"Well, it can't be helped that your facial muscles have given up on expression," Miss Monica remarked, breaking Elestia's quiet moment of thought.
Elestia blinked, startled. "I'm sorry about that. It's just… I forgot how to smile."Her lips twitched into something resembling a grin—but it wasn't joy. It was tiredness in the shape of a smile.
Miss Monica only sighed. "It's alright. People forget how to smile when they've spent too long pretending to. Some smiles are lies, you know. People laugh while they're dying inside. They cry but plot at the same time."
Elestia caught the flicker of bitterness behind the caretaker's gentle tone."You…" she began, but Miss Monica's eyes made her stop. There was a storm behind that woman's calm—one that Elestia recognized.
"Nevermind," Elestia said softly, and turned to the sleeping Rania.
By the time Rania stirred awake, the orange glow of evening had filled the nursery. Her eyes widened in horror—Elestia had already finished every task.
"I-I'm sorry, Lady Elestia!" she squeaked.
Elestia only smiled faintly. "Don't worry. We all have off days."
As they left, the duty officer handed them their report tags, his eyes narrowing with interest. "Thank you for your hard work, Lady Elestia."His smile didn't reach his eyes—it lingered too long, too sharp.
After they left, the man leaned back and murmured, "As I thought… she piques my interest."
"You better stop that thought before you lose your head," said a calm female voice.
"Clara." Diego turned to see his fellow officer watching him with her usual smirk.
"Oh? So she's under protection?" Diego teased.
Clara smiled thinly. "Something like that. Let's just say… there are people who'd burn this place down if you lay a finger on her."
Diego felt a cold sweat slide down his temple. "R-right. I was just curious."
"Good," Clara replied, turning back to her work. "Keep it that way."
By the time Elestia and Rania reached the residential quarter, the sun had dipped behind the silver towers. The mansion assigned to her and Kiel glowed warmly from within, laughter spilling faintly through the windows.
"Seems like he's entertaining guests," Elestia said.
Rania clasped her hands shyly. "Then I'll head home, Lady Elestia—"
But before she could finish, Elestia froze.That voice. Soft, melodic… deceptively sweet.
Carmila.
Without hesitation, Elestia grabbed Rania's wrist. "We're leaving."
"L-Lady Elestia—wait! Wait!" Rania stumbled as Elestia dragged her away at full speed.
She didn't stop until she collided with what she thought was a wall—only for the "wall" to catch her shoulders gently.
"Are you alright, my lady?" a low voice asked.
Elestia blinked up—and found herself staring into the calm, breathtaking face of Lucius Claude, Captain Commander of the Magic Knights. His icy-blue eyes met hers, steady and unreadable.
"You… know my name?" he asked with faint amusement.
Elestia's mind blanked. Say something smart, say something—"I—I love you!"
Rania froze. "E-Elestia?!"
Claude's expression didn't change, though his eyebrow lifted. The silence was thick enough to suffocate.
Then a burst of laughter broke the moment.
"I—I'm sorry, HAHAHA! Captain, look at her! She's so terrified she confessed out of panic!" one of his subordinates howled.
Claude exhaled slowly, unimpressed. Still, his gaze softened slightly as he studied Elestia's pale, embarrassed face.
"Thank you for the confession," he said calmly. "Then… shall we go on that date right now?"
Elestia blinked. "Huh—wait, what?"
But before she could react, Claude had already offered his arm, utterly serious.
"Well," she muttered weakly, "it's not like I have a choice."
In truth, she did. But behind them—standing not far away—were Lucia and Carmila, their curious gazes fixed on her. She couldn't bear to let them see her flinch.
So she took Claude's arm.And smiled.
Rania and Relo, the young Magic Knight trailing behind, could only stare as their captain and Elestia walked side by side.
"Aha… sorry about the Captain," Relo said awkwardly. "He's… unpredictable."
"It's fine," Rania murmured, still red as a tomato.
Relo chuckled softly, matching her pace with ease. "Having long legs helps."
"Unfair," Rania pouted. "If only I were taller—like Lady Elestia."
When she finally looked up, Relo's breath caught.Her soft brown eyes, glowing faintly under the lamplight—Bang.A metaphorical arrow shot straight through his chest.
"Ah—" Rania quickly turned away, hiding her face with her bangs.Behind her, Relo's ears burned bright red.
Meanwhile, inside the mansion, Kiel was tapping his fingers against the table, irritation etched on his face.
"Seems like Elestia will be late," he said curtly. "Let's eat first."
"Of course," replied Lucia, smiling sweetly beside him. "She must be working hard today."
Kiel glanced at her. Her smile was soft—almost divine. So pretty, he thought for a moment before scowling at himself.
Lucia leaned slightly closer, her blue eyes glimmering. "Prince Kiel, you seem distracted."
"Just thinking," he muttered, reaching for his glass.
Across the table, Carmila sipped her wine, hiding her smirk behind the rim."Oh, I'm sure you are," she said smoothly. "After all… Lady Elestia does have quite the mysterious charm, doesn't she?"
Kiel's gaze hardened. "What are you implying?"
"Nothing," Carmila sang. "Only that some people are very good at wearing masks. Even saints can hide sins, don't you think?"
Lucia's lips curled faintly, her eyes distant. "Oh, I do think so."
Outside, as the evening deepened, Elestia and Claude stopped near the fountain plaza. The glowing magic stones shimmered in the water like stars.
Claude finally spoke, breaking the silence."You're not from here, are you?"
Elestia tensed. "What makes you say that?"
"Your eyes," he said simply. "They look like someone who's already lived through a war."
Her heart skipped. For a brief moment, she wanted to tell him everything—to confess her death, her rebirth, her regrets. But then she felt a flicker of power in the air—an enchantment watching them.
Lucia.
She forced a smile. "You think too much, Commander."
Claude's lips curved slightly. "Maybe. Still, I'll be seeing you again soon."
The next morning, a summons was posted across the Great Wizard Association.
The Trial of Aptitude.All newly enlisted members are required to participate.The test will measure not only magical strength, but purity of soul.
Elestia stared at the parchment, her heart hammering.Purity of soul.A test like that could expose her reincarnation—her fragmented divine blessing, the scars of a past life not meant to exist.
Behind her, Lucia's voice drifted through the corridor, light and cheerful."Oh, what fun! I can't wait to see who's truly chosen by the gods."
And beside her, Carmila whispered, smiling sweetly,"Yes. Let's see how long my dear sister can keep pretending."