As usual, my servants had prepared a hearty breakfast.
As Miyu poured me a cup of tea, I noticed that the spirit was standing in a corner of the room.

I looked at her with a dark glare. She quickly disappeared.

« Seriously, what is her problem? »

After breakfast, I went to the bathroom adjoining my room to get ready.
As I was taking off my clothes to prepare for a bath, I suddenly froze.

Was she watching me?

A shiver ran down my spine.

Honestly, what kind of twisted mind would do such a thing?
The thought irritated me, but after scanning every corner of the room, I found no trace of her presence. I felt somewhat relieved.

I calmly resumed my preparations, trying not to think about it anymore.
I couldn’t afford to waste any time. I had class today.

My days at the magic school were always the same.

Every morning, Satoshi, my driver, dropped me off in a horse-drawn carriage.
In the afternoon, I preferred walking home alone despite the distance — the quiet suited me.

During the day, we were mainly taught geopolitics, history, and magical practice.
All the other basic subjects had already been covered in the lower grades.

I had just under two years left before graduation.

I usually ate lunch alone on the school rooftop, with a bento box prepared at the mansion.

That morning, as I arrived, I wondered if the spirit had followed me.
I hadn’t noticed anything in the carriage.

But as I approached the building and looked up, I saw her.

She was there. On the roof.

« I’ll find somewhere else to eat today… » I thought, annoyed.

I couldn’t concentrate.

Our classroom had a few empty desks at the back, and the spirit had spent the entire day sitting – well, levitating – behind one of them.

She hadn’t moved. Not a single gesture.

Was she doing it on purpose, just to unsettle me?

I shot her several murderous glares, but she didn’t react.

The room was full, so I couldn’t even confront her — not without looking like a lunatic.

I was already feared enough as it was.
The last thing I needed was for people to think I was talking to an illusion.

The frustration gave me a furious urge to hit something.

When classes finally ended, I walked home, drained by the day.

And, unsurprisingly, the spirit was still there — floating in the air, distant, still following me.