Chapter 53

When Mariel turned eight, her power manifested as light. However, her magic was faint. It wasn't strong enough to heal injuries, only to ease pain. Despite the overwhelming attention from the public, even when it came to choosing a governess, Mariel decided she wanted to go to the academy. "I've always wanted to wear this uniform! How do I look?" A navy cape enveloped her small frame. With her straight, silky hair tied back, she looked every bit the part of a young lady. "You look incredibly cute!" Mariel twirled around, clearly pleased. "Ne, ne, it's so nice. I want to go too, Fee!" "No way, little one!" "—Hey, Mariel!" "I'm going to show Brother!" Sensing she would be scolded, Mariel quickly ran off.

After the opening ceremony, the children returned to their classroom to introduce themselves one by one. Mariel sat down next to Bella, chatting as they waited. Bella Carland, a girl she often played with, had a brother the same age as Aidan, and their families had a long history of interaction. Perhaps because their families were of similar status, they got along well. They could talk about their favorite stores and foods without any pretense. When it was her turn, Mariel greeted the class with a proper curtsy. "I am Mariel Pencilia." There were about ten children in the classroom. Some were familiar, but about half were new to her. "My attribute is light." When Mariel announced this, the classroom buzzed with whispers. "That's the girl..." "Wow, she really has golden eyes." "I've never seen light before." She was used to such reactions, so they didn't bother her. With her silver hair and golden eyes, she was always the center of attention, and because of this, she had often been told what she could and couldn't do.

When Mariel fell asleep, Lena visited Cynthia to give her the final report of the day. In Cynthia's private office, she welcomed Lena and had her sit across from her. "Lena, how was Mariel today?" Cynthia asked, as she always did. She had asked Tan the same questions every day when Aidan was at the academy. The reports were usually uneventful, but with Mariel, it was mostly the same. "She spent the day chatting with Lady Bella—" was the usual report. With Aidan, the children he spent time with changed daily, which was a source of concern. "Well..." Cynthia paused, noticing Lena's hesitation. "Is something wrong?" "Well... nothing specific, but..." Lena, usually a serious and straightforward person, had been in service for eight years and had become the dedicated maid. Though she had grown more reliable, she remained reserved. "It's okay if it's not well-organized. If it concerns you, please tell me." "Well... since all the students at the academy are from noble families, many of them have a magic-first mentality." "I see." Lena, being from a viscount's family, understood this well. It was common for siblings to be treated differently based on their magical attributes and power. The one with the most magic often inherited the family, and it wasn't unusual for the order of importance to be based on magic rather than birth order. This mindset was often passed down from parents to children. "At first, Mariel was envied because of her light magic, but..." Lena hesitated again. Cynthia furrowed her brow. She had anticipated this to some extent. The Pencilia family had been careful not to place too much expectation on Mariel as a light mage. She had discussed this with Rias multiple times. They agreed to wait and see how the children grew and to judge them based on their qualities, not just their appearance. They had always emphasized that being a light mage made her a target, but they had tried to raise her to see it as just one of her traits, even though Aidan was an earth mage and Cynthia was a light mage, and despite the vast difference in their magical power. They knew the outside world wouldn't be as understanding, but they didn't want to burden her with the idea that having less magic meant being looked down upon from a young age. They hoped she would gradually encounter such attitudes over time. "Is it that obvious?" Cynthia asked, though she had expected as much. Lena seemed surprised. "No, no... it's not that she's being bullied or anything." "Can you give me a specific example?" "They whisper and giggle from a distance..." It seemed to be a negative atmosphere. No one would dare say anything directly to the Pencilia family. "Today, a young noble from the Haik family was talking with a friend about how there's no point in coming to the academy without magic." "Oh." It was quite blatant. Lena's expression suggested there was more. "Can you tell me everything you remember?" "—A young noble from the Gilokkan family has been persistently inviting her to play with magic dolls." Magic dolls require magic to operate, and with her limited power, Mariel couldn't make them move. They were inviting her knowingly. None of these families were part of the social circle. "How is Mariel handling it?" "She doesn't seem to mind. She spends most of her time with Lady Bella and a few other young ladies, talking about clothes, sweets, and parties..." So, she's enjoying her school life. "Does she really not care?" Sometimes, Cynthia found it hard to understand what Mariel was thinking. Aidan was kind, responsible, and good with people, though he could be a bit stubborn. Mariel, on the other hand, was once very sensitive. She hated getting dirty and loved dressing up. She was strong-willed, often bossing around Aidan and Sophia, and even Rias, which she frequently had to correct. Rias, being so compliant, only encouraged her. Mariel was the most independent of the three, often coming to Cynthia for affection but preferring the indulgence of her uncle and grandfather. She still visited the castle every other day to be spoiled, even with a guard. She had always been pampered like a princess, and this might be her first encounter with children's cruelty. "She doesn't react to the whispers. When invited to play with dolls, she tells them, 'You still play with dolls?' and sends them away. A young noble from the Portras family even offered to marry her, saying, 'No one else will take you, so I'll marry you.'" "—Make sure Rias doesn't find out about that." One earl's family would be ruined. "Lady Mariel then listed the young noble's flaws for several minutes, telling him not to speak to her until he fixed them, and commented on his face, making him cry and leave early." "..." What should I do? Is she turning into a villainous noble lady? If Mariel is being excluded, there's no need to force her to attend the academy. She still tells me how much fun she has at school, playing with Bella. I understand the value of group activities with friends in a school without parents. Her grades aren't great, so she might be there for about four years. "The overall class atmosphere isn't hostile. Only a few students act this way." As a former nursemaid, Lena could discipline Mariel, which is why she was chosen as her maid. However, as a servant, her role was limited to taking care of the child, and not all attendants were of the same age. No one around her would intervene. The parents might not even know. "—It's a difficult decision, but I'll keep an eye on it. Thank you, please continue to report to me." I'll subtly let her know that she can stop if she wants.