? Small Devil ?

    Ding-ding! Ding-ding!

    “Hoam...”

    I opened my eyes to the blaring sound of the alarm clock and let out a yawn as I got up.

    “Hm?

    The weather has started to get colder in recent days. I set aside the warm blanket and got off of my bed. Then, I tilted my head, sensing another presence beneath my bed.

    “Huuum...”

    I bent down and the sight of Lulu in her pajamas, crouched beside my bed, came into view.

    “.........”

    Lately, she had been coming into my room to sleep without hesitation. I had attempted to dissuade her, but she insisted that a pet should sleep by its owner.

    “Lulu.”

    “Huam.”

    The room had a slight chill. I reached out to wake her up, but instead, she nibbled on my fingers.

    “Ow.”

    I frowned slightly in response. Then, I took a deep breath and pondered with my eyes fixed on the girl chewing my fingers.

    ‘Today... is the day I’m supposed to meet Aishi, right?”

    Yes, it was the day I had received a letter from Aishi, asking me to meet.

    ‘And... I have to undergo training with Isolet today too...’

    It coincided with the day exactly one week after Isolet had made her rather blackmail-like proposition to me.

    If I went to see Aishi before going to Isolet’s house, it would mean that I have encountered every sub-heroines I needed to encounter.

    Of course, there were others I still needed to observe or be aware of, but it seemed like I could feel less anxious now.

    “Phew...”

    With that in mind, I gently pulled out my damp fingers from Lulu’s mouth and carefully got up.

    “I even prepared a new bed for you. What’s so good about sleeping like this?”

    Afterward, with the blanket I had used, I carefully covered Lulu. Just in case she woke up due to the movement, I silently made my way to my desk.

    “Master...?”

    However, despite all my efforts, Lulu, who had been sleeping in the chair, awoke.

    She rubbed her eyes for a moment before slowly getting up and walking over to me.

    “Hehe...”

    She walked right behind me and started hugging me, rubbing her cheeks against my back.

    ‘She’s at it again...”

    These days, she has been pouncing on me too frequently.

    After Isolet’s recent encounter, I couldn’t understand why Lulu had suddenly turned aggressive. Whenever I was sitting or lying down, she behaved like a big dog and clung to me like this.

    Irina had a large, red pet-dog that would also pounce on me and act coquettish. Lulu’s actions were even more overboard than that dog’s.

    It left me feeling a bit drained lately and my back was a little sore.

    –Creak

    Lost in thought, I started opening the envelopes on my desk when the door opened, and Irina entered the room.

    “I-It’s today’s breakfast... Frey.”

    For today, She had once again placed a plate of dog-shaped omurice on my desk with a heart drawn on top. She was punctually dressed in her maid outfit and was secretly observing me. I looked at her and then asked in a roundabout way.

    “Irina, I have something to ask you.”

    “Yes, yes, just ask. I’ll answer any questions you ask...”

    “When is Clana coming?”

    “.....!!!”

    Initially, she was looking at me with an intense gaze, but when I asked that question, her expression turned cold.

    “Th, th, that, why are you asking that, Frey?”

    In the end, she urgently sat beside me while basking in cold sweat and asked.

    “Well, I’m just curious. You never really told me when you’re leaving for the Western Continent or when Clana is coming, right?”

    “Ah...”

    Hearing that, Irina’s expression turned stunned for a moment.

    “Uh, well, that... it hasn’t been that long... What should I do? It’s almost time for the rotation... Uh...”

    “Irina?”

    “My actions until now were all lacking... an impact... what should I do to create an impact...”

    Then she began muttering, looking as if she were possessed by a ghost.

    “You contacted the Magic Tower Tower Master?”

    I asked Irina about the request I had made to her a few days ago.

    “I, I... still haven’t done it. I don’t know why but she didn’t respond. Maybe she’s busy with something?”

    “Hmm...”

    I always keep that note safely inside my outerwear pocket. With a small smile on my face I stroked the cat that was now carrying that paper.

    “There must be some hope.”

    “Nya!”

    Then, I put both the cat and the paper inside my pocket and went out of the room.

    “Prepare the carriage. I need to meet Aishi.”

    “...Yes.”

    “And I will also go to Isolet’s house. Tidy up the house until then.”

    With an expressionless face, I commanded Alice who was sweeping the hallway.

    “There are flowers and a letter from Roswyn... what do you want to do wi...”

    “Return them.”

    Beside her stood Arianne. After answering her question, I descended to the first floor.

    “...Irina, about the result of the examination that time, are you sure about that?”

    “Hm?”

    Then when I saw Irina, who was standing at the entrance waiting for me, I asked her that question.

    “I’m referring to when I asked you to examine a curse. Are you sure about the result?”

    “Ah, that? Of course I’m sure. I searched your body thoroughly just to be sure.”

    “Um...”

    I fell into thought when I heard those words.

    ‘Why is the ‘Frozen Heart Curse’ like that?’

    A few days before I met Aishi, I had received a comprehensive and full body curse examination from Irina.

    And the result that came out was a surprising one. There was a fragmented piece of ice containing the curse inside my body.

    Irina mentioned that it was a rare occurrence that had never been reported within magic academia.

    For some reason, I felt a coldness and a pain in my heart, wondering if such a case could happen.

    “Is there a possibility of recurrence?”

    “...What we can be sure for now is only that it is still in a dormant state. Apart from that, I need to conduct further research to find out more...”

    “Hmm...”

    I gulped after hearing those words and then quietly retrieved a letter from my chest pocket.

    -Sender: Cloud Kingdom

    [To Young Master Frey Raon Starlight.

    I am aware of your appointment with Lady Aishi. I have something to discuss with you about the recent changes that happened to Lady Aishi...]

    I read that letter for the nth time.

    “...I was already afraid of having to go to Big Sis’s house. What is it now? What the hell is up with this girl?”

    I stepped outside the mansion.

    “Well, I can just go there and check in person.”

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Meanwhile at that moment, in the location of the secret meeting.

    “Princess.”

    The Cloud Kingdom’s attendant cautiously approached Aishi, who was sitting and sipping her tea.

    “.......”

    “Young Master Frey will come. He left the mansion just now.”

    “You, come here.”

    “Yes?”

    Aishi commanded the attendant in a cold voice.

    “Ye, Yes...”

    The attendant approached her with a slightly frightened look.

    “Eugh!”

    Suddenly, ice formed on the ground and the attendant fell heavily.

    “.........”

    Aishi stared intently at that attendant.

    “...Pft.”

    Soon after, she covered her mouth and whispered with a devilish expression.

    “You are really sloppy.”

    There was a lingering cold air in the room.

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