After school that day, Brigitte headed to the library. The truth was, although she was in the lower half of her class, she wasn’t naturally bad at reading or studying. In fact, she enjoyed those things. Everyone thought her head was full of rocks, but storybooks and textbooks didn’t care who turned their pages.

Joseph…I mean, His Highness used to tell me a library wasn’t a place for dumb girls to hang out, she thought, correcting herself mid-sentence. But I’m not his fiancée anymore, so I can do what I want, can’t I?

The school she attended in the woods outside the capital of the Kingdom of Field was called the Otoleanna Academy of Magic. On the right side of the formidable stone school was the Magical Experiment Building, and behind that was the library. The shelves of the sprawling brick building overflowed with books on wizardry and history that never made it into the textbooks.

Now that she had lost Joseph’s support—if she could call it that, or maybe protection was a better word—Brigitte knew she would have to look out for herself. Her adopted brother was to take over the Meidell family title. He was a distant relation of the Meidells whom her father had adopted because he was contracted with a first-class spirit. Shut away in the cottage, Brigitte had hardly even met him. Although he should have been a year behind her in school, she had never seen him at the academy. She assumed he had been forbidden from interacting with her.

It’s not that I have anything against him…

But as long as he was there, Brigitte wasn’t needed. She knew it was highly likely that in the not-so-distant future, she would be cast out of her home. And because she knew that, she also knew she couldn’t let herself be swept away by her reputation as a selfish, arrogant person.

Witnessing Yuri that afternoon was probably what put the thought in her mind. Something had struck her powerfully as she watched him.

I have to get myself back.

She couldn’t exactly put it into words, but that was how she felt. Her real self. She had to follow her heart.

I think I’ll stop putting my makeup on so heavy, she suddenly thought, touching the pancaked foundation on her cheek. Sienna and the other maids would probably cry with joy when she told them. They had always insisted that she had naturally strong features, which simple makeup would suit better. She was the one who had ignored them and done as Joseph wished.

It’s not only the cosmetics. It’s how I talk…how I laugh…

It was terrible of her to have been so haughty.

She was embarrassed to think of how she used to hold her fan and laugh so loudly.

She hated those showy pink dresses; if only she could wear elegantly simple clothing.

She knew many people thought poorly of her now. She could change that little by little, as long as she was moving forward, but…

The first step is to start speaking normally.

This is going to be a long journey, she thought glumly as she walked. She had arrived at the library without even realizing it. The building was surprisingly empty, even though many intellectuals came from outside the school to use it.

The librarians at the front desk looked shocked when she walked in…but when she bowed her head, they bowed timidly back. Still, they didn’t exactly show any desire to talk to her. She found a map of the library and decided to seek out what she needed on her own.

Now, where is it…? Aha! Here!

Hugging a thick, old book to her chest, she walked to a seat. The large reading area was completely empty. She’d planned to check the book out but decided she might as well read it there.

It was called the Illustrated Encyclopedia of Spirits.

Their world was home to spirits of every variety. Although many mysteries remained about these creatures, who normally did as they pleased in their home realm, those who contracted with humans were pictured in the book along with various facts about them.

Since the most powerful spirits—like an ifrit, the spirit her father was contracted with—could speak human language fluently, the encyclopedia began with descriptions of the customs in the spirit world and illustrations of its landscapes that were supposedly based on their accounts.

Brigitte loved spirits and the colorful world they inhabited. She couldn’t help smiling like a child whenever she read about them.

…Of course, she had no idea how much of that delight was showing on her face.

The waterfall is not spanned by a rainbow; rather, the water itself is rainbow-colored. Those who are charmed by its beauty and drink the water typically experience nausea, so care should be taken.

She was so absorbed by the two-page spreads of fantastical scenes that she forgot to blink.

Fire spirits breathed out sparks, water spirits breathed out mud, wind spirits breathed out air. Light spirits breathed out stored-up light, and everything around them shone so bright that night never came. If one could entice a light spirit to drink a rainbow for a party, that party would be truly magical.

If you pound hard on rocky ground, little spirits who had been idling the time away will come tumbling out… What’s this? If someone sneezes, heaven and earth switch places? How funny…

Brigitte couldn’t help giggling at how fun and free the life of spirits seemed. As she turned the next page, she happened to look up—and couldn’t believe her eyes.

…Yuri Aurealis?

How long had he been there?

He was sitting two rows away from her with his chin resting on one hand. Lit up by the sun from the window as he read the book in his other hand, he was as beautiful as a picture. Just before she lost herself completely in this vision, he raised his head. Flustered, she looked back down at the encyclopedia.

Yuri was far ahead of his classmates both in classroom studies and practical skills, so it wasn’t surprising that he was in the library. But Brigitte felt guilty for having spied on him while Joseph was yelling at him a few hours earlier.

But it would be awkward to apologize now…

She decided to go on reading as if nothing had happened.

The same thing occurred the next day.

And the day after that.

As Brigitte was reading, Yuri would appear and silently begin reading his own books. Or sometimes, she would arrive quietly after he was already there. She always sat in the same place, and his regular seat appeared to be two rows ahead of hers. He paid no attention to her. She didn’t even know if he noticed her. After so many years where attention from others meant mockery would soon follow, this was a relief.

One day, however, the routine changed.

“Oh!”

“…”

Brigitte reached out for a book and accidentally touched Yuri’s hand. Their fingertips brushed, and their eyes met.

I’ve read about such things in romance novels…

Her heart was beating a tiny bit faster than usual. Up close, his deep yellow eyes shone like citrine. She could see herself reflected in them, mouth agape…

Before she could think, she was speaking.

“…Would you mind moving your hand? I got here first.”

A few seconds after making this brusque request, she felt the blood drain from her face.

Now I’ve d-done it…!

It was true that old habits were hard to break…but that was an incredibly rude thing to say to a duke’s son. Still, his expression remained blank.

“…You want to read this, too?” he asked flatly.

Brigitte blinked at this unexpected question. She had heard he was cold and cruel, but if he didn’t blame her for talking to him like that, did that mean he was also forgiving?

“Um, yes, I do.”

“Oh.”

In the instant when her guard was down, his hand shot out and snatched the book from the shelf.

“Ah!”

She didn’t even have time to protest. Without a backward glance, he returned to his usual seat and began reading as if nothing was amiss. All Brigitte could do was reel from shock.

…What just happened?!

Who talked to people to distract them, then mercilessly stole their book? What an outrageous thing for a high-class noble to do! Even as she fumed, however, she had to admit that she had been equally rude.

Grumbling resentfully, she chose another book and returned to her seat. She set it upright on the long desk and glared furtively over the top… Yuri was coolly flipping the pages of his book, chin in hand.

Disgusted, she attempted to concentrate on her own reading.

…Perhaps it was only natural that her irritation grew stronger instead, until she found it impossible to focus.

Perhaps I’ll just check this one out and leave…

She sighed, just as a shadow fell over her head. Puzzled, she looked up.

“Hey.”

“…Ah?!”

Yuri was standing next to her. Brigitte stiffened.

What’s he about to do? Hit me?!