🔊 TTS Settings
.CHAPTER 10.
‘So it’s true what they say—that Miss Seila possesses the greatest grace in all of House Devernon.’
To think such dignity and such warmth could exist together.
Matthew stole a glance at Seila from the corner of his eye.
“Keep sneaking looks at her and I’ll kill you.”
“…Pardon?”
“What?”
“You just said—”
“I didn’t say anything. Hurry up and button my shirt properly.”
Garen seemed slightly dissatisfied that Matthew was fixing his buttons, but he didn’t resist.
Once Matthew finished straightening his clothes, Seila stood up.
Seeing her approach, Garen brightened even more.
“What? Did I do something wrong again?”
“Nothing like that. Mary, bring me what I asked for.”
“Yes, Miss.”
Mary, who had been standing quietly behind her, stepped forward and handed Seila a small gift box.
Garen’s eyes widened.
“What’s this?”
“A present. Open it.”
His grin spread from ear to ear.
He tore off the wrapping with his usual rough enthusiasm.
Inside the box lay a small navy-blue necktie.
“A tie?”
“It’s your coming-of-age gift.”
Seila picked up the tie and fastened it around Garen’s neck.
“It suits you.”
“It does?”
She nodded with a gentle smile.
“Promise me something.”
“Wear this tie at your coming-of-age ceremony.”
“Okay.”
After smiling happily for a while, Garen suddenly remembered something.
“Um… Seila…”
“Nah… never mind.”
“Go ahead.”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Then, several more times, he started with, “Well, you know…”
before trailing off again.
“Um…”
Just spit it out already, you idiot.
That was what Seila wanted to say.
Instead, her refined body patiently waited for her hopelessly awkward brother with perfect elegance.
“You… can’t come to my ceremony anyway, right?”
“No, I mean…”
“I’m not saying you have to come.”
“Obviously Damian’s appointment ceremony is more important.”
Huh? Appointment ceremony? What’s he talking about?
While Seila was trying to process that, Garen hurriedly added,
“I don’t really mind.”
“Seriously.”
* * *
She, Him, and Him begins when the heroine, Aileen, comes of age.
Because of that, events that happened beforehand aren’t explored in great detail.
Still, the major background and character histories are established.
Garen’s story was no exception.
He wasn’t quite as neglected as I was…
…but Garen was still the unwanted child of the family.
Garen had been designed as a genius of combat magic.
The problem was…
For generations, mages had looked down on combat magic.
As a result, Garen’s talents never truly shone.
Making matters worse…
His older brother Damian was simply too exceptional.
Last year, Damian was enchanted by the mermaid because of his extraordinary sensitivity to mana.
Ordinary people couldn’t even hear a mermaid’s song.
Only the most gifted magical prodigies possessed senses sharp enough to be lured by it.
The fact that Damian had fallen under its spell proved just how extraordinary his magical perception was.
A magical genius who excelled in every field.
Growing up…
Garen had always lived in Damian’s shadow.
And he would continue to do so.
Originally, Garen’s coming-of-age ceremony gets overshadowed by Damian’s departure ceremony.
Damian had turned eighteen that year.
It had already been two years since his own coming-of-age ceremony.
He was now a fully grown adult.
As commander of the Dawn Knights, House Devernon’s elite order of magical knights…
He was originally supposed to depart in just a few days to lead the vanguard against the annual Monster Wave rising from the Northern Sea.
The Monster Wave was a natural catastrophe.
At fixed intervals, countless monsters surged out of the sea.
For generations…
House Devernon had stood as humanity’s shield against them.
Garen ends up having a lonely coming-of-age ceremony.
And during that ceremony…
He beats up another boy celebrating alongside him.
That incident puts him in an awkward position.
Incidentally…
That boy, Kusmo, would later become one of the allies serving the villainous Seila.
But… an appointment ceremony instead of a departure ceremony?
That wasn’t how the story was supposed to go.
Damian wasn’t joining this year’s expedition.
The story has changed.
Seila understood why.
She herself had become a variable.
Over the past year she’d changed countless events, producing all sorts of ripple effects.
Take Matthew and the servants, for example.
They now treated her with tremendous caution.
But…
She and Damian should have been completely independent variables.
Yes, she’d saved him once.
Other than that…
They’d barely interacted.
Her transmigration into She, Him, and Him shouldn’t have erased the Monster Wave itself.
So why did this change?
She couldn’t understand it.
Fortunately…
The overall flow of events hadn’t completely shifted.
After all…
Garen’s ceremony still overlapped with Damian’s important event.
He’s been appointed as an adjunct professor at Somarfi Academy…
The absence of Damian didn’t mean the Monster Wave couldn’t be stopped.
This year’s wave wasn’t even unusually powerful.
But why Somarfi Academy?
No matter how much she thought about it…
She couldn’t figure it out.
Time passed.
Eventually…
The day of Garen’s coming-of-age ceremony—and Damian’s appointment ceremony—arrived.
* * *
The mansion had been bustling since dawn.
“Did you hear?”
“He’s the youngest adjunct professor ever.”
“They say he’ll probably become a full professor in just a few years.”
“He’s truly amazing.”
Everyone’s attention was fixed on Damian.
Naturally…
Garen’s coming-of-age ceremony wasn’t considered very important.
Accompanied by his personal attendant Matthew, Garen climbed into a carriage.
Just in case…
He asked,
“What about Father?”
“He didn’t leave any message.”
“I see.”
Garen flashed a carefree grin and looked out the window.
Quietly…
He muttered to himself.
“I’m fine.”
“My brother’s ceremony is the important one.”
Outside…
The autumn scenery drifted by.
The leafless trees somehow looked lonely.
“We’ve arrived, Young Master.”
The carriage stopped at the temple.
Many young nobles had already gathered in the plaza.
Some held bouquets.
Others had received expensive perfume as gifts.
Many stood surrounded by their families.
One of them spotted Garen and approached.
“Oh!”
“Garen!”
“Oh, Kusmo.”
“Long time no see.”
Kusmo glanced around.
“Wait…”
“Did you come alone?”
“With Matthew.”
“Matthew?”
“My attendant.”
“What?”
“So where’s your family?”
“Oh…”
“They must just be running a little late.”
Kusmo already knew today was Damian’s appointment ceremony.
Holding an extravagant bouquet, he smiled brightly.
After noticing Garen’s empty hands, he continued.
“Looks like your bouquet hasn’t arrived yet either.”
“A bouquet from House Devernon…”
“I can’t wait to see how magnificent it’ll be.”
* * *
In She, Him, and Him…
Kusmo repeatedly provokes and mocks Garen.
Eventually…
Garen snaps and beats him up.
Holding onto that grudge…
Kusmo later joins the villainous Seila and helps bring down House Devernon.
If I remember correctly…
That sequence alone raised about seven of my own death flags.
As soon as Seila arrived at the temple…
Kusmo had already begun provoking Garen.
“Hmph.”
“I don’t care about some stupid bouquet.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The bouquet given during a coming-of-age ceremony has special meaning.”
“It’s a family’s way of expressing love, blessings, and hopes for their child’s future.”
Laughing loudly, Kusmo slapped Garen on the back.
“Don’t worry.”
“As if House Devernon would forget your bouquet.”
“It’s not like you’re adopted…”
“…or an illegitimate child.”
Just then…
Seila arrived in front of Garen.
“Brother.”
“Huh?”
Garen jumped in surprise.
“What are you doing here?”
“It’s your coming-of-age ceremony.”
“Well… yeah…”
“But…”
“Didn’t you go see Damian?”
“There are already plenty of people over there.”
“But…”
Garen felt something was different about Seila today.
He wasn’t imagining it.
Nearly every boy and girl gathered at the temple kept sneaking glances at her.
“What?”
“You look… different today.”
Normally…
Because of sword training, Seila always dressed in practical clothes.
Today, however…
She wore a formal crimson dress.
Her red hair, usually tied tightly back, flowed in soft waves.
She even wore silver earrings she normally considered too bothersome.
Seila could clearly feel it.
Almost everyone her age at the temple was looking at her.
Honestly…
She didn’t mind.
So this is what life is like when you’re ridiculously gorgeous.
She’d assumed the attention of what were basically middle-school-aged kids wouldn’t affect her.
But…
That wasn’t true at all.
This is actually kind of exciting!
Receiving admiration from people her own age felt surprisingly pleasant.
Who would’ve thought I’d ever experience something like this?
And actually enjoy it?
Naturally…
None of that excitement appeared on her face.
Her innate elegance concealed everything.
Outwardly…
Seila looked completely unconcerned with the attention surrounding her.
Smiling gently, she asked,
“Really?”
“What’s different?”
“Uh…”
Garen cleared his throat before blurting out as quickly as possible,
“You look pwetty.”
“What?”
“I said…”
“You look pwetty.”
Seila frowned slightly and tilted her head.
Then she understood.
Ah…
He meant, “It looks good on you.”
Garen turned his head away, pretending to look elsewhere.
