At the weekend dinner time when everyone had gathered after a while, Guinevere looked at the bewildered children and asked.

“What’s the matter?”

William awkwardly glanced at the servant who was coming and going to attend to the meal, and said.

“No. I was just wondering why that person is walking around…”

It was very awkward because they had been eating quietly without any meal service until now. The answer William wanted came from elsewhere.

“Would you pass the salt?”

When Siod, sitting opposite Guinevere at the head of the table, spoke, the servant elegantly handed over the salt on a silver tray.

Larisa, who had been chewing with her mouth full of meat, hesitated at the sight. Somehow, it felt like she shouldn’t be eating so carelessly in this atmosphere.

“David is doing his job.”

“David?”

“My, you should at least memorize the names of the employees to be considered a good master.”

William stared blankly at Siod. Meanwhile, if one had to choose the person dining in the most aristocratic manner, it would undoubtedly be this man.

“Professor, why are you sitting there?”

“Because I’m Larisa’s tutor?”

“I mean, why are you sitting in that seat?”

“Oh.”

Siod exclaimed openly. Originally, the seat opposite the head of the table is traditionally the mistress’s seat. This is so that the couple can attend to guests from both ends during a banquet. Siod had thought William wouldn’t know such etiquette at all.

“Then why don’t you tell me where I should sit, William?”

This time, William was at a loss for words. If he was here as Larisa’s tutor, he should be sitting next to Larisa. And that was the seat William was occupying.

“Sit anywhere you like.”

Siod chuckled at William’s gruff tone.

“Lara, eat comfortably. You’re still a child, so you don’t need to know table manners yet.”

Larisa, who had been sitting still with her cheeks stuffed full of meat unable to chew, started munching again at Siod’s words. Guinevere, watching the children eating well again, asked Hedel.

“Is the tower being built well?”

“Yes. It should be completed within a month.”

“That’s fast.”

How could building a 30-story tower be done so quickly? As Guinevere looked at him suspiciously, Hedel continued his explanation.

“We’re utilizing the magicians to the fullest. They magically cut stones at the quarry, teleport them to the wasteland, and then stack them one by one using levitation magic according to the workers’ instructions. Since I told them it was a task ordered by the master, they’re all working hard without a peep. The architect in charge is also having a great time bossing them around.”

“Sounds like they’re doing well. I’ll go take a look.”

“Everyone will be delighted if you come.”

William, who had been listening to the conversation, carefully asked.

“Um, Mother. Are you suddenly moving somewhere?”

“What?”

William hesitated as everyone’s gaze suddenly fell on him. Did he ask something wrong?

“Moving? No.”

Guinevere quickly denied it, furrowing her brow.

“We’ll continue living here, we’re just chasing out the magicians.”

“Ah, I see.”

What a relief. William swallowed a sigh of relief, having been worried inside. If they moved, he wouldn’t be able to see Larisa every weekend. He couldn’t quit the academy, after all.

Larisa, who had swallowed all her meat, asked in a small voice.

“Why are the magicians being chased out?”

Did they do something terribly wrong? Guinevere sighed as she looked at Larisa, who was cautiously observing the situation.

“I misspoke. We’re not chasing them out, we’re making them a better research facility.”

I see. Larisa stood up on her chair with a much lighter heart. It was to get some fruit that was far away. David quickly approached and said.

“I’ll serve you, young miss.”

David, who had put the fruit Larisa wanted on a plate in an easy-to-eat manner, smiled and said.

“Please let me know if you need anything.”

“Ah, yes.”

Larisa blushed with embarrassment. When she first came to the mansion, she often had dinner alone with William at the large dining table, but now it felt strange to have a table full of people and even a servant attending. It felt just like being a real noble lady.

“Once the magicians leave, the mansion will become more normal, and it’ll be more comfortable for you to live in.”

William hesitated at Guinevere’s words. Watching her son’s expression as he tried to guess her intention, Guinevere’s heart ached.

“The mansion has been a bit chaotic until now. When the cleaning is done, feel free to invite your friends over.”

“I don’t have any friends though.”

“……”

Guinevere felt like her heart was being torn apart. Unaware of her feelings, William continued eating his meal well. Siod inwardly swallowed a sigh and changed the subject.

“How about you, Lara? Have you made many friends?”

“Yes!”

You don’t have any friends either… There was a certain pain in seeing Larisa’s brightly smiling face. Siod forced a smile and said.

“Then shall we write invitations to all your friends tomorrow?”

“What?”

Larisa was taken aback.

“When the cleaning is done, we’ll invite your friends over for a party. It’s to ask them to be good friends with Lara.”

“Uh……”

Larisa frantically tried to find something to say, fidgeting her legs. She felt like no one would come even if she wrote invitations. It had been almost a week, and she still didn’t have anyone she could call a friend.

“Well……”

“If you want to play with your friends until late, we should invite their parents too, so it would be nice if you write neatly, right?”

Even the parents? Faced with the crisis of her lack of friends being exposed, Larisa replied with a gloomy face.

“Yes……”

Of course, Siod had it all planned out. If they sent invitations to the kids, the kids could refuse, but if they sent invitations with Guinevere’s seal to the kids’ parents, no one would be able to refuse.

Even if the kids didn’t want to go, their parents would drag them along. Hehehe, Siod smiled deviously.

*

“Will this really help?”

Guinevere was anxious. If she could, she wanted to hide the children somewhere and raise them in a greenhouse. Then the children would always be safe in her embrace.

But that way, she couldn’t keep her promise to Marina. The happiness Marina wanted for Larisa included freedom.

“Yes. It’s a method we didn’t try in the past life. If you openly show affection for Larisa, no one will dare to think of attacking easily.”

Is that really true? Siod approached Guinevere, who was pondering with an expressionless face, and put a diamond necklace with beautiful craftsmanship around her neck.

“What’s this?”

“A gift.”

Guinevere, who always wore only a long black dress without any decorations, was beautiful in itself, but perhaps because of her striking features, flashy things also suited her very well. Guinevere tilted her head, feeling something strange about the necklace.

“I feel something.”

“I put a defense spell on it myself. It will block any attack once.”

“Then wouldn’t it be better to give it to William…”

Siod cut her off.

“Can’t you just accept it for once?”

His expression was serious, unlike usual. Guinevere stared at him quietly for a moment before averting her eyes first. They were bewitching eyes. If she kept looking, she might fall under his spell again.

“Would he even accept something like this if I gave it to him? It would be fortunate if he didn’t take it as an insult. I’ve attached my familiar to William, so it’s fine. If necessary, it can share half of my power.”

Guinevere was puzzled. Familiars could share part of a magician’s consciousness, lifespan, and power, but they were difficult to maintain. That’s why they were usually kept close, but Guinevere had never seen Siod’s familiar.

“Right now, it should be sticking close to William at the academy.”

“Is it possible to maintain it from such a long distance?”

“Yes.”

“And you say it can share half of your power?”

“Yes.”

She couldn’t even guess what kind of animal it might be. To share a high level of consciousness, it needs to be a creature with high intelligence. Moreover, to handle half the power of a dragon, an ordinary animal wouldn’t be nearly enough.

“What is it exactly?”

“A sylph.”

“A wind spirit?”

Guinevere was greatly surprised. The idea of a dragon handling spirits was something that only appeared in fairy tales.

While the existence of dragons was something that transcendental beings like Guinevere could sense just from the flow of magical power, this was the first time she learned that spirits actually existed.

Guinevere exhaled excitedly and said.

“Show me!”

“I told you, it’s with William right now…”

“Then on the weekend! Show me!”

“Alright.”

Siod pondered inwardly. She’s so cute I want to pat her head. But that wouldn’t be okay, right? Guinevere asked with sparkling eyes.

“Can I see others too? Like undines or ifrits?”

“I’d have to break the contract with the sylph… But there’s no one better than a sylph for secretly protecting William. I’ll show you when everyone is safe later.”

“Ah.”

Her excitement subsided. Guinevere inwardly sighed. Her habit of losing herself when it came to anything magic-related never seemed to improve. Even in this situation where the children were in danger.

Siod suddenly asked the dejected Guinevere.

“Vera. What are you thinking about?”

“Will William be safe?”

“Yes. I’m here, aren’t I?”

Guinevere sincerely thought it was fortunate that Siod was here. Now she just needed to protect Larisa well. In her previous life, Larisa had fallen victim to poison. This time, she had to prevent that from happening at all costs.

“Are you sure? That if I show affection for Larisa, others won’t bully her?”

“I told you, yes. Usually, children whose parents don’t care about them are the first to be attacked.”

If that’s the case, then I should display my affection as much as possible. So that no one would even dare to think about poisoning Larisa. I will make sure no one touches my children.

After taking a deep breath, Guinevere extended her hand. Siod naturally took that hand and began to escort her. It was time for the host of the party to make an entrance.