“Yes. The wind spirit who can call storms! I’d never seen one in real life. But I couldn’t get a good look this time, and I’d like to observe her more closely!”
Nival sank weakly to his knees as Brigitte realized belatedly that the mood in the room was shifting.
I can’t put my finger on it… It’s as if they all pity him…
And that uncomfortable warmth in his eyes…
As she was about to ask him the reason, he rasped, “…Of course. I will do whatever you wish.”
Brigitte clapped her hands. “You’re kinder than I realized,” she said.
“…Kind? …I’m not sure that’s the word…ha-ha.”
Why is he about to cry now…?
She had no idea what was going on. But before she realized, she was smiling much more naturally than she usually did.
“Your Highness…!”
In an empty classroom, Lisa was clasped in Joseph’s arms. Normally, she loved these sweet moments when no one could disturb them. But not today.
She grabbed the hem of his uniform and peered up at him. His handsome face was full of questions, but his expression was gentle.
“What’s wrong, Lisa?”
“It’s Brigitte Meidell…! In class…she used spirit power to rein in another out-of-control spirit!”
She wondered why he was pretending not to know. Of course he must have heard the story. After all, the whole school was gossiping about it… Did they never tire of talking about her?
Lisa didn’t know the details, but it seemed Brigitte had done something to control a second-class spirit that got out of hand. She had stepped forward to protect the other students by trying to bring Nival back to his senses. The rumor had spread, and now everyone was asking if maybe Brigitte Meidell wasn’t so useless and haughty after all.
Don’t they know the Red Fairy is just a loud, obnoxious nobody?!
Lisa was uneasy. She had a horrible feeling that the tide was turning in Brigitte’s favor. But Joseph just patted her head and said listlessly, “…Yes, I heard Nival’s ariel got out of control.”
His lack of concern was infuriating. She wanted him to understand; she stepped away from him, her lips quivering.
“…I saw it myself.”
Joseph raised his eyebrows, silently asking her to continue.
“I saw Sir Nival…acting like he was Brigitte’s slave!!”
Nival Weir was president of the class next to hers. He had been friends with Joseph since they were children, and people said he was sure to be Joseph’s aide in the future.
He was good to Lisa as well. He had always told Joseph that Brigitte was not fit to be a prince’s wife, and she loved to hear it every time. So why was he acting like this?
Lisa thought back to the scene she’d witnessed a few moments earlier.
“He was smiling while he talked to her. He was carrying her bag and telling her to mind the step. He was even wearing a collar with a strange pattern on it—just like a dog!”
She rubbed her arm at the unnerving memory, unaware of the actual purpose of the collar.
“Maybe he’s acting so strangely because he provoked his spirit… It’s so unlike him!” she went on.
Joseph said nothing.
“I mean, Sir Nival is in line to be your assistant! I thought he hated Brigitte—”
“…What are you implying, Lisa?” Joseph finally said. His tone was cool and his face blank. “I’m not as good as Brigitte, so now Nival is bowing down to her?”
…What…?
Faced with this unexpected response, her brain froze.
He didn’t like what she was saying—as soon as she realized it, her face went white.
“I—I—I didn’t mean that… I’m sorry, Your Highness. I…”
She reached out to cling to him, but then he looked at her hand in disgust. She flinched and withdrew it.
Wh-what do I do now? I’ve made him angry. How do I fix it…?!
She sniffled, on the verge of tears.
“Come on, Lisa. I’m only joking.”
He smiled sweetly at her and took her shaking hand. That alone was enough to calm her shivering and soothe her ragged breath.
“Lisa, think about it. You know Brigitte’s just a useless, pushy nobody, right?”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“She might have managed to trick people for now…but that doesn’t change the truth. You don’t need to worry about vulgar rumors,” he announced confidently.
Lisa began to agree.
“Besides, I planned to get rid of Nival anyway. He’s nothing special.”
“Of course, you’re right!”
In that case, she had nothing to worry about.
“There must be something wrong with me,” she said. “When I saw that even Sir Yuri seemed to have feelings for Brigitte, I couldn’t help worrying.”
“…What are you talking about?” His tone was a shade darker, but Lisa was too distracted by his hand twined in hers to notice.
“I don’t know the details, but Sir Yuri was having some kind of competition with her.”
“Interesting…,” he said, although her answer wasn’t much use. “…Yuri Aurealis, eh?”
But Lisa, in her haze of pleasure, didn’t hear his low whisper.