Reunited with "him" after five years — Ermes had grown in ways that exceeded Katia's expectations in more ways than one.
First and foremost, his magic. She had no idea where or how he had studied it, but he had returned having mastered the truly outrageous feat of reproducing Bloodline Magic.
His face still bore traces of the boy she remembered, yet he was far more sharp-featured than she recalled.
And as for his personality — well, he had become remarkably gentle and mature.
His manner of speaking was honestly unfair. How to put it… There was an air of adult composure about him now.
Compliments that he would have stammered through with a hint of embarrassment back in the day now rolled off his tongue without hesitation, making him seem somewhat woman-smooth, and it set her chest seething with irritation.
But whenever she asked him to revert to his old way of speaking, he obliged — letting her relive those happier times. And in turn, his growth hit her all the more keenly, making her heart flutter…
…She would leave it at that for now.
There was one other change: his values.
He had been expelled from House Frenbreed and was now simply Ermes — a commoner. Or, viewed another way — he no longer had to shoulder the burdens of nobility.
As a result, he could engage with the magic he loved so much more purely and more freely than before.
His everyday expression was calm with little variation, to the point that it was sometimes hard to tell what he was thinking.
But when he cast magic, or when he was researching it, his face lit up just as it used to — the face of someone utterly consumed by what they loved.
— To find that enviable… was probably an emotion she ought not harbor.
What she really wanted to say was, "Am I less important to you than magic?" But she couldn't bring herself to say it. He was not the kind of person who would let himself be bound by her, and above all, she was afraid of hearing the answer.
She was the eldest daughter of House Trackia. She had lived bearing that duty, accepting those privileges, and carrying that pride in her heart.
Since the day her mother died, she had resolved to live that way. And so — yes, she could not afford to stop.
Besides, there was a new source of hope. His words, to be precise.
He had said that magic was not something granted by the gods. It was the crystallization of human wisdom — something anyone could wield, depending on the effort they put in.
The moment she heard those words, her heart raced.
Could she do it, then? Could she also possess the power to change the status quo of this hopeless country?
He had told her she could. And in truth, he had made it happen.
The Bloodline Magic she had never been able to handle properly—he had effortlessly made it usable for her.
More than that, he had even promised to draw out its true potential.
Aster’s reaction, too, had been one of anger so fierce it took her by surprise. Well, perhaps being the ultimate cause of her banishment was part of that.
Thanks to her, she could once more start walking. She could remain someone who protected the weak, the people.
Therefore, today, as well.
To prove Aster’s judgment could sometimes be wrong, she slipped through the household gate to head out for subduing Monsters—
“…Lady Katia.”
She froze mid-step, eyes widening.
Because there, before the gate, right before her current view—
“I’m sorry for this sudden visit…”
Sara von Hartmann.
Once her closest friend, now one of the central figures of a faction that, while not overtly so, was directly opposed to her, had appeared alone.
And with a tone that was reserved yet unmistakably clear, she said:
“…Could I… have a little time to talk…?”
◆
Sara led her to a high plateau situated near the ducal estate. From there, one could see the bustling city below—a spot with an excellent view.
“I just… really had to speak with you again, after all… I have the Highness’s permission. Going alone wasn’t— …allowed, however.”
Of course, she had considered that it might be a trap.
In fact, Katia had detected two sources of high Magic Power Reaction nearby. They were likely Sara's guards as she claimed, but they could also serve as assassins targeting Katia.
However, judging by the magnitude of the Magic Power, at least Aster wasn't among them. If no one of his class showed up, then even if they tried to capture her by force, she was confident she could handle them and call for reinforcements from the ducal house in the meantime.
Above all… Katia felt the same desire to speak with Sara one more time.
Having thought this through, she decided to accept the summons.
Before her steady gaze, Sara first—bowed her head.
"Um… I'm really, truly sorry…! Back then, I… what I did…"
What she was referring to was undoubtedly the incident at that party.
"…I heard about it from El."
And she had absolutely no intention of blaming Sara for that matter.
Recalling how Ermes had told her about meeting Sara the other day, she answered.
"That you still hold me in your regard, and that you regret what happened that day. I also know that your family has been aggressively pushing for the engagement to His Highness, and would not permit any words that might create a rift in your relationship with him."
"—"
She had heard about Sara's family situation directly from Sara herself during their school days.
Katia fully understood the importance of marrying into the royal family. That was precisely why she had no intention of blaming her.
Therefore, there was really only one thing Katia needed to ask.
"Sara. Do you truly have the resolve?"
With eyes that would not permit escape—while simultaneously carrying genuine concern for her, Katia pressed the question.
"Never mind me. Honestly, I don't feel particularly attached to the position of His Highness's fiancée."
If anything, what she was about to do would be more convenient without that position.
And above all—surely she would never be able to love Aster from the bottom of her heart.
"So tell me what you truly feel. Do you genuinely, sincerely wish to become His Highness's fiancée?"
"What I... personally..."
"I won't be able to support you anymore. No matter how much His Highness says he'll protect you, it's not hard to imagine countless other houses doing everything in their power to drag you down. Even so—do you wish for it?"
If she did wish for it, then Katia would cheer her on from the bottom of her heart.
But if she didn't... wait. At that moment—what would she actually do?
A question that sprang up without warning. But before she had time to dwell on it, Sara began to answer.
"I... I..."
She seemed to hesitate, to waver. But in the end, as if recalling someone's words, she raised her face.
"Lady Katia, I—!"
That instant.
The high magic power she had sensed nearby surged upward.
—!!
Without doubt, it was the presence of an attack.
Katia hastily chanted a spell, deploying spirit blocks around herself to shield her body.
Just as Katia had predicted, a mass of high-concentration magic power came hurtling from afar with tremendous force—
—
Toward Sara's chest,
,
it was swallowed up.
.
"...Huh?"
A split second after Sara's eyes went wide, the magic struck her defenseless body head-on.
She was flung backward and sent plummeting off the platform.
"Sara—!?"
Without a second thought, I rushed to the edge of the platform and peered down.
She was there — lying motionless where she'd been slammed into the ground. Fortunately, the drop wasn't that far, so she wasn't dead — at least, I wanted to believe that, but taking a direct hit from that spell on top of the fall, she'd be seriously injured at the very least.
The sudden appearance of a falling girl drew a commotion from the townsfolk, who rushed over and began forming a crowd.
That magic was familiar — undeniably,
the Magic Bullet Archer.
Ermes had no reason to do something like this, which naturally narrowed down the culprit.
But that could wait. First and foremost, I had to confirm she was safe.
Thinking that, I was about to skip the trouble of using the stairs and just jump down from where I stood, when —
"I-I-I saw it! I saw it with my own eyes!"
From the side, a grating voice rang out.
Turning my gaze, there stood another figure — distinct from the one who had attacked Sara moments ago, radiating a high Magic Power Reaction.
A middle-aged man with silver hair. Ermes's father — Zenos von Frenbreed.
He bellowed in a voice louder than necessary —
as if addressing
the gathering townsfolk
A loud voice loud enough for everyone to hear.
And so, he shouted this.
"N-now! Lady Katia von Trackia attacked Lady Sara von Hartmann with magic! Sh-she pushed her off the elevated platform!!"
—She had been framed.
The situation and the reason were both unclear... but at the very least, Katia understood that one fact.