Today marked Nia’s first official journey to school.

From dawn, the members were busy with Nia’s uniform, breakfast, and early carriage preparation.

Gilly and Vernon seemed to be eager to cover up yesterday’s confusion, not missing a thing and pursuing perfection.

“……Yawn.”

However, unlike them, Hiss yawned with a tired face and finally stumbled and collapsed on the sofa.

Was it because of his whitetinted white hair? The way he fell like faded paper would elicit sympathy from anyone.

Lucia, still in her nightgown, grabbed Hiss’s face and lightly lifted it.

Then, she rolled the boy’s head around as if quite worried, assessing his condition.

“Your face looks bad.”

“……Fbhrchsur.”

Hiss responded without even opening his eyes, crushed by her strength.

“Is it because of that?”

What Lucia referred to was the control stone.

Hiss nodded with his still pinched face.

“It’s okay. Even if it takes more time.”

Showing the child in front of people without the control stone had been somewhat worrisome, but since it was still a leave period, she thought it wouldn’t be a big deal to lie low at the nursery if needed.

But seeing Hiss push himself like this, Lucia suddenly felt sorry for having asked him.

Hiss, who had fallen back onto the sofa away from her, rummaged through his pocket.

“I finished it. But…….”

In Hiss’s extended hand, a black gem as small as a little fingernail sparkled and rolled around.

“Oh, has it become this small?”

The control stone that Lucia had stolen from the temple had been as big as an ostrich egg.

As far as she knew, a control stone was a special mineral that could seal magic spells, and the more powerful the spell, the bigger the stone needed to be.

So, when stealing it, she had thoughtlessly chosen the one with the thickest size, but then realized she had to carry it around, so she asked for it to be crafted considering the size.

However, Lucia did not know.

That no one in the last century had successfully crafted a control stone containing a magic spell.

Hiss, who had created a national treasure with just one word from her, didn’t bother to mention this.

“……I have nowhere to put it.”

Although he had managed to complete it, Hiss could not just have her carry around a gem, so he asked.

“That’s true.”

“……Should I put it here?”

This time, Hiss fumbled around his neck and showed a silver necklace.

Whether by coincidence or not, the pendant on the necklace had a hole just big enough for the control stone.

It seemed like a plausible suggestion, but Lucia, knowing the necklace’s history, shook her head.

“No.”

“……I don’t mind. I.”

“No. We’ll find something after today’s work is done.”

At her firmness, Hiss seemed satisfied somehow, smiling and nodding.

Even such a great genius was still a boy who seemed to want to have something confirmed.

“Captain, there’s no time. Have you changed your clothes? Vernon!!! Look here! The captain hasn’t changed his clothes!!”

At Gilliana’s uproar, Lucia stealthily stood up.

It was certain that Vernon’s nagging would intensify when he arrived.

But Vernon, who had come down in the meantime, looked down at the people in the living room and shouted very confidently.

“Now, focus! Little young lord?”

Then, from the second floor, a fluffy, dried yellow chick that seemed as if it would fly away with a gentle breeze cautiously came down.

“Wow!! Little Captain! My goodness! Isn’t she too cute!!”

Like Gilliana’s fuss and Vernon’s high pride, the child’s uniform suited her much better than expected.

The yellow dress like a uniform, the fluffy white lace, and the gold thread embroidery sparkled even more in harmony with Nia’s golden eyes.
Certainly, the space was the same as when she first brought her, but its entirely changed appearance looked like a small, plump dandelion born holding the bright sunlight.

However, unlike the appearance, the utterly dejected face looked uncomfortable, like a child being dragged somewhere against her will.

Perhaps it was because of the incident at the entrance ceremony.

Lucia crouched in front of the child, meeting her eyes.

“You’re beautiful.”

“……Thank you.”

Though she said thanks, the child avoided her gaze listlessly.

That was certainly not the look of a child who wanted to go to kindergarten.

Was it that what such a little brat said bothered her so much?

“Niya, you don’t have to get along with every child. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to play with them.”

“……Really?”

“Yes. It’s tough enough to get along with a child whose heart is in tune, let alone.”

On the day she played with Ivannia, Lucia had drooled in her sleep, and she thought that if a similar child attached herself, she might faint.

At her words, Niya finally perked her ears like a rabbit and met her eyes.

And, glancing,

“Then, is Niya your daughter even if she’s only friends with Ivannia, ……?”

Lucia didn’t understand the question, but she nodded.

Then, a flower bloomed on the child’s face.

It was an eye sparkling as if she couldn’t hide her joy, ready to roll her feet in joy.