After receiving permission to associate with Lady Scarlett, I had to prepare for the afternoon following breakfast.
Ah, I should ask my mother for suggestions on where to take Lady Scarlett. Even if I can't think of a place, she surely can. She'd probably come up with a plan that would delight Lady Scarlett. If I take her to the only places I know and she ends up disappointed, my information gathering might hit a snag right from the start.
There's something I didn't tell my father.
When I disciplined those insolent knights surrounding Lady Scarlett, I made a grave mistake. I was so focused on the knights confronting me that I lost sight of the ones I'd knocked down. Because of that oversight, I completely missed a knight using magic.
Nobles usually carry charms imbued with defensive magic, mainly as a countermeasure against assassinations. If someone were to confront me head-on, I could easily retaliate. But if I were to be targeted from a distance, say by a gun, I wouldn't be able to react. Of course, these charms aren't infallible and have their limits.
So, even if I had been hit by that fireball spell, I believe I would've been fine.
That doesn't excuse my carelessness, though. I feel so pathetic.
But, that spell vanished.
I've heard of spells dissipating if they fail during activation, but never of one disappearing after being cast. I was utterly baffled. However, I prioritized neutralizing the spell-casting knight. At that moment, I caught a glimpse of Lady Scarlett inside the carriage, holding something resembling a brush.
Given the circumstances, I believe she did something.
But I couldn't tell my father.
Lady Scarlett mentioned she was non-attribute, but the idea that someone without an attribute could nullify magic sounds like a fairy tale.
Magic that nullifies other magic.
It's even more far-fetched than the idea of learning enhancement magic. Normally, no one would believe such a tale. And if, by some chance, Lady Scarlett could perform such a miracle, I thought it best not to spread uncertain information.
If such magic did exist, then the scenario would be: I recklessly intervened in a situation where Lady Scarlett, safe in her impenetrable carriage, was waiting for the Royal Guards, and she saved me from my own folly.
I haven't done anything to deserve Lady Scarlett's gratitude.
I feel so ashamed I could cry.
In the afternoon, when I met up with Lady Scarlett, I first guided her to the main street leading to the royal castle.
The "Sky Sphere Pond," a symbol of the water city surrounded by rivers and the sea, created by magical devices, was a must-see. Inside the massive water sphere, over 10 meters in diameter, colorful koi swam, and beyond it, the royal castle could be seen. Lady Scarlett seemed utterly captivated.
Afterward, we strolled to a park on the east side of the Sky Sphere Pond, opposite the academy dorms. Thanks to my father's connections, we were allowed to climb a watchtower near the entrance of a military facility.
It was my first time there, and from the tower, we could see the towering royal castle and magic tower to the south, the noble district to the east, and the residential area on the opposite side. Beyond that, the sea stretched out.
Since it was a military facility, we couldn't enter the interior, and climbing the stairs felt like a mini workout.
My mother had suggested we enjoy a play or music performance in the cultural facilities to the north, but we went a bit further north and took a sightseeing boat. Lady Scarlett might enjoy plays and music, but if I fell asleep next to her, she'd probably be appalled.
I didn't want her to find out that I wasn't as familiar with the capital as I'd claimed.
Underneath the many bridges spanning the city's north and south, ceramic tiles depicting works of famous artists were displayed, earning the boat the nickname "floating art museum." Here, I could move around and enjoy the art before getting too sleepy.
I was anxious about the sightseeing plan I'd impulsively suggested, but thanks to my mother's help, it seemed to be going well. Just when I thought that, after disembarking from the boat, Lady Scarlett mentioned she was hungry.
If she had said something earlier, I could've ordered a light meal on the boat.
But I couldn't voice such complaints.
However, I didn't know any good eateries around here. There were several cafes catering to nobles in sight, but most of them seemed to prioritize lavish appearances and sweetness. I wasn't keen on entering an unfamiliar establishment.
In the end, I chose my favorite candy store in the shopping district.
It was near where I met Lady Scarlett yesterday. In fact, I had planned to stop by there yesterday. I couldn't tell Lady Scarlett that I had intended to grab a snack.
The scones, topped with syrup-soaked strawberries and condensed milk, were simple but a childhood favorite of mine.
Even though more sophisticated sweets would've suited her better, Lady Scarlett smiled and said they were delicious. She's truly kind.
But things weren't supposed to be like this. Why do I always end up in such situations?
The next day, we both went to complete our academy enrollment procedures.
The entrance ceremony is still about ten days away, but with this, we can use the academy's facilities. It seems some have already started using the library and training grounds.
After the procedures, we had some free time, so we rented a training ground, and Lady Scarlett immediately began instructing me in enhancement magic.
She accurately pointed out the areas where the enhancement wasn't transmitting well, and thanks to her guidance, my enhancement ratio improved slightly.
For four years, I had been stuck, but in just one day of training...
I was genuinely amazed.
"Lady Aurelia, it seems you're not adept at maintaining a steady flow of magic because you're used to switching between multiple spells," she observed.
Does she know more about my magic than I do?