The air inside the café was heavy. No—more accurate to say it was sharp.
In front of me sat two beautiful women. One was Serika, the empire’s top mage (in the making) and my little sister.
The other was Logina, the young lady of the prestigious House Belua and… well, someone I have an indescribable relationship with.
‘…The power struggle here is insane.’
How should I put it—watching a live catfight between women up close was incredibly oppressive.
And the fact that all that pressure was being directed at me made it even worse.
In times like this, the best move is usually the absolute worst one.
‘Is this guy seriously an idiot? That’s the whole point of getting those looks.’
"You two."
I opened my mouth with a deliberately solemn expression.
"Deciding on an order has no meaning."
"Huh?"
"What do you mean?"
Logina and Serika both asked me at the same time, and I answered seriously.
"Music is like clothing. Just as different people suit different outfits, different people suit different pieces. Who gets played for first isn’t important. What matters is which piece is dedicated to whom… that’s the key."
Hm. Even I think that’s bullshit philosophy. I glanced at Serika while trying to hold the atmosphere.
"Serika."
"…Yeah."
"I want to play this piece for you. Reminiscence."
I mimed pressing keys in the air and explained gently.
"It’s a piece that contains all our childhood memories together—running around in the snow, everything. It’s not flashy, but it warms the heart when you listen to it."
"Reminiscence…."
Serika’s eyes wavered slightly. It felt like her gaze was speaking.
So you’re not choosing between the two of us?
"Mm… let’s listen to it together sometime when it’s just the two of us, wearing the most comfortable clothes, sipping hot cocoa."
"…Hmph."
Serika pouted her lips.
First hurdle cleared.
I immediately turned to Logina.
"And Lady Logina."
"Yes, Lord Aiman."
"This piece suits you. Valse Sentimentale."
"A waltz?"
"Yes. It expresses the rich, delicate sensitivity hidden beneath your elegant and dignified exterior."
I met Logina’s eyes for a moment, but the intensity of her amber gaze made me look away.
"When you sometimes want to sink into your own time alone… this piece will be comforting. It’s glamorous yet sorrowful, lonely yet beautiful—a waltz."
Logina’s eyes widened. She covered her mouth with her fan and lifted the corners of her lips slightly.
"My… to think you see me so deeply."
Anyone could tell she wasn’t entirely satisfied.
"Very well. I look forward to that piece. I’ll formally invite you to the mansion next time. Please play it for me then."
"Of course."
Serika folded her arms and spoke with disbelief.
"So in the end, Oppa, you’re just refusing to choose."
"I agree with Serika. It seems you’re not accustomed to aristocratic speech. If it were me, I’d pick one outright and convey the rest with a glance."
"Something like, ‘I’ve prepared a separate piece just for you.’ Or ‘my heart is truly with you’?"
Logina nodded at Serika’s words.
Hm… isn’t that way more trashy?
I voiced that thought, but both Serika and Logina just shook their heads.
***
Anyway, the atmosphere lightened a bit. Time to change the subject.
"By the way, my lady."
I asked Logina.
"How’s Hans doing? Is work going well for him?"
At my question, Logina clapped her hands.
"Ah, Sir Hans? Don’t even get me started. He’s been an excellent investment."
"That good?"
"Sir Hans is so capable that I even entrusted him with analyzing the family’s financial state."
I was shocked. Just hearing it sounded like an insanely high-level task. Hans must have been terrified too.
"Sir Hans discovered leaking funds we hadn’t noticed. It helped the family quite a bit."
Logina genuinely admired him.
"Is it because he’s your friend, Lord Aiman?"
"No, it’s not that."
"No, it really isn’t."
Logina immediately agreed with me, which felt strangely off.
Then Serika jumped in.
"Hans…? Wait, is he the one you talked to at the market with Oppa?"
"Yeah. Remember? When I played Moonlight. The guy with the ponytail."
Serika went “Ah…” and asked again.
"Come to think of it, I think you mentioned him before too. Said he was a colleague who worked with you at theåä¼?"
"Guy’s a monster with numbers."
I hesitated for a second whether to say it… then just told Serika.
"Last time when thoseåä¼ bastards picked a fight, I introduced Hans to Lady Logina. Things worked out thanks to him."
"Theåä¼ picked a fight?"
Serika’s eyes widened.
"What are you talking about? Oppa?"
Serika’s gaze was clearly saying: Why didn’t you tell me about something that big?
…Come to think of it, yeah. I should’ve mentioned it.
While I hesitated, Logina cut in with a subtle smile.
"Oh my, you didn’t know?"
There was a faint sense of superiority in Logina’s voice.
"How dashing Lord Aiman was back then…."
Logina set down her teacup and began recounting the tale.
"The viciousåä¼ head tried to seize Lord Aiman’s piano. But Lord Aiman and Sir Hans came up with a plan together and completely crushed the entireåä¼. His strategy was truly brilliant."
"Wait, isn’t that overstating it, my lady? What did I even do back then…?"
"It’s not like you did nothing."
It felt both right and wrong at the same time. Logina continued.
"I merely assisted from the side."
"That assistance was huge, my lady."
"True, but wasn’t it Lord Aiman who proposed the idea in the first place?"
Logina smiled leisurely at Serika as she spoke.
Serika’s brows furrowed slightly. Then she looked at me, and her eyes spoke again.
-Why didn’t you tell me about this?
I couldn’t help but avoid Serika’s gaze.
"…By the way."
Logina’s expression turned a little serious.
"Lately, Sir Hans has looked a bit down."
"Down?"
"He’s working well. Sometimes he locks himself in the office all night and doesn’t come out."
Logina added with an expression like she wasn’t sure if she should say it.
"It seems like he has something on his mind."
"…He probably couldn’t bring himself to tell you, my lady."
If I had to guess, maybe he was afraid of looking incompetent in front of her.
"It’s probably not anything major. If it were a real problem, Hans would’ve reported it long ago."
"I think so too. That’s why I didn’t press him about it."
My eyes met Serika’s—she’d been listening quietly.
"Serika."
"Yeah."
"Don’t you want to go check out House Belua for yourself?"
"…Can I even go?"
"That’s up to Lady Logina to decide."
Logina simply replied after hearing me.
"You both know full well that when you talk like that, I can’t possibly refuse."
***
Not long after, Serika and I were riding in a carriage from House Belua.
Logina had personally offered to guide Serika around and introduce her to the family, while I was led by a servant.
"Is this the place?"
"Yes, sir."
I arrived at the annex building that handled administrative duties.
The servant knocked, and a familiar voice came from inside.
"You may enter."
The servant withdrew, and I opened the door and stepped in.
The room was buried under mountains of documents.
Desk, sofa, floor—every surface was covered in approval forms and ledgers.
And right in the middle of that document graveyard sat a man, buried alive.
"Yo, Hans."
When I called, Hans lifted his head. His expression carried a serious look of worry.
"Baron Aiman? Lord Aiman? Or just Aiman?"
"Just Aiman."
"Yeah, that’s easier. Long time no see… wait, actually it has been a while."
"Feels like it’s been forever to me. So much has happened."
Hans nodded in agreement.
"So what’s bothering you?"
"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"Lady Logina said you looked like you had something on your mind."
"Not really… nothing like that."
"You look like you do."
Hans replied with disbelief.
"Since when did we start sharing stuff like this? More importantly, why are you even here?"
"To take a look around and really feel my position? Oh, and I’ve got someone to introduce to you."
A spark lit up in Hans’s eyes at my words. There he was—the Hans I knew.
The ultimate womanizer himself.
"A woman?"
"Of course a woman."
"Ooh…."
"Pink-haired, tall—the type you love."
Hans’s eyes began to shine.
"But."
"But?"
"If you don’t tell me what you’re thinking, I’m not introducing her. Tough luck."
"…How old are you to pull this?"
I agree.
"I just can’t stand not knowing."
Hans made an incredulous face before finally opening his mouth.