I descended the long staircase, guided by a demon butler, and exited the palace.
Waiting for me was my tutor, Sophia.
Sophia, who had been floating around looking bored, brightened when she saw me. Not because I had returned safely, but probably because her dull wait was finally over.
"Welcome back, Zilvagias-sama."
She landed on the ground and gave a formal bow with her usual serious expression.
I was about to ask, Where's Mother?, but hesitated. It seemed a bit too… overprotective, like a child coddled too much, to be the first thing I asked upon leaving the palace.
"Where's Mother?"
In the end, I couldn't think of anything else to say, so I asked it anyway.
"Lady Platy had urgent work to attend to," Sophia replied.
"An emergency patient?"
Sophia nodded.
