“Blanche. Are you studying again right after the exam? Didn’t you say you got everything right?”

Lirin, who returned to the dormitory after class, worried about Blanche sitting at the desk and diligently scribbling.

“Just because I got everything right this time doesn’t guarantee I’ll do the same next time. I need to keep being the top student.”

Blanche replied coldly without taking her eyes off the book.

“You had a nosebleed a few days ago from overexertion… Aren’t you tired?”

“Lirin. If I do well, my mother won’t hear bad things. I don’t like my mother hearing unpleasant things because of me. And I don’t like her getting upset all the time.”

Lirin shook her head, unable to stop Blanche’s stubbornness.

“And the thought of that stupid Valton becoming the top student is unacceptable to my pride. That he’s more stupid than me…”

Lirin closed her mouth at Blanche’s harsh words.

“Since I entered early, shouldn’t I graduate early too? For that, even this isn’t enough.”

Blanche changed one day. It seemed the shock of narrowly losing the top spot and becoming second was significant.

In fact, from Lirin’s perspective, who barely avoided failing, even being second was impressive.

‘She used to stick to me saying Shu Shu, Shu Shu… Give me back my lovely Shu Shu!’

My Shu Shu who used to quietly blink her eyes while hiding behind Lady Rowe!

‘Lirin, I’m so happy to be roommates with you, Shu Shu!’

My lovely Shu Shu who said such things when we first entered!

“Lirin. Let’s study together. Didn’t Baroness Ler say you’d be in trouble if you barely avoid failing again?”

She changed. She became cold.

“Shu Shu, you don’t love me anymore… Your love has cooled…”

Lirin collapsed on the floor, recalling her first meeting with Blanche.

“Just sit next to me quickly, Lirin. I’ll teach you the utilitarianism theory you said you didn’t understand last time.”

Her cool demeanor was just like Lord Rowe.

Now Blanche didn’t go out to play during breaks, nor did she return to the Rowe mansion during vacations.

‘Of course, it’s not that I don’t understand. I know why she’s so desperate.’

Blanche loved Lady Rowe the most in the world.

“Blanche?”

“……”

She must have been concentrating, as there was no response now. Lirin let out a small sigh and was startled while organizing letters from home.

It was a letter from Lady Rowe. The sealing wax stamped with her seal was red.

It seemed to have gotten mixed up with the letters sent to the Rowe mansion and her own.

Blanche was most excited to read letters sent by Lady Rowe.

Sometimes when Lord Rowe sent them, she would check them later, but she would read Lady Rowe’s immediately.

‘I should tell her to take a break while reading this.’

Lirin approached Blanche, giggling. And carefully placed Lady Rowe’s letter on the desk.

“Blanche. Lady Rowe sent a letter. It seems to have gotten mixed up with mine.”

As expected. Blanche immediately put down her fountain pen. Excited, even her wolf ears popped out slightly.

Blanche carefully opened the letter with a paper knife and slowly read it.

And then, instead of savoring it several times as usual and putting Lady Rowe’s letter in the drawer under the desk where she kept them separately.

“…Lirin. Can we still apply for an overnight stay outside the dormitory?”

“Hmm? Probably? The dorm supervisor should still be here. But are you staying out? Didn’t you say you weren’t going back this time?”

Blanche suddenly asked if an overnight stay application was possible, then packed her things.

“Did something happen at the Rowe mansion?”

Could some serious problem have occurred? Lirin became anxious along with her.

“Something happened.”

“Wh-what! What happened! If it’s urgent, hurry and go! I’ll submit the overnight stay application to the dorm supervisor for you.”

“Lirin, what should I do.”

Lirin swallowed dryly, frustrated by Blanche not stating the subject.

‘Since Lady Rowe sent a letter, could something have happened to the lord? What is it, Blanche, what’s going on?’

Her heart raced with needless imagination.

Blanche smiled. Her mouth formed a round shape.

“I’m getting siblings!”

“…Huh?”

“Mother is pregnant with babies. I’m going to be a big sister now.”

It was that bright smile Lirin saw the day they first met.

“Congratulations, Blanche. Really.”

It was a welcome smile she hadn’t seen in a long time.

The dorm supervisor’s nagging about how she could submit an overnight stay application on the same day.

The annoying provocation of the stupid Valton saying he would be the top student next time too, none of it was heard.

Blanche was so happy right now.

She read and reread the letter her mother sent in the carriage. The letter was imbued with her mother’s scent. Her heart fluttered and she wanted to hurry back.

To my beloved daughter, Blanche.

Blanche. Are you doing well? It’s already been 3 months since I’ve seen my baby. To me, it feels like 3 years, not 3 months.

I miss you so much and want to see you.

Are you eating well? Are you sleeping well at night?

Know that all learning becomes the foundation and guide for the path you will walk in the future.

Still, I worry about you.

Whatever you do, regardless of the result, it’s enough if you do your best.

Ah, I have a separate purpose for writing this letter to you. I keep putting it off because I have so much to tell you.

I’m pregnant with babies. They say we’ll be able to meet in winter.

You’re getting siblings, our Blanche.

Now that I’m pregnant, I’m reminded of the day you were born.

You were so small, precious, and I was so happy. I remember how you held onto my finger and wouldn’t let go.

Just like you did, I hope the babies won’t let go of my hand either.

Blanche. If possible, will you come see me?

I have things I want to say, and I just miss you so much.

Then, Dad and the babies and I will be waiting.

Our daughter. My most precious treasure in the world.

I love you today too.

−From your mother who misses Blanche so much

“Hehe, I miss you, Mom.”

Blanche remembers. Her mother who cried every night after losing the baby.

At that time, Mom and Dad sent Blanche away, but.

In fact, she heard everything. That in Mom’s dream, a boy who looked very much like Dad appeared.

He called Blanche his big sister.

“If it’s babies, they must be twins?”

She had heard from a professor who took maternity leave before. That she was pregnant with twins, and somehow it felt like the firstborn they couldn’t meet before had come back holding the hand of the second.

‘Could it be that the baby from back then has come back?’

So, maybe the baby who called Blanche his big sister has come back.

‘Well, whatever. As long as Mom is happy.’

…It was certainly exciting and good. When she first read the letter, she felt she should hurry and meet Mom and the babies.

But.

‘What if Mom and Dad stop loving me now that the babies are born?’

Moreover, since Blanche has to stay at the academy, only Mom and Dad will live with the babies.

She was scared. Of losing Mom and Dad to the babies.

“Don’t cry.”

The babies are young and weak, so you have to give in to them.

Since Mom is so happy, you should be happy too.

‘I shouldn’t be fretful. I have to be good.’

Blanche recited things she wanted to do for the babies while trying to block the anxiety rising from within.

Read them storybooks, tell them not to be picky about carrots, and knit gloves for the babies with Mom since they’ll be born in winter.

Wipe away the tears. Smile.

You’re going to see Mom and the babies soon.

“Good! This much doesn’t show that I cried!”

Blanche forcibly lifted the corners of her mouth while looking at her reflection in the window.

Maybe because she asked the driver to go faster.

They arrived home quickly. Blanche hurried into the mansion after getting off at the main gate.

Dad came down the stairs and reached out to Blanche.

“Dad? How did you know I was coming? I didn’t say I was coming!”

“I smelled you. And those running footsteps can only be yours.”

Blanche felt somehow pleased. Even though she knew Dad had a good sense of smell and hearing, it was different that he remembered her scent and footsteps.

“Have you been well? You seem to have grown a bit taller?”

“Yeah, I’m going to be taller than you, Dad! I’ve been eating carrots diligently these days!”

Dad roughly tousled her hair.

“Dad!”

“Even if you eat carrots until your stomach bursts, you won’t be taller than Dad. So just eat all the macarons you like.”

“Hmph.”

Their eyes met. Dad gently wiped Blanche’s eyes.

“Blanche. Did you cry?”

“…Huh?”

“Is someone bullying you? Tell Dad.”

How did he know? I thought he wouldn’t notice for sure.

“Hurry.”

Blanche shook her head frantically in surprise, then broke out in a cold sweat seeing Dad’s expression become more serious.

“Who would bully me? If anything, I might be the one bullying others.”

She shrugged her shoulders while averting her gaze for no reason. It’s embarrassing to say she cried because she was jealous of the babies.

“More importantly, where’s Mom? I want to go see Mom quickly.”

What if Mom and Dad are disappointed?

“Blanche Gloria Rowe.”

Eek, Dad’s angry.

Dad always included ‘Gloria’ when he was angry. If he was just a little angry, something that would pass quickly, he would only call her ‘Blanche Rowe’.

“If you don’t tell me, I’ll find out on my own.”

“Dad, I hate you!”

“……”

“If I tell you this, you’ll be disappointed…”

Dad patted her back. As if saying everything was okay.

Blanche hesitated but finally opened her mouth.

“I’m scared that Mom and Dad will only love the babies…”

The words she tried hard not to say because she felt needlessly sad came out.

“But, I hate myself for thinking this way. I know I should love the babies, and I want to see them quickly… But it’s strange that I dislike it just a tiny bit.”

Ah, I shouldn’t have said it. What should I do? This is bad.

“Blanche.”

I shouldn’t have.

“Just because your siblings are being born doesn’t mean Mom and Dad will stop loving you. If anything, we’ll love you even more.”

“…Really?”

“You’re the first. I promise we’ll love you the most even after your siblings are born.”