“I’m sorry… oneechan,” she sniffled.
“It’s fine,” Amelia said gently. “So… will you take on the role?”
Helen wiped away her tears, took a deep breath, and nodded firmly.
“Leave it to me! I’ll teach everyone everything I know about magic!”
Amelia smiled, her expression bright with pride and relief. “Thank you, Helen. And Seiichi-dono, for everything you’ve done for us, including this… I think it’s only right that your reward be—”
She stopped mid-sentence. Her eyes darted around the room.
“Wait. Where’s Seiichi-dono?”
“Huh?” Helen blinked, looking around.
“Hold on… he was right here a moment ago.”
“He’s gone,” Swinn confirmed, scanning the area.
As the group stood frozen in confusion, a deep, resonant voice rolled through the courtyard.
“Are we looking for Seiichi-sama?” said the giant tree, its tone almost smug. “He’s already left,” it continued, matter-of-fact.
“Huh? L-Left? You mean he went back to his room?”
“No,” it replied with calm finality. “Back to his own country.”
“WHAT?!”
Amelia and the others screamed in perfect unison, their voices echoing across the courtyard.
“He left?! Just like that?! Without even accepting our reward?!” Amelia shouted, her jaw dropping.
“Maybe… maybe he thought it was too much trouble?” Helen offered meekly.
“Too much trouble?!” Amelia repeated, her voice climbing several octaves. She stood there trembling, her shoulders quivering in disbelief.
Leyll, sensing danger in the air, hesitated before whispering, “A-Amelia-sama?”
“Oh, he’s got nerve, I’ll give him that,” Amelia muttered darkly.
“Huh?” Helen blinked, confused.
Then, with a sharp tilt of her chin, Amelia threw her arms wide, glaring up toward the heavens.
“Fine! If that’s how he wants to play it, then I’ll hunt him down myself! He’s not getting away until he accepts my reward!”
“A-Amelia-sama?!” Leyll yelped.
“I don’t care what it takes! He’s going to accept me! Along with Helen, Leyll, and Swinn!” she roared, her voice ringing like a royal decree.
“Us too?!” the other three cried at once.
The decision, it seemed, had already been made inside Amelia’s head: they were all part of the “reward package” now.
“What? Any complaints?” she demanded, eyes flashing.
“Well, I-I mean…” Leyll stammered. “Seiichi-dono is a fine man, yes, but this is all happening rather suddenly…”
“Oh, come on! It’s not like any of you have boyfriends!” Amelia shot back without hesitation.
“That’s so cruel!” Leyll cried.
Swinn crossed her arms, looking unusually relaxed. “Honestly, I don’t mind. I’ve always been curious about marriage, but the idea of searching for someone sounded exhausting.”
“Swinn?!” Leyll gaped at her. “You’re fine with this?!”
Swinn shrugged with an easy smile. “Why not? Seiichi-dono is incredibly capable. You could do far worse.”
“Well, I—uh…” Leyll’s face turned bright red as she fumbled for words, unable to decide whether to argue or faint.
And just like that, the palace courtyard devolved into another storm of absurdity… again.
Leyll, who had almost been carried away by Swinn’s calm reasoning, hesitated uncertainly, clearly about to give in to the chaos.
Meanwhile, Amelia turned to Helen, her expression fierce with determination.
“Helen, you’re fine with this too, right?!”
“W-Wait, oneechan! Seiichi-sensei already—!”
“Do you like him or not?!”
“I-I mean, it’s not like I hate him, but—”
“Then it’s settled!” Amelia declared triumphantly, as if that were the most airtight reasoning in the world.
“T-This is insane…” Helen muttered, burying her face in her hands. She had long since realized that trying to stop her older sister in this mood was utterly pointless.
Off to the side, the divine tree gave a long, knowing sigh, its branches rustling like someone shaking their head in disbelief.
“Good grief… Seiichi-sama truly is the eye of every storm, isn’t he?” it murmured.
Whether that exasperated comment ever reached Seiichi himself… was another matter entirely.