Allen's expression shifted from shock to surprise.
But it didn't last long.
He quickly composed himself and returned to calm.
He met Hilda's gaze.
"Then we'll be in your care, madam."
Hilda returned his look with a graceful poise.
"It's no trouble."
But the smile in her eyes couldn't be hidden.
In Sylphy's eyes, this was the first time in half a year that she'd seen that kind of expression on Hilda's face.
A smile with a feeling she could recognize.
The only time she'd caught a similar trace before was when Hilda gazed distantly at the trees outside the window. But even then, there was never a smile.
So why was she smiling now?
Because Hilda was looking at a "shadow."
He stood before her, with his wavy brown hair, deep gray eyes, bearing the name "Allen."
Too vivid. Too real.
The dream—once hollow and unreachable—now seemed to have a shape.
Even if it was an illusion...
Even if it was a dream that could vanish with a touch...
Even if it was sand that slips through the fingers...
She...
Was happy.
And Sylphy was happy too.
Happy for Hilda.
She knew clearly—this wasn't an illusion.
She could see that the deep emotion Hilda showed wasn't being projected onto a false shadow or a cheap imitation passing through Boreas.
It was being truly offered to her child.
This was real.
Even if Hilda didn't know it—she did.
Sylphy smiled.
For Hilda. And for Allen.
The tension she'd felt moments ago faded.
Eris, too, had recovered from her earlier surprise. She shoved her chair aside and in two steps leapt into Hilda's arms.
"Mother! You're giving us our etiquette class today?!"
"Yes. What, Eris, am I not welcome?"
"Of course you are!!"
In Sylphy's reddish-brown eyes, she watched Hilda stroke Eris's head… then look at Allen.
At that moment—
She could feel it clearly: the kind lady who should never have to look sad while staring out the window... was now in the same room as her children, and she was happy.
How wonderful.
Her efforts had paid off.
And Allen—was he…?
She instinctively glanced toward him to see his reaction.
What she saw—
Allen's head was bowed, flipping through the book, fingers turning pages. He wasn't even looking at Hilda.
But his eyes—
Were glancing sideways at her.
!!
Sylphy's smile froze.
B-Busted!! Allen's perception was terrifying. He definitely realized she was the one who brought Hilda here!
Her just-relaxed body suddenly tensed again, stiff as a brick.
Then, with an awkward jerk, she turned her head and reached for her book, pretending nothing had happened.
At that moment—
A hand extended into her peripheral vision, reaching over the table.
It was Allen's hand.
Eh?
Sylphy blinked, just about to turn and ask what he was doing—
In the next instant, his fingers moved.
He flicked his thumb off his middle finger.
And snapped.
Pop!
"Ah!"
Everyone in the class turned to look at Sylphy, who suddenly jerked her head back as if something had hit her forehead, crying out in surprise.
A strand of her white bangs lifted and gently fell again across her forehead.
As if just stirred by her head's motion.
"Luffy? Are you alright?"
"I-I'm fine!"
Sylphy clutched her forehead with one hand and waved frantically with the other.
"Just… my neck felt a little stiff!"
Her pupils quietly shifted—
To Allen.
He was calmly flipping through his book, gently shaking his head.
The act was far too obvious.
Combining it with yesterday's tea conversation, and Rudy chasing after Edna afterward—he immediately pieced it all together.
They'd schemed this.
But the intention had been good.
There had just been some misunderstanding due to missing information.
So, he was a bit exasperated… but not angry.
Then came Ghislane's voice.
"Rudy? What are you doing?"
"Ah? N-Nothing!"
Across from Allen, Rudy raised his book high, completely covering his face.
Successfully dodging Allen's "flick of love."
A close call.
Sylphy glanced at Rudy—
Her cheeks puffed slightly.
But hidden behind her arms, she smiled softly.
It had been a while since Allen did something so casually affectionate.
The ki from his finger flick had been like a concentrated breeze.
The sensation on her forehead felt just like someone gently pressing their hand against her head.
It didn't hurt at all.
—
"Oh? Is that how Edna explained it last night?"
Hilda smiled and shook her head slightly after hearing their retelling of Edna's explanation of the family crest.
"She wasn't wrong, but there's also a historical reason the crest doesn't appear on clothing."
"Historical reason?" Rudy asked.
Hilda turned to him.
"The Boreas family has always been a martial house, not a scholarly one. Back during the Human-Demon War, our crest was engraved on armor, not sewn into fabric."
"And when the war ended and peace returned, our ancestors took off those blood-stained suits of armor, proud of their past, but never saw the need to embroider that same crest on clothes. Even if the crest wasn't visible—our honor remained."
"Rather than such surface-level symbols, what our ancestors cared about most was the people and land under their protection."
"As time passed, while the other noble houses shifted toward bureaucracy and political maneuvering in the royal capital, the Boreas family continued to cherish their domain and traditions."
Hilda smiled gently.
"To Father, the Fittoa region is the family crest. That's why he likes to stand in the tower and overlook it—it's his Boreas pride."
"And that's why you don't see any crest at home."
"I see."
Sylphy, Ghislane, and the others nodded in understanding.
Hilda turned to Allen, who was leaning on one hand, eyes fixed thoughtfully on the book's page showing the Iron Heart.
"But… actually, there is a crest at home. It's just easy to overlook."
Allen looked up. Eris shouted excitedly:
"Where?! I've never seen it!"
Hilda placed the etiquette book on the desk and looked around at everyone's curious faces.
"Follow me."
They left the classroom behind her, walking down the corridor and out of the main estate.
Crossing the wide courtyard.
They arrived at a dome-shaped structure on the eastern side of the estate, built of stone, towering high.
Before anyone could speak, the beastfolk maids—who had somehow gathered around them without a sound—opened the grand doors for them.
(End of Chapter)
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