Leviathan crossed his arms, his brow deeply furrowed.

Every night, like a promise, the voice of the one he longed for returned to him.

“Levi! Don’t you notice anything different about me?”

That was one of the phrases he feared most in the world—despite being a man who had once feared nothing. He hadn’t even noticed when his girlfriend’s long hair had been completely cut off.

“I... thought it was tied up like usual.”

That was the excuse he gave.

Later, Rosetta found his clumsy reactions so funny that she began doing it on purpose, just to tease him. Of course, Leviathan never realized.

‘Why am I remembering that now?’

He didn’t know how to deal with this sudden wave of unease. Somehow, it reminded him of all the cigarettes he’d given up.

“Then, I’ll take my leave.”

Count Camelan quickly rose, straightened his chair, and hurried away.

Leviathan sat in thought, then turned to Adolf, who had been standing quietly to the side.

“Still no contact from Borbel?”

“Yes, my lord.”

Seeing Leviathan’s face twist in frustration, Adolf quickly added:

“Don’t worry. I already instructed them to forward any letters from Eosia directly here.”

Leviathan nodded, absently turning his half-empty teacup.

“Strangely... I’m scared.”

Adolf almost doubted his ears. It was the first time he had ever heard Leviathan say he was afraid of something. But without showing it, he kept his face composed and asked:

“What do you mean, my lord?”

“Whenever I look at that child... I feel uneasy.”

Her awkward efforts to call him “Dad” were both touching and heartbreaking.

But did he truly deserve to be called that?

One day, Rubian had suddenly fallen into his life and stayed by his side.

It was the greatest fortune he had ever received... and yet, that was exactly why he feared she might vanish just as suddenly, like the wind.

‘If I really were your father... would I still feel this way?’

Never before had Leviathan felt so strongly how lacking he was as a person.

Perhaps parenting was nothing more than enduring endless worry and reflection.

“Tada! If you tie it like this... done!”

Sortie was a clever girl.

“Oh.”

I gave a short word of admiration as I looked at the knot she had tied for me.

Since our first meeting in the drawing room, we had become fairly close.

She now came almost every day with the Count to the Duke’s villa.

The Jebert villa in Ipsun was always full of people.

Uncle had to divide his time tightly to meet the nobles. Since many nobles thought it too much trouble to travel to dangerous Jelrox, they all flocked here instead.

Today was one of those particularly busy days, with many visitors.

“Lady Olson!”

Sortie suddenly jumped up from the bench, waving toward the garden entrance. When I turned my head, I saw a girl in a rich dress walking quickly toward us.

“What, it’s Olson?”

Void, who was swinging his wooden sword at the garden trees, muttered.

“You know her?”

“Yeah. She nags a lot. Girls are annoying.”

“Ehh, that’s mean. You should get along with your friends.”

Void just snorted, tapping his wooden sword on the ground.

Sortie ran up with quick steps.

“How have you been? It’s been a while!”

“Yes. Titi, hello. And... Lord Void Jebert...”

The Olson Count’s daughter spoke shyly. She glanced at Void, a faint blush on her cheeks.

“Hello. It’s been a while. ...I just couldn’t wait until the academy opens again.”

“I-I never asked you to wait!”

Void stomped the ground, grumbling as always.

‘What, what? Could this be... that cliché?!’

My heart pounded as I secretly watched the shy exchange between boy and girl.

The Olson lady smiled, walking closer with her hands behind her back.

“Do you remember what I told you before the break?”

Gasp! What did she say before the break?!

She smiled gently and stepped closer. From her hands behind her back came out—not a bouquet of confession flowers—

—but a stiff penalty notebook.

“You broke the fence with your wooden sword, didn’t you? That’s minus 5 points! Five!”

Void Jebert / Property damage / -5 points

※ Effective upon notice

“What?! You came to give me penalty points?! Just because you’re the student council president?!”

“A noble son of Jebert running away from penalty points? How cowardly!”

“Arghhh! I can’t stand you! We’re completely incompatible!”

Void shouted in every color, then ran off into the distance.

“Phew. That was satisfying.”

Lady Olson clapped her hands once, then turned around.

With a proud smile, she approached Sortie.

“So then, Titi, what are you doing here?”

“Oh! I was playing with Rubian.”

“Rubian...?”

Our eyes met. I couldn’t help but admire.

‘Wow, two really beautiful girls...’

Lady Olson with her long, wavy honey-colored hair, and Lady Sortie with her sky-blue braids. As noble daughters, not only were their dresses splendid, but they even gave off a faint, sweet fragrance.

‘They must have gone to the hot springs together, huh?’

I felt jealous for no reason.

As I was thinking random thoughts, Lady Olson came closer and held out her hand.

“I’ve heard about you from my father. I am Olivia Olson, daughter of Count Olson.”

So this was the student council president. She really was a sharp, capable girl.

I lightly took her hand.

“Yes, hello. I’m Rubian.”

“Hmm. You don’t really seem like a Jebert.”

Huh? What does that mean?

While my mind raced to figure out whether that was an insult or a compliment, Sortie quickly stepped forward.

“Right? She’s so round, small, and soft!”

“Yes. The new hope of the Jeberts. A revolutionary change.”

Somehow, I suddenly felt like I’d become the symbol of a new era.

“To think someone like this would end up as Lord Void’s sibling... you have my deepest sympathy.”

“Ha ha...”

Olivia tilted her head, looking genuinely sympathetic.

Void... just what are you doing at the academy?

“Hm? Liv, sympathy shouldn’t be so shallow, right?”

“Oh dear, Titi. Rubian, you must enter our academy as soon as possible.”

“Huh?”

“I’ll give you a proper education. But of course, you must become a model student who obeys all the rules of our academy.”

“You must really like the academy, huh, sister?”

“It’s ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) a wonderful place where rules and penalty points flourish.”

Olivia smiled, patting Sortie’s hair.

“By the way, that’s a lovely bonnet. Is it new?”

“Yes! Mother bought it for me.”

“I also bought a ribbon for the new term. Right size, right color—all according to regulations.”

“Ohh, is it from Harzen Boutique?”

“No, from Molip. Even Young Master Bolden goes there.”

“Wow, that fashionable young master? I actually went there recently too...”

I felt dizzy as I listened to their ping-pong conversation.

‘This is...’ 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

No place for me to join in!

Come to think of it, it had been so long since I’d even chatted with girls my own age...!

“Mm, this might take a while. Shall we go have cake together? I heard Jake’s Tea Salon just opened here in Ipsun.”

“Waaah! Sounds great!”

I slowly stepped back.

“Hm? Lady Rubian, are you leaving? Unlike Lord Void, I’d love for you to come with us.”

“Hehe... I’m going to play with Void. I also have to practice with the wooden sword...”

I muttered awkwardly and turned around, but Sortie tugged my sleeve.

“Ah, I haven’t finished teaching you the knot yet!”

“Show me next time!”

Leaving the two girls staring blankly after me, I slipped out of the garden.

This didn’t feel like my place...

I thought I was becoming an ordinary kid after living in the Duke’s household.

But no! The road to normalcy was much farther and harder than I’d imagined!

Back in my room, I quietly practiced tying knots.

‘If I insert a small barrier stone here, I could use it as a sword ornament.’

A proud smile spread across my face.

I was planning to carve the barrier stone on my windowsill down into a small, portable accessory.

It wouldn’t be as powerful as a full magic tool, but since it was still an activated magic stone, it could save me at least once in an emergency.

‘When the Green Festival ends, Dad will head out for the Spring Subjugation.’

Honestly, I wanted to follow him. But of course, he would never allow it.

So this was all I could do.

“It’s still clumsy, so practice, and more practice!”

By now, the crowd of guests who had filled the villa had all left like the tide.

Dad was probably still buried in piles of paperwork.

“Sigh. Like a poor office worker, even working during vacation.”

So pitiful. So sad.

As I let out a short sigh—knock, knock—the sound of knocking came at the door.