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Chapter 17
If the time ever comes when they need my help.
Aldis answered calmly.
“It’s fine. I’ll take that to mean you won’t turn your back on the Magic Tower in difficult times.”
“Of course. If you help me, that is. I’m just a child who needs help.”
“If Lady Lila wishes, the Magic Tower will always respond.”
“Great! Then let’s make a promise.”
I held out my pinky finger.
Aldis hooked his own finger with mine.
Don’t underestimate me just because I’m a child.
My mother placed a hand on my shoulder.
“Aldis, so far, Lila has grown up without major issues. But as you know, her immense magical power could become an obstacle in her life going forward.”
“I understand.”
“Can you help her study magic and learn to manage it?”
“If that’s your wish, I will always respond to Lady Lila’s call.”
Aldis placed his palm over our clasped hands.
A bright white light bloomed.
“By the name of the Dragon of Magic, Ragnis, I make this contract. The contractor, Aldis Hawayde, promises this: Aldis Hawayde and Lila Lorovante will support one another and will respond whenever help is needed.”
“Uh?”
Is this how a contract is sealed?
I asked nervously.
“There’s a child penalty in this, right?”
“Lila?”
“I mean, I’m reeally young! Ahem… This is my first time doing this kind of contract.”
I quickly pulled my hand back.
Looking all over, there didn’t seem to be anything wrong.
“This is more of a vow on my part. A promise made in my name.”
Ah, if that’s the case, then that’s a relief.
So that’s what it means?
My mom gently patted my head.
“Really. So serious. Thank you, Aldis.”
“No, I merely did what I must as the Sage of the Magic Tower.”
Thankfully, Aldis didn’t show any hostility toward me.
Hmm, good thing he’s not one of the Empress’s loyalists. That’s a relief.
“The hardest thing is doing what needs to be done.”
My mom patted Aldis’s hand.
Aldis raised his right hand, and the blue bird appeared again and perched on it.
Chirp-chirp-chirp—
“From now on, this bird will notify you of class times. Since my regular visits may arouse suspicion, lessons will be irregular. If you ever want to talk about the class, just speak to this bird.”
“Does the bird have a name?”
“A name?”
“…I think it’d be nice to know the name if I’m going to ask it for things.”
“Then, Lady Lila, you should name it.”
A name, huh…
I looked back and forth between the blue bird and Baldwin.
Baldwin, who had been quietly listening to us, parted his lips.
“Ladi.”
“Ladi?”
“Lala. Didi.”
“Oh? I like it! Ladi, then! Ladi!”
“That’s fine.”
“Nice.”
And so, Aldis’s blue bird was named Ladi.
Lala and Didi, huh? My precious kitty, you’re just too adorable!
Baldwin let out a dry laugh as he sat next to the napping Lila.
Aldis Hawayde.
He bore the title of Sage of the Magic Tower, but even so, his power didn’t amount to even half of Lila’s magical strength.
Baldwin frowned in disapproval.
He didn’t like Aldis’s offer to Lila.
Aldis wanted to bring Lila to the Magic Tower.
Whether it was a gentle suggestion or a veiled notice, he told her there was a way to live at the Tower.
But there was no reason for Lila to know that.
“You promised you wouldn’t go anywhere, Lila.”
Baldwin whispered softly.
He didn’t want Lila to go anywhere he couldn’t follow.
But Baldwin couldn’t help Lila with magic.
Using a magical sword and using magic were completely different things.
“So much for having lived a long life—you’re useless,” Baldwin inwardly criticized Caliburn, the sword sleeping within him.
Caliburn let out a low hum in protest, but Baldwin ignored it.
He plopped down next to Lila.
Once Lila fell asleep, she wouldn’t wake even if someone carried her off.
Baldwin took her finger and blew a small breath onto it.
Blue light shimmered and popped from his hand, scattering softly.
A soft pink aura surrounded Lila.
He only intended to cast a protective spell, but…
The magical sources used by mages and magic swordsmen were so different that the magic just bounced off.
Ugh, I really can’t do anything right.
Caliburn hummed again in protest.
Baldwin lay back with an annoyed sigh.
This was frustrating.
She’s only ten…
“Still a long road ahead,” Baldwin sighed and closed his eyes.
Anyway, that event proved I was a once-in-a-generation genius.
I had one of the strongest people in the world backing me.
Still, life returned to normal.
I just had people now who would literally pull stars from the sky if I asked them to.
Mom had some free time and baked cookies for the first time in a while.
She made them herself!
Baldwin and I stopped studying and had a snack break together.
Baldwin leaned back in his chair, munching on a cookie.
Actually, Baldwin really, really likes sweets. He just pretends he doesn’t.
“So, you don’t have to go to the Magic Tower anymore?”
Baldwin asked seriously.
He seemed weirdly averse to the idea of me going to the Tower.
“Yeah! I think so? But, Didi, do you really not want me to go to the Magic Tower?”
“…They tried to take you away, Lala. I think that’s a terrible thing.”
Baldwin said firmly.
“You’re still at the age where you should be with your mom and dad.”
“And…?”
I waved my hand excitedly, eyes full of anticipation.
Wave, wave! Say more!
Tell me what’s in your heart!
Baldwin turned his head abruptly, avoiding my gaze.
His cheeks turned red—how adorable…
His bashfulness tugged at a girl’s heartstrings.
“I don’t want you to go. I like being with you.”
Ahhh…
Aahhh…
My heart was bursting. Is this what they call “fangirl bliss”?
I felt faint, like I might pass out.
“…I like being with you too.”
“What?”
“I said, I like that too, Didi. I love playing with you the most.”
I smiled brightly.
Is this what happiness feels like? Is this why people become fans?
With my hands cupped under my chin, I beamed like a flower in bloom.
Didi, you’re a radiant gem lighting up the world.
Camilla had a thought.
Her rightful place wasn’t beside Baldwin—it was beside Lila.
What this meant was, Lila liked inviting Camilla to watch Baldwin train together.
Of course, waving handkerchiefs and shouting Baldwin’s name to cheer him on wasn’t hard.
Still, Camilla didn’t like how Lila focused so much on Baldwin.
It felt like having her first friend stolen from her.
So, Camilla went to her mother with a serious suggestion.
“Mom.”
“Yes?”
“I want to learn swordsmanship.”
“Sword…?”
The Countess looked surprised.
There were some in the Royster family who, instead of studying dark magic, chose to train with the sword.
They changed their magical inclination from a young age.
The Royster family had even produced several famous knights this way.
But Camilla had never shown interest in swordsmanship before…?
“Camilla, this is a serious choice. Will you be able to avoid regret? If you change your inclination by training as a swordsman, you won’t be able to use magic anymore.”
The Countess was worried this was just a whim.
Camilla paused as if thinking.
But then she shook her head firmly.
“Even so, I want to be a knight. I think being a knight is cooler than dark magic. I’ll become a knight and protect Lila!”
It’s always good when children are positively influenced by friends.
“Will this be okay…?”
Children change their dreams twelve times a day.
Although Camilla did have a slightly obsessive streak.
That evening, the adults of the Royster estate held an emergency meeting—without Camilla.
And they decided to let her try.
The Countess called Camilla over.
“Trying it out is fine. But, Camilla, if your feelings change, you must speak up quickly.”
“Yes, Mother. Thank you!”
My sweet daughter.
Parents always want to let their children do what they want.
Especially when it comes to learning something!
Mom and the Countess Royster agreed to let Camilla take knight classes at our house.
This decision would shape the course of Camilla’s life.
It happened in the original story too.
Camilla would go on to form bonds with Baldwin at the knight academy.
Camilla the knight, with her fiery red hair flying in the wind!
My fangirl heart is ablaze.
Of course, I like Baldwin, too—but I really, really liked Camilla.
She was like a fire.
A blazing, passionate flame that never seemed to go out.
