“Welcome home, Master Clay.”

“Yes, I’ve just returned!”

As expected, upon entering the mansion, the maid Kanna greeted me as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Despite this being our first reunion in three months, there was no time for sentimentality. Before introducing the friends I had brought from the academy, I asked her a question.

“I’m sorry to ask right after returning, but I heard from Old Reb that Freesia is here. Is that true?”

“Yes, she is. Thanks to that, I was able to prepare to welcome you home like this.”

“……”

It seemed she had arrived at the mansion ahead of us. As Kanna had mentioned, the mansion was somewhat noisy, with servants bustling back and forth. I wasn’t sure what exactly “preparing to welcome me home” entailed, but everyone seemed busy. I felt genuinely sorry. I should really stop returning home without any prior notice.

“If you’re looking for Lady Freesia, she should be in the young lady’s room right now…”

“I see…”

Of course, Kanna, as the head maid, was also busy. After answering my question, she immediately returned to her duties.

She answered without being asked, took the initiative to carry our luggage, and disappeared—truly the epitome of efficiency.

“Alright then…”

“W-What are you going to do, Clay?”

Watching me roll my shoulders to loosen my joints, Weiss seemed uneasy. Normally, I should go to Father first and introduce my friends, but—

“Sorry, Weiss. Now that I know where she is, I have to confront that idiot. I’ll properly greet my father later, so just follow me for now.”

“O-Okay. That’s fine, but…”

“Levia, you’re okay with this too, right?”

“I shall accompany you anywhere!!”

“Good.”

With both of them on board, there was no issue. There was no way I would allow Freesia to meet my sister Alice before me. Even if she was technically my fiancée (for now), this was unacceptable.

────Very well, then. This is war.

On our way to Alice’s room, servants passing by greeted us with “Welcome home.” Eventually, we arrived at our destination.

────Come to think of it, in my first life, was I ever welcomed home like this?

The answer was clear: No. In my first life, I was a nuisance wherever I went, and that didn’t change even in my own home. But now, I was being welcomed so warmly—it was overwhelming.

“If only that idiot’s prank hadn’t ruined the mood…”

Though I had experienced heartwarming moments along the way, my frustration far outweighed them. My anger boiled over, threatening to consume all the good feelings.

────How should I make her atone for this?

With each passing second, her crimes only seemed to grow heavier in my mind. At this point, there was hardly any way for her to escape judgment.

As expected, behind this door, Alice and Freesia were together, just as Kanna had said. Their faint laughter reached my ears, fueling my indignation to its peak.

“I want to talk and laugh with Alice too…!!”

“C-Clay?”

“H-He’s jealous… Master Clay being jealous is precious…”

Grinding my teeth, feeling as though my body was burning with rage, I knocked quietly on the door.

A familiar voice answered, “Come in.”

Suppressing my anger and other emotions, I slowly opened the door and stepped inside, where the two girls—Alice and Freesia—greeted us.

“Welcome home, Brother.”

“You took your time, Clay!”

The girl, her eyes covered by a black cloth, turned her face toward me as if she could see, smiling warmly. Even now, her vision remained shrouded in darkness due to the curse of the Shadow Dragon, rendering her unable to see anything. Yet, Alice stood there, strong and resilient, showing no sign of weakness. As for the fool beside her, proudly puffing out her flat chest—I decided to ignore her for now. It seemed this criminal had no awareness of her own wrongdoing.

“…Ah, I’m home, Alice.”

My emotions nearly spilled over.

I had missed her so much. I had constantly worried about her well-being. I had feared she might be suffering, that she might be in pain. But all those anxieties vanished the moment I saw her delighted smile.

“I’m relieved to see you doing well.”

“Alice, you look well too… I’m glad.”

“I’m here too, you know!”

Without thinking, I closed the distance to Alice and gently embraced her. The background noise was ignored.

As my arms wrapped around her, Alice hugged me back with equal strength. The Shadow Dragon’s curse was still eating away at her body, yet she had gained remarkable strength to defy her cruel fate.

────I can’t compete with her at all…

Before me stood my sister, far stronger than she had been three months ago.

Tears threatened to spill, but I held them back at the last moment. I had yet to accomplish anything. I had no right to cry.

After our reunion embrace, Alice asked me a question.

“So… who are these two? What is their relationship with you, Brother?”

Weiss and Levia, caught in Alice’s gaze, stiffened before stepping forward. I introduced them.

“They’re friends I made at the academy—Weiss and Levia. They had nowhere to go for the summer break, so I invited them here.”

“I-It’s a pleasure to meet you!”

“As expected of Master Clay’s sister… her beauty is divine…!!”

“Hey! Are you even listening?!”

While Weiss bowed nervously, the damn woman looked as if she were about to ascend to heaven. Alice, brimming with excitement, continued speaking while tightly gripping my arm—but I ignored that.

“Oh my! So, you’re my brother’s classmates from the Academy of Magic and Swords! I’m Alice, his sister. Thank you for always looking after him!”

“N-No, it’s really him who helps me more…”

“Y-Yes, exactly!!”

“Clay, come on!!”

Watching them bow back and forth in an endless loop, I found the scene rather heartwarming. Meanwhile, I cast a glance at the ever-noisy duke’s daughter beside me.

“I have a lot to ask, but first—why did you meet with Alice before me?”

“Y-You don’t have to be so mad… It was just a little surprise…”

Realizing the severity of my anger, Freesia averted her gaze in a panic. I pressed on.

“More importantly, why are you even here? What about your own home?”

“I’m not going back home. I told my father, ‘I’m going to train at Clay’s house,’ and he allowed it. Your father also gladly approved, so I just came straight here…”

“And no one thought to inform me about this???”

“W-Well, you see, I just wanted to surprise everyone a little…”

“I. Was. Not. Informed.”

“……”

With a smile, I repeated my question, while Freesia turned pale, finally grasping the gravity of the situation.

“Anything you’d like to say?”

“…I’m sorry.”

Yes, that’s right. Apologizing is the correct course of action. Communication is important.

“Well, I don’t mind you training here. Father already approved, after all. But never again should you meet Alice before me. Do you understand?”

“Y-Yeah…”

“Since you understand, I’ll let it slide just this once.”

A first offense can be forgiven. After all, people make mistakes. But there won’t be a second time.

With the lecture done, it seemed Alice, Weiss, and Levia had finished their greetings. And so, I successfully reunited with Alice.