I was leisurely enjoying my breakfast.
Until just a moment ago.
I tore off a piece of freshly baked bread and soaked it in the warm soup.
Just as I was bringing it to my mouth—
Bang—!!
The dining room door flew open with a violent crash, shattering the peaceful morning.
“…Grand Duke.”
I put the bread in my mouth as if nothing had happened and chewed slowly.
Then I elegantly wiped the corner of my mouth with a napkin and smiled.
“Did you know you shouldn’t go around making that much noise first thing in the morning?”
Dante, draped in a black coat, looked down at me expressionlessly.
“…What is it this time?”
He really was quick on the uptake.
I smiled brightly.
“Nothing.”
“Why don’t you eat first?”
Dante glared at me for a while before silently taking his seat.
The servants soon brought out the food.
The moment he lifted a spoonful of soup—
I straightened my napkin again and opened my mouth.
“Now, listen while you eat.”
“Grand Duke.”
Instead of answering, he merely cut his bread.
I tapped my finger against the table.
“Grand Duke?”
“…Grand Duke!!”
Only after I raised my voice a little did an irritated gaze turn toward me.
“What.”
“Have you ever been to a festival?”
Dante stared at me for a while.
Then, without saying a word, he went back to eating.
‘He’s doing this on purpose, isn’t he?’
I poked him in the arm with one finger.
“Answer me.”
“I asked you a question.”
“You told me to listen.”
“You have to listen and answer, too.”
“It’s polite.”
He let out a deep sigh.
“…No.”
“Great.”
I clapped my hands.
“Then you can go this time.”
“…I’m not going.”
“You’re going.”
“I said I’m not going.”
“You have to go.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Okay.”
I smiled radiantly.
“Then it’s decided.”
“We’re going to the festival today.”
Dante gave a hollow laugh.
“…What a boring joke.”
“I’m not joking.”
I pushed back my chair and stood.
“Excuse me, then.”
And just like that, I left the dining room.
As I walked down the hallway, I glanced back.
He wasn’t coming out.
Good.
Everything was going according to plan.
I ran up the stairs two at a time.
The maids were startled and hurriedly stepped aside.
“Lady Ella?”
“Shh.”
I pressed a finger to my lips.
“I have a very important operation today.”
The maids exchanged glances.
“Again…?”
“…Of course it’s again.”
I pretended not to hear them.
Soon, I was standing in front of Dante’s room.
I pulled a palm-sized mana crystal from my pocket.
Sparkle.
A soft red glow shimmered inside it.
“Sorry, Grandpa Hugo.”
I muttered while inspecting the bottom of the doorframe.
“This time, it’ll only go off very weakly.”
I meant it.
I had no intention of blowing up the entire room.
I just needed—
‘If he comes outside because he’s startled, it’s a success.’
I slipped the mana crystal behind a decoration beside the door.
Then I gathered divine power in my fingertips and wrapped it around the area.
So it wouldn’t be detected by mana-sensing magic.
“Perfect.”
A wicked grin spread across my face.
Not long afterward.
I was walking down the stairs with an innocent look on my face.
That was when—
Dante was coming up the stairs toward me.
“Eek!”
A strange sound escaped me before I could stop it.
“You startled me!”
Dante glanced at me once, then walked right past.
Phew.
He hadn’t noticed.
I secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He stopped in front of his door.
Click.
The door opened.
And then.
One step.
Two steps.
The moment he stepped inside, I turned around and started running at full speed.
‘Three.’
‘Two.’
‘One.’
Kuwaaaang—!!
With a thunderous boom, the window flew wide open.
Black smoke billowed into the hallway.
The servants’ screams followed.
“Eek!”
“Grand Duke!!”
“Fire…!”
No.
It wasn’t a fire.
The explosion really was tiny.
It had only knocked over a bookshelf and torn the curtains.
But.
The effect was more than enough.
I looked back.
Through the smoke.
Dante emerged slowly, perfectly unharmed.
Not a speck of dust marred his face.
And then.
His eyes met mine exactly.
‘Crap.’
His lips moved very, very slowly.
“…Ella.”
I smiled brightly.
“Grand Duke!”
I even waved.
“Good morning!”
“…Run.”
“…What?”
“Now.”
“If you don’t run.”
“You’ll regret it.”
Instead of answering, I turned around.
Then—
“Somebody save meeeee!!”
I ran toward the festival streets with all my might.
Today was the North’s harvest festival.
The streets were packed with people.
Children ran around carrying balloons.
Vendors called out to customers at the tops of their lungs.
I slipped and darted through the crowd.
“Excuse me!”
“Just a moment!”
“Please move!”
I glanced back.
“…He’s not there?”
Could it be?
Had he given up?
I let out a relieved sigh.
“At this point—”
Whoosh.
A sudden chill of wind brushed the back of my neck.
And then.
Tap.
The back of my neck was seized in the familiar grip.
“…Damn rabbit.”
I slowly turned my head.
It was Dante.
“…Huh?”
I smiled innocently.
“Grand Duke!”
“Why.”
“How did you know my middle name is Rabbit?”
“You’re amazing!”
Clap, clap, clap.
I even applauded him sincerely.
Dante closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again.
“…Shut your mouth.”
“Yes, sir.”
I immediately closed my mouth.
Exactly.
For three seconds.
“…But, Grand Duke.”
“Your mouth.”
“Yes, sir.”
I closed my mouth again.
This time, for five seconds.
“…But.”
“Ella.”
“…Yes?”
“Your mouth is the problem.”
Smack.
He flicked my lips with one finger.
“Ow!”
I clutched my mouth.
“Why did you hit me?!”
“You went quiet.”
“My mouth is precious, you know!”
Dante let out another hollow laugh.
“Why would it be precious?”
I shouted right in the middle of the street.
“Of course it’s precious!!”
Everyone enjoying the festival turned to look at us at once.
Dante pretended not to know me and started walking.
At that moment.
I opened my mouth wide.
“That handsome black-haired man over there is ditching his girlfriend!!”
In an instant.
The entire street fell silent.
Vendors.
Children.
Knights.
Everyone looked at Dante.
“Young man, that’s not right!”
“You can’t make your girlfriend cry!”
“Apologize!”
Dante stopped where he was.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
He turned his head.
“…Ella.”
“…Yes?”
“Today.”
“I’m really.”
“Going to make you regret this.”
Grinding his teeth, he grabbed the back of my neck again.
I grinned from ear to ear even as he dragged me away.
‘Good.’
‘At least step one was a success.’
And.
My real training hadn’t even started yet.