When a personal message arrived from Ludger, Flora jumped up from her seat without even realizing it, stamping her feet in place.
He’s here. Finally here!
After the official execution of the Demon King, Ludger had set off on a journey, saying he wanted to see the world while concealing his identity.
She had wanted to follow him more than anything—but she couldn’t.
She was no longer the student she used to be.
After driving out her father and siblings, all of whom were suspected of treason, she had struck a deal with Emperor Aileen and subordinated the family to the Empire, becoming the new head of the house.
Now, people called her the Duke of Lumos.
Since she had become the head of the Lumos family, most assumed Flora was too busy to go wandering around outside.
But that wasn’t entirely true.
It was undeniable that becoming head of the house came with a great deal of work.
Compared to her days as a student, even moving around now involved considerable restrictions.
Still, the process itself didn’t feel particularly bothersome to Flora.
Flora Lumos was capable.
Even setting aside her unusual constitution regarding magic, she possessed outstanding talent in understanding it.
Not only was she skilled at using magic—her grasp of theory was equally exceptional.
There was a reason she had given her instructors headaches over magic-related matters since her first year.
Her sharp mind handled the family’s major and minor affairs without issue, to the point that the house became far more stable under her leadership than it had ever been under the previous head.
The retainers, who had initially been anxious about the next head being a young daughter—of all people, the once-neglected Flora—quietly withdrew their complaints and instead grew satisfied with her exceptional performance.
Deep down, many of them had disliked how the Lumos family, despite belonging to the Empire, had behaved like obedient limbs of the Bretus Theocracy.
Thus, House Lumos rose once more in full splendor, and at its center stood Flora, as naturally as breathing.
Flora didn’t need to lock herself away in the main estate like other heads of house.
If anything, she was more like a student who had finished all her assignments and was free to go out and enjoy herself.
Even so, the reason she hadn’t followed Ludger was because she believed he needed time alone.
‘But that’s over now. He said he’s returned to Seorn.’
Ludger—someone who could do anything—had voluntarily returned to Seorn.
That alone had surprised her quite a bit, but the fact that he was still within the same Empire made Flora genuinely happy.
And if she wanted to, she could visit him anytime.
Of course, Flora didn’t let her guard down.
If she could reach him easily, that meant others could too.
And she had far too many rivals.
‘Selina is still at Seorn. And Rine can move anytime she wants using spatial movement. The Emperor is the same—she might use her authority to bother him.’
Then, in the midst of all that, Ludger had contacted her personally.
There was a reason Flora couldn’t contain her excitement and kept stamping her feet.
‘Summoned to Seorn? I don’t know why, but if he called only me, then there must be something to it. What could it be?’
On the day of the appointment, Flora woke up at dawn and began preparing herself.
The maid applying her makeup couldn’t help but feel puzzled as she looked at Flora’s expectant expression.
Flora always dressed appropriately as head of the house when going out.
But starting this early in the morning—and with makeup that emphasized her femininity—was something the maid could say, with absolute certainty, had never happened even once before.
‘She used to tear up every letter of courtship without even reading them... what on earth is going on?’
Still, the maid kept her doubts to herself.
Relying on a woman’s intuition, she realized that Flora was going to meet someone very important.
‘This is a man! The Lady Head is going to meet a man!’
Even as head of the house, Flora was still young—young enough that one could even call her a girl.
The maid worried, briefly, about the possibility of her falling for a bad man.
But this was the first time she had ever seen Flora with such an openly eager expression, so the maid focused on her work.
“Hmm. Doesn’t it look okay?”
“Yes, my lady. You are more beautiful than anyone in the world.”
“Ahem. Good. Then let’s be off. Prepare the finest steam automobile.”
“Yes.”
Flora immediately boarded the car and headed for Seorn.
* * *
“...So what exactly is this supposed to be?”
Flora asked in a voice that failed to hide her chill.
Her sharp gaze was fixed on Hermoa, who was hiding behind Ludger—whether out of fear or not.
‘Why is she clinging to my teacher like that?’
Irritated by the sight, the pressure emanating from Flora intensified.
Naturally, the stronger it became, the more Hermoa clung to Ludger.
“She’s a student I’m teaching this time.”
“I see. I’ve heard about it. That you’ve returned as an instructor and are teaching special children.”
“Yes. And among them, this one—Hermoa Entiro—resembles you.”
“Me?”
Flora shot Hermoa a crooked look.
Resembles her? Not at all.
“More precisely, Hermoa has a constitution similar to yours. She perceives magic through multiple senses. Flora, you sensed magic through sight and smell, didn’t you?”
“...That’s right.”
“Hermoa senses it through touch. That’s why I called you—to ask for advice from someone with a similar constitution.”
“Haa.”
Flora let out a sigh, pressing her fingers to her forehead.
“I came all this way, you know....”
“Hm. Was it unnecessary to call you, when you’re busy with family matters?”
“No. That’s not what I meant....”
With a sulky expression, Flora crossed her arms and glared at Ludger.
The look on her face clearly said, Why don’t you get it?
Faced with that, Ludger could only respond with a bewildered expression, utterly clueless.
Watching the scene unfold, Hermoa felt lightning strike her mind.
‘Th-this atmosphere!’
Hermoa alternated her gaze between Ludger and Flora.
There was no way to misunderstand it.
Could it be that the Duke of Lumos—the ideal role model and object of admiration for all female mages—liked Ludger Cherish?
To be fair, she had vaguely suspected it from the moment Flora appeared.
No matter how exceptional Ludger Cherish was as a mage, calling the Duke of Lumos separately wasn’t something done lightly.
The two clearly knew each other from before.
Come to think of it, the Duke of Lumos was said to be from Seorn, wasn’t she?
Hermoa’s mind began calculating at a frightening speed.
It really was a good decision to take Professor Ludger’s class!
‘Wait. Let’s think this through. If I make a good impression on the Duke of Lumos here...?’
This wasn’t just anyone—it was one of the Empire’s three great ducal houses.
If she earned Flora’s favor and received support from House Lumos in various ways—
The path to success she so desperately wanted would become far clearer.
“Wow. It’s such an honor to meet you, Duke Lumos. I’ve heard so much about you.”
The moment Hermoa finished thinking, she immediately acted.
Approaching with an affectionate demeanor utterly unlike her earlier fear-stricken attitude, she instead left Flora rather flustered.
‘What is this girl?’
The way she smiled broadly and looked over with an oddly expectant gaze—
It reminded Flora of the noble men who, when she became head of the house, had rubbed their hands together and flattered her in hopes of currying favor.
It felt strange to associate that kind of desire-filled aristocratic behavior with a Seorn freshman.
And yet, the resemblance was hard to shake.
“You’ve heard a lot about me?”
“Oh, come on. Who would a student like me hear things from?”
As she said that, Hermoa cast a sidelong glance at Ludger.
At that, Flora’s interest in Hermoa spiked sharply.
“Hmph. Really? And what exactly did you hear?”
“That you’re brilliant and sharp, beautiful, and decisive in your work. He spared no praise at all.”
The answer left Ludger, who had been listening quietly, flustered.
I did? I said that?
He was about to correct her when Hermoa turned toward him, eyes wide, and shot him an intense look.
The sheer force of it—like she was telling him not to open his mouth under any circumstances—made Ludger clamp his lips shut ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) without realizing it.
“Actually, you’re my role model in life too, Duke Lumos. I never imagined I’d get to meet you like this. I was honestly shocked!”
“Well, it’s nothing special.”
“And seeing you together with Professor Ludger, you really do look like the perfect pair.”
After deliberately exaggerating her praise, Hermoa leaned in and asked Flora in a lowered voice,
“Are you two... that kind of relationship?”
The instant she heard that, Flora’s face turned bright red.
“Y-you brat! It’s not like that! Not yet!”
“Not yet, huh?”
Hermoa smiled slyly.
The oddly suggestive grin made Ludger wonder if she was really a student at all.
It felt more like there was a middle-aged man in his forties hiding inside her.
Meanwhile, Hermoa’s persuasion of Flora continued.
“This is actually an opportunity.”
“An opportunity?”
“Using the excuse that you’re helping teach me, you can come visit often and meet Professor Ludger. Honestly, doesn’t that sound tempting?”
“Well....”
“Ah, my education will be fine. I do have talent, after all, so if you just give me a few hints or pointers, I’ll study on my own. While that happens, Duke Lumos can naturally spend some personal time with him.”
Flora’s eyes wavered violently.
She had vaguely thought along similar lines herself.
She just believed it would be impossible unless Hermoa, the student, helped.
And now Hermoa was proposing, on her own initiative, to quietly excuse herself at the right moments.
It was as if she had scratched an itch Flora didn’t even realize she’d been dying to reach.
“And I’ll deliberately pester Professor Ludger to call you often, using the excuse that I want to attend your lessons more. Wouldn’t that work?”
“You’re sharper than you look.”
Flora had to admit it.
Hermoa Entiro.
This girl possessed a level of shrewdness no ordinary girl her age should have.
If she befriended her, she’d gain a perfectly natural excuse to approach Ludger through her.
The fact that Hermoa herself had proposed it was completely unexpected.
Flora extended her hand.
Realizing what it meant, Hermoa immediately shook it.
At that moment, the two became excellent business partners.
“I look forward to working with you, Duke Lumos.”
“Calling me ‘Duke’ makes it sound distant. Call me Sister Flora.”
“Yes! Sister Flora!”
Watching the scene, Ludger felt a strange sensation—as if some kind of deal was unfolding without his consent.
‘Was it really okay to call Flora here?’
The thought made him uneasy, but it was already done, and there was no undoing it.
If the two got along that well, it would probably help with teaching Hermoa anyway.
So he decided to let it go.
“Alright. Shall we start the lesson right away?”
Gone was Flora’s earlier prickly attitude—she already looked brimming with enthusiasm.
She immediately began telling Hermoa stories related to her own constitution, and from there, shared her experiences of how she perceived and accepted magic.
Hermoa listened intently, committing every word to memory.
Setting aside the matter of connecting Ludger and Flora, learning about magic itself was one of the most important things to her.
Ludger observed Flora carefully as she taught Hermoa in her own way.
‘She’s grown a lot.’
A student who once only received instruction had, after graduation, become a proper head of a house—someone capable of leading others.
The sense of fulfillment he felt watching that might be the very reason he had returned to Seorn.
At some point, deeply immersed in her own realization, Hermoa began writing something in her notebook.
Flora didn’t interrupt her.
She stepped back and joined Ludger where he stood.
Flora nudged Ludger lightly with her elbow.
When he looked at her, asking what it was, Flora tilted her head up toward him.
Her beautiful, jewel-like eyes stared straight at Ludger.
It felt to him as though he was seeing Flora up close for the first time in a very long while.
Moving only her lips, Flora said,
‘Let’s go outside.’