It was about two weeks after the start of the second year at the Academy.

By this time, nearly half of the second part of 『Luminor Academy』 had already passed.

Contrary to my earlier concerns that the story might develop major cracks due to the numerous events at the end of the previous year, the second semester at the academy progressed more smoothly than expected.

Natalie and Thomas rejoined the hero's party after a brief period of tension, and it seemed they were slowly mending their awkward relationships.

Agnes also informed me personally that she had resumed interacting with the hero, Bolt.

"...I have to work with him because of the succession issue. It's either him or the Fourth or Fifth Princes, and I'd rather choose the hero over them."

"You’ve made a wise decision, Miss Agnes. Especially considering that Prince McHart is known for hosting...”

“Hosting what?”

"...frequent parties. Those events are famous for inviting only noblewomen. To be honest, he doesn’t leave a very good impression."

…That was close. I almost let slip that McHart would soon face ruin. I need to be more careful.

The fact that McHart was colluding with demons and had a hand in the death of the First Prince hasn’t been revealed yet.

I didn’t want Agnes to get entangled with such a dubious character and share in his downfall, but causing trouble by speaking ill of the royal family would be counterproductive.

“I don’t care much about his parties. But McHart is too slimy for my taste. As for Antonio, I met him once, but I couldn’t read him at all.”

"Is that so?"

…Was there an episode where Agnes interacted with Prince Antonio? I don’t remember any, but there must be something.

After all, Agnes wasn’t a heroine I mainly focused on in my previous life, so there are probably dozens of episodes I’m not aware of.

Since she mentioned Antonio by name, it’s clear they’ve at least exchanged words. I have no way of knowing what happened between them that I’m unaware of.

“Compared to them, Bolt... ugh, I forgot his name again.”

“Hero Bolt Ghetmozheshegiquat?”

“Yeah, that strange name. At least I can tell what he's thinking. And he’s close to Seraphine. In that sense, he’s the better choice.”

If Agnes doesn’t feel competitive with Seraphine at this point, it seems unlikely that she will follow the heroine route.

Personally, I don’t mind. No matter how troublesome Agnes is, I wouldn’t want to easily hand her over as another member of the hero’s harem.

From Agnes, I gathered rough information about the hero and the people around him.

It appears that there are no plans to approach the first-year students Liria and Kael, which makes sense.

In Liria’s case, there’s already Thomas in the party, so there’s no need to recruit another spear user. Liria was mainly intended as part of an all-female party concept, with little value beyond that.

Her only notable trait was being a female spear user, but even in that role, she was vastly inferior to Thomas.

Similarly, Kael wasn’t needed. His fighting style would directly clash with Seraphine’s. While he might be useful in episodes where Seraphine is absent, he isn’t strong enough to carry through to the final battle.

Seraphine, on the other hand, is essential as both a main heroine and a powerful ally, not to mention her beauty. There’s no competition.

‘Given the number of people the hero has gathered so far…’

So far, the hero has secured five reliable allies.

Cerista, Silena, Natalie, Thomas, and Agnes—these five are likely to be the companions he takes to the end.

Seraphine is a mandatory addition, and if she’s recruited, her synergy with Luke means he’ll likely be included too.

With the hero himself, that makes eight.

As mentioned before, the maximum number of members in the Demon King subjugation team is eight.

At a glance, it seems like the party is full, but...

‘…There’s still room for one or two more.’

According to the teachings of the Aurelia Church, the hero and the saint are considered one entity, so Cerista counts as part of the hero.

While Seraphine is mandatory, Luke’s inclusion isn’t guaranteed, leaving at least one or two spots open.

‘I just hope he doesn’t start pestering me to join.’

Objectively, taking Lillis would be the right choice, but I’ll do everything I can to prevent that.

In the original story, Ethan dies, and Lillis is ‘saved’ and taken away, but that path is off the table.

I don’t even want a future where he tries to recruit me without Ethan being involved. I’ve had enough of wandering around the world for years after graduation just from the experiences in the game.

‘Please, just recruit Orion instead. He’s good at magic, too, including support spells.’

Seraphine and the other heroines would likely welcome Orion with open arms. After all, from their perspective, it would mean one less competitor vying for the hero’s attention.

As I pondered my next move, the conversation naturally shifted to Prince Antonio, following the mention of him earlier.

“…Speaking of Antonio, that reminds me.”

"Hmm? What does it remind you of?"

“His birthday banquet, which is in two weeks.”

"Ah, it’s that time of year again."

“…That time of year?”

"...Oh, nothing, Miss Agnes."

I’ve experienced Antonio’s birthday banquet many times in my previous life, so it slipped out. After the incident at Seraphine’s masked ball a few years ago, where no noble gatherings were held at the palace for a while, events like Antonio’s birthday banquet marked the return of such gatherings.

Having played 『Luminor Academy』 25 times, there’s no way I’d forget such an event.

"I take it you’ll be attending Prince Antonio’s birthday, Miss Agnes, since you know the date?"

"...Are you not going, Lillis?"

"I’m merely a young lady from the minor branch of the Rosewood family. I’m far too lowly to be invited to the prince’s birthday banquet."

“Lowly… I’m just the daughter of a baron, and I’m only going because my family insisted. My status isn’t much different from yours, so don’t worry about it.”

“…Is that so? Oh, yes, I suppose that’s true.”

It makes sense. It’s hard to imagine Agnes attending such a social event unless she’s forced to.

Given her personality, she’ll likely end up awkwardly standing in a corner like she did at Seraphine’s birthday banquet.

And since she was probably scolded by the elders for using concealment magic to hide her identity at Seraphine’s event, she won’t be able to use the same trick again.

Hearing that I wouldn’t be attending, Agnes mumbled something with a slightly disappointed expression.

“…I thought you would be there too, Lillis.”

"I don’t have the status. I haven’t even received an invitation."

“…I see.”

"Since it’s a royal banquet, Princess Seraphine will likely be there. I know you’re personally acquainted with her."

“…Seraphine is busy. She can’t stay with me the whole time."

...Does she expect me to stay by her side the entire time?

On the other hand, if I did attend, I probably wouldn’t be very busy.

After all, the only reason I’d be there is if I were with Ethan, and he’s not the type to go around mingling with people.

“Still, it’s strange. Are you really not going? Surely your fiancé received an invitation?”

"Of course, Lord Ethan received an invitation."

“…So, does that mean Blackwood is declining to attend the prince’s birthday banquet?”

"No, Lord Ethan will likely attend. Just not with me."

“...What?”

Agnes began to look at me with increasingly puzzled eyes.

I had a good idea of what she was misunderstanding, so I decided to clarify to avoid unnecessary confusion.

"Just so you know, Miss Agnes, Lord Ethan and I are not engaged."

“...Really?”

"Everyone just assumes we’re engaged, and we don’t bother correcting them. But in reality, we’re just a maid and her employer."

“Then, why do you share a room in the fiancés’ dormitory…?”

"It’s for personal reasons. If I want to attend the academy and still serve as Lord Ethan’s personal maid, it’s a necessary arrangement."

Agnes stared at me with a shocked expression, seemingly processing this information. Then, as if it was hard to believe, she mumbled something under her breath.

“…The other day, anyone would have thought you two were lovers. Was that all an act?”

"No, we are lovers."

“…Are you messing with me again?”

"Why? Just because we’re lovers doesn’t mean we have to be engaged. Or do you, Miss Agnes, believe that holding hands means you must get married?"

"N-No, but..."

We might be temporary lovers, but Ethan and I are definitely in a relationship.

Agnes, still looking confused, asked me one last question.

"You share a room, and you’re dating, but you’re not engaged? Doesn’t that seem strange?"

"Dating and marriage are different things, Miss Agnes. Besides, Lord Ethan should find someone with a better marriage prospect than me. How could the only son of a duke marry the daughter of a minor noble branch?"

"...And you’re okay with that? I’d find that very unsatisfying."

"The Elizabeth family is special because, with enough skill, one can be inducted into the main family. The relationship between the main and branch families is just like that."

"……"

In truth, my status is technically that of a commoner, not even part of a branch family.

Seeing Agnes’s expression, as if she had asked something she shouldn’t have, I tried to ease her mind a bit.

"Besides, it’s not like Lord Ethan and I are that deeply involved. We haven’t even done anything that typical lovers do."

"...K-Keh, Kehek! Why are you telling me that?!"

"Because for an ordinary engaged couple, such things are typical. I was just explaining that Lord Ethan and I haven’t crossed that line as lovers…"

"I didn’t need to know that…! And I didn’t want to know...!"

She may look young, but she is an adult.

Agnes’s innocent reaction made me chuckle.