Chapter 660 – Loud Chaperone.

“It’s such a shame Mother couldn’t be there. She would have loved to see it, but I don’t think the Count would have allowed it.”

“Probably not.”

Roland and his sister were talking about their older brother, Robert. The conversation drifted to his wedding, one that had not been officially sanctioned by their parents. In their world, nobles usually married to secure alliances and advantages, not for love.

Lucille had already been promised to someone else, and an agreement between two noble families was not easily broken. There needed to be a compelling reason to dissolve it, otherwise the wronged family could demand a substantial sum of gold as compensation for the insult. In this case, it would be deeply humiliating for a noble lady to choose a no-name knight like Robert. Even though their father’s reputation had grown, it was still not enough.

“Perhaps if Father gave them his blessing?”

“Did he suddenly grow softer while I was away?”

Lucienne still clung to a sliver of hope. If their family truly wished to proceed and if their father offered his blessing, then perhaps it might be possible. But she was forgetting one important detail.

“I do not think so.”

“Exactly. And besides, he already made a binding contract with Lady Lucille’s father to send Robert away.”

“That’s true.”

Lucienne lowered her head as the weight of reality settled over her. The binding contract between their father and Graham De Vere had not been a mere verbal agreement. Among nobles, especially those of standing like House De Vere, contracts were reinforced with magic. Graham could even claim that House Arden had acted in bad faith and deliberately broken the agreement, bringing serious consequences upon their entire family.

“It’s unfair.”

She muttered.

“They love each other. Isn’t that supposed to matter? Why do those old men have to interfere?”

Roland did not respond. He did not want to shatter his sister’s fragile understanding of the world. She was still a child and did not truly grasp how things worked.

“Unfortunately, that is simply how this world functions. But do not worry. In time, you will be able to see him again, maybe sooner than you might think.”

“Really? I can meet him?”

“Yes. I would even take you with me now, but we need to be careful of the person you came with.”

In truth, Roland could simply step through the gate and take his sister to see their brother whenever he wished. The problem was not the gate but the person she arrived with.

“Her…”

“Yes. I checked your situation, and if I try to take you with me, that guard of yours will start asking questions.”

Even now, the person who had accompanied Lucienne stood outside the entrance to the Deputy Professor’s private office. She kept her distance, but her gaze never strayed far. She was Lucienne’s new personal guard, a tier-three woman knight assigned to protect her after the recent attack.

“Ivetta would probably tell Father about it…”

“That would be my guess. She was likely ordered to shadow you and report your movements back to the estate regularly.”

The situation reminded Roland of the man once assigned to watch over him when he left to become an adventurer. Back then, his guardian had only been a trainee knight, poorly equipped and even more poorly prepared. The difference was obvious. His sister received a seasoned knight in proper gear, while he had been given the bare minimum. It was a quiet but clear sign of how their family valued them.

“Ivetta, is it? She seems diligent.”

“Is she here?”

“Just outside. She saw you enter through the hidden door and has been waiting ever since.”

Through the monitoring system, Roland could easily observe anyone lingering nearby. Lucienne was officially his student, which gave him a reasonable excuse to meet with her. However, if he attempted to take her to the teleportation chamber, the knight would almost certainly intervene.

“You can see her while we’re talking?”

“It is not difficult.”

Roland stretched out his hand. The runes etched into his armor began to glow and shift as he adjusted the spell. Moments later, a small holographic image of the park outside flickered into view. Ivetta stood behind one of the trees, watching the building’s entrance with a serious look on her face.

“Oh. It really is her…”

Lucienne was still a novice mage, currently classed as a Clairvoyant. It was not a combat-focused class, but it excelled at reconnaissance and perception.

“If you continue practicing your spells, you may be able to do something similar before long.”

“Really?”

“Yes, one of the first things a clairvoyant learns is to see things from a distance. Have you been studying anything during your house arrest?”

“Not really. The teacher Father hired only taught me some basic and a few new mana meditation techniques, along with a couple of new spells.”

He could see her status screen, and it was true. She had not learned anything that would truly advance her core abilities. She had gained a few levels and picked up several additional combat spells. It was possible she had been using the underground area to defeat monsters. The same one he trained when he was young against goblins.

“Is that so? Then take this.”

“This is?”

“A special badge. With it, you will be able to access the institute libraries without limits. Just be careful. Your current class is quite special.”

“I know. Mother and Father even gave me this.”

Roland nodded when he noticed the pendant she was wearing. It concealed her status screen and displayed her second class as a mana scribe. It was similar to the necklace he used himself, though his version might have been more refined.

“It is good, but use this as well.”

From his runic spatial pocket, he produced a small ring. The runes etched into it were extremely small. Unless examined closely, even experienced runesmiths or rune mages would not be able to determine its function.

“It will enhance the pendant you already have and also allow me to know where you are. Keep it with you at all times.”

Lucienne nodded, took the ring, and tried to slip it onto one of her fingers.

“Thank you, but I think it is a bit too big for me.”

“Just inject some of your mana into it.”

“Like this?”

She followed his instructions. As her mana flowed into the ring, it began to shrink until it fit her finger perfectly.

“Oh? How does it work?”

This book’s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

“It uses a special spell combined with an alloy that can constrict slightly when infused with mana. If you reverse the flow of mana, it will expand again.”

After giving an explanation, he demonstrated the process once more, enlarging and shrinking the ring before they finished their conversation. Elodia had helped him with the design, since he had no idea what a teenager might consider cute to wear. Judging by her reaction, his sister liked it.

“It is best if we end this now. Otherwise, your guardian will grow suspicious. She seems to be getting restless.”

Roland noticed the knight peeking out from behind a tree more frequently. It was clear she was about to approach. He had said what he needed to his sister and had also gathered some information about his father and the Arden estate.

As always, their father, Wentworth Arden, remained near the northern border. With his newly acquired position, he had become deeply involved in the ongoing battles against the empire and other forces that threatened the kingdom.

Roland did not know whether his father was searching for Robert. Lucienne had told him that Wentworth had rarely been at the estate since the escape. Francine, the second wife, was aware that Robert was alive, as he had sent a message to ease his family’s worries while making them believe he had left the kingdom to start a better life elsewhere.

“Ivetta can be overprotective. It is all because of Mother. She made all those unreasonable orders. She is always somewhere, watching…”

Lucienne seemed to have some reservations about her new chaperone, but in Roland’s eyes, the woman was doing a good job. It was understandable that Francine had tightened security around her youngest daughter. After Robert’s trial and disappearance, fear had likely taken root in her heart.

“Your mother is worried. After what happened, caution is not unreasonable.”

“I know…”

“At least in this Institute you are safe, so go back to your friends and your classes. Use the badge I gave you to study for the tests. You are going to need it.”

“Tests?”

“Yes. Did you forget that you missed a lot of classes? You will have to retake them before midterms.”

“Ack!”

Lucienne grabbed her head as if she might tear out her hair. She had missed many lessons, and some needed to be completed, or she would be held back a year. Luckily, she still had time to catch up with her peers.

“Just do your best.”

Finally, Roland rose from his seat and headed for the exit. Before he could reach it, he felt her hug him from the side. His sister no longer seemed to mind the sharp edges of his armor. For a moment, he wrapped an arm around her and gently patted her head.

“I am glad that you are back. I did not think I would ever see you again.”