Suddenly, there was a red heat at my fingertips, and wind started to swirl around me.
“Wow, that feels great! I’m all dry now. Thanks, Sere!”
I was dumbfounded. In the novel, Serephione was highly skilled in all kinds of magic. I hadn’t taken my magic exam yet, so I had never used magic before, yet somehow I was using it without even intending to.
“Lou, do you think I can use magic?”
“You already are.”
“Do you think I have talent for it?”
“That’s why I chose you.”
“I thought it was because my magic feels good.”
“That’s where your talent lies. You have a lot of magical power. You have plenty left even after I absorb a bunch of it. You’re still fine right now, but most people would have passed out, you know? I’m glad I have you around.”
Not only was this the same as in the book, but it had come to fruition before it did in the book... I had no choice but to develop this talent at this point. If things went down the same route, I would need the strength to protect myself.
“Lou, could you teach me magic?”
“Huh? Me, your teacher?! S-Sure thing!”
Now I had a way to do magic training before I turned six! But at this rate, I would master magic, get Advanced on my magic exam, go to the magic academy, and meet the heroine—a route straight to doom.
“I don’t want to go to magic school...”
“Hm? Then just don’t go. I’m teaching you magic, aren’t I?”
“Thanks, Lou, but it’s not that simple...”
“Okay, so come on a journey with me when you get old enough. If I have an oracle suggest it, nobody can complain. We can just say you’ll do other training, right? It’ll be fun!”
So, Lou can control what oracles predict... That’s my hundred-plus-year-old super-fluffball!
It was a tempting idea to go on a journey with Lou. We could become adventurers, join a guild, complete quests, raise our ranks... It sounded great! I wanted a future like that... Just picturing it made me feel warm and fuzzy.
But Lou using the oracle was the last resort. It would cause way too big a fuss.
Thinking realistically, couldn’t I just study with a different organization? There’s one other option with similar benefits apart from the magic school.
“Lou, do you think I can go to knight school?”
“Hmm, I don’t know.”
Of course he didn’t. But for the meantime, I had no choice but to do my best to get into knight school. If I got lucky and made it in, I wouldn’t cross paths with the heroine, the prince, or any of the other characters who entered the magic academy at the same time.
“I’ll practice magic in private with you, and then I’ll try to get into knight school. Then I’ll become a knight who can use magic and go on a big adventure with you when I grow up! Woo!”
“Zzz...”
And he’s asleep...
I gently lowered Lou onto the bed and got ready to sleep myself. Giving my room another look around, I noticed it was mostly pink. It made the grown woman I was on the inside cringe. I should change it to another color... Hmm, the clubroom is made of wood, and it has a natural feel to it... Maybe I should get clothes and accessories that are sky blue to match Lou’s eyes? That’s the color that’s resonated with my heart the most so far. I’ve only been alive for three years, though...
As I was making plans in my head, somebody knocked on my door. It was probably Enrique or Martha, but what would they want at this hour?
“Come in!”
The door opened, and in came...Larouza, dressed in white pajamas. He was still pretty, even with freshly-washed hair and messy clothes!
“Wait, huh?!”
This was the first time I remembered my brother ever coming into my room. My eyes opened wide in surprise.
“So, you’re awake... What about the holy beast?” asked Larouza.
I pointed to the bed without saying anything.
“So, he’s already asleep...”
Larouza looked at me with a sharp glare. What has him so angry that he came here at night? I’ve had enough of seeing his pretty face with that scary look. I’ve had a long enough day already!
Lou woke up, as if he’d sensed my nerves, and jumped onto my shoulder. Then he silently looked at my brother. They were glaring at each other—the atmosphere was oppressive.
“Brother! Lou! What’s going on?!”
I couldn’t stand to stay silent. My brother turned toward me in response...then his facial expression contorted and he started to sob, as though he had reached his limit.
“Brother?!”
He fell onto his knees and lowered his head.
“I’m sorry, Holy Tiger... I’m really sorry I hurt you...” he cried.
It was Larouza?! So he was behind Lou’s injury! Lou’s eyes grew large in surprise as well.
“I wasn’t able to practice today because of the snow, so I made myself a new weapon... I practiced throwing it into the snow, but then I heard a scream... I rushed outside and there was blood everywhere...”
Lou and I listened quietly.
“There aren’t many burglars who can get onto our premises. That meant I had to have hurt someone who worked here...” Larouza sobbed. “I followed the trail of blood, and it led to your room, Serephione... I thought I’d killed my precious little sister...!”
Larouza covered his face with his hands and wailed. Lou and I sat down on the floor next to my sobbing brother.
“I was on edge waiting to hear a scream coming from your room. I was a coward... I was too scared to open your door. When I thought about you lying there cold like our mother, I just...”
That’s right... However cool and put-together he seems, Larouza is only ten. He would have been an elementary schooler in my past life’s terms. He’s making that frightening scowl because of how afraid and panicked he is.
“I was so scared to go to dinner, but then you were perfectly fine, and you had the Holy Tiger with you... And then when I heard that he got hurt in your place...”
It wasn’t in my place, though? It was only Lou that was running around and frolicking in the snow...
“The Holy Tiger was looking at me as if to say he knew everything... But he didn’t tell father about what I did... I thought he must be testing my courage.”
I looked at Lou through slit eyes. He was looking back and forth suspiciously.
“And I wasn’t able to apologize until now... I... I...”
His pretty emerald eyes looked like they were about to fall out along with his tears. What am I doing, letting a child keep crying for so long? I ran to my brother, removed his hands from his face, and gently wiped away his tears with the sleeve of my pajamas.
“Don’t cry, brother. Your eyes will fall out.”
“Serephione...”
“You were making a scary face, so I thought you didn’t like me anymore.”
“I could never stop liking you! You’re my adorable little sister!”
So he doesn’t resent me... That’s a relief. He just isn’t good at controlling his expression. But is it really true that he could never stop liking me? If things go according to the plot... Well, I don’t have to think about that right now.
“I love you too, brother.”
“Serephione...”
“You’re not mad, right, Lou? You love him too?”
Lou was fidgeting uncomfortably. I gave him a glare, and he hastily nodded.
Larouza bit his lower lip, and then gave me and Lou a big hug.
“I love you too, Serephione and Lou!”
I squeezed him back. Lou poked his face out from between us and licked my brother’s cheek.
“He he he. That tickles, Lou.” Larouza laughed through his tears in a way befitting his age.
“Larouza.”
We two humans and one fluffball lifted our heads to the voice. Our father was standing just above us. He spread his arms and embraced all of us.
It’s only natural he noticed the huge fuss we were making.
He gently stroked both my and my brother’s heads.
“F-Father...I’m really sorry I didn’t tell you the truth earlier!”
My brother started crying again, flustering me and Lou. Papa gave him a warm smile.
“If Lou forgives you, then all is well. But take this as a lesson to be more careful from now on. Think through what you’re doing before you do it. All right?”
“Y-Yes!”
That day, we all slept together in my father’s bed for the first time. I was in the middle, my father was on my right, my brother was on my left, and the fluffball was on top of me.
This must be what it means to have a beauty on each arm. I have no regrets in life!
But...now I’ve met Lou. I hadn’t forced him to do it, but we’d made a contract. This was no different from the story of Wild Rose. The first happiness I found in this world is like a skyscraper built on sand. My father, my brother, and Lou, who’ve found a place in my heart in such a short time... Will they all turn against me in the future? Will they abandon me and say bad things about me?
Tears came to my eyes. I pretended to yawn to hide them.
“F-Father! I want to ask you for something.”
“That’s unusual. What is it, Serephi?”
“I want to go to knight school in the future, so I want to start studying the basics now.”
“Serephione! Why?” My brother’s voice was high from surprise.
“We can’t go to magic school together because you’re too old. And mostly, I want to become a knight and be one of the two wheels carrying the Granzeus family.”
“But Serephi, didn’t Lou recognize your magical power?”
“Lou will teach me magic, and that’s why I’ll study fighting. I promised Lou I’d go on a journey with him in the future. Right, Lou?”
Lou opened one eye and then went straight back to sleep.
“So, the Holy Tiger would like you to attend him... Well, we can start by building up your stamina once the weather warms up.”
“Yes, Father. Brother, please be my mentor.”
“Hey, I’m supposed to be the one who protects you!”
Thank you, Brother! I appreciated the sentiment. They were understanding for now, at least! I could do my best to become a knight, and then an adventurer! I didn’t have any other path at the moment, after all.
With a fluffy tail curled around my neck while wrapped in both of their arms, I felt like the snowstorm outside was too warm to be true.
“Good night,” I said through a yawn.
“Good night, Serephione.”
“Good night, my Serephi.”
“Sere! Good night!”
What bliss! Please, don’t ever stop liking me!