Charlotte let out a shrill cry of surprise, but almost immediately her eyes sparkled with admiration as she looked toward Harvey.

"Being the headmaster of such a large school...amazing!"

“Oh, no, it’s really nothing so grand.”

Harvey responded with a smile, but Charlotte tilted her head slightly.

“But why does Allen dislike it? It seems like such an honorable position to me…”

『Hmm, I agree.』

Leaning back from the sofa, Gousetsu joined in the conversation.

『This place, Athena Magic Academy is a most venerable institution, the pinnacle of magical scholarship. To be its head is an honor worthy of history itself. I see no reason why you would refuse.』

“It’s simple. Titles come with chains. And I refuse to be bound by them.”

Allen’s tone was blunt.

The academy had no fewer than a thousand students, and if one counted faculty and outside collaborators, its membership swelled far larger.

To sit at the top of such an institution was to be bound by countless ties, both large and small. While he was capable of politics and underhanded maneuvering, it wasn't his forte.

And so, he had rejected the headmaster’s chair.

When he explained this, Harvey only deepened his smile.

“There’s no need to decide so hastily. You could train under me for a while as my secretary, and at the same time win over the professors. I’ll lend you all the support I can, and brush aside the sparks that come your way.”

As he spoke, Harvey leaned forward and held out his right hand to Allen.

His gaze, filled with deep affection, was unchanged from the day long ago when he had declared he would take the young Allen home with him.

"You, my son, are the only one who can succeed me. Even if we're not related by blood, I can say that for sure."

"How dare you blabber away on such pretense!?"

Allen slapped his right hand away. He stood up and pointed his index finger at his adoptive father.

“I can see through your real scheme! You want to push this role on me because the truth is――”

He was about to continue when...

The door to the parlor slammed open.

"Hello~."

A young girl popped her head out, carrying a teapot and cups on a tray.

Her fluffy pink hair was adorned with ribbons, and the dress she was wearing was also lavishly decorated with ribbons and lace.

At first glance, she appeared to be in her mid-teens, a girl as fluffy as a candy. She carried a large tray over to the table and, upon catching Charlotte's eye, smiled softly.

“My, my, what a lovely young lady. You must be tired from the long trip, please relax.”

“Y-yes. Thank you…?”

Charlotte bowed politely, a question mark hovering over her head.

The girl prepared the tea with practiced ease, while Harvey looked on fondly.

“Thank you, Liesedear. Shall I give you a hand?”

“No need~. It’s been ages since we’ve had so many guests, I just couldn’t help but get excited. Here you go. I baked cookies even monsters can eat, so the Fenrirs may have some too~.”

『Yay! Thank you!』

As she patted Luu’s head, the girl sat down cheerfully beside Harvey.

Charlotte, watching curiously, suddenly lit up in realization.

"Are you by any chance Allen-san's little sister? Nice to meet you. My name is Charlotte."

“My, my, being called his little sister is delightful. Such manners~. I’m Liese――”

“No, Charlotte. She’s not my sister, she’s my au――!?”

The instant Allen tried to say the word, a sharp gust sliced past his face.

Turning fearfully to look behind him, he saw a teaspoon embedded in the wall made of magically reinforced material that no casual spell could scratch.

When he turned back, the girl was touching her cheek with a sweet smile.

“My, Allen-chan. Three years apart and you’ve forgotten how to address me? Calling me ‘auntie’ is just rude, it makes me sad."

"...I'm sorry, mother."

“Mother!?”

Allen slumped his shoulders and squeezed the words out, making Charlotte leap up in shock.

Luu and Gousetsu both froze mid-cookie-bite, staring in wide-eyed surprise.

Satisfied with their reactions, the girl beamed and introduced herself brightly.

"I'm Lieselotte Crawford. Nice to meet you."

“And my beloved wife,” Get full chapters from novel·fire·net

Harvey put his arm around his wife, who looked nothing like a young girl, and gave her a smile and a peace sign.

Like his adoptive father, his adoptive mother hadn't aged at all since Allen met her.

No wonder people whispered behind their backs, calling them a “monster couple” or “a walking violation of decency laws.”

At any rate, this was the very reason Harvey wanted Allen to inherit his position.

"The real reason your uncle wants to force you into this position is so he can flirt with aun...mother all the time, right?! Don't hand over an important position to your son for such a trivial reason! Are you an idiot?"

"What do you mean, trivial?! What do you mean, trivial!"

Harvey, smiling until now, suddenly shot to his feet in outrage.