Shirone exhaled deeply. Those four minutes felt eternal.
Reina was stunned.
It wasn't music in the traditional sense—no way to judge his musicality. But his insight into the core was undeniable.
Who was this boy?
'Why is someone like him a servant?'
"Hey! Shut up, you damn witch!"
A shout from the hallway shattered the moment. Shirone and Reina turned simultaneously.
"If you're back, wipe your feet and sleep—or play a damn lullaby! Don't take your tantrums out here!"
Disheveled hair, half-lidded drowsy eyes—
Rian, still groggy from sleep, scratched his washboard abs vigorously as he entered the room.
Then, he noticed Shirone and tilted his head in confusion.
Rian: "Huh? Shirone, what are you doing here?"
Shirone: "Uh, well…"
If it came out that Rian and Shirone were friends, it would be trouble—but Reina struck first.
Reina: "What? You two know each other?"
Rian: "Shirone? Yeah, he's my friend."
Reina: "Rian! What are you talking about?"
Rian: "Hahaha! Relax. This witch might have a nasty temper, but she doesn't care about stuff like this."
Was that really true?
Shirone knew Reina had an open personality, but there was still a high wall between nobles and commoners.
Reina: "So your name is Shirone. Don't worry. If Rian says you're his friend, then you are. He might be a bit of an idiot, but he stands by his words."
Shirone's expression remained doubtful.
From the receiving end, it might have felt unpleasant, but Reina took it positively.
True trust often sprouts amidst deoubt.
Reina: "By the way, you're really something. What were you thinking with that performance earlier?"
Rian: "Wait, that was you, Shirone? I thought my sister was having another hysterical fit."
Shirone frowned slightly.
He couldn't understand why Rian would call such a beautiful, kind woman a "witch" or "hysterical."
Shirone: "Rian, why did you lie to me? Your sister is gentle and wonderful."
Rian: "Shirone! Don't be fooled! She's a witch! She might devour you one day!"
Rian's expression was too serious to dismiss as a joke, leaving Shirone speechless.
Reina: "Hehe, sorry. My little brother's hopelessly immature. But I'm glad he has a friend like you. Take good care of him."
Shirone: "Oh, no, I'm not really…"
As Shirone bashfully lowered his head, Reina's eyes sparkled.
At sixteen, he should have known everything there was to know—yet he was still so pure.
Reina: "You're really cute."
Rian, who had been gulping down water from the table, poured another glass and chimed in.
Rian: "If you think he's cute, why don't you take him in? I'd love it if Shirone became family. Hahaha!"
Shirone flushed even deeper at Rian's teasing, but he didn't feel bad at all.
Reina caught onto something in her brother's words.
Reina: "Oh? You must be really close if you're willing to give me away."
Rian looked at her incredulously.
Rian: "What are you talking about? Of course, Shirone's like a brother to me, but I wouldn't care if a witch like you got handed off to anyone. Shirone's the one who's too good for you."
Reina: "Oh, is that so?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Reina leaped high enough to clear a person's height.
Before Shirone could react, she landed in front of Rian and yanked his ear.
Rian: "Ow ow ow! It hurts! It hurts!"
Reina: "I was being nice, and you just had to push it, huh?"
Rian: "It hurts! I said it hurts!"
Though she was a musician now, Reina had once been a swordsmanship prodigy rivaling Rai.
The strength in her fingers was terrifying, and Rian's eyes welled up as he twisted away.
Rian: "Shirone! Run! If this witch catches you, you're done for!"
It was hard to tell if he was joking or serious, but Shirone couldn't just leave Rian like this.
Shirone: "I-I'm sorry! He didn't mean any harm!"
Reina, who had been staring drowsily at Shirone and Rian, gave Rian's ear one last sharp tug before releasing him.
Rian: "Ow!"
Reina: "You owe your life to your friend. Ugh, I wish you were half as mature as him. You're hopeless."
Rian: "Tch! You only got me because you went for a weak spot."
Grumbling as he rubbed his ear, Rian turned back to Reina.
Rian: "Why did you even come home? You already took your vacation."
Reina: "Huh? You haven't heard yet? About Rai."
Rian: "Since when do we care about that?"
Reina: "Rai's taking the official swordsmanship exam this time. That's why I came to get him. Grandfather and I left together, but he stopped to meet a friend on the way."
Rian: "Official exam?"
Rian's eyes widened in shock.
Of course, his brother was a genius—he acknowledged the gap in their skills. But had it really grown this wide?
The official certification was the dream and status symbol of every noble, whether swordsman or mage.
The exam was held once a year, with thousands of applicants, yet fewer than thirty ever passed.
There were unofficial certifications too.
Issued by institutions recognized by the royal palace—like the Alpheas Magic Academy in Creas.
Graduating from the academy automatically granted an unofficial 10th-class mage rank, which could then be raised through achievements in guilds or associations.
Some unofficial mages rivaled official ones, but people naturally flocked to wealth and prestige, so the overall standard of official mages was undeniably higher.
Rian: "Hmph, lucky Rai. Geniuses really are different. The family's always pushing him forward."
Reina ruffled Rian's hair.
Her adorable youngest brother, talent or not. She hoped this wouldn't hurt him.
Reina: "Anyway, I should go prepare dinner. The seafood was flown in from the royal palace, so I need to handle it myself. Shirone, it was nice meeting you. Let's greet each other properly next time."
Shirone bowed, pushing down his reluctance.
Shirone: "Yes. Goodbye."
He didn't know if he'd ever see Reina again, but one thing was certain—
He would never forget the moment they played the piano together.
Perhaps that was why, knowing he had to leave the mansion tomorrow, Shirone mustered his courage.
Shirone: "Rian, about your sister…"
Rian: "Huh?"
Shirone: "Does she… have a boyfriend?"
The moment the words left his mouth, regret flooded him—but it was too late.
Rian blinked, then broke into a wide grin.
Rian: "Shirone, don't tell me—"
Shirone: "N-No! Just forget it! I was just—"
Rian: "Hahaha! Sis! SIS!"
As Rian bolted out of the room and grabbed the second-floor railing, Shirone yanked him back by the waist.
Rian: "Sis! Shirone asked if you have a boyfrie—!"
Shirone: "Ow! Stop it!"
Shirone barely managed to clamp a hand over Rian's mouth, struggling to drag him back into the room.
Reina (from below): "Hmm? What was that about a boyfriend?"
The maids in the kitchen glanced up at the second floor, but Reina only smiled.
Reina: "Just kids playing around. Now, we just need to steam this. The poison's been removed, so go ahead and cook it."
Maid: "Yes, miss."
As the cooking began in earnest, the maids lost themselves in their work.
But one man in charge of the mansion's affairs still kept his attention on the second floor.
Head butler Louis.
A man who had risen to his position young thanks to his natural calculative mind and meticulous nature.
Even now, in his mid-thirties, he wore frameless glasses, his cold gaze sharp.
Louis: "Shirone, was it?"
The maids might have forgotten, but he remembered clearly—
The temporary boy Temuran had brought in for the Great Library relocation.
'Why is he with the young master…?'
For Louis, who had devoted his life to the Ozent family's prosperity, this was not something he could overlook.
His piercing eyes turned to an ordinary servant.
Louis: "Tell Temuran to come to my office. Now."
Dawn – Training Grounds
The sound of exertion echoed from the crack of dawn.
After hearing about Rai's official exam, Rian had intensified his training beyond the usual.
Rian: "Tah! Hah!"
I'll catch up. No matter what.
It was like pouring oil on a spark. Kite observed his disciple's swordsmanship and felt certain—
'He's improved.'
In stamina, energy, technique—every aspect.
At this level, he could easily handle bandit groups near the city.
But against formally trained swordsmen, he still had a long way to go.
'The problem is his schema.'
Rian's relentless aggression was his greatest strength—but now, it was also his weakness.
'His swordsmanship is too rigid.'
Sometimes, a cool-headed reassessment was needed, yet he only knew how to charge forward.
'Everyone has their own path. His lack of restraint is nothing compared to that burning intensity. He has no choice but to keep going like this.'
Rian: "Tah! Hah! Tah!"
He swung a club twice as heavy as a longsword using sheer brute force.
If he could just grasp his schema, his efficiency would skyrocket beyond imagination.
Kite: "Enough! Ten-minute break!"
Rian returned, gasping like a dying man—but his eyes burned like fire.
'Just like back then.'
A year ago, he'd had the same look.
It had faded quickly then—
But this time was different. Rai was going to the royal palace. Rian's flame wouldn't die out so easily.
Servant (panting): "Young master! Young master!"
A servant came running just as Rian was catching his breath.
Before he could even steady himself, the servant blurted out—
Servant: "It's terrible! Lady Reina demands your immediate return to the mansion!"
Rian: "Sis? What for? If it's about Rai, I don't care. Tell her to handle it herself."
Servant: "No, it's—it's about Shirone, the temporary servant! He's in mortal danger right now!"
Rian spat out his water.
Rian: "Pfft—!?"
Shirone was in danger?
He was supposed to see his friend off in a few hours—this was the last thing he expected.
Rian: "Shirone? Why? What happened?"
Servant: "Well, you see…"
Rian: "Out with it! What's going on!?"
Servant: "Head butler Louis has reported to the family head. I don't know the details, but… I heard it's about the young master being close friends with a servant named Shirone…"
Rian: "Damn it!"
As Rian hurriedly pulled on his clothes, Kite spoke up.
Kite: "What's this about? Who's Shirone?"
Rian: "A friend. I didn't tell anyone because he's a commoner, but Louis must've reported it to Father."
Kite recalled the boy he'd briefly seen in the library long ago.
He'd thought the kid had good eyes but dismissed him as just another servant.
'So that's what happened.'
Rian, now dressed properly, spoke firmly.
Rian: "Master, training ends here. I need to see Father. I'm going back to the mansion."
Kite: "No, you're not."
Rian turned to him, stunned.
Rian: "What do you mean? My friend's in trouble."
Kite: "You said he's a commoner."
Rian: "So what? Master, you've always said—anyone who speaks the language of the sword can be a friend!"
Kite clicked his tongue.
His naive disciple had finally stepped into trouble.
Kite: "And what do you plan to do when you get there? Throw a tantrum?"
Rian: "Master!"
Kite: "Rian, anyone can be a friend—but that's between you and them. If rumors spread, it affects the Ozent family's standing. They'll resolve it before that happens. This isn't a situation where your childishness will work."
Rian: "So I should just stay here? I reached out to Shirone first. I won't be a coward!"
Kite: "Hmm."
Kite studied his disciple's eyes.
'What fine eyes.'
Free of deceit, burning with passion, and above all—pure.
'Eyes alone don't make a master swordsman.'
And yet, they made him want to believe in this boy—to cheer for him with all his heart.
Kite: "Here. Take it."
He handed Rian his own sword.
Rian didn't know what he was expected to do with a live blade—but the message was clear.
If he truly wanted to resolve this, he had to stake his life on it.
Kite: "If you're willing to wear this sword and go to the mansion, I'll let you. But if you're not prepared for that, don't move. You'll only make things worse. This is already out of your hands."
Rian: "Master."
Rian's stern expression softened into a faint smile.
He bowed deeply, then held out both hands. Without a word, Kite handed him the sword