In her office as usual, Diamond was still struggling with paperwork when her husband Idris came in to question her.
— "I don't get it, Diamond. If we all go to this party, who's going to run the marquisate in our absence? When you say "two weeks in the capital," it sounds like you're talking about a vacation."
— "Don't worry, my love. Shire has finished her studies. I've already spoken to her, and you remember she's always wanted to be our chief stewardess?"
— "But she just graduated. She won't even have time to celebrate with us."
— "That's exactly what I told her, but she replied: "Nothing pleases me more than to serve Her Excellency. I'm beyond lucky to be counted among your ranks. But if anyone is absent from this invitation… what would the Empress say?"
Idris sighed.
— "She's such a sweet girl."
— "Yes. And at the very least, I'm doing my best to make things easier for her before we leave."
— "Oh… and when is she arriving at our place?"
— "Should be today, actually."
And just as Idris and Diamond were talking, the very person they were discussing had already arrived downstairs, warmly greeted by Yelo.
— "Hey… Shire! My child, you've grown so much!"
— "Hello Master Yelo. Sorry for arriving unannounced. The situation didn't allow me to give advance notice."
Hearing the voices downstairs, Diamond and Idris came down to see what was going on. They welcomed little Shire with congratulations, apologies, and a lot of hugs — so much so that Shire ended up feeling a little out of place. But that's the Rush family for you. The Rush are emotional.
Seeing them together, it was clear: Shire was a child of the house.
And it's true. Everyone in this house and in this city knows her for her rigor and unyielding discipline. In the past, she was in charge of Anna and Elisabeth's education, and it's safe to say she never took that role lightly. On the other hand, Rias has always been a little afraid of her. She's too strict for him. So, just like before—and still now—he hides away, not even daring to show himself.
— "Big Sister Shire! said Anna. I heard you graduated top of your class at the Eastern Academy. Congratulations."
— "Lady Anna. That's simply the result of proper discipline. I hope that at your age, you're learning what it means to be disciplined."
— "Don't worry, I probably won't have a chance to enjoy myself for a while, Anna replied, utterly exhausted but forcing a smile."
— "Alright then, I need to borrow Shire."
The letter Diamond received in the previous chapter was an invitation to the fifteenth birthday celebration of the country's crown princess: Zyon De Excissil. It's a major event because the eldest daughter of the crown is coming of age. She'll now take part in society. And for that, every member of the De Rush family is invited.
While the De Rush family prepares for their journey to the capital, Shire gets acquainted with the family's affairs. It's more complicated than she imagined, which is why Diamond takes her under her wing from the moment she arrives. Lady Diamond must supervise her closely—very closely.
Then comes the day the family must leave after a week. Fortunately, Shire is finally ready to take over the marquisate. She waves goodbye to the marquise's carriage, murmuring to herself:
— "I now stand alone before the marquisate. I arrived here so sure of myself… Well, all the more reason to prove myself worthy of Her Excellency's trust."
And off she goes with those words, carrying within her a deep, almost worshipful loyalty to Marquise Diamond.
The family departs in two carriages. One holds the parents—that is, Marquise Diamond and her two husbands. The other carries the children. This noble family is accompanied by eight knight-guards.
Inside the children's carriage, in the lazy afternoon light filtering through the curtains, Rias and Anna sit side by side, an old book spread between them. Though the carriage is spacious, they sit close—too close. The atmosphere is syrupy. Too syrupy.
Leaning over the book, Anna speaks to Rias in a low, velvety voice:
— "Look at this formula… we could combine it with the body's thermal current. That would create a closed circuit. You see? It's… organic."
Rias, eyes glowing:
— "Yeah, like a breath that refuses to die."
He looks at her. Longly. Too long.
— "You remind me of that sometimes."
Anna blinks, surprised, then gives a soft smile.
— "Remind you of what?"
— "A spell that never fades."
They stare at each other again. The world seems to vanish around them. An absurd light bathes their faces. A seagull passes in the distance, though there's no sea nearby.
Silence turns sensual as the book slips from Anna's hands and their shoulders brush while both reach to catch it. Rias blushes. Anna does too. It's an emotional slow dance on a bumpy road.
Then suddenly, a voice snaps like a whip.
Elisabeth, seated right across from them, speaks in a voice as tired and salty as a French fry:
— "OK, but are you two gonna kiss or should we pitch a tent for you in the carriage?"
Rias jolts like he's just been slapped by a ghost.
— "HUH?!?"
Anna, suddenly shrill, totally caught off guard:
— "WHAT?! No! We—we were reading!"
Elisabeth strolls in, nonchalant, half a chewed biscuit in hand:
— "Reading? With hearts in your eyes and mouths half open? Fascinating educational technique."
Rias turns beet red, avoiding eye contact:
— "It was… intellectual human warmth."
Anna, defensive and blushing:
— "Yeah! A purely mental exchange!"
Elisabeth munches loudly:
— "Mh-hm. Mental, my ass. You looked like two old nobles in the middle of a magical marriage proposal. I thought your eyes were gonna fuse."
Rias, defeated:
— "I'm jumping out of this carriage."
Anna, hand to forehead, dramatic:
— "I have no honor left."
Elisabeth now giggles:
— "Too late. You're officially the couple "RIANA." Or "ANNIAS." No, better: The Boring Burners."
— "WE'RE NOT A COUPLE!" Anna and Rias shout in unison.
But Elisabeth is unmoved. She shrugs.
— "Sure. And I'm a magical carrot. Carry on. I'm gonna get a pillow. Intellectual love exhausts me."
Sprawled regally across a carved chair, she throws one leg over the armrest, arms crossed, eyes on the velvet curtains.
— "Eli… it's not what you think. We're just… talking."
— "And we're siblings, that thought is just disgusting."
Elisabeth, in a misunderstood tragedian tone, pulls a gold-embroidered cushion over her face as if trying to smother herself with silk:
— "My god, even the cushions can hear your sexual tension. Make me deaf. And Rias, incest is super common in our society."
Rias, pale:
— "I feel like I broke an ancient sacred pact."
— "Just thinking about it makes me want to die. Ew!"
Elisabeth, not lifting the cushion:
— "I swear, if this continues, I'm jumping off this carriage in motion. Even if I have to walk to the capital. And you guys would explain everything to Mum."
— "Is she serious?"
— "She's just gonna sulk. She lives for drama."
Elisabeth, peeking one eye from behind the cushion:
— "I HEAR YOU, LIBRARY LOVERS."
Now it's Anna and Rias's turn to giggle.
Eli adds:
— "Yeah, laugh all you want. But remember, she who laughs last, laughs best."
To travel from the marquisate to the capital of the empire takes about three long days nonstop. And no marquise has ever attended a capital party before—none. Diamond is the first. And we all know why.
That's why she's nervous the entire trip. Her two husbands look at her, but she stares out at the scenery. She scans every patch of greenery they pass—lawns, forests… sometimes just lone, sturdy trees standing in the void. Then Idris finally breaks the silence:
— "It's the end of an era, isn't it?"
Diamond looks at him, completely taken aback. Then she shifts her gaze to her two husbands sitting across from her:
— "I guess I'm just a little too anxious."
Idris tries to ease her nerves with a joke:
— "Ah, the last time I was this worried, my love, was the day you mistook my brother for me."
— "You can't blame her, brother. I've always been more handsome than you'll ever be."
— "Shall I remind you, dear brother, that we're identical twins? Meaning all your beauty is technically mine, too."
— "Nonsense! Diamond always picked me over you."
Idris just smiles. Yelo pouts like a child.
They manage to make Diamond laugh again and melt her anxiety. She glances gently at Idris. There's a strange connection between the two, so strong that even Yelo feels awkward around it. But he pretends not to notice.