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"Is Allen still in class?"
"Yes, my lady."
Hilda sipped her tea, her gaze lowered.
Her reflection rippled in the tea's surface.
She smiled faintly.
Then looked up.
At Sylphie, seated across from her.
Her expression was one of helplessness—almost "complaining."
Yet...
Her features softened further.
"Sylphie, you don't have to do this. Isn't this skipping class? And you're a teacher."
"It's fine, my lady. I don't need to attend swordsmanship lessons anyway."
Sylphie held her teacup with perfect posture, her eyes meeting Hilda's as she spoke.
Hilda set her cup down, shaking her head slightly.
Then turned.
Her gaze landed on the trees outside the bedroom window.
Their leaves were still thick.
But no longer as lush as in summer.
"Really, I'm used to it."
The two were in Hilda's bedroom.
The tea room's purpose wasn't just for tea.
When the "true purpose" hidden beneath the surface faded, their conversations naturally shifted here.
After all, during afternoon swordsmanship lessons, certain "class-skippers" would never be found on the rooftop.
One eager to learn.
The other eager to teach.
Though Allen's body was occupied by an outsider's soul, in blood, they were still very much siblings.
At least in swordsmanship talent and enthusiasm, they were perfectly matched.
"I never expected Eris to grow so close to Allen in just half a year. If someone had told me a year ago that she'd cling to a new tutor—other than Ghyslaine—every single day, I'd have been stunned."
Sylphie's lips curled slightly.
This pleased her more than any praise of herself.
Because it was about Allen.
On the surface, his talent seemed purely in swordsmanship—but was he equally gifted in handling relationships?
Yes.
His "talent" in that regard was something Sylphie, who had observed him for so long, deeply admired.
And through witnessing, processing, learning, and imitating...
It had become part of her own nature.
She was no longer the "White Mama" from the original story.
At the very least...
She had learned the "shape" of pretty words.
"Not at all, my lady. Eris has a talent for making people like her. She's straightforward—like a bright flame. It's hard not to be drawn to her."
Hilda blinked.
"Only for those she approves of. For others, getting too close would just get them burned."
Sylphie's expression didn't change as she sipped her tea.
Behind the cup, she smiled.
She remembered when Eris had first learned Fireball.
She'd immediately tried to "perform" by setting the classroom curtains on fire—while Rudeus, completely absorbed, was teaching Ghyslaine the same spell.
Naturally, he got "burned" instead.
It wasn't until Allen said, "Rudeus, why are you on fire?" that he panicked and doused the flames crawling up his clothes with a Waterball.
The memory always made her want to laugh.
Rudeus' shock was one thing...
But seeing the usually composed Allen make that face?
Priceless.
"Sylphie."
She carefully set her cup down, still smiling faintly.
Hilda's voice reached her ears.
"What do you think about having Allen marry Eris in the future?"
Sylphie's smile froze.
Stunned.
Blank.
Then—
Realization hit.
Her head snapped up.
Wide-eyed, she stared at Hilda.
Her reddish-brown eyes reflected Hilda's face—the woman now smirking, her expression teasing.
Sylphie's ears flushed red.
Her hands flailed.
"M-My lady! Th-That's—! You can't—!"
Hilda watched Sylphie's burning face with amusement.
"You're adorable when flustered. So... when will you make your move?"
Sylphie's hands froze.
She looked down, placing them on her lap.
Silence lingered.
Then she peeked up.
Hilda's smirk hadn't faded.
Sylphie realized she was being teased—relieved, but still flustered, she averted her gaze to her hands.
As for how her "feelings" had been exposed... she had no idea.
But by now, her crush on Allen was an open secret to Hilda.
Was it really that obvious...?
Even as she stared at her own hands—clutching the hem of her skirt, her knuckles whitening—the dampness in her palms and the red marks on her thighs betrayed her nerves.
She'd long accepted that her feelings for Allen weren't hidden...
But the implication behind Hilda's words—
How would you feel if the mother of the person you liked asked, "When will you make your move?"
Even if Hilda didn't know Allen's true identity, the question alone made her heart race.
Amid her chaotic thoughts, Hilda's playful voice continued.
"Eris' tenth birthday would be a perfect opportunity."
Sylphie blinked.
"Eris'... tenth birthday?"
"Five, ten, and fifteen are important milestones. Surely you—"
Hilda paused, glancing at Sylphie, then shifted topics.
"Well, among nobles, it's customary to hold grand celebrations. The Boreas family will invite nobles from all over Roa to the banquet."
Resting her chin on her hand, Hilda reminisced.
"At Eris' fifth birthday, we initially planned a buffet-style feast. But after careful consideration, my husband suggested changing it to a ball—to strengthen ties with the local nobility and give everyone a chance to socialize."
Sylphie's eyes gleamed.
"...A ball?"
Suddenly, Hilda leaned in.
Her face hovered close to Sylphie's.
"Yes. A ball."
Tilting her head slightly, her crimson eyes—so like Eris'—studied Sylphie's flustered expression with amusement.
"Will you..."
"Dance with Allen?"
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 235 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 35 power stones I will publish the next chapter.