'What even…'
The same was true for Duke Jévillon.
He was patting his shoulder, as if he didn't know that the Divine Beast was sitting on his shoulder.
'Is it like a ghost until you summon it?'
Divine beasts were known to stay in their own space and only emerge when called by their owners.
But now that she thinks about it, it seems a bit different from the truth.
'Is it just hovering around like a ghost?'
And then it shows up when its master summons them?
Just then, the red eagle that had been dozing off on Duke Jévillon shoulder flicked its head up.
"…"
[…]
Their eyes locked.
After staring at her wordlessly for a moment, the Divine Beast flew up and landed on the table. Camilla subconsciously followed its behavior.
[You can see me.]
After a moment's pause, Camilla realized that the voice belonged to the red eagle.
Her expression became a little awkward.
'Didn't they say that only the head of the family can hear the Divine Beast?'
It's not what it's cracked up to be!
All the while, the Divine Beast hovered around Camilla, its eyes fixed on her as if it were looking at something strange.
[It's pure.]
Pure? What? Me? I'm kind of pure.
[The soul is very pure.]
It sounds like it's doing a cleansing. Is it a part of a pseudo-religion?
"Jetty."
It was then that Duke Jévillon quietly called out a name.
'Jetty?'
Like the chocolate…
The moment she thought of the very sweet chocolate drink, a bright light spread in all directions.
A moment later, the red eagle that was perched on the Duke of Jévillon's shoulder came into her field of vision. The Duke of Sorpel's fierce gaze turned to the Divine Beast.
'Looks like I was right after all.'
The Divine Beast must be called so that others can see them. The same goes for its master.
'But why can I see it?'
She can also hear what it's saying.
'They're ghosts, too.'
Naturally, she had no choice but to draw to such a conclusion.
"What are you calling the Divine Beast for?"
"I just suddenly wanted to see it."
"Are you trying to burn this place down?"
"I called it because I wanted to see it. I can't help but want to keep looking at it. Well, you wouldn't know."
"Then go to your house and see it there."
"Don't be harsh."
It seemed as if he had summoned the Divine Beast to tease the Duke of Sorpel.
The way he smirked as he summoned the Divine Beast, even to Camilla, was a bit condescending.
By the way…
Swish.
"…!"
Jetty, who had been with Duke Jévillon, flapped its wings lightly, and then settled down somewhere.
Over Camilla's shoulder and not Duke Jévillon's.
"…"
"…"
"…"
What are you doing?
'Why are you acting all friendly all of a sudden?'
For a moment, there was a hush in the room.
The eyes of Duke Sorpel and Duke Jévillon were as wide as they could get.
"…Jetty."
[…]
"Come here."
Swish.
"…!"
At the Duke of Jévillon's call, Jetty jerked its head as if it didn't hear anything. It even swooped down and landed on top of Camilla's head.
"Jetty, come here."
[I don't want to.]
"What?"
[This is good. This child, her soul is pure. Like a newborn baby.]
"What!?"
[I like it.]
"…"
The Duke of Jévillon glared at Camilla, his eyes narrowing, and she flashed him an awkward smile.
'I'm kind of popular with these beings.'
She decided to simply integrate the Divine Beast into the same department as ghosts. Which means…
'Go away!'
It's a nuisance.
Camilla shook her head, trying to knock Jetty off.
However, the Divine Beast flew up lightly and landed back down on Camilla's shoulder.
'Leave!'
She shook her shoulders again, but it didn't fall.
These guys must be ghosts! Once they're on you, they won't let go!
"Well."
The corners of the Duke of Sorpel's mouth twitched upward as he watched the whole thing in silence.
"I think your Divine Beast is more fond of my daughter than you."
"What are you talking about?! It obeys me more than anyone else! Come here now, Jetty!"
Swish.
"…"
"I see. It's very good at following your orders."
"…"
The Duke of Sorpel's smile deepened at the sight of his friend's blushing face.
Chapter. Going to the Academy
"Are you sure you're alright?"
Donna, the maid, asked worriedly.
'What are you so worried about?'
She can understand why.
"Wouldn't it be better if you did as the Duke suggested and switched departments?"
Today was the start of a new semester.
Camilla, who was all set to go to the academy, had to confront Donna, whose expression did not look good as she was helping her prepare.
"Don't worry."
Camilla patted Donna on the shoulder.
"But—"
Camilla chuckled lightly as she watched Donna's expression remain unchanged. She knew all too well why she was behaving that way.
'It's not like there's any bullying.'
Camilla was isolated not only from aristocratic society but also from the academy, but that didn't mean she was bullied.
Still, no one would openly harass someone who was on the family register of the Dukedom of Sorpel, one of the three great ducal families.
'She was just invisible.'
It was as if she didn't exist at all. No one cared about Camilla, whether she was there or not.
It reached its peak when Camilla chose that course.
There, she really existed like a ghost. Even the teachers didn't pay attention to her.
'Why?'
Because she's terrible at it.
Everyone had given up on Camilla as she had a tendency to learn one thing and forget another.
But since they couldn't get angry at the Duke's daughter and inflict any physical punishment on her, they seemed to have concluded to just turn a blind eye and pretend not to notice.
Camilla Sorpel's chosen course is....
"Posture upright!"
"Yes!"
"Mr. James and Mr. Hamil will begin their duel now."
"Yes, sir!"
It's the Swordsmanship Department.
'Phew, man.'
She had no talent for physical work.
A sigh escaped Camilla's lips as she watched the training center fill up with people practicing.
The Sorpel Dukedom are a family of swordsmen, no matter what anyone says.
They had raised their family with a sword, and they were still the most skilled swordsmen in the continent.
This was why Camilla chose the swordsmanship department. She wanted to show that she was part of the Sorpel family somehow.
'But that's a choice you make when you're really good at it.'
What was the point of taking the swordsmanship department when you have a really bad physique?
Camilla, who showed no talent with a sword, was just a laughing stock.
If anything, she's proving with her body that she doesn't have Sorpel blood in her veins.
'You're stubborn.'
Although she was aware of this, she did not give up until the very end and was still in the swordsmanship department.
'Maybe this is the last straw.'
Perhaps she wanted to prove herself, and not anyone else, that she was a member of the Sorpel family.
It was the only thing that kept her here, even though she wasn't good at it, and was shunned by everyone.
It's a shame she's bad at it, though.
She had a hunch, and when the Duke asked her the other day if she'd like to switch departments, she didn't know what to say.
What's more, the real Camilla might come back, so she couldn't just switch courses.
Regardless of what happens(1), she chose this place.
'Oh well, I don't care.'
Camilla sank to the floor in a heap.
The teachers and students were busy training among themselves, so no one paid attention to her.
She didn't want to have to beg for something to be done from people who don't take the initiative to reach out and talk to her.
'Well, good.'
Sprawled out on the ground, Camilla stared blankly at the cloudless sky, then sighed and closed her eyes.
The shade of the tree over there is a great spot.
There was a very large tree planted on one side of the field.
But there was already someone sitting there, and he wasn't even paying attention.
"…"
"…"
The eyes of everyone on the field turned to Camilla, bewilderment and disbelief flitting across their faces.
Even though she may have her head down, Camilla always stayed in her place until the end of class…
But what is that?
Their mouths dropped open when they saw Camilla sleeping casually on one side of the field, as if it were a picnic.
However, no one approached her to talk to her.
The same was true of her swordsmanship teacher, who had a history of ignoring her, so he was hesitant to approach her.
"Oh, my god!"
"…!"
Did she feel their stares? Suddenly, Camilla jumped to her feet in irritation.
Everyone watching her flinched and stopped what they were doing.
But that wasn't the reason for Camilla's irritation.
'There's no other shade in this damn field!'
Does it make sense that there's only one tree planted there?
Camilla, who got up from having the scorching sun beaming down on her, glanced towards the shade of the tree.
Her eyes caught sight of the first person there.
A man who appears to be roughly in his early 20s, he was…
'…Are you a brilliant and lonely god?'
What's with the sword on his chest?
A long sword is tucked into the man's chest as he gazes longingly at the students training in swordplay.
After alternating between the sun and the shade of the trees for a few moments, Camilla finally made her way to the shade and sat down. She kept her gaze away from the ghost as much as possible.
Fortunately, the male ghost didn't pay any attention to Camilla as she approached.
Like a statue, he could only stare at the training ground as it were his first time seeing it.
'I don't even want to know.'
What his story is.
Camilla laid back down on the floor and closed her eyes to sleep.
* * *
"Hey, isn't that the Lady Sorpel?"
"I… I think you're right."
"Is she sleeping now?"
"Heh…"
As students walked by the practice area, their eyes were drawn to one place.
They were bewildered, wondering if a large human was lazing around in class.
Because it was Camilla, not someone else.
Among them was Pedro, son of the Duke of Jévillon.
"…"
The corners of Pedro's mouth twitched upward as he watched Camilla toss and turn under the shade of the tree.
—————
[1] The original phrase "죽이 되든 밥이 되든" (which literally translates to "Whether it's porridge or rice") is an idiomatic expression that means "no matter what" or "whether something will succeed or fail".