Even now, he didn’t particularly excel at socializing, but maybe he had some progress because he had good friends.

“Even in my young eyes, he never seemed curious about anything, never showed any emotion. He didn’t try to befriend anyone… unlike Miss Claire.”

Louis’ words were not so much a comment on my peculiarity as they were an observation of a simple truth.

Someone who had already experienced the immature Astariol could only feel that way upon encountering a completely different young Astariol.

So, I responded calmly.

“I didn’t know I was Astariol, and Eciel was always there with me.”

“Is that so?”

Louis replied casually.

It was just a modest curiosity from the start. It wasn’t a serious matter or a profound question.

I lifted my glass and took a sip of cream soda.

As we talked, the ice cream in my glass had already melted considerably, the blue syrup blending into the mix.

I learned that lifting a teacup could hide my expression, but…

‘… since there’s no teacup, there’s nothing I can do. This should be enough to hide my expression.’

What I told Louis wasn’t a lie.

I didn’t know I was Astariol. Eciel was always there to clarify the emotions I myself didn’t understand.

That was an undeniable truth.

Even though I didn’t mention the most important reason.

Why I was curious about this ability.

How I ended up cherishing Eciel.

What made a <complete solitude> Astariol like me feel the need to communicate with others.

As I swallowed the cold, sweet liquid, memories of that chilling voice were tossed into the recesses of my mind.

–You devil!

 

—

 

“Where should we go next?”

It was after quite a bit of chatting. We’d eaten enough snacks, covered enough ground in conversation.

Louis, who had been tidying our attire, asked.

“Where can we go?”

As I asked, Eciel slightly loosened the strings of her hat.

It looked like it had been tied too tightly.

Unlike my hair, concealed within the hat, Eciel’s platinum locks flowed gracefully outside of it.

Even so, Louis didn’t stop Eciel from loosening her hat.

Platinum hair like Eciel’s wasn’t common, but it wasn’t entirely unheard of.

He just checked my hat once more and smiled politely.

“You can go anywhere you like. A flower garden? Bookstore? Toy store? Magic tool shop? Stable? Jeweler? You name it. If it’s a matter of distance, entry and cost will never be an issue.”

It was as if a fantasy where my father behind Louis’s back was giving permission to do as I pleased was unfolding before me.

“Is this the hidden ability of a grand noble and lord like my dad?”

Grateful to our absent father for this moment, Eciel chimed in cheerfully.

“Then let’s go to the bookstore next! Since I got to pick the place here, it’s Claire’s turn next time.”

I nodded without hesitation.

Of course, the Duke’s library was vast and rich, but the world was wide, and new books were constantly being published.

In the past, because of moving often, books only ever became baggage.

Now I could buy a book and take it home, right? Should I set up a personal bookshelf?

‘I’ve never been to a bookstore before.’

I felt my toes wiggling with anticipation.

Seeing that, Louis, glancing briefly, maintained his smile and courteously replied.

“Two young ladies, would you mind waiting a moment? I’ll fetch the coach and carriage.”

It seemed like he would go by himself because the escorts would need to be present to guard us. We nodded without further ado.

After Louis left, Eciel suddenly stood.

It was the look of someone wanting to use the restroom.

“Claire, let’s go together.”

It was a request I couldn’t refuse.

One of our escorts, a woman, automatically led us to the bathroom. The man trailed behind at a respectful distance.

Everything up to this point seemed fine.

The trouble started after that.

When we returned from the restroom, waiters were entering the room we’d been in originally.

The plates were quite empty, and the room was vacated.

Naturally, it was time to clear up, but…

Wasn’t it somewhat awkward for them to wait in a room being cleaned up by the waiters until the carriage arrived?

Moreover, the employees could distinctly see our hair and eyes from their position.

The escorts exchanged silent glances. One cautiously stepped forward.

“Ladies, I believe the carriage is nearly here. Would you mind heading down to the first floor in advance?”

Eciel looked at me.

If something was too difficult for her to decide on logically, she’d leave the judgment to me.

Just like when I needed a strong emotional response from her.

‘But this time, it’s not something I can decisively choose.’

I thought for a moment before nodding slowly. Given the obvious contrast between Eciel’s platinum hair and my own, I didn’t bother to ask them to hide me especially well.

‘After all, these people know better than I do.’

Yet Eciel suddenly walked over to me.

It seemed she’d thought of something similar.

It was somewhat amusing and a bit touching to see the girl who usually liked walking hand in hand with me act like this.

I asked without bothering to conceal my small laugh.

“What are you doing?”

“Stay quiet. Claire stands out too much.”

“Me? I’m always staying still.”

Eciel said seriously.

“Even when you’re quiet, you stand out.”

‘Well, with silver hair and purple eyes, what can you expect…’

I thought casually.

Two escorts, two noble ladies.

Our group went down the stairs and smoothly crossed the first floor.

The first floor was bustling with well-dressed children and their guardians.

The clerks were busy serving, the children were busy picking snacks, and the adults accompanying them were busy watching over them.

It was a bustling ordinary shop.

Filled with passing strangers, none of whom knew us, and we knew none of them.

… that’s what I thought.

“Hey! What brings you here?”

That voice was perfectly audible in the crowded shop.

Eciel’s steps froze. I, who was behind her, froze as well.

The bewildered escorts standing beside us looked at Eciel and me.

“Miss, do you know him? Miss?”

Whispered voices were swallowed up by the bustling noise.

“If you’re here, then they must be here too?”

The owner of that voice approached without hesitation.

The gazes of the others behind us turned this way too.

“Who is it?” The questioning voices scattered sporadically.

However, like a young tyrant, the boy arrogantly ignored all those voices.

Just like before.

Easily passing by Eciel, the boy met my eyes. His face slowly twisted.

“… what? Did you dye your hair?”

Nathan Colta.

If you were to peer into the deepest abyss of my heart, this boy’s name would be lurking like a reef.

 

—

 

It was when I was younger.

While my mother brewed magic potions and managed the household, a considerable number of nurses and neighbors passed by Eciel and me.

I didn’t cry, I didn’t laugh, I didn’t get angry, I didn’t rejoice.

At first, everyone liked how calm and tearless I was.

But they started to find it strange.

In the end, everyone said it gave them chills.

The person who suggested sending me to the facility managed by the temple was the kindest one.

“That child is a bit… yes. Try sending her there.”

At least the proposal was made with genuine goodwill.

My mother fought fiercely against that idea.

At that time, I didn’t even have the basic courtesy to act as if I didn’t hear my parents quarreling.

Or the wish that no child should hear their parents raising their voices in argument.

So, I listened to their heated argument blankly, and as soon as my mother stormed into the room looking worn out, I asked abruptly.

“What’s the facility managed by the temple?”

The look in my mother’s eyes as she gazed at me.

It contained incredulity, unfamiliarity, strangeness, despair, agony, and doubt.

A complete collapse…

Yet she forced a smile. She replied as if joking.

“As long as I’m alive, it’s a place you’ll never have to go.”

I didn’t learn what the <facility managed by the temple> was until much later.

A place that gathered severely ill people, whether mentally or physically, too difficult to handle in ordinary homes, for treatment.

Rarely did anyone recover…

Continually introducing incomplete remedies and treatments to improve the condition, most of them depart as corpses, known as the <House of Salvation>.

But at that time, I turned my attention away quickly, not knowing what my mother had said.

“When are we moving?”

When my mother was fighting like this, changing residences within almost a week.

My mother absentmindedly answered while rubbing her forehead.

“I’m not sure. I have a few things going on right now that need sorting out quickly…”

I stared up at my mother.

She looked down at me and suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace.

“Next time… when you hear us arguing, could you pretend not to hear?”

“Why?”

“It’s embarrassing, isn’t it? I’m your mother and an adult, but I keep exposing my daughter to constant arguments.”

Was that something to be ashamed of? Raising one’s voice? Then was it shameful for me to learn about their arguments?

There was so much I didn’t know, but at that time, I didn’t bother to try to understand others.

I brushed aside my doubts and nodded obediently.