A lot of things happened after the crisis, and my peaceful (yet troublesome) everyday life has returned. It's as if the incident during our holidays never happened at all.

...But obviously, it indeed happened.

If it wasn't real, then how would you explain my learning Dark magic right now?

Though it was just the basic of it, like how to make a dark energy ball, basic shadow manipulation (I can now play shadow tagging! ...with who, though??? I should wait until school, huh? (';д;')

Yes, I asked Mom to specifically not teach me about the magic related to mind controlling or mind destroying techniques...

Surprisingly, Mom quickly agreed as she told me that these techniques were quite dangerous and were categorized as high-level dark magic. I had to delve deeper to understand about the darkness to learn them.

"Of course, you should be the one to decide it in the future. Mom will give you full support and help if you decide to learn it, naturally since it's dangerous...," Mom seemed like she wanted to say more about this matter, but she decided to stop.

"Alright, Mom, thank you!" I decided not to pester her more about it.

I'm also afraid to learn about the danger of Dark magic, since it's my strongest affinity, after all!

Sometimes, I tried to find out more about the Hartmann family's story, but I got no significant information so far...

I wonder when will they tell me more about this family?

Can I ask them when I have entered school?

But Alt-nii's already seven, and Dad didn't say anything to him...

...but wait a second.

By now, shouldn't Mom and Dad understand that I am superior in terms of maturity in comparison to Alt-nii? I have proven it times and times... They should have their own suspicions by now...

I am glad that Alt-nii doesn't become mean to me just because I am somehow more well-behaved than him (testified by my parents)... Alt-nii just laughed it off and blamed it to our gender difference...

Now that I think about it, having a close sibling bond is quite nice! I wonder if things could be different with me and Clyde or Domi if I knew this kind of feeling?

Before I even noticed it, I started having feelings and questions that I never had as Reinst.

-

Anyway!!

Time flies so fast, and an invitation has arrived at my doorstep.

It's an invitation to attend Luca's fifth birthday on Day 33 Month 2 Year 975.

In Sphaela, one year equals to 12 months, with 35 days per month. If I remember it right, I think there are various calendar systems, but each year contains no more than 420 days.

It goes without saying that Luca's fifth birthday comes before mine, and as he has yet to turn 6 and formally makes his debut in the society, the royal family only holds a private birthday celebration for him. This will be the last birthday he'll be spending in peace.

In peace—alright, it might be my prejudiced words. Some people prefer merrier celebration while some other prefer a simple celebration. I'm included in the latter group.

The ones attending are the Capicastle's whole members (the maids, workers, royal magicians, royal knights, the tutors, etc). Of course, Luca can invite who he wants, so he is inviting me. By now, the whole Capicastle know that I am the remarkable girl who managed to tame the prince.

...Quite an achievement, but please, stop that gossip about me becoming the future queen...

By the way, the Head of the Royal Knights just adopted a son who's also five this year. The man who had served the royal family for generations only had three daughters, all of them are even older than Alt-nii.

So, he decided to take in one of his sister's sons so that the family tradition to guard the royals can continue. His daughters also were excited by the idea of having a little brother. I wonder how would they treat the little brother?

...they wouldn't overwhelm the poor little brother and make him dress up, right?

At Luca's fifth birthday party, we are finally able to meet the newly adopted son. His name is Kiri Elsworth. His soft yellow eyes are well-suited to his messy dark green hair. He seems to be quite shy as he hid behind his stepfather's back.

...He's like a timid cat.

"Oi, Kiri, you're in the presence of the future king, the one you will be protecting. You shouldn't hide behind me," Alfonse Elsworth said, encouraging Kiri to stop hiding.

"B, but, un—I mean, father!" Kiri trembled a bit.

"Lucius-sama, I apologize for this child's insolence..."

"It's okay."

"Kiri, I'm Lyra, nice to meet you!"

"..."

Kiri only stared back at us, still from behind his stepfather.

Luca then stood up in front of me, approaching Kiri. For an instant, I thought Kiri stepped back.

...Is Luca that scary?!

"Hey, you're a man and a future knight, right? A future knight shouldn't act that cowardly."

"!"

...Luca, you are too harsh.

"Just call me Luca. From now on, let's be friends!"

Luca reached out his hand to Kiri, and smiled confidently—the typical smile of him.

Kiri, though hesitant, finally extended his right hand and the two boys shook their hands.

Finally, Luca will have a suitable sparring partner in his swordsmanship training. He has barely started his training to wield rapiers. Yes, rapiers—as the royal family members have been using rapiers from generation to generation instead of swords.

-

As for me... I still have yet to lay my hands on a (real) sword again. It's been a long time since I last used the Grabberton's swords art. Hopefully, with years without practice and this new body, my skills would change so that it won't reek of Grabberton style. I think back to the time I used ice sword to fight—it didn't seem to me that it was full of Grabberton style, so it should be okay.

Eh? The Hartmann family should be family of magicians?

Well, yeah. We are a family of magicians, but the tradition of relying solely on magic and magical weapons is broken when Dad takes up the position of the spy. And that's how we get to pick up melee weapons, too.

Though if we just want to use magic and magical weapons, it's also fine.