Chapter 59 - Theodore's Perspective
"Is Louis not here?"
I headed to the Crown Prince's Office to collect some documents I had requested, only to find the man himself absent. As I stood before the door wondering what to do, Cyril approached, carrying a massive stack of paperwork. He grimaced slightly upon seeing me, though he quickly regained his stoic mask. I knew he was saying "Ugh" in his head. I suppose I do tease him and Louis a bit too much, but they're just so entertaining when they're riled up.
Louis has always lacked a certain childishness, so I've treated him like a younger brother since we were small, perhaps fussing over him more than necessary. I tried to include Cyril in our play, but he seems to have developed a bit of an aversion to me. I wonder if it was because I tried to show him magic to make him happy when we were kids, but ended up scaring him to tears. Or perhaps it was that time I forced him to learn how to swim because he was worried about it. There are so many possibilities that I can't quite pin down the cause. I seem to be poor with children in general. I always thought I was playing with them, but I remember making them cry quite often. Louis was the only one who would observe me with interest.
Even as a child with the face of an angel, he was always pestering me for spells that were practically forbidden arts. While Cyril and my younger brothers were crying, Louis was the only one with sparkling eyes. Well, he was never a typical child, so he's hardly a standard for comparison. At any rate, Cyril has grown up to be quite capable, so I suppose it's fine.
"Is something the matter?"
"I asked Louis for some documents. Do you know anything about them?"
"Ah, yes, I have them. This way, please."
He led me to the room next to the Office. This was the assistant's room, but since Cyril was always by Louis's side, it was rarely used.
"Please, have a seat."
"Thanks."
"One moment. They should be... here."
As I sat on the armchair, Cyril went to check the stacks of documents on the desk. It was impressive how he could keep track of all that paperwork. I glanced at him and then turned my gaze out the window to the beautiful blue sky. Louis was nowhere to be found. He usually does nothing but work when the academy is closed, which I found quite strange.
"So, where did Louis go?"
"...His Highness has gone to the lake."
"The lake? Why would he... Ah, a date."
Cyril's hand paused for a split second before he answered in his usual flat tone. Louis at the lake... it didn't suit him at all. He was the type to think dates were a waste of time and that tea with his fiancée was sufficient. To think he would travel three hours round-trip for such a thing.
"He truly has changed."
"Yes, he has."
"You're happy about it, aren't you?"
"Pardon?"
"You're the one who worries about him most. Your aura says you're relieved he's become more human."
"...Please stop reading people's auras."
Despite his prickly words, the air around Cyril was gentle and warm. For someone who had been with Louis since birth, the change must be remarkable. But it was for the best. I truly believed that.
"Love is a powerful thing."
"Do you feel like getting married now?"
"Hardly. I'm not suited for marriage. I'd only feel sorry for my partner."
"I see. Ah, here it is."
Cyril showed no interest in my answer as he checked several files. He found the one he was looking for and handed it to me. I opened it and scanned the contents. It contained details for the events scheduled for next month, including the information I was looking for.
[Spirit Summoning Ceremony: Participating Students]
Natalia Abbott
Farman Oudon
Mathias Michaud
Anna Carroll
The annual Spirit Summoning Ceremony. The Order of Mages handles the magic circles, barriers, and all preparations. Spirits aren't just wandering around; summoning them requires the power of several mages and careful preparation. I was the one in charge this year.
"Hmm, there are fewer participants this year."
"Yes. There were supposed to be two more. One is in a nunnery, and the other is Rachel-sama."
"A nunnery... Ah, the one who made me rush that prototype."
The mention of the nunnery reminded me of an incident a few months ago. I had been making a prototype with a master craftsman just for fun after a conversation with Samuel. Louis had heard about it and asked me to make it functional as soon as possible. His information network is truly terrifying. At any rate, because of that, one of the students scheduled for the ceremony had left the academy. As for Rachel-sama, even though she has a contract with a black cat, she lacks sufficient mana. Even if she were to contract with another spirit, she wouldn't be able to withstand the strain of the summoning ritual.
"This Anna Carroll is the troublemaker from the debutante ball, isn't she?"
"Yes. Her grades in magic are excellent, and her mana capacity is the highest among students in recent years."
"According to this, she could summon a mid-ranking... or perhaps even a High-ranking Spirit."
Looking at the name Anna Carroll reminded me of that night. She was a girl who carried a strange atmosphere. Her words and actions were terrible, but the air around her was quiet. She had the kind of presence that spirits would like. But she was hiding something. Just like Rachel-sama. I rested my chin on my hand, lost in thought, when I noticed Cyril frowning. To him, this Anna was likely just a nuisance who brought trouble to Louis.
Personally, I had no intention of uncovering the secrets of either Rachel-sama or Miss Carroll. It was too much work, and it wasn't my business. I would use my special powers when necessary, and that was that.
"Well, I'll take this. Give my regards to Louis."
"Understood."
I closed the file and stood up. Cyril acknowledged me, and I waved a hand as I left the room. As I walked through the palace corridors toward the Order of Mages' training grounds, I saw Louis walking toward me with Roger behind him.
"Yo, back from your date?"
"Ah, Theodore. Did you receive the documents for the Spirit Summoning Ceremony from Cyril? If not, I can give them to you now."
"No, I have them right here. So, did you enjoy the lake?"
"...Yes. It was enjoyable."
Wait. I had said it to tease him, but Louis's expression was different than usual. He was wearing a blissful smile. He didn't even comment on the fact that I knew where he had been. I turned to Roger. "What's with him?"
Roger remained perfectly serious. "He appears to have had a very fine holiday."
"What does that even mean?" I scratched my head and sighed. "Did something happen with Rachel-sama?"
"Whether something happened or not, I'm not telling you."
Louis's shoulders shook at the mention of her name, and a sweet, gentle light filled his eyes. He quickly regained his composure, but the aura of happiness was impossible to hide. Something had definitely happened. Something very good. They had likely finally confessed their feelings to one another.
"Well, good for you."
I truly felt that way, seeing a side of Louis I had never seen before. I patted him on the shoulder and walked away. As I walked, I looked down at the file in my hand. I thought of the girl Cyril and I had been discussing. For some reason, a sudden sense of foreboding washed over me. I hoped nothing would happen. I wouldn't tolerate anything that destroyed the peace Louis had finally found. If it came to that, I suppose I wouldn't mind lending a hand as a friend... or an older brother figure. It seemed I, too, was wishing for a future where Louis and Rachel-sama could be happy together.
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