After the incident with Earl Geist, there was nothing else particularly noteworthy.
Ermes had been treated like a pariah by the entire classroom after that, so no one dared to speak to him.
The first day's classes ended, and that evening, back at the Trackia estate—
"………I heard what happened."
Ermes stood in his private room, facing his mistress head-on as she stood ramrod straight.
"Well… yes. I had a feeling you'd pull something, given who you are. That part wasn't exactly unexpected."
Exasperated, conflicted. She knew this wasn't really the time to be angry, yet she still wanted to have her say.
She—Katia—continued with that indescribable look on her face.
"But still! On the very first day of your transfer! In the very first class! I honestly didn't expect you to do something this outrageous!!"
"…Well, you see—"
And then she finally erupted.
It wasn't really anger, nor was she trying to get him to reflect on anything. She was simply at a loss for what to do with the flood of emotions—bewilderment and everything else—that arose from her retainer pulling off something beyond all expectations. Ermes understood that, which made it all the harder to respond.
"I'm not going to blame you for what you did. You were clearly in the right, and it ended up being beneficial for the class. …But! Of all people to target, you humiliated and drove out that Geist teacher in the middle of a lesson!?"
Finally, she let out a heartfelt cry.
"—Why?! I wanted to see that too, you know!!"
"…Have you calmed down?"
"…More or less."
Katia sat down on the bed beside him, catching her breath.
…It turned out that when she had been in B Class the previous term, the Geist instructor had subjected her to terrible treatment regularly.
If that had been an everyday occurrence, then even someone as noble as Katia could hardly be blamed for wanting a little payback. She probably would have liked to have had a hand in putting him in his place herself.
After letting out a long breath, Katia composed herself and turned to him.
"Well, you did well, Erm. …So, how was your class on the first day of the transfer?"
"…Honestly, it's hard to say I've blended in without any problems."
"…I'd imagine so."
She sighed.
"You may be the former marquis's son, but right now you're a commoner—and you're also pretending your magic is 'only Enhanced universal magic.' I can guess how they'd treat you."
She had been enrolled in the same class the previous term, so she had predicted how Ermes would be treated—and she murmured that her prediction hadn't been wrong.
Then she added:
"…Erm. You don't need to cater to them or accept what they say, of course. But… I do want you to understand."
"Yes. Sara told me something similar."
The reason they tried so hard to discriminate against those they deemed beneath them was because they themselves were targets of discrimination.
Before coming to this school, they must have had pride and dignity as nobles. To be mercilessly oppressed in turn—to be unable to endure that gap, and to have no choice but to protect their self-esteem in twisted ways.
"It's still only the first day. I learned in the Royal Capital that it's too early to judge by one-sided impressions."
So, no—rashly leaving the academy was not something he intended to do. Put simply, he was going to wait and see.
Having reached that conclusion, Ermes shifted his tone and changed the subject.
"How about your side, Lady Katia? You were also in A Class on your first day—did anything unusual happen?"
"—"
But, contrary to his expectations, Katia froze.
"…Um, Lady Katia?"
"…Will you listen?"
"Uh, ah, yes."
She looked down, clearly not her usual self. Before Ermes, who had tensed up, she opened her mouth.
"…I received marriage proposals."
She said it solemnly, in a tone that made it clear this was no joke.
"…Excuse me?"
"Marriage proposals. On the very first day of the transfer. From multiple people. No lead-up whatsoever."
"…That's, uh…"
Even Ermes, who was relatively ignorant of noble customs, could tell that was clearly absurd.
"They probably thought it would be safer to go straight to the Trackia family rather than risk getting their letters crushed by Father. …Honestly, the fact that they're already getting crushed should be a clue… I have absolutely no intention of even considering something like that! Given my position, I should at least wait for some time to pass before entertaining anything!"
That much was reasonable. After all, it hadn't even been two months since she had her engagement annulled by the Second Prince Aster.
"Besides, the way they proposed was outrageous. They literally walked up without so much as a greeting, didn't even wait for introductions, barely exchanged a single word of conversation, and just blurted out their intentions! At that point, it's practically saying they only care about looks and family name!"
…It seemed that, just like Ermes, Katia was also having a rough time in her new class.
It probably had something to do with Aster's absence as well.
Aster had wielded enormous and tyrannical power in this country, and there was no way he hadn't done the same at the academy.
With that power structure at its apex now collapsed, A Class was apparently embroiled in behind-the-scenes power struggles to determine the next class ruler—or so Ermes had heard whispered in B Class.
The young lord who had pressed Katia was probably part of that.
"…However, still…"
Even so, judging from how fed up she looked, it was clear that she had been subjected to some particularly aggressive advances.
She was, after all, an extraordinarily beautiful girl, and her family was a prestigious ducal house. Nobles would naturally want to establish connections with her.
…But. He knew—though perhaps presumptuously—that she was far more than just that.
She was a person of noble heart who had overcome the past, held fast to her feelings, and continued to press forward without looking back.
For someone who knew her even a little, to hear that such things were happening—
"…It doesn't exactly feel great, you know."
"!"
His small, brief murmur.
Katia caught every word, understood the intent—and her cheeks flushed ever so slightly.
But he didn't notice, and turned to face her.
"How should I put it… You've worked hard."
"…Yes, I have. I'm tired. So… you could probably offer me some comfort, couldn't you?"
"Hm?"
When he tilted his head at her offhand murmur, spoken while looking away—
Katia suddenly leaned toward him, her dark purple hair brushing his nose as it carried its fragrance.
And then—plop. She rested her head on his lap.
In other words, Ermes was now in a lap-pillow position.
"! Uh… Lady Katia?"
"…Didn't you hear me? I said comfort me. Come on."
Still facing away from him, she gave a light, almost petulant shake of her head.
Drawing on his experience, Ermes guessed what she wanted—and extended his hand, gently placing his palm on top of her head.
That seemed to be the right answer, as she relaxed completely and let herself sink into it.
"…………"
…Lately, she occasionally made requests like this. Usually in silence.
As for when this started, it had been since their teacher returned. Perhaps Rose had somehow influenced her in ways he couldn't quite understand. Did having one's lap used as a pillow really feel that good? He couldn't help but wonder.
Either way—not that he disliked it, but he would have appreciated at least a heads-up beforehand. Having it sprung on him like this, and by a girl his own age at that… even for him, it was hard on the heart.
With that warm, pleasant weight pressing against his knee, he thought these things—then, obeying the silent request, he gently combed through her beautiful purple hair, the color of a night sky dissolved into silk.
After doing so for a while, she murmured softly:
"…Erm, how are you finding school? Think you'll be able to enjoy it?"
"Hm?"
"You're the responsible type, so maybe you're thinking about living up to Father's expectations. …But I think Father—and I too—don't want you to sacrifice yourself just to fulfill our wishes."
"!"
She objected to a thought that had crossed his mind.
"You've already been through so much hardship. You should at least be allowed to enjoy the life you could have been living normally. So…"
"…Thank you for your concern."
He said it gently.
"But please rest assured. Wanting to wait and see for a while in that class, and wanting to change things if I can—both of those are my own decisions. …Besides, according to the Duke, I'm apparently quite willful."
"…That does sound like you."
He could feel her smiling faintly.
"If anything comes up, let me know. I think there are things I can help with, and you don't need to hold back just because you're my attendant."
"…Then, if it's all the same, I'd appreciate advance notice next time you want to do something like this."
"………I'll see what I can do."
"Please don't sound so much like Rose."
Thinking that this probably wasn't going to improve anytime soon, he continued combing her hair for a while longer.
And so, the quiet time between master and servant drifted gently onward.