This is going to be a problem, Lady Seika.

　My room at night.
　Under the moonlight streaming in through the window, I was cutting out human shields, when Yuki, in her long, slender fox form, peeked out of her hair and said that.

I'll tell you what,
So you're going to kill him after all?

Seika, got a minute?

　At the sound of a knock, my oldest brother's voice.
　Yuki quickly hides in his hair. I shove the paper and scissors under the bed.

Yeah, what?　Brother Luft.
I'm coming in I knew you were still awake.

　Luft said, and hung the light on the ceiling and sat down next to me on the bed.

　A moment of silence passes.
　What do you want?

Uh, brother Luft...?
Seika. A little late, but happy birthday.
What?
It's a gift.

　And he hands me a small wooden box.

'Open it.'

　I took the fine looking leather strap and opened the lid.
　Inside was a white transparent pen and inkwell.

"Is this glass?
Yeah. It's a glass pen. It's a very popular item in the imperial city, and I bought it when I was following my father. It's very popular in the imperial capital, and I bought one when I was following my father.
How does it work?
It's like a quill. You just dip it into the inkwell and write. But unlike a quill, it lasts forever.
Huh....
'Seika's so studious, she'd ruin a quill in a heartbeat, wouldn't she?　So I figured it was just perfect ... and the timing was right. I'll have more and more opportunities to write when I go to school, you know. Also, you'll be writing letters home every once in a while.
Uh-huh. Thank you, brother Luft.

　Unable to think of any more words, I fall silent.

"I'm sorry, Seika,
Eh....
I've always felt distant.
....
'I don't know, I guess I just didn't know how to treat you.
...because she's a concubine's child?
'Or rather, the surroundings. Your father, your mother, and the maids have always been like that, so I didn't know what I should do. See, I don't have any initiative, do I?
I don't think so.
I just act like it. I'm just trying to be the eldest son of the Lord. In fact, he's a coward. I used to be afraid of the Seika, too.
'Well ... was it?　Why?
'Hmmm ... come to think of it, why is that?　That's what I remember, but I've forgotten. It's from when I was a kid.

　Luft laughs.

'But I'm glad Seika's looking great now. I'm proud to be your brother.
Hmm....

　I didn't say anything.

　I've never considered the people in this house my family.
　My only family member is my sister, who died when I was very young in a previous life.
　I've always thought that being a concubine's child and being treated as a swallowed up child was in a way convenient.

　For that reason, it was a bit surprising.
　I didn't know that there was someone else who was worried about their relationship with me.

Take it easy on him, Seika.
Eh....
'That's tomorrow. You shouldn't have had any magic power, but you even showed me that you could defeat a monster. There's no way you're going to lose to Glai. So, be careful. That will teach him a lesson.
Yeah, okay.
It's a long way off, but you'll do well in the academy.
Yes. Brother Luft, I hope you work hard and become a great lord.
A fine lord. You're not sure.
Should I or my brother Grye take over?
Hmmm, I'm not sure about that either. I'll do my best... good night then. Seika.

　As Luft left the room, Yuki peeked out of his head again.

'A gift, Seika-sama?　Hmm, you seem to be a somewhat witty person. I'm sure it's not worth much anyway.
Hey, don't say that. It's a pretty good one.

　I dipped it into a handy ink pot and wrote a spell on the Hitogata, and the writing was quite good.
　No wonder it's so popular in the Imperial City. It was probably expensive.

''It's fine if you like it, but please be careful, there might be a poisonous needle planted in it.
I'll be fine.
Which is that supposed to mean?
Either way,

　It's not a previous life, so you don't have to worry about that.
　I mean, even if there was a poisonous needle planted in it, it's okay.

'More importantly, that one is the problem now.
That way?
Yuki, you need to hide again.
What, Mr. Seika?

　I push Yuki back through my hair and I bow my head wide.

　The next moment.

　A blade of wind leaps through the window and flies over my head, slashing the door with a flourish.
　A piece of wood falls to the floor in a flurry.

'Oh no. I can't fix this........

　I looked out the window through the pathetic door and saw a shadow of a man.
　Illuminated by the two moonlights, I saw Glei holding his cane out to me with a look of rage.

　We have to go, right?
　Apparently, the duel is going to be half a day early.