“Were there any other injuries?”

“Furifuri.”

“That’s a relief… We also don’t know what the other party is planning.”

While I was chatting with Ragri, Silver returned.

“I caught the culprit. She always writes with useless flair.”

“What did you say!? A girl with beautiful writing is popular!”

“Who cares!”

As per his words, Silver held the culprit by the neck and dragged her to me—

—It was Irene.

…I see.

Somehow, I didn’t doubt that it was her. After all, it was pink. Also, she wrote [Lumie]. Besides, even before Silver brought her inside, I could hear their voices as they quarreled outside.

All right, thank you for your hard work.

But when I was about to conclude it, Irene, who had been dragged in, grabbed me by the shoulders.

“I didn’t do anything wrong!? I just wrote a love letter to Lumiere! Didn’t I mention that I always wanted to befriend you!?”

—Well, that’s true…

The letter didn’t exactly state anything threatening.

However, Silver, who used to be her older brother (presumably), made a snide question.

“Then why did you scribble it all over her textbook? Is the Duke of Yattermen so poor that they can’t afford to give their adopted child a single sheet of paper? Shall I buy you a cute stationery, well?”

“There’s no need! I received tons for my allowance; I don’t even know how to spend it all! For real, I can only thank the duke for letting me and my mother live a good life!”

—I’m glad.

…The more I heard her speak, the prouder I felt as a fellow aristocrat. Even if her mother was a commoner, she had been granted a worry-free life because her child had been adopted by an aristocratic family. As for the child herself, she was transferred to the academy attended by the crown prince and their son to pursue the highest education. Based from Bruno and her remarks, the family internal relations seemed to be good.

Although I hoped I could conclude it there—

“—Then why are you doing such a strange thing!?”

Irene scratched her temple at Silver’s directness.

“Well~ I was threatened by a third-rate lady who wanted me to cooperate with some bullying~”

—Why are you acting as if it’s nothing!?

I involuntarily furrowed my eyebrows, but Irene remained nonchalant.

“Ah, maybe I should use the word ‘threatening.’ I was told to cooperate if I want to successfully become part of the aristocratic world. So basically, because Lumie is plotting something evil, she needs to be kicked out of the academy?”

“I’m not plotting anything!?”

I didn’t even care about my onomatopoeia.

At my vehement words of denial, she simply swatted my arm with an, “I know~

“That’s why, while looking down on them, I thought it’d be fun and tried to play around~”

“Are you an idiot?”

Silver smacked her head with a thud.

Irene buckled, and with tears in her eyes, glared daggers at Silver.

“A-ni-ki…”

In return, Silver only put his hands on his waist.

“So, who said that nonsense?”

“That’s a secret♡”

“Huuh?”

—Are the hearts of these two siblings made of orichalcum?

Ragri chose to stay out of the conversation that brought such an ultra-rare material to mind. I’ll follow suit. However, when I decided to do so, the topic changed.

“By the way, are you guys still fighting over Lumie? You aren’t tired of her, right?”

—Please don’t say that…

Actually, that should be my line. I was tired of them. Please return the graceful peace of a noble lady to me.

“Then, why don’t we make it so that whoever uncovers the identity of the mastermind is the victor?”

—Somehow, it’s becoming troublesome again.

Irene seemed very cute as she raised a finger. More like, every single one of her facial expressions and actions was adorable.

As I escaped from reality, Irene looked to the clock in the classroom.

“All right, the time limit is two hours. That is, until the closing bell rings. Well then, let’s go!”

Irene clapped her hands.

The match was decided on its own—and it seemed that the participants themselves had no complaints. In fact, Silver and Ragri burst out of the classroom. The two of them are always so quick-footed. Why couldn’t they match their pace with me—their master—a bit more?

“Okay, then let’s go, Lumie.”

“Huh?”

—Why do I have to go too!?

Although I asked a very sensible question, Irene didn’t listen.

“Cause’ if you don’t take note of what you usually don’t, you can’t choose which one is better, right?”

“What do you mean?”

She took my hand, and when she turned to look at me, her face was as sunny as today’s weather.

“Okay, let’s go~!”

---

***T/N: I have a feeling that this story is deeper than we thought…

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