The next morning, as I was in the middle of getting ready, the butler announced,

“Professor Ruspell has arrived.”

“…Already?”

I haven’t even had breakfast yet.

“Shall I tell him to come back later?”

“N-No. Show him to the study.”

When I hurried to the study, Ruspell was already flipping through the proposal.

“…You’re early.”

“That way we can finish it faster.”

Didn’t he say ‘That way I can go back faster’ just yesterday?

“Have you eaten?”

“Not yet.”

He answered indifferently and flipped through the pages of the proposal.

“This part here. I gave it some thought overnight… What if, instead of letting the material allow water to pass through it, we made it absorb the water instead?”

“…You thought about it all night?”

“Yes.”

“Are you saying you didn’t sleep?”

“Is that important? Please focus.”

I snatched the proposal out of Ruspell’s hands.

“It matters, which is why I’m asking. How much did you sleep?”

“I slept.”

“How much?”

“….”

“Professor Ruspell, I asked how much you slept.”

“About two hours.”

“So you slept less than thirty minutes.”

Ruspell looked at me with a surprised expression.

“H-how…”

You always claim you slept two hours even when you only closed your eyes for a few minutes.

It’s not like I’ve only been fooled by that once or twice. You’re completely predictable.

“Do you realize your complexion is paler than this document? Or that the circles under your eyes are practically black?”

“….”

Ruspell absentmindedly touched his face.

His face, which was already skin-and-bones, had withered significantly overnight.

‘I’m glad he’s motivated again. But does he really have to work himself into the ground? Is he trying to die from overwork? His body’s in much worse shape than it used to be!’

Whenever Ruspell got obsessed with something, he ignored his own physical well-being.

There were several times he was found in the lab on the verge of starvation.

Does it make sense to almost starve to death because you forgot to eat?

Thinking this couldn’t go on, I used to follow him around.

Right up until he got so fed up with my nagging that he was seconds away from hurling a fireball at me.

I even nagged him the day before we died fighting the Demon King.

Eat your meals on time. Get some sunlight at least once a day, even for a moment. Sleep at least six hours.

‘And yet, nothing has changed. How draining…’

This time, I’ll fix that damn chronic habit of his.

I steeled my resolve and glared at Ruspell.

“Professor Ruspell, do you take me for a joke?”

“What are you talking about? When have I ever done that?”

“I was wondering whether you think so little of me that you also think nothing of the promises you make to me.”

“Promises?”

“You made one to me yesterday. Don’t tell me you’ve already forgotten.”

“What…? Ah!”

Ruspell’s mouth snapped shut as realization dawned on him. It seemed he’d only just remembered.

“Answer me. Did you forget?”

“N-no… yes.”

“Because you were thinking about the proposal?”

“…I’m sorry.”

I tossed the proposal onto the desk. Then I gestured toward the study door with my chin, but Ruspell merely blinked at me.

“We’re going out to eat. After that, I’ll lend you a bedroom so you can get some sleep. We’ll finish the proposal afterward.”

“I woke up early, so I don’t have an appetite. I’ll definitely eat later.”

“If you’re going to refuse, go home.”

“…You need my help.”

“I already told you I was fine, but you’re the one who insisted on helping. Honestly, I can do this just fine without you.”

Ruspell’s eyes widened in shock.

“So make your choice. Eat, get some rest, and finish the proposal with a clear head… or refuse and go home.”

Ruspell looked at me with a conflicted expression. Then, avoiding my gaze for a moment, he mumbled,

“I… am a bit of a picky eater.”

I almost burst out laughing.

I knew better than anyone that Ruspell was an unbelievably picky eater, and that he was slightly embarrassed by it.

Because I’ve experienced it.

“Which is exactly why you look like that. Eating vegetables isn’t going to turn you into a cow, so eat a balanced diet. If you want to keep doing the magic research you love, you need the stamina to support it.”

“….”

“Did I say anything wrong?”

“No… It just feels… strange.”

“Why?”

“I don’t know…”

“Honestly. You’re coming to eat, right?”

Ruspell seemed to be thinking about something, then slowly nodded.

After we’d finished eating, I practically shoved him into one of the guest rooms.

“Sleep.”

“…Yes.”

To my surprise, he went in without protest and slept quietly until around noon.

We started finishing the proposal while having sandwiches for lunch.

Fortunately, there wasn’t much left to do, so we were able to finish quickly.

That is, until Ruspell suddenly started acting strangely.

At first, he was definitely cooperative. He actively suggested ideas.

Before I knew it, he was explaining each and every magic formula that would be inscribed into the devices.

And naturally, whenever I failed to understand…

“Seriously, how can you not know this? Your Grace, did you fall from a tree when you were a child?”

“….”

‘Sigh, this bastard’s acting up again…’

In the past, when I was Adella, Ruspell had tried his hardest to teach me magic.

I had no interest and didn’t understand even when I listened, but he clung to me like a leech and wouldn’t leave me alone.

Among the expedition members, this particular habit of his had jokingly been nicknamed one of his “episodes.” But there had never been any malice behind it.

In his own way, he was trying to share the thing that meant the most to him.

Of course, I hadn’t wanted any part of it, and we’d nearly ended our friendship over it. Regardless, it was Ruspell’s peculiar way of saying ‘You and I are best friends♥’.

‘B-But when exactly did we become best friends…?’

It was true that he’d seen me cry yesterday.

And Ruspell did wipe away my tears.

‘But that’s hardly enough to become best friends, is it? It’s not like Ruspell’s the sentimental type.’

Just yesterday’s events weren’t nearly enough.

‘So why is he acting like this? Have I been treating him too casually?’

Until recently, all Ruspell knew about Adrianne was her name and status.

Therefore, he accepted me as I was, without any preconceived notions.

He didn’t know if I didn’t act like Adrianne, or even if I acted completely differently.

He had a personality that was generally indifferent to others, and he didn’t know what the original Adrianne was like.

That made being around him incredibly comfortable.

And because of that, I had to admit I’d gradually started treating him more casually too.

Honestly, whenever I talked to Ruspell, the tension naturally slipped out of my voice.

‘Keep your distance. He’s Ruspell. One of the three men most likely to figure out who I really am.’

I forced my voice back into its usual cold, detached tone.

“Professor Ruspell, why should I have to listen to the operating mechanism of a fireball? Do I look like a student to you?”

“I’m explaining it because the way this device uses solar energy is similar to the way mana flows. If you’re the one who came up with the concept, shouldn’t you understand how the device actually works?”

“The developer is Professor Ruspell. I’m just the one who proposed the idea.”

“Even so, you should at least know the basics. Otherwise people will look down on you. Here, sit down. I’ll explain it again from the beginning.”

I quietly rubbed the back of my stiff neck.

“Who would dare look down on…? I’m the Duchess of Ivrante!”

“Throwing your title around isn’t something to be proud of. Anyway, the way fireball works is this: first, you gather fire-aspect mana from the surrounding atmosphere according to this formula, and then… Well? Isn’t it making a lot more sense now?”

“Not at all.”

“…Did you really not fall from a tree when you were a child?”

“Let’s stop here.”

“”How can you not understand this? This is as basic as it gets!”

“….”

You idiot! How do you still not get it?

Those formulas are written in the Arcane Language, not the Empire’s common tongue!!!

I rose decisively and pointed toward the door.

“Get out. Now.”

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