A few days after the disastrous results, Louis gritted his teeth and took the second test.

And a week later.

“Grade A.”

While Louis was out in the back alley, I was notified of the grading results instead.

“Really?”

“Yes, please deliver it to young master Louis Valentine.”

I jumped in place after receiving the results from an employee of the Wizard’s Association.

My brother, why are you making me worry when you’re going to do so well? I was excited with the happy news, but suddenly there was a commotion at the front door.

“Your Grace, are you back?”

At the butler’s voice, I ran back down the stairs.

“Dad!”

My hair was a little messy because I used my magic to fly, but my wonderful father smiled at me as always. At that moment, my feet floated in the air, my body flew in the sky and fell into my father’s arms.

“Did you have fun without your father, my princess?”

“I saw you yesterday morning, and now I’m seeing you again. Dad, don’t exaggerate.”

“Dad was so sad he didn’t see his princess last night. That’s why I ran back so quickly.”

My dad with a daughter complex held me up and patted me hard on the head. Alex’s problem must have been solved well since Father stepped in. It was worth dropping hints in advance.

“What happened in the North?”

“Yes, what happened?”

Dad deliberately avoided the topic. Even if you act like this, I know you’re happy because I asked you to come back quickly.

“I think everything went well because Dad was there.”

“Sure. Sooner or later, the Crown Prince will also return triumphantly.”

He’s finally coming back. Realizing that, my cheekbones went up, and I clapped without realizing it.

“That’s a relief. I’m glad he’s coming back safely.”

“My princess, you seem particularly pleased to hear that His Highness is coming back. Dad’s upset.”

Ever since the last proposal was mentioned, Dad has been openly aware of whenever I talk about Alex.

“Dad, are you jealous?”

“I was just curious. I was wondering if His Highness had Clara in mind.”

Alex and Clara’s love cliché is ruined, but if I said something wrong, Dad might cut off Alex’s support.

“Crown Prince Alex’s her precious friend. My sister will be sad if something happens to him.”

“So Clara and he are just friends.”

“Yeah, really, really, it’s not like that at all. We’re just friends.”

It is not right to misunderstand because of regular correspondence, as the Emperor did the last time. I was straightforward in this matter.

“She said she has no intention of getting married yet. And I don’t think she likes anyone.”

“I have no intention of forcing Clara to marry him.”

“I know, but you never know. No matter how good of a proposal comes in, you have to respect her wishes.”

It would be a disaster if you were tricked into sending her to a weirdo. The bad guys obviously approached a decent family to try a political marriage.

Enough of the old repertoire, my dad nodded and patted me on the head when I warned him in advance.

“You know how to use the word respect. Our youngest has grown up a lot. She’s a real lady now.”

As if I was some kind of fool, my dad was paying attention to my unusual vocabulary.

Now that I am fifteen, it’s not necessary to see me as a child but I laughed at the thought that, in my father’s eyes, I will be forever his baby girl.

“Dad has no intention of forcing anyone into marriage.”

“Really?”

“Theo, Isaac, Clara. When you all have someone you like, I just want you to be the first to tell Mom and Dad.”

I don’t know about the others, but it’s hard to imagine our fool Isaac falling in love with someone else.

“Wouldn’t it be a little hard for Isaac?”

“Dad is more concerned about Ciel. You don’t have to hurry, so don’t grow up too quickly.”

After saying that, my dad laughed bitterly for some reason.

We can’t stay young forever, so my brothers and sister, who were running around and playing all over the mansion, will eventually leave one by one.

Theo, who is faithfully playing the role of the next Duke, Isaac, who has won competitions every year and has qualified as a swordmaster, and Clara, who has become a qualified pharmacist.

Unlike Louis and I, who are still immature, my sister and brothers were already on their way.

“Ciel will always be next to Mom and Dad.”

Ciel’s love interest wasn’t confirmed in the novel. Being a good daughter to my parents wouldn’t be a bad thing.

“This is what Marquis Norton said last time: They say that, and one day, they suddenly bring a guy.”

My dad didn’t seem to believe me. I couldn’t put a nail in my beloved dad’s heart, so I deliberately held onto my dad’s arms and fooled around acting cute.

“No one likes me. I guess everyone ran away because they were scared of my dad and Isaac.”

Aside from that, I don’t even know a decent man now. Stan is a bit dangerous, but I just need to be careful.

I thought so calmly.

*?*?*

Louis has been busier since grading A.

“Look, I can do it even if I’m like this[1].”

“Yeah. I think my brother is really great.”

Louis, who’s usually bickering with me, didn’t tell me where he was going after the grade came out properly and he didn’t stay home at all.

“I’m bored.”

So I ended up all alone at home. After finishing many busy days of work, my father and mother went on a two-day trip for vacation.

Theo is watching over the political affairs instead of Father, and Isaac went to the Knights Division, as usual. Even my sister was away today, at the request of the Pharmaceutical Association, so I stayed home alone.

PR/N: you may be too young to understand the joke in the last line :kek:

“When the hell are you coming?”

The story will begin in earnest only when Alex returns. Rumors of him coming back were all over the place, but there was no way to inquire about his whereabouts.

Since there was nothing else to do, I decided to think about the love story, in earnest.

If Clara and Theo are connected, that’s not bad either.

Clara, who has always been aware that she is an adopted daughter. And Theo, who has had a crush on her for a long time.

Aside from the fact that they treat each other like siblings, they are both objectively aware that they are not.

It’s not a surprise for two people that are close to each other to naturally fall in love.

It would have been nice if Theo had the courage to step up, but the problem is that he’s too shy to do that.

It’s a problem I’ve been thinking about for a while, but the most important thing is Clara’s heart. I think it’s better to wait and see on this issue.

“Miss, we’re in trouble!”

For some reason, Merrill ran into my room without knocking.

“Trouble? What’s going on?”

“His Highness, Prince Stan is here!”

I thought I heard it wrong at first. When I heard the name Stan, I jumped out of my seat.

“What?”

I wanted to shout out ‘what’s the meaning of this? without a prior engagement!’, but my opponent was Empress Lotte’s son and the Grand Duke of Winterbaum.

When there were no adults, did he come while knowing about this situation?

“Where is he now?”

“Mrs. Lisbon is greeting him.”

First, I changed my clothes with the help of the maids. Even as I rushed through the mansion, the atmosphere was unusual.

“Lady Ciel is here.”

“I’m glad to see you, Ciel.”

When I opened the door, I saw Stan sitting gracefully with his legs crossed, drinking black tea.

His face was as smooth as it was a few days ago. Overall, despite the fact that he resembles his mother’s beauty, he appeared strong today because he was well-dressed.

A child born to the mercenary king who killed the dragon and the Emperor’s sister, Princess Lotte. Stan, the owner of Winterbaum’s estate and Alex’s rival, was so dignified that it was unbelievable that he was a character that appeared only in one line in the original book.

And in front of him was Mrs. Lisbon, kneeling on the floor.

“Mrs. Lisbon, why are you on your knees?”

She’d been a little mean to my sister, but she’d devoted her whole life to Valentine without any problems.

Now Mrs. Lisbon, almost grandmotherly old, is bowing down. I was shocked by her servile appearance.

“That’s because, of course, she didn’t let you know of my arrival on time.”

Stan was the one who replied. Even if you are a Grand Duke, this kind of rude behavior is not acceptable. I approached my maid myself and lifted her up.

“So who’s the one who came here without an appointment?”

“Miss Ciel.”

Furious, I responded with a fierce tone. Mrs. Lisbon is the duchy’s housekeeper, even if she has unknowingly ignored Clara.

No matter how great the Grand Duke’s orders are, my orders come first to her.

When I ordered her, she managed to get up with assistance from other maids.

“Forgive me, Miss.”

Mrs. Lisbon, who used to ignore and harass Clara, is now old and has bad joints.

Because her legs hurt, she couldn’t even walk properly. A woman much older than Queen Lotte was on her knees the entire time I was getting ready.

“Merrill, there must be some medicine you made for me in the second drawer of my room desk.”

“Yes, Miss.”

No matter how mean she was, she’s still from our family. Merrill, who read my mind, moved quickly.

When I saw Merrill and the other maids accompanying Mrs. Lisbon out, I turned to face Stan and his entourage. The atmosphere was unusual, given the number of people present and the weapons they were carrying.

[1] Talking about his A grade