“There’s no special reason. I just thought this might be one of the rare chances today…”
“Huff…!”
Suddenly, Sylvia’s body shrank in an instant.
She transformed into her younger self.
Startled by the sight, I gasped in surprise.
Why on earth is this happening all of a sudden?
“What… what are you doing? Even if you turn into a child, I won’t let you into the Imperial Magic Academy.”
“Really? Are you not going to send me there?”
“…I might need to think about it a little.”
With a soft thud, Sylvia climbed onto my lap, turning slightly to meet my gaze.
The overly long sleeves and the perspective of her looking up at me added to the scene, leaving me unable to think rationally.
“I’m just joking. I’ve been busy guarding you all day, overseeing tasks. How could I possibly attend the Academy?”
“…That’s true.”
“Don’t you think you’re being too kind whenever I turn into a child?”
“How could I not be?”
“Excuse me? Why is that?”
“Because seeing you like this brings back the guilt I’ve been trying to forget.”
“Ah…”
I gently placed my hands on Sylvia’s head and turned her face forward.
Meeting her eyes was difficult.
Her gaze seemed to pierce through my chest.
She was once a promising Hero candidate.
An extraordinary talent who stood on the verge of becoming both a Grand Mage and a Sword Master.
I was the one who crushed those dreams.
Even if it was to save her.
Even if the tangled web of time left me with no other options.
I can’t deny that I ruined her heart and tied her to the Vermont family, condemning her to a bleak youth devoid of freedom.
“So, does this mean you wish for me not to appear like this anymore, my Lord?”
“Yes. For the sake of my heart, I’d appreciate it if you stopped. I have no lingering feelings for someone who’s already grown into an adult.”
“I’m sorry, but I must refuse.”
“…What?”
“I never had a proper childhood. When I was a Hero candidate, I lived like a machine. Afterward, thanks to someone, I became a tool for the Vermont family.”
“…”
Sylvia leaned back against my chest.
This girl…
Was she intentionally trying to provoke my guilt further?
She was merciless.
“So, I never had someone to lean on or even the chance to act childlike. I think this form is an expression of that lack, and it seems that only by being spoiled by you, my Lord, can I resolve it.”
“Are you serious, Sylvia?”
“Yes. I have never not been serious.”
“…”
Sylvia began lightly rubbing her head against my chest.
Despite her calm and composed voice, she claimed to be expressing a lack of affection.
Her half-hearted actions were so insincere that I almost laughed out loud.
For a tomboyish person like her to say such things didn’t suit her at all.
Still, knowing that she was clumsy at revealing her true feelings, I found her sincerity plausible.
No one could endure such a painful childhood and remain unscathed.
Even if they appeared fine, it would be a façade.
Sylvia was no exception.
“Is it really so wrong… to want to be spoiled?”
“…”
[The Evil God ‘Kali’ glares at you, questioning if you would truly ignore your loyal knight.]
Slowly, Sylvia tilted her head to look up at me with glistening eyes.
Her gaze seemed on the verge of tears, like she might cry at any moment.
Faced with this, my resolve crumbled.
Anyone who could reject her now would have to be a heartless psychopath.
“Alright. Occasionally. Only occasionally. When your duties are done, and there are no immediate tasks, I’ll allow you to be spoiled in this form. I’ll accept it without any conditions then.”
“Hehe… I understand. That’s more than enough for me.”
“And by the way, I’ve learned from the Academy Head that the person responsible for your Hero training program has been imprisoned for other crimes. During the trial, accusations of abuse towards Hero candidates resurfaced, so it’s unlikely they’ll ever leave prison while alive.”
“I see… Then, I suppose I no longer have any reason to avoid the Imperial Magic Academy…”
Sylvia exhaled deeply and closed her eyes.
Having prepared herself to face that individual, the news felt anticlimactic.
Still, as the tension eased, a faint smile appeared on her face.
“Hehe… Now I can let go of revenge and live peacefully… by your side, my Lord…”
“…”
Sylvia leaned in closer, pressing against me.
She chuckled softly and began rubbing her head against my neck.
Ugh. This is driving me crazy.
Wasn’t this the same person with the stature to lift or carry me effortlessly?
I can barely remember what Sylvia’s original appearance was like anymore.
Would it really be so bad if she stayed like this forever?
“Um… Shall we return? It’s difficult to remain vigilant in this state…”
“No, it’s fine. If any threats arise, Charlotte will awaken and alert us. You can relax for now.”
“Hehe. Got it. Since I’ve got this rare chance to have you all to myself, I’ll savor it a bit longer…”
Sylvia hummed softly as she rubbed her cheek against my hand.
Wait… was this… an attempt at being affectionate?
She closed her eyes, seemingly pouring all her effort into showing this clumsy display of charm.
Her movements were stiff and unnatural, like a malfunctioning toy.
It was painfully obvious that she had never tried being endearing in her life.
While I found it both pitiful and adorable, I couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.
But as I turned my head, my eyes met Julia’s.
…When did she wake up?
“Hah…!”
“My Lord, why did you stop stroking my head? Don’t play around—keep going. More… keep petting me!”
“Sylvia.”
“Why are you calling me… I just want to take a nap like this…”
“Sylvia.”
“Huh? Uh? Ah?”
“…”
Her voice was thick with a playful tone, but as I poked her side, she finally seemed to realize something was off.
She glanced around, noticing Julia and Charlotte both awake.
Sylvia’s face began to turn crimson.
“Ahh! Knight Sister, carry on with what you were doing! We’ll just go back to sleep!”
“Y-yes… don’t mind us… we won’t interrupt…”
“Aaaahhh! Forget this ever happened, please!!!”
Sylvia quickly reverted to her adult form and darted into the shadows of the corner.
From the shadows, her muffled cries echoed so loudly that they could’ve woken the whole household.
Her outburst continued unabated, all the way until we returned to the mansion.
***
“What? You’re a friend of my Master? Then, does that mean I can call you ‘Master’ too?”
“Absolutely not, Senior.”
“Aw, why not…?”
“…”
Behind her, an overly cheerful and confident voice kept ringing out.
Yuri could feel a headache coming on.
‘Lillia Brydel—the daughter of a duke, who’s maintained first place in the Spirit Studies department for four consecutive years.’
A noblewoman with wealth, status, intelligence, and flawless grades.
She was someone everyone at the Academy, Yuri included, admired.
But now this person was following Yuri around relentlessly, and it was enough to make Yuri feel dizzy.
“Please, Senior, show some restraint. If you keep this up, I might fall out of favor with the Duke.”
“Oh my, are you really worried about that, even though you’re under the protection of Count Vermont? And don’t worry; my father isn’t petty like that.”
“Why are you even trying to make my friend Julia your teacher? You’re much older and more experienced than her…”
“Age and status don’t matter at all! Well, experience matters a little, but what’s truly important is skill! A true noble must learn from those with exceptional abilities, modeling themselves after them to strive for a better tomorrow. That’s what being a noble is all about! Hohohoho!”
“…”
With a dramatic flick of her elegant, spiral curls, Lillia laughed brightly.
Yuri found her behavior ridiculous yet strangely admirable.
She had always thought nobles were inherently arrogant and superficial, treating commoners with disdain.
But Lillia… she was genuinely trying to learn and grow, even from commoners.
In her own way, Lillia was a remarkable person.
“If I could, I’d even bring Master into my family!”
“Bring her into your family? Do you mean adopting her as an heir?”
“No! I mean establishing a connection through marriage! My younger brother is about her age, after all!”
“Wh-what!?”
Julia… engaged to some random duke’s son?
No way. Absolutely not.
She couldn’t let some snot-nosed brat ruin the CharlotteX Julia combo!
Just thinking about it was terrifying.
She had to stop this nonsense before it even began.
But how could she possibly refuse?
She wasn’t Julia, and as her friend, she didn’t have any solid reason to object…
Her thoughts raced in a whirlwind until one excuse suddenly came to mind.
Without thinking, she blurted it out.
“Absolutely not!”
“Oh my, why not?”
“Because Julia has already been chosen as Aslan Vermont’s bride!”
“Aha… if that’s the case, then I suppose I’ll have to give up…”
“Ahp!”
As the words left her mouth, Yuri clamped her hands over it in horror.
What kind of nonsense had she just said!?