"Mihail hasn't been in touch at all... Really, what could he be doing in that hot country? I'm quite worried about him."
In the luxurious reception room of the mansion, a woman sat worriedly. With her flowing blonde hair, blue eyes, and an elegance and beauty that could easily define her as the epitome of a noblewoman, she didn't look her middle age at all.
The black-haired girl sitting across from her sipped her tea and spoke indifferently.
"Mihail will come back once I leave, so there's no need to worry."
"Charlotte!"
"It's the truth. Mihail doesn't like me. So, he must have avoided being here during the vacation we could have spent together."
"Don't say such things. He went to Barsor to scout for talent in the martial arts tournament, for the sake of our family."
The woman added sternly.
"And Mihail is just jealous of you. That's all. He's been frail, you know."
"I know."
"Be understanding. You're healthy, attending the academy. Mihail has been sick often, especially when you were away at the academy. Can you imagine how lonely he must have felt?"
"...Yes, Mother."
Charlotte's lips curled into a bitter smile at what almost sounded like a reprimand. It was a familiar scenario.
"What about you? You'll have to return to the academy soon, won't you? How have you been doing there?"
Throughout the vacation, her mother, preoccupied with Mihail's absence, hadn't shown a shred of interest in Charlotte. Charlotte couldn't help but be aware of this fact.
Even though it had been like this from the moment she and Mihail were in the womb together.
The frail Mihail and the healthy Charlotte. That's where the problem started.
Charlotte calmed her emotions and replied composedly.
"I'm doing well. You know I'm the top student in the first year of the swordsmanship department."
As if hearing it for the first time, her mother remarked.
"Oh my, that's wonderful. If Mihail could have attended the academy, he would have been a great student too."
"...Besides, Mother, there's a senior in our swordsmanship department named Helmut."
Charlotte glanced around as she spoke, but her mother seemed only distracted by Mihail's absence, showing no reaction to the name Helmut.
"He's a commoner, but his skills are exceptional."
"That can happen. You know, several knights from our family came from common backgrounds."
Her mother casually responded, showing no particular interest in hearing about Helmut.
'Doesn't she know him?'
After a few more exchanges, Charlotte excused herself to practice her swordsmanship.
Left alone, the woman's expression slowly changed.
'Helmut.'
A sense of unease settled on her face as memories from the distant past surfaced.
Bowing her head, she made the sign of the cross, an old habit.
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In the spacious training ground, a boy wiped the sweat from his forehead. He laid down his wooden sword and looked up at the sky, sweat beads forming on his pale face.
"Soon the vacation will be over."
Thinking of returning to Baden, Asuka frowned.
He had dedicated the entire vacation to swordsmanship, but he wasn't sure if he was satisfied with his progress.
'Especially with that monster showing up.'
The image of Helmut flashed in Asuka's mind, prompting him to kick the ground in frustration.
He wasn't particularly fond of Helmut, but the thought of him appeared uninvited. Helmut probably hadn't wasted his vacation either.
'But next semester will be different!'
Asuka was determined.
"Asuka."
Someone approached and spoke to him. A middle-aged man with an aura of dignity, handsome enough to guess his youthful appearance, clearly of high status.
Despite their dissimilar looks, there was a resemblance between him and Asuka, indicating they were of the same bloodline.
"If you keep performing well this semester, don't rest on your laurels, but continue to strive for excellence," the man advised calmly, causing a slight distortion in Asuka's expression. Asuka responded with a forced smile.
"Of course. Oh, have you heard my nickname at the academy? They call me the 'Mad Dog of the Swordsmanship Department.'"
"I would be aware."
"Oh, you knew."
Asuka's retort carried a hint of sarcasm, accompanied by a provocative laugh, reminiscent of his confrontational demeanor at the academy.
The man remained unphased.
"I've heard you've been pretending to be a commoner. Finding it enjoyable?"
"Yes, it's quite fun. Fits me so well, I'd like to live like this forever."
A call interrupted their conversation.
"Asuka!"
A lady with a pure demeanor approached. Realizing her presence, Asuka muttered under his breath.
"Mother."
"I've told you not to speak like that. Does it make you happy to upset me so?"
Asuka subtly avoided her gaze. The man continued undisturbed.
"It's good to hear you're adapting well to the academy."
"Yes, well, I'm managing. Not causing trouble anymore, or have I?"
"Avoid causing disputes with the nobility."
"So, it's okay to pick fights with commoners?"
"Why not make friends who match your status now that you've adjusted to academy life?"
Ascar's face contorted with displeasure.
"Ridiculous!"
His mother looked faint.
"Asuka! How can you speak to your father like that!"
"Everyone has their rightful place. I hope you come to realize that."
"Sure, I'll gratefully take your advice!"
Spouting his irritation, Asuka grabbed his sword and stormed off, with no one able to stop him.
Returning to this place during vacations was unbearably uncomfortable for him.
"I'm sick of this. Can't wait to leave."
Mumbling to himself, Asuka realized he'd probably have to console his emotionally fragile mother first.
In a study filled with books, Alea was immersed in reading as usual.
His routine hadn't changed since the vacation began.
He needed to gain strength quickly to escape. The person he wished to escape from appeared.
"Alea."
"What do you want?"
Looking up from the thick magical tome, Alea's gaze towards the woman was devoid of any fondness.
Yet, the woman smiled unaffectedly.
"About your roommate, I heard he's quite handsome?"
Alea's expression twisted.
"And you're interested?"
It was a look that questioned her age appropriateness.
However, the woman, shamelessly unaffected by such norms, was the Grand Mage Haike, a public enemy of the temple.
Her being a public enemy had nothing to do with criminal activities or dabbling in dark magic, but even the reasons behind it were contemptible to Alea.
No matter that she was Alea's mentor, he would never hold her in high regard.
"Not at all."
Laughing, the beautiful woman with silver hair and violet eyes responded. Despite their similar appearances, she seemed more mature and seductive.
Even her figure was irresistibly voluptuous.
"It's good to hear you were assigned a room together."
"Did you play a part in that?"
Alea raised a suspicious brow. The dean had made several excuses, citing fairness.
For someone of her influence, manipulating the upright dean was no challenge. She didn't answer, instead asking:
"How does it feel sharing a room with a boy? Interesting, isn't it?"
"Don't even dream I'll end up like you."
Alea turned away coldly from her.
"You seem close with your roommate?"
"Not at all."
Leaving the study, Alea left Haike smirking behind.
'That kid, asking for an artifact to change appearance, huh?'
A fact relayed by the suspicious dean. The artifact wasn't like Areah's gender-changing one, but the similarities were no coincidence.
Haike had a good intuition. If she chose to ignore it, it meant their relationship must be good.
If it were anyone else, Alea would've driven them away without hesitation. The fact he didn't, proved their good relationship.
'Alea is like me. Though he denies it.'
He had inherited her magic, intelligence, and beauty unmistakably. She found joy in watching him grow, reminding her of her own youth.
'This might be fun. Maybe I'll stir things up.'
With a mischievous plan in mind, Haike grinned. Alea's need to hide his gender was of no concern to her; her amusement was all that mattered.
Returning to his room with a stack of books, Alea puzzled over her intentions.
'That witch gives me the creeps.'
Worried she might meddle with Helmut, considering how many men she had led to ruin with her youthful and beautiful body. Being a grand mage was nothing short of a calamity.
'When I return... I should keep my distance from him. Despite the lingering wish, for the time being at least.'
Alea reconsidered a decision he hadn't managed to fulfill during the first semester.
Although they were roommates then, the new semester and a change of rooms might make it possible.
Soon, a grumble escaped his lips.
"But he didn't contact even once during the vacation, even though I told him to if he was in danger."
Helmut, in his simplicity, hadn't contacted because he wasn't in danger. Alea knew this too.
Jealous? Impossible. Yet Alea couldn't shake off a slight feeling of discontent.
But they would meet again soon. At Greta Academy.
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Sitting at a table laden with a lavish meal, Sian picked up his fork. Every dish suited his taste perfectly.
It was a cozy family dinner. His gentle-looking mother inquired,
"Sian, vacation's ending soon, isn't it? You'll be returning to the academy before long."
His father chimed in as well.
"Just last year, you kept complaining about how boring the academy was. This time, it seems different."
"It's a bit more interesting now compared to last year?"
Sian grinned. His younger sibling burped loudly, and his mother quickly wiped the child's mouth. His father, adopting a more parental tone, prodded,
"Then try to clinch the top spot this semester. Being the runner-up for three consecutive semesters is such a pity. It's just a one-rank difference."
"That's impossible. There's an extraordinary genius above me."
"You're a genius too."
"Hmm... A genius of a different caliber?"
Sian tilted his head, then abruptly dropped his fork and complained,
"Come on, isn't having a son who's second best in the prestigious Greth Academy something to be proud of? It's tough enough to secure the runner-up position among all those prodigies! Complaining about not being the top is too much!"
His father cleared his throat,
"No one's saying we're not proud. It's just a bit disappointing, that's all."
"Yeah, yeah. Our honor student."
Sian's mother soothingly patted his back. Among the four, he was the only one enjoying a typical vacation in a harmonious environment.