The phrase hanging around the mansion where Sylvia lived was widely known to the public as Astra’s family motto.

Those who repay both kindness and grudges with more than what they received.

It wasn’t just mere words; Astra acted accordingly, causing people to naturally show kindness towards the high elves bearing that name and to be careful not to earn their wrath.

Sylvia had always hated those words hanging on the walls with a passion.

‘Disgusting people. Do they really think it won’t be obvious if they’re full of expectations to receive something in return for what they give?’

People who approached her not out of pure goodwill, but because they wanted something.

She thought that all her wounds from such behavior were entirely due to that family motto.

However, recently, every time Sylvia looked at the framed words, she found herself feeling something different than before.

A red-haired girl who approached her first and showed her goodwill.

A girl who always made macarons for her by hand just because they were friends, expecting nothing in return.

The macarons she made were nothing compared to those sold at the school cafeteria.

But for Sylvia, the macarons made by her were something precious beyond just a snack, so she didn’t care about their taste or appearance at all.

Actually, she found that the imperfect taste and shape were proof that the girl had worked hard on a treat that was difficult to make, only thinking of her, and she started to find her own taste shifting towards those.

She loved the imperfections, and she was delighted by the sincerity.

And Sylvia wanted to repay that kindness.

‘Lady Scarlet said it’s fine not to reciprocate…’

Astra never forgets a favor.

*

During the weekend, after finishing her elemental training, Sylvia stepped out onto the street just to get some fresh air.

“Miss, there’s a dinner gathering scheduled for two hours from now, so you need to wrap up your walk within 30 minutes.”

“Got it. I’ll make sure not to be late for dinner, so could you please keep it quiet during my walk?”

It would have been so much better without the attendant incessantly nagging behind her.

Sylvia secretly grumbled as she slowly walked down the street.

She repeatedly smiled and waved her hand at passersby who recognized her when she spotted a decorative shop.

Since she already had plenty of decorative items received as gifts at home, Sylvia was about to pass by the shop, but her steps suddenly stopped upon seeing the sign that read “Friendship Rings.”

‘Friendship rings, what a wonderful ring to that word.’

At that moment, Sylvia envisioned Scarlett smiling together while wearing identical rings.

Just the thought made her lips twitch into a smile.

The attendant, perhaps unable to imagine that the noble high elf she served would enter such a shop, hesitated, allowing Sylvia to enter as if enchanted.

“May I see the friendship rings?”

“…Ah, yes! The friendship rings, right? Please come this way and have a look!”

The shop assistant, who had never imagined that a well-known noble elf would come here, was startled by Sylvia’s words and quickly showed her the display.

Glancing over the display, Sylvia’s eyes landed on a ring embedded with a red jewel in its center.

The color reminded her of her dear friend, and that alone was more than enough to please her.

Noticing where Sylvia’s gaze was focused, the shop assistant explained about the ring.

“The red jewel of this ring is a garnet, the birthstone of January. It symbolizes true friendship. Isn’t it perfect for a friendship ring?”

Sylvia’s desire to buy the ring surged with the shop assistant’s explanation.

‘A red stone symbolizing true friendship. Finding this ring while being friends with Scarlett must surely be fate!’

Thinking such thoughts, Sylvia gazed at the ring with her sparkling, starry blue eyes.

Suddenly, the attendant, who had been following her, tried to dissuade her.

“Miss, if you’re planning to wear it with a friend, it would be best to have it custom-made to the highest quality. That ring seems too ordinary for you.”

“Didn’t I ask you to be quiet earlier?”

Sylvia shot a cold glare at the one ruining the moment.

Having grown up oppressed within her family, she still held onto the heart of a romantic girl.

To her, the attendant resembled a bad person trying to create a rift between her and Scarlett, like a fake prince on a white horse.

“If you go with this ring, I can engrave whatever you like inside it for free! Normally, there would be an extra charge, but for you, I’ll do it at no cost! What would you like me to engrave?”

The shop assistant, touched that Sylvia had silenced the attendant, spoke in a voice full of admiration.

Recalling a conversation she had shared with Scarlett over a meal, Sylvia opened her mouth.

Finally emerging from the shop, a ring with a red gemstone adorned Sylvia’s left ring finger.

Holding the other identical ring, with the same engraved message inside, Sylvia smiled as she imagined placing the garnet ring, symbolizing friendship, on her friend’s finger and reading the engraved message.

She wished dearly for the weekend to pass quickly, just so she could see her friend’s joyful expression.

The inscription on the back of the ring made the girl happy.

[First, And Best Friend]

Such a phrase was engraved on the back of the ring meant for her first and most precious friend.

*

A Monday morning dawned and when Sylvia encountered Scarlett at school, she couldn’t present the ring.

The alarm had sounded, and she was called to guard the border.

The hero who had come to escort her remarked that it was strange.

He said that since the witches had been defeated, it was rare to observe monsters in such large numbers as today, and it was even rarer for those monsters to launch a coordinated attack as if they had planned it.

However, perhaps because students were stationed in a safe zone, the number of monsters attacking their position was not that high, allowing them to handle it lightly.

Yet upon returning home after the battle, the packed schedule she received was not something she could take lightly.

Astra, who lost their territory 500 years ago and established a new position in the city populated by humans.

They considered themselves to be fallen, yet even in their decline, those who once dominated the world were still prestigious. Their influence was felt throughout the city, and Sylvia, known as the heir of the family, had to appear here and there due to recent events.

Although it was clear she would have to scurry around nonstop after school for several days, Sylvia didn’t mind.

Even though the delivery of the ring was postponed by a day due to unforeseen circumstances, just thinking of the joy her friend would feel receiving the ring tomorrow gave her newfound strength.

However, when she arrived at school the next day, her friend’s seat was empty.

Hearing that Scarlett had been seriously injured shattered Sylvia’s hopes in an instant, turning them into despair.

‘How could this happen…’

The jam-packed schedule filled with activities followed the classes.

The smile that seemed so natural faded, and she was reprimanded when the day’s schedule ended.

For someone experiencing the most difficult day of her life, that reprimand felt unbearably harsh.

*

The next day, a classmate who had visited Scarlett at the hospital reported that her condition wasn’t so bad after all.

Thanks to that, Sylvia could breathe a little easier.

When the classmates were selecting someone to pay a visit to her, Sylvia had to desperately suppress the urge to drop everything and rush to her friend.

As an heir, she had no right to act freely.

Since entering the Aegis Academy of her own accord, Sylvia’s schedule had become much more hectic, and she brooded over her situation.

She was nothing more than a symbol meant to announce that Astra was still alive.

Although she carried the title of heiress, most decisions were made by the elders of her family, leaving her as a mere puppet to their desires.

She resented the position that prevented her from visiting her friend in the hospital.

‘Will I ever find the time over the weekend…’

Caressing the ring tucked close to her heart, Sylvia endured each day.

*

On Friday, there was a commotion.

Scarlett, who should have been at the hospital, showed up at school, albeit late.

Even though she had been reported as seriously injured, she seemed to be completely healed, her expression not appearing bad, and her body looked fine.

Sylvia felt relieved by this fact but then began to berate herself.

How could she call herself a friend when she hadn’t visited her friend even once before her discharge?

“I’m sorry for not being able to visit you…”

As she apologized, Sylvia pulled out the ring she had kept close to her heart.

She wanted to repay the kindness she had received until now,

She hoped for forgiveness for not having visited,

She wished her friend, who had suffered through her injury, would rejoice.

With these feelings in mind, she reached out to place the ring onto her finger as she had imagined doing when purchasing it.

Yet the moment Sylvia had been eagerly anticipating slipped away like a mirage.

“…Huh?”

In her frozen gaze of confusion, she saw Scarlett removing something from her left arm.

Then, what should have been visible was no longer there.

The arm that represented friendship was gone from her.

Her feelings could no longer reach Scarlett.

“I’m sorry, Sylvia…”

Scarlett said this to Sylvia, who was frozen, suffocated by guilt.

Sylvia couldn’t understand why Scarlett was apologizing to her.

Don’t apologize.

I’m the one who’s at fault.

For preparing this as a gift.

I thought you’d be happy when receiving it.

I never meant to make you make that face.

I’m sorry.

I’m so sorry.

I’m sorry for hurting you again.

She wanted to say all that, and she should have, but

Choked by immense sadness, unable to speak a word,

Sylvia cried.