Chapter 7

"I am very sorry. Melissa's birthday falls on the same day as the anniversary of Amelia's parents' passing. By the decision of the master, this year, on the first anniversary, we will observe mourning in consideration of Amelia's feelings."

After a long winter, spring arrived, and Melissa, who was about to turn 11 next month, handed a list of friends and acquaintances she wanted to invite to her birthday party to the butler, only to learn that her 11th birthday party would not be held.

Until last year, her father had thrown grand birthday parties for her as a potential fiancée of Prince Christopher. Now, he no longer even maintains the pretense of her being a potential fiancée.

Melissa reflected on the past year, during which her relationship with her family had changed, and pondered how she could regain the love of her father, brother, and grandmother as before, but found no answer.

Despite the frequent sightings of Prince Christopher and Amelia together, and the talk of how well the handsome young man and the beautiful young woman suited each other, Melissa's princess education continued unabated.

One day, needing a book that was only available in the library within the castle for an assignment, she visited the library after a long time and saw Amelia studying alone, which was rare. Amelia, who was reading a thick medical book that could not be taken out, noticed Melissa's gaze, gave a sly smile, and snorted before walking away into the depths of the library without a greeting. A single maid, who knew the true nature of Amelia, who used to be Melissa's attendant, accompanied her.

It had been almost a year since Amelia came to the Duke's household, but this was the first time Melissa had seen her display such blatant attitude. Without showing any hostility, Amelia had isolated Melissa to such an extent. Melissa was disheartened, realizing how dire her situation had become, as if Amelia no longer felt the need to hide it.

Melissa had seen her grandmother and father boasting to guests about how intelligent and excellent Amelia was, praised by the strict tutors employed by the Duke's household for her quick learning and absorption of knowledge. Seeing how Amelia could understand such a thick medical book, Melissa genuinely admired her.

A few days after the encounter in the library, Melissa finished her princess education for the day and was walking back to her room from the castle. As she passed by the lobby, where her father, brother, grandmother, and Amelia, who was holding a large bouquet of flowers, were chatting, Amelia called out to her, which was unusual.

"Big sister! That's perfect. Could you cast a light magic spell on these anemones?"

Melissa, who had grown accustomed to the lack of conversation with her family, was surprised by the sudden call. She even wondered if it was a setup for a tea party orchestrated by Amelia, and her reaction was delayed.

"…Light magic?"

Magic power is passed down through blood. While most nobles and some commoners possess magic power, the availability of magic tools that can be used without magic power means that not having it is not a significant inconvenience. Those who possess magic power begin to leak it from their bodies around the age of 10 to 12, when physical differences between males and females start to appear. Once this magic power overflows, it can be used to cast spells without magic tools.

Melissa's magic power overflowed at the age of 9, and she can now use light magic to heal minor scratches. Light magic is a rare attribute that only women can manifest, but it is not so special that it stands out; her late mother also used light magic.

"These anemones were given to me by Chris. I was so happy that I kept hugging them, and a few of them wilted. I haven't reached the point where my magic power overflows, so I can't use magic without a magic tool, but I heard from my magic teacher that you can already use light magic!"

Melissa hinted at her relationship with her potential fiancé and even showed the red anemone bouquet she received from him. Her father and the others, standing beside her, believed that Amelia was still innocent. Amelia, judging that this level of display was safe, was also looking down on Melissa and her family.

Amelia likely called out to Melissa to flaunt her intimate relationship with Prince Christopher. Suppressing a sigh, Melissa casually cast a light magic spell on the anemone bouquet Amelia was holding.

―――Boom!

Magic power exploded from the center of the bouquet, scattering red anemone petals throughout the room with a loud noise. The powerful magic, like a large projectile, hit both Melissa and Amelia directly, as they could not avoid it.

Her father, brother, and grandmother rushed over, their movements appearing slow and time seeming to slow down. They ran straight to Amelia, embracing her. No one paid any attention to Melissa. As the petals scattered, her vision gradually fell downward, and she felt the cold floor on her cheek, seeing only their feet. She heard someone shout, "Mel!"

If only that "Mel" referred to me… Thinking this, Melissa lost consciousness.

When she woke up, she was lying on her dark bedroom bed. The room was already deep into the night, and she was alone.

When she called for her maid and asked, she learned that Amelia had woken up immediately after the incident and had been examined by a doctor. Her father, brother, and grandmother were now in Amelia's room. Melissa had also been examined by a doctor while unconscious. The shock from the magic backlash caused Melissa to hit her head and suffer from a concussion, while Amelia had sprained her left hand.

"I've heard that Amelia's sprain has already been treated and healed. Light magic cannot be used to treat Melissa's concussion, so she is advised to rest for a day."

Rose, one of the two maids, who chose to remain with Melissa even after the other maid left to serve Amelia, always told her the truth, even if it was sad. This reminded her of her mother, and she liked it.

Perhaps feeling sympathy for the fact that no one in the family had come to see her, Rose gently stroked Melissa's head. The warmth of human touch after so long made her almost cry, and she fell asleep again.

The next day, in the afternoon, while Melissa was lying in bed as advised to rest, her father came to see her. After inquiring about her condition, he explained the incident from the previous day.

"Yesterday's magic backlash occurred because the magic compatibility between Mel and Melissa was poor, causing a repulsion. This is a rare phenomenon that sometimes occurs between twins, but it is theoretically possible between cousins. Now that Mel's magic power has started to overflow, the two of you will experience such a backlash whenever you are near each other. The doctor advised that you should stay apart until both of you learn to control your overflowing magic power."

Melissa, anticipating what her father would say next, felt like covering her ears.

"Considering that Mel, who lost her parents and came to this Johnston Duke's household, would be pitied if she had to move again, would you, Melissa, go to the territory for Amelia's sake?"

Melissa did not answer "yes" or "no." She silently stared at her father's hand, and he left her room, seemingly satisfied with having said his piece.

Until a year ago, he used to stroke her head with that hand… What should I have done? How can I make Father love me again? …I don't know.

Before her 11th birthday, it was decided that Melissa would go to the territory, and the packing began the next day. The only consolation was that Rose, her maid, would accompany her to the territory.

Before boarding the carriage to the territory, she said goodbye to her father, brother, and grandmother.

"Father, brother, grandmother, I will work hard on magic control so that I can return to the capital soon."

Since the magic backlash, she had not seen Amelia and did not get to say goodbye. Suddenly, she looked up at Amelia's window and met her gaze. Amelia, with the same sly smile as in the library, looked down at her.

In the carriage heading to the territory, Melissa recalled seeing Amelia reading a medical book that could not be taken out of the library. She realized that the magic backlash might not have been an accident but a deliberate act by Amelia, using her medical knowledge to make it look like a backlash. The feeling of magic power exploding from the center of the bouquet was unusual if it had been a backlash. Since Melissa was unconscious during the examination, she could not convey this feeling to the doctor.

The royal family, upon learning that Melissa would not be able to visit the castle, easily removed her from the list of potential fiancées. This was likely Amelia's goal.

Now that she had been expelled from the Johnston Duke's household, Melissa realized this, but there was nothing she could do about it.