The following day at lunch, the academy dining hall was somewhat livelier than usual. Surely because everyone was buzzing about yesterday's pact ceremony. In fact, the glances directed at me seemed tinged with more curiosity than before.

  "Yo, Dylan! Over here, over here!"

  Turning toward the waving voice, I found Oscar as expected. Wearing his frivolous smile, he'd naturally left the seat beside him open.

  "...What's got you so chipper this morning?"

  "Come on, after seeing all that yesterday, who could resist talking to you?"

  Oscar narrowed his eyes mischievously.

  "Congrats on the spirit contract. Man, after everything, I'm glad you managed to pull it off."

  "Yeah, thanks."

  When I replied lightly, Oscar leaned in even closer.

  "So yours was a light spirit, right? What can it do?"

  His inquisitive nature was showing through. But I just shrugged vaguely in response.

  "Unfortunately, I still don't know anything."

  Not a deflection—pure fact. Lou would chatter on about whatever she pleased, then immediately claim exhaustion and fall asleep. I hadn't managed a proper conversation with her since.

  I'd heard spirits were capricious beings, but were they really this selfish?

  "Huh? If even you're having trouble, does that mean spirits really are hard to handle?"

  Oscar asked with interest.

  "Yeah... well, it's difficult."

  I answered while recalling yesterday. Rather than difficulty stemming from dealing with a spirit, it was more like the troublesomeness of dealing with a human—which was actually more problematic.

  'Hey, Dylan!? What do you mean "difficult"!? I properly finalized the contract yesterday, didn't I!?'

  ...You were awake?

  'Of course! You're having such a fun conversation with your friend! Come on, introduce me!'

  I forcefully ignored Lou's voice and brought soup to my mouth. Oscar watched my expression with amusement.

  "You've got that 'I'm hearing something' face."

  Perceptive as always.

  "...Well, apparently she's quite the talker."

  No particular reason to hide it. If anything, it would be better if he knew.

  "Oh, seriously!? That's great, isn't it? Real contractor's privilege. So what's she saying?"

  "...Nothing I can repeat."

  She was saying such outrageous things I couldn't possibly share honestly. Oscar burst out laughing while tearing off a piece of bread.

  "Haha, well, you're gonna get lots of questions going forward, so you better get friendly with her now."

  "Get friendly or... well, I'd at least like to learn to control her better."

  'That's terrible! I'm hurt! Oscar, please comfort me!'

  Suppressing the urge to hold my head, I took a deep breath and continued eating.

  "By the way, you're going to the Spirit Society, right?"

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  Oscar asked as if remembering something.

  "Yeah, Lord Altius invited me, and it's a good opportunity."

  "Huh, a personal invitation. As expected of a ducal house—quick work."

  Oscar nodded admiringly.

  "Finally you're starting to do noble-like things. I'm relieved."

  "Are you my guardian or something?"

  "Come on, that's basically what close friends are for, right?"

  While the logic seemed a bit leap, seeing Oscar's oddly cheerful face made me lose the will to argue further.

  "By the way, it's your first time at a social gathering in a while, right? Have you prepared things like attire and greeting protocols?"

  His grin couldn't hide his mischievous intent.

  "No, nothing in particular... It's basically an information exchange venue, isn't it?"

  "Sure, but if even the ducal house is participating, standing out awkwardly could cause trouble later, you know? Wouldn't want people saying 'House Belmond's young master has no manners.'"

  Even while tearing bread, Oscar offered legitimate advice.

  "...I suppose you have a point."

  I'd been drilled in basic manners by Mother, and I'd attended noble social gatherings several times before. Besides, I was Dylan Belmond—the man who embodied rudeness and impropriety in the original story. No telling what might trigger the path to destruction. Better to prepare.

  "...I'll consult with Martha later."

  When I muttered that, Oscar laughed.

  "Yeah, you should."

  'Ooh, a strategy meeting with Martha! Excellent! Let's coordinate our dress codes!'

  Fighting off a headache from Lou's excitement, I drained my soup.

  On the way back to my room after leaving the dining hall, I ruminated on the earlier conversation with Oscar.

  The Spirit Society. A gathering exclusively for spirit contractors, hosted by Julius, the ducal heir. Socializing, information exchange, and... contact with that Kreis von Altona. So much to think about.

  "Master Dylan, welcome back."

  Entering the room, I found Martha at the desk, pen in motion over something.

  "A letter?"

  Rather than her usual document work, she seemed to be writing more carefully.

  "Yes. I thought I should inform the master and mistress about yesterday's pact ceremony results."

  "Ah... right, I'd forgotten."

  While Martha would report separately, I should probably convey the pact ceremony results myself. Though of course I couldn't write that I'd contracted with the saint goddess.

  "If you'd like, I could write it for you?"

  Martha looked up with a soft smile.

  "No, I should at least write about the contract myself."

  I smiled wryly and sat at the desk. However, once I gripped the pen, I hesitated slightly about what to write.

  'Oh, a love letter!? Then the opening should be—"To my beloved Father and Mother"!'

  Blocking out the noisy voice in my head, I began writing. That I'd managed to contract, the spirit's name, and that I planned to attend a gathering called the "Spirit Society" soon.

  Even to me, the text seemed rather unadorned, but I couldn't think of more words to add. Father aside, Mother would surely be pleased. Even my older brother should look it over.

  —Ah, I almost forgot. I remembered one thing I absolutely had to write.

  —The matter of marriage to Erna.

  But I paused my pen. How to write about the marriage matter—hesitation rose to my throat. Father apparently wanted to proceed with this, but what did Mother think? And Erna's feelings... no, she was almost certainly rejecting it. As for me, I wasn't in a position to deal with this right now.

  So then, having just formed a spirit contract, how would this be received? I gripped the pen tightly and glared at the letter paper.

  The marriage proposal with Erna was a strategic union for the family that Father was pushing forward. A noble's duty, in other words. I couldn't refuse for personal reasons. If I showed rejection poorly here, it would just be taken as selfishness. But if I stayed silent, the matter would proceed on its own.

  I steeled myself and set pen to paper again.

  'P.S. Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in the Arcane Arts Society of Professor Maxwell, the court mage. I also had the chance to speak with Lady Erna Griebel, renowned throughout the academy, and was deeply impressed by her talents, while simultaneously feeling keenly aware of my own immaturity.'

  'I believe my priority should be to devote myself to study and training, becoming an academy student who can hold his head high. I would be grateful if you could watch over my growth for the time being.'

  How about this? I maintained the pretense of not knowing about the marriage proposal with Erna. I was just an ordinary student who'd witnessed her overwhelming talent at the academy and felt pure respect along with accompanying anxiety.

  This probably wouldn't be enough of a deterrent, but I'd appreciate even the slightest hesitation it might cause.

  'What a roundabout sentence~'

  Lou was criticizing my carefully crafted text. Well, her assessment hit the mark. She didn't know about my relationship with Erna. And if she found out, it would definitely cause trouble.

  Gazing at the finished letter, I exhaled softly. If only these words might reach Father's ears even a little—

  "If you'd like, I'll seal it for you."

  Martha approached the desk and smiled gently. I nodded and handed over the letter.

  "Thanks."

  Martha pressed the seal wax with practiced motions and stamped the academy's mark. While watching that sequence of actions, I suddenly remembered Oscar's words.

  "...Come to think of it, what do you think I should do to prepare for the Spirit Society?"

  When I asked, Martha thought briefly before answering.

  "Regarding attire and etiquette, you've already mastered the basics, but... in terms of conduct as a spirit contractor, it might be good to review a bit."

  "...Right. I'd like to avoid making unnecessary mistakes."

  When I nodded seriously, Martha showed a slightly softer smile.

  "Then shall we go through everything after dinner?"

  "Yeah, please do."

  Having fulfilled one duty, I prepared for the next stage. I believed these small accumulations would eventually shape my future.