"…Is it really okay for you to be walking around?"
"Hmm? Ah, well, I am a key witness in this case, but they haven't restrained me that much, and they've guaranteed I have no ill intentions. I suppose we'll just take things as they come."
"Is that so… And Lord Lucius?"
"I've reconciled with my brother. Actually, he was prostrating himself at full force and wouldn't lift his head, so if anything, it was harder to calm him down… Yeah. He protected me even while he was brainwashed, so I should be the one thanking him. That's all fine too."
"…That is more than anything."
…They had too much to talk about.
Their conversation started with casual topics, but those ran out quickly.
At the same time, Nina sat down beside the bed with a resolute expression and straightened her posture to face him directly.
"…Thank you, Erm."
And so, quietly — yet with a voice filled with deep emotion — she said what needed to be said.
"For ending the Northern Rebellion. For defeating the Archbishop. And… for coming to rescue me, just as you promised."
"No… rather, I'm sorry that all I could offer was such modest support."
"No, that was undoubtedly the best you could have done in that situation, and because of it I was saved… So it's fine. That's more than enough."
First, they exchanged words of gratitude for Ermes's magic that had dealt the decisive blow to end the Northern Rebellion, confirmed the promise fulfilled, and expressed joy at their reunion…
"—Hey."
After that settled down, Nina spoke up again, facing him directly.
"Erm, you told me before, right? That every spell carries within it a wish. That's why magic is beautiful."
"…Yes."
"Then, with that in mind. — About my Bloodline Magic, 'Fairy Dream Palace'…"
"!"
What she had been carrying all this time. The source of the guilt she first felt.
"I think you already understand, Erm. In that sense… the wish behind this magic is anything but beautiful."
"That's…"
"It's purely, exactly as the effect suggests. 'I want to make the person I love mine, even if I have to ignore their feelings' — an utterly terrible wish. A magic born from jealousy and greed."
"…"
"Can you still call such magic beautiful? This jealousy magic, and me who possesses such magic… can you affirm that?"
Her heavy question, forged by a terrible past.
Ermes absorbed every ounce of what lay behind those words, and then…
He answered straight on.
"—But. Because of this magic, I was able to protect you."
"…Ah."
First, he firmly stated an undeniable fact.
"I'm sure what you're saying isn't wrong. There are probably many spells in this world that weren't born from beautiful feelings."
From there he spoke of the truths he himself had begun to realize during this journey. After processing them internally… he added, "even so."
"Even so. Even such magic, even magic born from what people call ugly feelings… there is no reason it cannot be used for a brilliant purpose. Even magic born twisted can become something beautiful. I believe that all magic can be beautiful."
He declared it, believing in the feelings he once had when he first yearned for magic.
Then, at last, he looked Nina straight in the eyes once more.
"That's why — I think it's beautiful. Your magic, and… you yourself."
"…!"
Straightforward words, returned in kind.
Nina, receiving those words… for a moment showed an expression so joyful she seemed about to cry, then blushed and looked down.
"Oh, honestly. What can I even say… I love you."
"!"
She said it in a lovely whisper. Ermes, having heard it, stared wide-eyed.
Seeing his reaction, Nina… turned it around. With her usual playful smile.
"Yeah, that's right. It's Erm, so I have to say it properly again."
The greatest reason he had been nervous about meeting her — the "main topic."
She told him once more, with the most adorable smile.
"I love you. I love you, Erm."
"—"
"Of course, not as affection or friendship — nothing like that. I like you in the way a girl likes a boy. I'm in love with you."
These weren't words at the academy meant to charm him. They weren't words that came from using Charm.
Both of them were on equal ground. A confession from the front, with no excuses and no escape. Receiving it, Ermes—
"U-um, well…"
He covered his mouth as if caught off guard. For him, it was extremely rare — he was visibly blushing, showing embarrassment and discomfort… yet also a faint happiness, as he averted his eyes.
"…Thank… you…"
Even so, he offered his honest feelings as best he could, speaking as if his voice might fade away.
And then. Nina, witnessing Ermes's extraordinarily rare reaction—
"—Eh. That's adorable…"
She, too, was caught off guard, her body trembling as if struck through the heart, and murmured.
But — quickly, she curled her lips prettily, alluringly.
With even more teasing color than before — looking every bit the "little devil" — she leaned in close and whispered.
"…Oh my, you give such a cute reaction. Could it be that Erm is surprisingly weak against direct approaches?"
"…Nn."
"Oh my~ is that so? Hehe, now I know something good. Shall I say more?"
Nina leaned in closer, tilting her head, looking up at him with sweet, coquettish eyes and a honeyed voice.
Ermes was nearly swallowed by the atmosphere, but bound by the notion that having received a confession, he naturally had to give some kind of response — he groped for words, but—
"—Oh, just so you know."
There. As if seeing right through him, Nina raised her index finger before his lips.
"I'm not saying I want your answer right here, right now."
"Eh?"
"Well, honestly, I do want it… but I know full well that now really isn't the time. I wouldn't want an answer so badly that I'd get in your way."
"…"
"So, I'll wait properly. You're not the type to brush things off or drag them out needlessly, are you?"
He nodded firmly, with the will to be exactly that.
Before Ermes, who felt guilty for seemingly taking advantage of her feelings, however—
"…But, be prepared."
Nina deepened her smile and said this.
"I won't be holding back anymore, you know? Because I've already confessed, and I plan to make the most of my position as 'the one who confessed.'"
"Wh—"
"So, if you're being all dawdling, I'll make it so you can't hold back anymore. With everything I have, using every last thing —"
Finally, she pointed straight at him, as if issuing a declaration of war.
"Next time, properly… I will 'Charm' you."
A straightforward, fearless smile… yet the most captivating expression she'd ever worn.
Even without any magic activated, Ermes was mesmerized, drawn in as if by a spell.
And then, just like that.
"…Hehe, well then, as a start."
With a creak.
She leaned over him, pinning him down through the blanket. Her stunning beauty drew even closer to Ermes than before. Even he was flustered by the sudden move.
"!? E-ah, um—"
"Hehe, you're really so cute. …Hey. You're keeping a girl waiting for an answer to her confession — don't you think it's only fair you give me a little 'advance payment'…?"
To the immobilized Ermes, she showered both unprecedented charm and allure.
She placed a hand on his cheek, gazing into Ermes's eyes with her beautiful golden irises at point-blank range —
And then —
"—What are you doing?"
A freezing voice echoed through the medical room.
"!"
"Oh boy."
Ermes hastily pulled his face away, and Nina looked disappointed. Looking toward the entrance at the same time… sure enough, there stood a purple-haired girl radiating an extremely unpleasant aura.
"Hey. Would you mind… explaining this to me…?"
The girl — Katia — asked with an expression and tone almost identical to what she'd worn during the confrontation match, her voice the very embodiment of the calm before a storm.
Ermes intuited with certainty that one more push would set things off. He groped for words —
But then, furthermore —
"—I was just confessing to Erm and coming on to him, that's all?"
"…Eh."
"?!?"
Unbelievably. With utmost directness, Nina explained the situation.
Ermes was astonished, and even Katia — perhaps not expecting such a straightforward answer — was more stunned than angry.
Facing Katia, Nina maintained the same little-devil attitude she'd shown with Ermes.
"Hehe, Lady Katia. Forgive my presumption, but may I have a word?"
And then… calmly. Her goodwill toward Katia hadn't changed, but she spoke with a fearless voice.
"—I wouldn't assume that all girls will back off just because you take 'that kind of attitude.'"
"!"
Depending on how you read it, that was a pretty sharp rebuke.
But from Nina's tone… one could also sense genuine concern behind the advice.
As Nina approached Katia — who was still more bewildered than jealous — with light steps, she continued.
"Of course, you're incredibly cute too, Lady Katia… but if you keep putting up only that kind of attitude, I really don't think it'll end well."
Disregarding Katia's confusion, she drew closer with familiar steps. Taking her hand, she continued in a voice that left no room for doubt.
"So. Let's talk about all of that properly — love — I mean, girl talk. …Well, honestly, I really don't want to pour salt on the wound… but I love you too, Lady Katia."
"E-ah, um—"
The dark atmosphere from moments ago had completely subsided.
Taking her by the hand from beside Katia — who was uttering confused sounds eerily similar to Ermes's — she proceeded to whisk her away without argument.
And finally.
"…Also, honestly, there were parts where I was glad you stopped me…"
"Eh?"
Nina spoke in a voice unlike before — somewhat lacking in confidence.
Ignoring the tilt of Katia's head… she turned toward Ermes.
"Um…"
Nina's face, as she turned it toward him… was, for once, bright red all the way to her ears. Without question, she too felt the embarrassment… no, it was hitting her now in full force.
"…Sorry. I was definitely getting carried away just now… I'm reflecting on it…"
In complete reversal from her previously aggressive attitude, she spoke in a small voice.
Tormented by embarrassment, yet still carrying feelings she couldn't yield… she said this.
"—But my feelings are real. …I'd be happy if you didn't come to hate me."
After saying that, she swiftly took Katia along, turned on her heels, and closed the door.
"………………"
Left behind, Ermes thought.
To be honest, with everything that happened, he was incredibly confused.
About Nina's feelings, and her behavior on top of that. About his own bewilderment.
Her aggressive side, and then her completely reversed, lacking-confidence-at-the-end but still utterly adorable attitude — honestly, that last one had been the most devastating of all.
And above all—
"…There was actually someone who could calmly stop 'that Lady Katia'…"
That might honestly have been the most shocking realization.
…But he couldn't just leave it at that.
The fact that she had confessed her feelings was undeniable. She'd said she'd wait for his answer, and — embarrassingly — he was incredibly grateful for that.
(—But that didn't mean he could simply stop thinking about it.)
He should keep thinking.
About the things he hadn't seen until now. About the thoughts and feelings of the important people around him — people he'd been too busy moving forward to notice.
Thinking this, for the first time at last — using the alone time that had finally, truly arrived — Ermes continued to sink into deep thought.