"You really didn't hold back at the end," Tresca said, glancing over at Lucelle. "I thought my light wall would at least buy me enough time to step back."
Lucelle let out a quiet chuckle, setting her canteen down beside her. "I couldn't afford to slow down. If I gave you another second, you would have filled the rest of the ground with ice spears."
"I actually did fill it up," Tresca replied, shaking her head with a dry laugh. "They just activated too late to hit you."
Lucian, sitting on the far end of the bench, nodded in agreement. "She's right," he said, wiping sweat from his forehead with a towel. "That last technique was just too fast, Lady Lucelle."
Lucelle flushed slightly at the praise, looking away with a rare, bashful smile.
"Well, it is one of my family's most prided techniques," she admitted, tapping her fingers against her canteen. "Although I'm still not strong enough to use it consecutively or combine it with another technique."
Lucelle rubbed the back of her neck, chuckling softly. "To be honest, I didn't actually plan on using it today. But I figured it was better to reveal one of my hidden cards than to lose the match. Your field control is just too good, Tresca. Though I guess I revealed too much of my movement pattern when I fought Lucian earlier, didn't I?"
Tresca nodded in agreement. "Indeed. If I hadn't seen your speed and how you used Gentle Breeze during your fight with Lucian, I think that technique alone would have been enough to secure your win without using your secret card."
"My casting speed and reaction time are a lot slower than Lucian's," Tresca added, "so knowing what to expect during our initial exchange gave me a huge advantage."
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps as the maids arrived, carrying silver trays laden with light snacks and cold drinks.
The head maid stepped forward, setting a platter down on the bench beside them with a gentle smile. "Pardon the interruption, young ladies. You should eat and replenish your energy after such an intense session."
Lucelle smiled warmly and nodded in thanks. "Thank you, Martha. We appreciate it."
As the maids bowed and stepped back, Lucelle and Tresca reached for the refreshments, resuming their conversation between bites.
"Which specialized subjects did you choose, Tresca?" Lucelle asked, taking a small pastry from the tray.
"I went with Beginner Magic Theory, Beginner Elemental Magic, Beginner Mage Tactics, and Beginner Summoning Magic," Tresca replied. She took a sip of her drink before adding, "I figured having a summon would greatly help buy me time in case I ever have to fight alone."
"And what about you, Lucian?" Tresca asked, turning her attention to him.
"I picked Beginner Magic Theory, Beginner Elemental Magic, Introduction to Alchemy, and Introduction to Magic Engineering, Lady Lucelle," Lucian answered.
Lucelle raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on her lips as she looked between the two. "That's completely different from Tresca's schedule. Aren't you worried she'll be lonely without you in her classes?"
Tresca's cheeks flushed crimson. "I told you, we are not like that!" she exclaimed, nearly spilling her drink as she tried to defend herself. She composed herself slightly before adding, "Besides, I'm the one who insisted he pick those two different subjects. I wanted Lucian to choose the ones that suit him best, rather than just following me."
"We have different strengths and weaknesses, so I think that's the best decision," Tresca continued, her voice softening as she looked toward Lucian. "As his lady, I want him to grow."
Lucelle leaned in slightly toward Tresca, lowering her voice to a playful whisper. "His lady instead of his master?"
Tresca's face flushed even deeper, nearly matching her hair as she averted her eyes and coughed into her hand to hide her embarrassment. "Y-You know what I meant," Tresca stammered, frantically waving off Lucelle's smirk.
Lucelle chuckled softly, clearly enjoying her friend's reaction, but decided to spare her further teasing and took another bite of her pastry.
Lucian remained silent, standing respectfully nearby and pretending not to notice Tresca's visible flustered state, though his gaze softened slightly as he listened to their exchange.
"Since I won our match, can I make a request?" Lucelle asked sincerely.
While there had been no prior agreement on a wager, Tresca looked at her with curiosity. "What kind of request?"
Lucelle leaned forward, her eyes bright with anticipation. "Would you like to have a sleepover?"
Tresca opened her mouth to refuse, but as Lucelle leaned closer, her eyes shining with overwhelming hope, Tresca's resolve faltered.
"Alright... yes," Tresca conceded with a sigh, unable to withstand the pressure.
Lucelle let out a small cheer, her eyes lighting up.
Lucian, hearing his lady agree, turned to Tresca and asked, "Should I head back to the estate to fetch your things for the night, Lady Tresca?"
Tresca gave him a slight nod. "Yes, Lucian. Please gather my things for the night."
"Understood, Lady Tresca," Lucian replied with a brief bow before turning to depart.
After Lucian departed to fetch her belongings from the estate, Lucelle led Tresca toward the guest wing of her family's residence. The late afternoon light filtered softly through the tall arched windows, casting warm gold reflections off the polished marble corridors.
"I'll have the staff prepare everything immediately," Lucelle said, gesturing toward a set of grand double doors. "A proper bath first, then we can settle in for the night."
The bathhouse on the main floor was expansive, divided into several private, steam-filled chambers separated by heavy oak doors and silver-threaded curtains. Leaving each other to their privacy, the two ladies entered separate rooms.
Inside her private chamber, Tresca stepped into the deep stone tub filled with hot, scented water. The heat immediately soaked into her tired muscles, easing the lingering fatigue from their earlier duel. Steam rose gently toward the vaulted ceiling as she rested her head against the smooth rim, letting her mind drift through the day's events—the match, the class selections, and Lucelle's relentless teasing.
By the time Tresca emerged, freshly washed and dried, the head maid was already waiting outside the chamber with a folded set of clothes held neatly over her arm. Beside her, another servant held a similar set for Lucelle.
"Lady Lucelle, Lady Tresca," the head maid said with a crisp bow. "I have personally prepared these for your stay tonight. They are tailored from imported silk to ensure maximum comfort."
The pajamas were simple yet elegant—Tresca's set a soft muted crimson that matched her eyes, and Lucelle's a calm pastel blue. Soft to the touch and loose-fitting, they were designed purely for relaxation.
Lucelle adjusted her sleeves, testing the fabric with an approving nod. "Perfect. Thank you, Martha."
"Of course, my lady. Master Lucian should be returning shortly with Lady Tresca's remaining personal items. I will have them brought up to your quarters as soon as he arrives."
Lucelle immediately took hold of Tresca's hand and pulled her along the corridor toward her personal bedchamber. Tresca blinked, startled by the sudden tug, but offered no resistance.
"Wait, Lucelle—slow down!" Tresca protested lightly, her slippers soft against the polished floor as she struggled to match her friend's eager pace.
Lucelle only chuckled, not loosening her grip for a second. "No time! We have a whole night to catch up, and I'm not letting you escape back to your room."
They reached a set of carved wooden doors at the end of the wing. Lucelle pushed them open, leading Tresca straight into her expansive, warmly lit quarters. Once the double doors swung shut behind them, Lucelle finally let go of Tresca's hand. She spun around, a bright, genuinely happy expression replacing her usual mischievous grin.
"I've always wanted to do this," Lucelle said, looking at Tresca with open warmth. "You know, sleep over like this with a friend." She let out a quiet sigh of relief, sinking back onto the edge of her plush bed and tucking her knees to her chest. "Back at home, it's all old people and my older brothers. I don't have female friends I can feeely chat with"
Tresca walked over and sat down beside her, the mattress giving way softly beneath them. "Well, you have me now. So, what random things did you want to talk about first?"
Lucelle reached over to her nightstand, picked up a thick, leather-bound book, and handed it to Tresca with a mischievous smile. "Let's read this."
Tresca took the volume, looking down at the embossed gold lettering on the cover.
The Butler and His Lady's Secret Night Meeting.
Tresca froze, staring at the title in disbelief before slowly raising her eyes back to Lucelle. She swallowed hard, holding the book by its edges as if it might catch fire at any moment. "A-Are all the books you read... similarly themed?"
Lucelle nodded with absolute confidence, crossing her arms proudly. "Of course. I have quite the collection." She began listing them off on her fingers, her expression completely earnest. "There's the one about a humble farmer and a baron's daughter, a grand romance between a royal knight and a runaway princess, a forbidden tale of a slave and a noblewoman... honestly, the list goes on."
"I see..." Tresca managed to say, her voice trailing off as she stared at the book in her hands, completely at a loss for words.
Lucelle smiled, bright and unbothered, and patted the spot next to her on the bed. "Come on, open to chapter one. We can read it together."
By the time they reached the midpoint of the eleventh chapter, Tresca was sitting stiffly against the headboard, her eyes wide as she navigated the increasingly dramatic twists of the story. Beside her, Lucelle leaned close, eagerly reading over her shoulder and occasionally offering excited commentary on the protagonist's choices.
A firm, deliberate knock at the heavy oak doors suddenly shattered the quiet room.
Tresca flinched, her heart leaping into her throat. With the scandalous contents of the book fresh in her mind, the sudden noise made her feel as though she had just been caught partaking in something strictly forbidden.
"Enter," Lucelle called out casually.
The door opened smoothly, and the head maid stepped into the room. She carried a small, neatly packed leather travel bag in one hand and a polished silver tray with a letter in the other.
"Pardon the interruption, Lady Lucelle, Lady Tresca," the head maid said, bowing crisply. "Master Lucian has returned from the estate. He brought Lady Tresca's items as requested."
She placed the bag onto a nearby sofa before stepping toward Tresca to present the tray. "Master Lucian also left this letter for you, Lady Tresca. He mentioned that it contains a request for instructions regarding tomorrow's schedule."
Tresca took the letter from the tray, unfolded it, and quickly read through Lucian's message. Setting the paper down, she picked up the silver quill and inkstand brought forward by the head maid to draft her response:
Lucian,
Do not bother returning here in the morning. Proceed directly to the classroom tomorrow and wait for me there. I will travel to the academy alongside Lady Lucelle.
— Tresca
Once the ink dried, she folded the note, sealed it, and handed it back to the maid.
"Please give this to Lucian so he may return for the evening," Tresca instructed calmly, maintaining her composure despite the book still hidden beneath the pillow behind her.
"At once, Lady Tresca," the head maid replied. She collected the tray, bowed low, and quietly stepped out of the room, closing the heavy doors behind her.
With the head maid gone, Lucelle immediately retrieved the book from beneath the pillow, flipping it open back to their marked page.
"Now then, where were we?" Lucelle grinned, leaning in close.
Throughout the remainder of the night, the two young ladies read on by the soft glow of the bedside lamp until fatigue finally claimed them and the book was laid to rest.