Boys' Dormitory.
Felix was sitting on the sofa in his room, polishing his pocket watch. A custom-made one, with the royal crest emblazoned in silver. However, what was important to him was neither the royal crest nor the function of the watch, but the item hidden underneath it.
Felix closed the once opened lid, twisted the bottom part of the pocket watch slightly then opened the lid again. Afterward, a panel, hidden underneath the hour digits cover, was revealed.
The panel was inlaid with a large aquamarine, around which was engraved a magical formula that signified a contract with a spirit. It was the proof of his contract with his contracted spirit, Wildeanu.
Aquamarine itself was not unusual, but the darker the color, the more expensive it was considered to be. And the aquamarine on Felix's hand was exactly the kind of light blue that deserves to be called top quality.
This aquamarine was once the necklace of a certain noblewoman. It was said that the lady who wore this necklace had very beautiful aqua eyes, just like this aquamarine.
Though he will never be able to see that aqua color again.
Closing the lid of his pocket watch with a snap, Will, who was sorting through the letters, called out reservedly.
"Your Highness, you've received a letter from Duke Crockford."
"Pass it to me."
Felix picked up the letter on the tray and cut the seal with a paper-knife. What was written in the letter were roughly things that he had expected.
"I've been assigned a diplomatic task. Envoys from the Falforia Kingdom were coming to the Duchy of Rehnberg and I was asked to welcome them."
"I believe Duke Rehnberg is…"
"Yes, he's Eliane's father."
In other words, Duke Crockford's order can be summarized as follows.
Once the winter break begins, stay in Duchy of Rehnberg and make some results in diplomacy with the Farforia Kingdom. Also, he had to deepen his relationship with Eliane, his fiancee candidate while she stays there.
The Falforia Kingdom was an agricultural country situated southeast of the Ridill Kingdom. The details of the diplomacy will undoubtedly be related to trade. Of course, they were an important ally for the Ridill Kingdom.
Now that relations with the Empire were very delicate, if the Falforia Kingdom and the Empire were to join forces, the Ridill Kingdom would be caught in the middle.
He will have to entertain them to strengthen the alliance while extracting some results from the trade deal.
As for Eliane, well, I guess that's just a bonus.
Having Felix stay at her parents' house would make Eliane very eager indeed.
After all, Eliane was favored by Duke Crockford. Now that she had Duke Crockford's approval, Eliane must already feel like she is Felix's fiancee.
…Well, rather than liking Eliane personally, Duke Crockford is probably pushing Eliane because his father, Duke Rehnberg, is someone he can easily control…
Whatever it may be, it's going to be a depressing winter break.
The air was somewhat lively with the other student council members all seemingly looking forward to returning home.
In particular, Cyril was unusually excited this year and was now preparing souvenirs and counting the days until he would return home.
"How envious," sighed Felix as he read the letter, but he stopped at the last sentence. His eyes widened, tinted in red.
Will, who had been watching him, called out to Felix with concern.
"…Um, Your Highness?"
"Will, I've got some good news!"
Unlike his usual way of speaking, Felix said this rapidly before tracing the last sentence of the letter with his finger.
"Lady Everett… I would be able to meet with her!"
＊ ＊ ＊
Isabelle Norton haughtily raised her chin.
"This should be a peaceful New Year's day with my family, but now I have to spend my days with someone like you, what a spiteful day! I would never approve of you as one of my family! You should better have spent this winter in a stable!" So spat Isabelle at Monica with a hateful look on her face, and the next moment she collapsed in tears on the spot.
"…so, with that pretext, I should be able to invite you to my house. Then we can spend our winter breaks together in our household, Big Sis Monica!"
As Isabelle cried in tears, Monica perpexedly spoke, "I-I'm sorry."
Monica, who had been busy with the chess tournament and the school festival for a while now, had been invited to Isabelle's private room for a tea party. And now, they were discussing the winter breaks.
Everyone seemed to be talking happily about how they would spend their winter breaks now that it was less than a week away.
Serendia Academy has two long breaks a year, one in the winter and one in the summer, but only during the winter break do they encourage all students to return home and close the dormitories completely.
Due to the fact that many social events took place during the long summer vacation, and because Serendia Academy is relatively close to the royal capital, students from distant places often go directly from their dormitories to the parties in the royal capital.
On the other hand, students are encouraged to return home for the winter breaks, since people in the Ridill Kingdom believed winter solstice should be spent with family.
It was also due on the longest night of the year during the winter solstice, the Spirit King of Darkness will return to his slumber, while the Spirit King of Light will awaken on the following day, marking the beginning of a new year.
During the week until the winter solstice, it is customary in this country for nobles and commoners alike to spend a quiet time with their families.
After the winter solstice, the palace would hold a New Year's ceremony for a week, and the nobles from the various regions would visit the palace to greet the king.
This ceremony takes a whole week and Monica, who happens to be one of the Seven Sages, is required to attend from day one.
That's why she can't visit Kerbeck County which is located far away from the palace.
"I'm really sorry…"
"Please stop apologizing to me, Big Sis Monica. I know this is just my selfishness… Even so… I really want to eat meat pie and ginger cake together with you and show you around the attractions of our Kerbeck County…"
"My Lady, your words would only make Miss Silent Witch troubled."
When her maid, Agatha, mildly chided her, Isabelle looked up and wiped her face with her handkerchief.
"Ah, I can't continue like this. A villainous daughter should not be crying for real… The only cries a villainess ever sheds are supposed to be crying out of lies."
"I-Is that so…?"
Monica shuddered involuntarily, and Isabelle's face, which had been crumpled in tears, straightened up.
"I apologize for showing you such unseemly conduct. As much as I'd like to enjoy the winter break with you, it wouldn't be appropriate if I forced you to come, considering the current situation."
The current situation, at the mention of those words Isabelle and Agatha's expressions darkened.
——Our kingdom has foreseen a sign of dragon damage in the country.
It was a week ago that Mary Harvey, the country's foremost prophetess, the Star Oracle Witch, made that prophecy. The king immediately sent out notices throughout the country, ordering the people to be on the alert for the dragon.
By nature, dragons that are vulnerable to cold weather become active in early spring. Making winter the season with the least dragon damage.
However, once the Star Oracle Witch made her prophecy, everyone has no choice but to be wary. After all, she has predicted calamities that could bring down this country many times in the past.
And if dragon damage were to occur, the most dangerous area would be the eastern part of the country, where there are many mountain ranges. Kerbeck County is also included in this region. That's why Isabelle was lamenting the fact that she couldn't bring Monica along.
"I-I heard the king wouldn't only dispatch the Dragon Knights, but also the Seven Sages to anticipate the dragon damage… And maybe… I'll also be dispatched to your region."
"Oh my! If that happens, please do let me know, by all means, I really meant it! So we can do our utmost effort to provide you with a warm welcome! The Kerbeck Household also will do our best to support you in slaying the dragon, Big Sis Monica!"
"Um… I'm fine… So please spare some manpower to guard the territory…"
＊ ＊ ＊
As Monica left Isabelle's room and walked down the hallway, she somehow recalled last year's New Year. As the Seven Sages, she had to stay at the castle from the first day of the New Year's ceremony.
However, Monica was so busy developing a new magic formula at the cabin at that time and forgot about the New Year's ceremony completely… As a result, soon after the start of the New Year, Louis, grabbed her by the neck and took her to the castle using his flight spell.
Louis looked so scary back then…
Thinking back about that day, Monica climbed up the ladder and pushed up the attic's door.
"Here we go. I'm home, Nero."
"Welcome back."
But the one who answered Monica's voice as she pushed up the door and climbed into the attic was not Nero. Of course, it was not Lynn either.
Sitting on the window sill, crossing his legs, was a good-looking magician with his chestnut hair in a braid wearing a monocle—Louis Miller the Barrier Magician.
Monica was silent for a good ten seconds and then asked in a shaky voice.
"Was today… the day of the New Year's ceremony?"
If it were the usual Louis, he would have said, "My colleague, it seems you are still half asleep, should I sober up your senses now?" and grinding her head with his fist, but today, he seemed to be awfully quiet and responded with a prompt reply.
"…Things have gone very bad."
Louis Miller is a man who would smile even in ‘bad situations,' while sometimes laughing at it wryly. Now that Louis had told Monica that things have gone very bad. Looking at the current circumstances, even Monica thinks the case where Louis says, "Today's a New Year's ceremony" and grabbing her by the neck and dragging her away was far better than this.
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