[TTH] 35 – Who will the heroine choose? There are too many options to decide. (1)

"Oh my~ The weather is so lovely, it's truly delightful. Come on, everyone. We have plenty prepared, so please help yourselves."

How did it come to this?

With her orange eyes narrowed like a friendly squirrel and a sunflower-like smile illuminated by the sun, Miranda of our class flutters her shiny golden hair. At her cue, her cheerful middle-aged butler starts spreading out a variety of delicious sandwiches and fruits before us.

"I wanted to get along with everyone quickly. Especially with you, Richeli, and the others in Class C. Oh dear, would you have preferred coffee, your Highness?"

Sitting next to me, she noticed Zinon, who had been silent with an awkward expression, holding a teacup without sipping. Miranda hurriedly engages him in conversation. Hesitant, Zinon reassures her and takes a sip of his tea.

I find it slightly funny and can't help but laugh. Zinon being overwhelmed by Miranda's forwardness is a fresh sight. Patrick must be thinking the same, for when our hazel eyes meet, he grins at me, clearly finding the situation amusing.

Lunchtime at Elrand Magic Academy.

Zinon and Patrick had been confronting magical beasts in the training ground just before. Apparently, Miranda had been watching them with her butler, who had brought lunch. Overwhelmed by Miranda, who gasped and exclaimed, "Oh my, how wonderful!" upon seeing Zinon carrying me princess-style, we were invited to lunch.

And so here we are, sitting out in the courtyard on a large blanket spread over the lawn, enjoying a lavish lunch, forming a circle.

Besides the ever-smiling Miranda, there's me, Zinon, and Patrick. Also, for some reason, Luna Maria and Luciano were standing by the training ground, Karina and Sonia seemed to be nearby, and Prince Axel, who had come to visit the private room where Zinon and I were having lunch prepared.

"Don't you have anything better to do?"

Zinon questions Axel with a sidelong glance. Axel lifts his chin in response, grinning brightly.

"Unfortunately, I have business in the lab here. Lent asked me to make some magic potions. So, I'll be coming here for a while."

Lent is the name of the royal magician Zinon had summoned on the first day. A tall, slender man in a white robe with long, iridescent hair tied back at the waist and mysterious eyes of the same colour. He's a side character in Magic Eyes who's quite popular for his handsome looks.

"You can make magic potions?"

Responding to Axel's words is Karina, dressed in a deep navy dress, her chestnut-coloured fluffy hair swirling around her. Her mature expression and magenta eyes open wide, indicating she can't miss this conversation.

"Yes, there's a garden beyond this courtyard where only magic plants grow. I can quickly gather ingredients and create potions. Lent really is demanding, by the way. Do you know Professor Sevigny?"

"She's our Class C professor. What about her?"

At my words, Axel grins as if he's achieved something.

"Yes, she's quite talented, isn't she? I've been told to go to the lab she oversees."

"Oh wow. She's a beautiful professor. Axel, don't play around with the professor, okay?"

I warn Axel, knowing his curious and playful nature. Luna Maria, who had seen Axel and me interacting on the first day, isn't surprised anymore, but Miranda, Karina, and Luciano seem stunned by the casual banter between Axel and me despite me being the fiancée of Prince Zinon.

"Professor Sevigny, is related to Cardinal Christopher, who came today."

That was Sonia. Her platinum hair was neatly cut at the chin line, and her amber eyes were somewhat inorganic, or rather, cool and dignified.

Sonia, the daughter of a marquis, comes from a long line of military families. Despite her slender, child-like physique, she's quite skilled with weapons, as Luciano has told me. In a simple white dress, Sonia speaks masculinely, a so-called tomboy. Somehow, even though they're different types, her carefree attitude reminds me of my younger sister, Kokoro.

"Come to think of it, Professor Sevigny and Cardinal Christopher have the same hair colour."

Luciano, sitting next to her, reacts noticeably to Luna Maria's words. Somehow, I can almost hear his inner voice. "Don't think about other men. Look only at me; think only of me." 

Luna Maria, perhaps sensing Luciano's gaze, locks eyes with him for a moment. There's a cute, clueless tilt of her head, as she isn't aware of Luciano's intense feelings. Oh dear, I can't help but smile at the sight of Luciano, whose love for her must inwardly torment.

"About Professor Sevigny and Cardinal Christopher..."

Karina tilts her head slightly, closing her eyes as if to recall a distant memory.

"What's wrong, Karina?"

Despite Luna Maria's query, Karina remains silent for a while, seemingly searching the depths of her memory. After a moment, she opens her magenta eyes.