The green ivy twining over the roof of the gazebo was blooming with white flowers. Beneath it, Yuri and Brigitte sat across from each other at the table, like they always did. Yuri was reading a book, but Brigitte was looking at the garden. Considering everything that had happened recently, there was no way she could concentrate on a book.
Two full days had passed since the incident with Joseph.
Naturally, word about the chain of events that the prince set off spread past the school to the palace. He had been third in line for the throne, after his two older brothers, but his succession rights would likely be stripped. This was partly the consequence of the disturbance he’d caused, and partly because he’d lost his contracted spirits.
Joseph had taken the magic breaker off shrine grounds, and worse, his own spirit had used it to sever his contracts.
The Kingdom of Field has prospered only through the assistance of spirits…
He would not likely be forgiven for denying that fundamental truth. As he was carried away on a stretcher, he had never taken his eyes off Brigitte. Longing, hatred, desperation—
Brigitte could not tear her gaze from the strange glitter in his eyes, but Yuri took her hand and shielded her back protectively so that she did not have to see any more.
Joseph would probably not return to study at the academy.
Investigations of his accomplices, the chief priest and Mr. Inad, were underway. They had already revealed that the chief priest had been currying favor with the prince for several years in exchange for preferential treatment, allowing him to borrow not only the shrine’s magic breaker but the magic crystal as well. As for Mr. Inad, it turned out he had previously failed the palace civil service exam. He was gloomily working as a teacher when Joseph discovered him and sweet-talked him into taking part in his scheme, with promises of a higher government position than his father held, according to Mr. Inad’s confession.
So Joseph discovered Peep when he used the magic crystal…
Peep had been dormant until very recently. Joseph had realized the spirit’s real identity earlier than anyone. That was why he had plotted to sever Brigitte’s contract with it.
“Peep…”
Brigitte heard a soft chirp coming from the top of the table. Peep was curled up, sleeping. It must have been dreaming because it was moving its beak in an extremely cute way.
“Looks like Peep’s back to normal.”
“…Yes.”
Brigitte smiled wryly. She hadn’t realized Yuri was looking at her. Peep had temporarily transformed into a beautiful phoenix, but now the spirit was a little chick again. The cause had been a cheerful comment by Kira after Joseph was carried away.
“Lucky us, Miss Brigitte! Now there will be so much more delicious meat!”
She had probably only meant to lighten the mood… Probably. But the phoenix had begun shaking and hid itself with its outstretched wings. The next instant, it had shrunk to a feebly shivering little chick. Kira had been disappointed, but Brigitte had felt a little happy. The chick version of Peep didn’t look very powerful, but Brigitte was enchanted.
“Peep, peep…”
Brigitte giggled and pet Peep’s head. Her hand was no longer encased in a glove. The scars that had tormented her for so long had been healed by Peep. Sienna had cried with joy when Brigitte told her, and the other servants teared up, too. Brigitte still treasured the gloves they had given her, and she displayed them on a shelf in her room. She planned to keep them for the rest of her life.
And then there’s Lisa…
Surprisingly, she had come with Kira to apologize to Brigitte. Kira had admitted before that she was the one who stole Brigitte’s pen during the written exams, but Lisa had told her to do it. Although Lisa had disliked Brigitte to start with, Brigitte had no doubt Joseph was the one who nurtured that dislike into loathing.
As Lisa had stood before her, frowning but with head bowed, Brigitte had felt like she was looking at the girl she had once been when she had miserably obeyed Joseph’s bidding. That was why she couldn’t bear to be overly harsh toward Lisa. Slowly, Lisa was starting to leave the dorm with Kira. Many things were still happening, but Brigitte felt that in general, life had settled down.
“…Anyway, about the competition,” Yuri said, shutting his book noisily.
Brigitte stiffened. This was her third competition with Yuri. The challenge was simple: Whoever was invited to the shrine banquet following the school inspection was the winner.
“It’s a tie, I guess,” he said.
“…Yes…”
She nodded, dejected. The official notice had arrived that day at the end of classes. Both Brigitte and Yuri were invited to the shrine.
I can’t believe we tied again!
She bit her lip.
I still haven’t managed to beat him!
Their first competition ended in a draw, and Yuri won their second. In their third they had tied yet again—although this time it wasn’t really about their respective skills. Brigitte hadn’t even been interviewed. Considering she was at the center of the current uproar, however, the priests probably believed they had to invite her.
Is that a little unfair…?
Yuri couldn’t possibly have read her mind, but he rested his chin in his hand and said, “Ultimately, it’s up to the priests. They chose me two years in a row because I’m the Duke of Aurealis’s son, and I’m contracted with two first-class spirits.”
“But…”
“Your younger brother was chosen this year, too, right? He’s an earl’s son contracted with an ifrit.”
His view of the situation left no room for dreams or hopes. Still, Brigitte had to admit he had a point. Brigitte hardly even knew what her adopted brother looked like, but he was contracted with a first-class spirit. The other first-year representative was from an unremarkable family and was contracted with a second-class spirit. It was unusual for there to be even one student in each year contracted with a first-class spirit.
I wonder if Peep is a first-class spirit…
The phoenix was a fire and light spirit. Many students had seen the column of light it manifested. But thanks to Ms. Naha and other teachers who warned them not to make too much of a fuss over it, Brigitte got some looks but no cross-examination. According to Ms. Naha, the fact that the spiritologist and archbishop put in a good word for her was key. Brigitte hadn’t seen either of them since the day of the incident, but of course she would meet them again at the shrine.
Also…
Something else was bothering her.
Whenever she remembered Joseph’s cruel words and brutality that day, the terror came surging back.
…But her mind was focused on something else.
“Sir Yuri?”
“Yeah?”
“Did you…hear what I said through the wall that day?”
He was silent for a few seconds. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him.
“No.”
There was no agitation in his voice. At least, none that she could hear.
Good.
She let out a heavy breath.
When she thought she might be about to die, she had said she loved him. Joseph, crouching nearby, probably heard her, but Yuri, on the other side of the wall, had not.