“Here you are. It’s been a while, elder sister.”

“Riley, who is this?”

“Hello, I’m Claire, Riley’s younger sister.”

Why on earth is Claire here? Riley was genuinely taken aback.

This place was close to the academy, but quite far from where Claire was staying. So what is she doing here?

Claire, with her thick skin, sat down next to Riley with a shameless smile.

“…What brings you here?”

“I came out for a preliminary survey.”

“…Preliminary survey?”

“I got into Horizon too, didn’t you know? This place is close to Horizon. I stopped by on my way back from touring the academy. By the way, I’m hurt that you’re so indifferent to your sister’s affairs.”

“…You’re attending Horizon?”

“Of course. You’re attending, so why can’t I?”

Claire is not a magician.

That means she’s in the general department, not the magic department.

The competition for the ‘general’ track far exceeded imagination compared to the ‘magician’ track with its low population ratio. Of course, with so many departments in the general track, it varied widely by major, but it was still undeniably the highest competition rate compared to other academies.

Did Claire really pass that intense competition?

Riley recalled the image of Claire stabbing her thighs while studying every day.

Well, considering her school days, she was quite the oddball to the point where people around her would click their tongues. Throughout her academy years, she alternated between first and second place, and her aunt went around boasting about it to everyone until her mouth went dry.

Still, to be accepted into Horizon, she was more amazing than I thought.

“You should be thankful you were born a magician. If it weren’t for the system that determines the cutoff line solely based on pure mana, how could you have been accepted with that brain and those skills of yours?”

Hilra, who was watching from the side, frowned at Claire’s words.

“Is that how you talk to your elder sister?”

Far from being intimidated, Claire feigned surprise and covered her mouth with her hand.

“Oh my, I’m sorry. Did I startle you?”

“…”

“We sisters originally have a bad relationship, you see.”

Claire said, grabbing Riley’s hand.

“Elder sister, keep in touch with home once in a while.”

“…”

“How many years have you lived, and how much have they done for you, to repay their kindness like this?”

Seeing Claire holding her head high so shamelessly when it was clear that one year of her tuition at Horizon would be more than what the Eadalin family had given me in my entire lifetime, Riley was dumbfounded.

Riley drank her tea as if it wasn’t even worth responding to. She didn’t want to ruin this pleasant mood by getting into an argument.

Fortunately, Claire didn’t seem to want to pick a fight either.

“Since we’re attending the same academy, we’ll see each other often, right?”

“The general department and magic department rarely have any reason to meet, so you can rest assured.”

“Ah, that’s a shame. But somehow I feel like we’ll see each other often anyway?”

“…”

“Anyway elder sister, let’s get along well. Study hard, and you know that Horizon is not only difficult to enter but even harder to graduate from, right? Don’t let me end up graduating before you.”

Claire waved her hand with a giggle.

“Well then, I’ll be going, elder sister.”

After Claire left, Hilra bristled as if wondering how such a person could exist.

“Your sister is somewhat unpleasant, isn’t she? Not just somewhat, but the most unpleasant person I’ve ever met.”

Riley burst into laughter at Hilra’s blunt words.

“She’s a girl who lives off her own self-importance.”

“She doesn’t seem to have anything better than you at all.”

“…Do you really think so?”

“Yes, everything. You’re much prettier, taller, kinder, cuter, more caring, and smarter than her. This is her problem. That arrogantly babbling mouth of hers is what people call a muzzle, not a mouth. People with muzzles tend to break the moment they open them.”

“I’ve never heard anyone say that before. I always thought I wasn’t better than Claire in any way.”

“Are you really that humble? Riley, don’t feel inferior to your sister. You’re much better. You’re a magician! But she’s just a commoner who can only use mouth magic. Why should you feel intimidated by such a muzzle magician?”

“Mouth magic? Muzzle magician?”

“That’s what we call those who only have a quick tongue like her.”

Riley burst into laughter, holding her stomach.

Oh my!

“Why are you laughing? I’m serious.”

“Hilra, you’re so funny and amusing.”

“Well, this is the biggest laugh I’ve seen from you so far. Seems you have this kind of taste, huh.”

“People always compared me to Claire and spoke ill of me, but you’re comparing me to Claire and speaking ill of her. That’s a first.”

Hilra grimaced at Riley’s words.

“…I said your sister has a bad mouth for someone so young, but were you mistreated at home?”

“…”

“Ah, I see. I could tell at a glance. Even so, you’re the elder sister, but she’s too blatantly disrespectful.”

Hilra patted Riley’s shoulder and pushed a piece of carrot cake into her mouth.

“I understand. I grew up being compared to my brothers. It was worse because both my brothers are magicians.”

“…”

“But don’t feel discouraged, Riley. Don’t mind other people’s gazes or words, just act confidently. That’s how your life becomes confident too. That’s how others can’t look down on you or despise you.”

“…Hilra.”

“You’re really an excellent girl. And you’re my good friend. I like you. And I think you’re much more dignified and cooler than that damn sister of yours.”

Riley hugged Hilra tightly, tearing up at the sight of her giving a thumbs up.

“Me too… I’m really glad to be your friend.”

– Can you graduate without failing once?

– Of course.

– Good, I’ll trust you and allow it.

Claire started by saying that educational shopping was becoming a trend among the major nobles in the capital, and that the days when women only supported their husbands from behind were over, persuading Ryan.

Ryan was skeptical at first, but he changed his mind after looking for investors.

Ryan, who had tried to expand his business here, went out to look for investors, but not only the capital’s nobles but also the wealthy capitalists had their noses in the air. He realized how high the hurdle was to mix with the ‘center’.

Of course, things would be different if Riley married Givnen, but that influence would disappear if they divorced, wouldn’t it?

In the end, Ryan was persuaded by Claire. If Claire, his own daughter, married into a good family, especially a noble family in the capital, it would only be good and not bad at all.

Of course, the enormous tuition was a burden for Ryan. There was no guarantee that she would graduate right away, and Claire wasn’t good enough to attend the academy on a scholarship even if she met the admission requirements.

But there was the amount received as a wedding dowry, and he judged that once Givnen and Riley got married, he could easily pull funds from anywhere.

“Did you enjoy your tour?”

“Yes, mother.”

“How was it?”

“It was really big and splendid, just as I heard. I like it.”

The baroness sighed in relief at Claire’s words.

“Do well. It’s a rare opportunity.”

“Of course, oh, I saw Riley today.”

“…Riley?”

“Yes, she had a face like she’d eaten something bad as soon as she saw me.”

The baroness stared at Claire for a moment, then carefully took her hand.

“Claire.”

“Yes, mother.”

“Try to avoid getting involved with your sister and quietly enjoy your academy life.”

“…”

“After all, you getting into the academy is thanks to your sister, if you think about it.”

“How is that because of Riley? Unlike Riley who got in through connections, I got in with my own abilities, you know?”

“Your tuition came from Riley.”

Claire twisted the corners of her mouth as if finding it absurd.

“Of course she should do a lot for our family. We took her in when she had nowhere to go and raised her, isn’t that enough?”

“…That’s true, but.”

“Isn’t it really funny? Did we torment her like we were going to kill her? Did we starve her by not giving her food? Her victim mentality is excessive. She should be grateful for even that much we did for her.”

Claire’s logic was that just because they didn’t treat her with care, just because they mistreated her a little, it doesn’t erase the fact that they took her in, fed her, clothed her, and gave her a place to sleep.

“Look what would have happened if we hadn’t taken her in. She would have been begging on the streets or already dead. It’s disgusting how she acts like a victim while painting us as domestic abusers. Look at her now. Just because she found a good man, she’s acting like she doesn’t know her place and trying to cut ties with us. Doesn’t she realize she’s the one being tyrannical?”

“Still, endure it. Right now, there’s nothing good about getting on Riley’s bad side.”

“Mother, really, do you think I’m going to bully Riley? Am I going to hit her? Don’t worry. Anyway, the general department and magic department have different courses, so we’ll hardly ever run into each other.”

Deciding to enter the academy wasn’t out of jealousy towards Riley.

The academy had always been Claire’s long-cherished wish. She just couldn’t express it because she didn’t have money and circumstances didn’t allow it. Her dream of honing herself and entering as a daughter-in-law of a prestigious family was still alive and well.

She was furious to the point of boiling when Riley and Givnen’s marriage was decided, but thinking about it differently, if Riley could do it, why couldn’t she?

Claire could proudly say that she had really lived hard. To avoid being looked down upon by others, she maintained grades alternating between first and second place throughout her academy life, and didn’t neglect taking care of her appearance. Not for a single moment did she stop looking towards higher places.

She was disgusted by the mediocre life of being born into a mediocre family and receiving mediocre treatment. She wanted a glamorous life, one that everyone would look up to. A life that was the object of everyone’s envy, receiving admiration from all.

To achieve that, she had to become a capable woman.

Then wealth and honor would naturally follow.

“But I’m going to use her as much as I can. Riley won’t have a choice either, as long as she’s my sister.”

Riley returned home in a good mood and hummed a tune while taking a bath.

‘…Friends are much better than I thought.’

She felt like she had gotten much closer to Hilra today.

Similar age, late admission, external origin. While there were many commonalities that attracted her, it’s true that she had been somewhat wary, but today’s events completely broke down her wall towards Hilra.

“Young lady. You seem to be in a very good mood.”

“Yes, I’m happy. I think I’m too, too happy.”

At first, when Claire appeared, she was confused, wondering what on earth was happening, but thinking about it now, it was fortunate to have met Claire there.

Wouldn’t it have been more surprising and more annoying if they had met inside the academy?

“Are you so happy to be with the master after a long time?”

“What do you mean?”

“I heard the master is coming home early today, aren’t you happy about that?”

“…I didn’t hear anything about that.”

“Really? I was told that the master would return home before dinner today. He said he wanted to spend time alone with you here after a long while.”

“…Really?”

“Yes, I think he might sleep here tonight and not leave.”

Come to think of it, she always had meals outside with Givnen.

They’ve hardly ever had a meal alone together in the mansion, and he’s never slept over at the mansion.

Once, worried if he was getting enough sleep, she asked where he slept, and heard that he either worked until dawn, met someone, or took short naps alone in hotels or his study.

She thought the head of an organization would usually have more free time, but he was an exception. Givnen was busier than anyone.

Sack said he was even busier in the early days after becoming the Tower Master. That he would have more free time as time passed. So she just accepted it as it was.

“He’s going to sleep here?”

“Yes! You’ll finally be using the same bed.”

“…What?”

“Aren’t you so happy?”

Come to think of it, on the day she came to this mansion, she was instructed that she should sleep in the bedroom with Givnen.

Originally, she thought couples would share a room after marriage, but since Givnen had introduced her as the person he would marry and brought her, the head maid Sophia naturally thought they would share a room.

Of course, due to Givnen’s extremely rare returns home, she had been sleeping in her own room until now, but should she sleep in his bedroom today?

Riley felt her face flush and lowered her head, feeling strangely hot.

‘No. There’s no guarantee he’ll definitely sleep over. Even if we sleep in the same room… there’s no guarantee we’ll have a relationship.’

“Young lady, your face has turned red.”

“!”

“How cute.”

Richel giggled, making a fuss.

Riley changed into new clothes at the news of his arrival. It was an outfit that Richel had chosen with great care. The light pink dress was to Riley’s liking as well.

How long had she waited in anticipation for Givnen to arrive like that, when there was a commotion outside. Thinking Givnen had arrived, she went downstairs, but an unexpected scene unfolded.

“What are you doing! Quickly take the master to the bedroom!”

There was a sense of urgency somewhere. The pale faces of the servants were unfamiliar, and the sight of Givnen being carried in on a stretcher was even more unfamiliar. His usually fair skin looked even whiter today.

Riley followed those carrying Givnen to the bedroom in surprise.

“What on earth happened?”

Sack, who had just entered the room, answered Riley’s question.

“He has been poisoned.”