Rodante to come in person.”

Indeed, Guinevere hadn’t even come when enrolling her only son. Who would have thought she’d visit in person to transfer her adopted daughter?

It was deeply moving that she had at least given notice that she was coming, rather than suddenly appearing through teleportation.

“Ah, forgive my late introduction. I am the principal, Boldman. Please, come this way.”

Larisa looked around the principal’s office they were guided to. While Guinevere remained silent, Siod handled the transfer procedures on her behalf. Just as Larisa was worrying that she might have caused busy Guinevere to come and go unnecessarily:

“Eat this.”

Guinevere placed a cookie from the refreshments in Larisa’s hand. As always, Larisa never refused food.

Guinevere’s lips twitched as she watched Larisa nibble on the cookie like a small animal.

Who knew watching someone eat could be so interesting? Just as Guinevere was discovering this new pleasure and continuing to give Larisa new cookies:

Siod finished the paperwork and said with a smile:

“Now, shall we write up the sponsorship contract?”

“Pardon?”

“Ah, I didn’t mention it earlier. The Rodante family has decided to sponsor this school from now on.”

The principal blinked his cow-like eyes. Sponsorship? Even when William Rodante was enrolled, there was no sponsorship money. The principal was flustered by this unexpected news.

“Uh, when you say sponsorship…”

“Let’s start with a basic contract for now. We didn’t prepare one in advance.”

“Ah, yes. Understood.”

Guinevere was just going along with it when she was startled by Larisa dropping her cookie in shock.

“What’s wrong?”

“Sponsorship?”

She had wanted to repay their kindness by earning a scholarship, but now it seemed more money would be spent because of her.

“What about it?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Larisa quickly shook her head, trying not to interfere in adult matters. However, seeing her somewhat dejected appearance, Guinevere frowned.

The fact that she wasn’t even eating the cookie in her hand showed that something was bothering her. The most frustrating thing was not knowing what this child was thinking.

“Why, is there something you don’t like?”

“No?”

Larisa quickly shook her head and shrank her shoulders. Seeing this, Guinevere racked her brains but couldn’t understand why this child was so discouraged.

‘She seemed surprised when the sponsorship was mentioned.’

Guinevere unconsciously glanced at Siod, who was writing up the sponsorship contract. Although it was Siod’s unilateral decision without any discussion with her, she didn’t stop him because she rather liked the idea.

If they sponsored the school, the school would have to pay special attention to Larisa. Unlike herself, who only knew magic, she thought Siod understood human society quite well.

‘But what’s the problem?’

Guinevere pondered as she looked down at the contract that just needed her signature to be complete.

‘Is it the amount?’

Guinevere added another zero to the amount Siod had written. Beside her, Larisa let out a pained groan. Hearing that sound, Guinevere added one more zero.

“Eek.”

Larisa now felt like she was about to faint.

“That’s enough.”

Siod urged her to sign quickly. Even after signing, Guinevere still couldn’t understand why Larisa’s face had turned so pale.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“N-no…”

Guinevere picked up Larisa, who answered weakly.

“The child is sick, so we’ll be leaving now.”

“Ah, but the orientation for school life…”

The principal hesitated and tried to stop them, but Guinevere was planning to teleport. However, there was an interference. It was Siod who dispersed her magic. When Guinevere glared at him, Siod said with a smile:

“It’s her first day, shouldn’t she at least get a tour of the school?”

“Larisa seems to be sick. Her face is pale.”

Just as Larisa was about to say she wasn’t, with a face drained of color, Siod quickly interjected:

“Larisa, Guinevere likes to sponsor things.”

“…Pardon?”

“Guinevere has a kind and gentle heart, so when she sees people in need, she can’t just pass by and always wants to help. Look at this school. It’s falling apart, right? That’s why she’s sponsoring it, to have it rebuilt.”

Guinevere looked at Siod as if he was crazy. The reason she didn’t refute immediately was because she was too dumbfounded. Just as she came to her senses and was about to speak:

“Really?”

Larisa was looking up at her with sparkling eyes.

“Mother, did you intend to sponsor the school from the beginning?”

Once again, before Guinevere could say anything, Siod cut in:

“Of course. Someone like Guinevere can’t just sponsor anywhere, or everyone would ask for sponsorship and it would be troublesome. She had been wanting to sponsor the school William graduated from, and Larisa provided a good excuse. So you don’t need to feel burdened. It was all Guinevere’s plan from the start, okay?”

At that, Larisa’s cheeks turned rosy. As Guinevere watched this change in a daze, Larisa grabbed her collar and asked:

“Mother, did Lala do well?”

“…Y-yes.”

For the first time in her life, Guinevere told what could be called a white lie. She had never thought that Larisa might feel burdened. Larisa looked up at her with sparkling eyes and said:

“Mother, you’re so kind.”

It was also the first time in her life being called kind. Unable to bear the extremely strange atmosphere, Guinevere glared at the principal.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to give us a tour?”

“Ah, yes. This way please. First, I’ll introduce you to Larisa’s homeroom teacher.”

Following behind them, Siod secretly let out a sigh. The combination of Larisa, who was too conscious of others, and Guinevere, who had no such awareness at all, was truly like opposite extremes.

‘What would they have done without me?’

Siod thought that he would have a lot more work to do in the future.