Chapter 70

"So? What's your name?"

Rajnian, who had turned away from the lively conversation, met Sophia's eyes again. Sophia tilted her head, her almond-shaped eyes questioning.

Name?

"Sophia, but—"

"Not that one."

Shaking her head with unfamiliar words, Rajnian made Sophia frown. It seemed different. If not, she must be referring to her family name.

Indeed, it was odd for someone without a family name to be in a princess's room.

What kind of world has a princess inviting commoners into her private room! Well, she is here, but there's no way she could say that.

As Sophia lowered her brows, wondering what to do, Rajnian tilted her head and said, "It's a nickname."

"Greetings with nicknames are not the custom of witches, you know."

"Huh?"

"Yes!"

Am I a witch??

Before she could digest the casually thrown words, a high-pitched voice came from beside her, making Sophia look up in surprise.

Livio's eyes were wide open, as if to say, "Is that all?" His already large eyes seemed like they might fall out. Thud. The two eyes that would fall would be beautiful, but it would be a terrible horror. "Great harvest of the finest blueberries☆" There's no way to be happy about that. To prevent the precious treasure created by the gods from being damaged, Sophia instinctively reached out her hands, but Livio grabbed her shoulder firmly.

"Sophia! You're a witch, aren't you!"

"Huh? Uh, I don't think so..."

"Ambiguous!"

"Or, why is Livio so surprised...?"

"Because it's about you, Sophia?!"

"Y-Yeah...?"

No, is it really such a big deal, she thought, but then reconsidered.

Livio, who makes a big fuss over such trivial things, is very, very cute.

When she thought about it, she was more surprised to find out she had dragon blood than this, but to Sophia, it was a completely incomprehensible thought process, but even that was cute. Oh, please.

Moreover, Sophia had done something a bit bold a little while ago, and the sudden cuteness of Livio's stable beauty and the unexpected cuteness made her face heat up. No, no! I have to calm down my brain that's making my blood boil, or it could be life-threatening!!

Could you, maybe, stand a little further away?

The words that almost slipped out, but Sophia bit her lip and faked it.

Because if she said it now, she might cry, Livio. Oh, so cute.

Sophia, too, would probably cry if Livio said something like that at any time. Words can cut, no doubt.

Thinking this, Sophia closed her eyes, and Rajnian laughed, "Well, let's put the heavy boyfriend aside... Adi, what about you?"

Adolphus, whose name was called, pushed up the bridge of his glasses with a click.

"Miss Sophia, your way of using magic and moving your magical power is very similar to my mother's. I thought you were a witch..."

As if hearing Sophia's thought that it didn't matter whether she was a mage or a witch, Ehrich opened his mouth curiously.

"Is there such a big difference between mages and witches?"

Shaking his golden hair lightly, the small king, Rajnian nodded.

"Mages learn theory, and witches learn how to grasp magical power. Mages value rules, and witches love the principles of nature. In a way..."

Snap, and Rajnian snapped his fingers, and a small blue flame flickered.

The serious atmosphere made Livio release Sophia's shoulder. Sophia let out a small sigh. Phew.

"Even if the destination is the same, the means to get there are different. Whether you walk or take a carriage. If you walk, what route you take. If you take a carriage, what kind of horse you use. Witches know that there are infinite means and methods, and mages seek efficient methods, you could say."

"Sort of, but not really."

When Ehrich crossed his arms, Rajnian laughed. His bright smile was innocent and cheerful.

"To put it simply, if you learn magic from a witch, you're a witch."

"So, Adolphus, are you a witch?"

Ehrich looked up, and Adolphus shrugged.

"Unfortunately, no."

Adolphus's really disappointed expression was a little cute. Thinking that a grown man being cute is a strange thing, but of course, it's not like she has any ulterior motives, so it's fine. It's the same as thinking Azwelo, who is nodding his head, is cute.

So, Sophia decided not to meet Livio's eyes, which were looking at her with an ominous air. She was afraid he might notice something.

"Adi is learning magic at the academy. I hardly ever taught you magic, right?"

"I do steal some techniques, though."

"Oh."

Rajnian blinked, and Adolphus raised the corners of his mouth in a sly smile. It looked like he was up to no good, even though he seemed to be enjoying himself. Being a villain is a disadvantage.

"To avoid standing out, I'm quite unorthodox as a mage, though I'm sorry to my mother who was considerate of that."

"I didn't notice!"

"Well, it's different from my mother's way, too."

"Adolphus often talked about things different from the tutor, which was fun."

"I'm glad to hear that."

"Yeah... It's a bit complicated, but... oh well."

Sighing, Rajnian looked at Sophia for the third time.

"So, how did you learn magic?"

"Um, well..."

As Sophia hesitated, Rajnian said, "Ah," and took her hand. When Sophia's slender fingers made her heart skip a beat, Rajnian's softly narrowed eyes were looking at her.

"Let me tell you, I'm not blaming you. Being a witch is a source of pride for witches, and there are mages who dislike witches, but to others, it's not a big deal."

Sophia, who felt as if her thoughts were being seen through, was startled, but Rajnian seemed not to notice and smiled.

"For mages, magic is a study, but for witches, it's a way of life. We witches take pride in being able to converse with nature."

"Converse?"

"Yes. Feeling each and every magical power that makes up this world, calling out to it, and waiting for it to respond is a conversation, isn't it?"

"I see, it's different from mages."

Um, and Rajnian let go of Sophia's hand.

Looking past Rajnian, Ehrich was smiling brightly with aquamarine eyes.

"Mages learn to manipulate their own magical power and react with the magical power of nature to cast spells, but witches work directly with the components that make up the magical power of nature."

"That's right. The idea of visualizing and seeing magical power is not something mages emphasize much."

Sophia glanced at Azwelo, who had finally started snoring on the sofa.

When she stood in front of the sleeping Eleonora, the low voice of the god said, "See." This was very similar to the way witches do things, as Rajnian described. Similar, or rather, exactly the same.

In other words, witches are beings close to nature, right?

This sounds like the beginning of a grand story.

It's best to leave it alone. For Sophia, who has little knowledge of magic, to get involved would be too reckless, so she quietly put a lid on her thoughts.

"Sophia"

Called at the right moment, Sophia looked up.

When their eyes met, Livio frowned slightly.

"So, Sophia, are you saying you have a witch acquaintance I don't know about?"

"You're really heavy, you know."

"Ouch."

"Heavy?"

Sophia tilted her head, and a quiet voice laughed. Eleonora, who had been listening intently, chuckled.

Her soft voice, like rippling brunette hair, said with a smile, "Sorry, but you two make a good pair."

Eleonora's eyes and words seemed to carry some meaning, but before Sophia could think about it, Eleonora asked her.

"So, who did you learn magic from, Sophia?"

"It's not a big story, but..."