MDRH 28

Chapter 28

‘I didn’t realize the fifth floor meant that…’

Leaving the laundry room, Lucillea headed toward the glass garden.

It was for Cookie, who had worked hard all day.

The corridor leading to the glass garden felt unusually long today.

“The fifth floor is assigned to those among the chosen who possess especially outstanding abilities.”

It wasn’t a strict rule, but because facilities like the training grounds and laboratories were nearby, she naturally ended up on the fifth floor.

‘Could it be that my abilities are really that special?’

Was that why His Highness the Grand Duke had given her the fifth floor?

Lucillea could only admit the truth as her inner worries became outwardly apparent: that her magic was above average.

‘Why do I have this kind of power when I’m not even the protagonist?’

There was nothing like this in the original story…

Lucillea’s expression darkened. Living a long, thin life now seemed impossible…

Then, she shook her head.

‘No, there’s no reason to be gloomy.’

Having especially strong abilities meant that after becoming independent, she would have more ways to make a living.

‘Still, I have to be careful.’

Before reaching adulthood, she had to hide her power if she didn’t want to be dragged into the battlefield.

‘The fact that I’ve already been assigned to the fifth floor means His Highness the Grand Duke has noticed my magic level.’

From now on, the important thing was to show how clumsy she could be at growing up despite this magic!

Lucillea flung open the glass garden door, clenching her fists.

‘I’ll look even more useless!’

Even if she got kicked off the fifth floor and sent downstairs—she absolutely would!

At that moment, her eyes met a pair of red eyes in surprise inside the glass garden.

“Eh?!”

Startled, Lucillea shouted.

“Serdian?!”

Serdian furrowed his brow in confusion.

“How did you know to come here?”

“Huh?”

“Could it be that you’ve sent someone after me?”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m asking why you’re wherever I go.”

“……”

Wherever I go…? Lucillea raised her eyebrows.

In truth, Serdian had already seen Lucillea six times today alone.

At 4 a.m., he had stopped in his tracks upon seeing her on his way to the training ground for physical exercises.

Lucillea had been talking with the training instructor while waiting for Serdian at the training ground.

“Oh? Serdian hasn’t arrived yet?”

“He should be here soon… Are you planning to train together?”

“Yes! Physical strength is said to be the source of national power! The stronger your stamina, the more magic you can build!”

“……”

Even after that, Lucillea kept appearing in Serdian’s line of sight multiple times throughout the day:

• Peeking on the way to the classroom for successor lessons

• Strolling through the snow-covered garden in front of the East Wing

• Loitering in the corridor connecting the Main and East Wings

• Wandering in front of the East Wing’s dining hall

Every time, Serdian frowned and left.

And now, in the glass garden, again.

Hearing this, Lucillea’s eyes sparkled.

“Wow, Serdian. If coincidences happen this often—”

“Don’t start with nonsense about destiny.”

“No, I don’t believe in destiny.”

“……”

“But if coincidences keep happening like this—!”

“Keep happening…?” Serdian furrowed his brow, waiting for her next words.

Lucillea continued with a completely serious expression.

“It means someone has a devoted obsession.”

“……”

What nonsense.

Serdian sighed, pressing his finger against his forehead in frustration at getting dragged into this conversation.

“Stop lurking in front of me.”

Lucillea lowered her eyes and smiled.

“Was I bothering you?”

“Do you even need to ask?”

Lucillea smiled bitterly at his reply.

“I think… I was a little excited. I kept thinking about how you said you wouldn’t keep someone close unless they were useful.”

That’s why she wanted to be friends. She lingered nearby, hoping that seeing him often might make him warm up to her.

Lucillea muttered softly to herself.

“I know. My way might not be the right way. Not everyone has the same way of making friends.”

“……”

“Honestly… I don’t really know how to make friends. What should I say to make someone like me?”

“……”

“But seeing your reaction, I guess this isn’t the way. If you really hate being friends with me that much, if you hate me enough to wish I were dead, I won’t force it anymore.”

Lucillea smiled, closing her eyes.

“I like this glass garden too. It’s cozy and relaxing. You came to rest too, right? I’d be in the way, so rest here for a while. I’ll go first.”

Lucillea quietly turned, and Cookie atop her head looked equally sad.

Just as she reached to open the glass garden door, Serdian spoke.

“’Hate you enough to wish I were dead.’”

“……Huh?”

Lucillea turned to meet Serdian’s gaze, but he avoided her eyes.

“I never said I hate you that much.”

“……”

Lucillea’s eyes widened. Perhaps feeling burdened by her intense gaze, Serdian continued to speak without meeting her eyes.

“Except for showing up unannounced… for meals, that… might be okay.”

“Eh?!”

Lucillea ran toward him with a bright smile.

“Really?! Really, really?!”

Serdian, startled, stepped back.

“Stop approaching like that suddenly!”

“Ah! Okay! I’ll keep my distance!”

“……”

Lucillea giggled.

“So we’re friends from now on, right? Right?!”

“……Do as you like.”

Wow! Lucillea squealed.

“I’m friends with the young master!”

Hooray! She stretched her arms in pure joy.

Serdian left the glass garden first for evening training, and Lucillea spent a little more time in the garden with Cookie.

“Did you play as much as you wanted?”

Cookie, lying down and panting, slowly nodded.

[I won’t spread my wings for a while. I guess I was a dog in my past life. Running on two legs is much easier.]

Lucillea laughed and picked Cookie up, placing him on her shoulder.

“What’s certain is, even if you were a dog or a cat, you’d be incredibly cute.”

Cookie’s half-lidded eyes wavered.

[Lucii…]

Then he snorted.

[I thought your affection for me disappeared?]

“Huh? Me? No, Cookie. Why would you think that?”

[You’ve been chasing the young master lately and haven’t paid any attention to me!]

“You think I’m wrong?!” Cookie squawked angrily.

It seemed a little resentment had built up without them realizing it.

“You little jealous one.”

[You know it! So why did you do that?]

Snort! Snort!

Whether parrots are naturally like this or Cookie was especially jealous, no one could tell.

Regardless, Cookie always craved Lucillea’s attention and affection.

Lucillea left the glass garden, smiling softly.

‘Cookie. You’re the first friend I ever made. No one is more precious than you.’

[…Tch]

Cookie seemed not to dislike her answer, and he quickly started humming a tune.

Listening to Cookie’s cheerful song, Lucillea couldn’t help but think of Serdian.

‘I’m glad I wandered around here and there.’

In truth, Lucillea had been wandering the alleys where Serdian passed, hoping to at least see his face.

The problem was, she hadn’t seen even a shadow of him.

But that was because Serdian noticed her first every time and avoided her.

‘Unknowingly, I kept getting spotted by Serdian.’

Of course, it was still a bit of a stretch to say she had completely opened her heart…

In the garden, Serdian set conditions for Lucillea.

“Don’t come to the training ground or practice halls.”

“Eh? What kind of rule is that?! I want to watch you train!”

“…Instead, I’ll eat at the East Wing dining hall from now on. You can come anytime then.”

“Breakfast, lunch, dinner, all meals?”

“…Don’t you get tired?”

Serdian, who had previously eaten alone in his room, now said he would eat in the dining hall.

It was a drastic change for someone who had been avoiding her all this time.

‘Yeah, wanting more would be greedy.’

Even a little space given to her was important!

‘Hehe, we can’t build a thousand-year friendship from the start. We’ll collide and break and gradually build our friendship!’

Humming along with Cookie’s song, she headed toward the West Wing.

“Did you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

Lucillea froze at the sudden voice.

She looked toward where the voice came from and saw maids walking along the garden path to the East Wing.

Thinking they were just East Wing maids, she tried to ignore them and continue walking.

But then, the conversation that floated over caught her attention.

“Do you know Lancy?”

“Yes. She was a maid in the main building, right? About two months ago? She ran off with an apprentice knight who had a fiancée. That maid, right?”

Oh? Lucillea paused, curious about the scandalous story. She cautiously turned her body.