"Big brother! I'll stay in the bath with you!

Oh. Let's go.

"Yes!

A year has passed since then. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Stella and I are now more than real siblings. Everywhere we go, we're always together, and Sasha and Luther are always looking at us with warm eyes.

In that situation, Sasha said, "Uh-huh. If this is the case, ......," she muttered something in a suspicious sounding voice, but the truth of the matter is a mystery.

"Phew. ...... That feels so good!

Yes.

We get in the tub together. Stella is sitting on my lap, relaxing. I gently stroke her head.

"I'm tired today, too.

"Good job.

"Yeah ......!

Stella has been teaching me a lot of things over the past year because she wants me to practice magic. Not only how to use magic, but also how to spend time in the forest and how to fight. I don't have anything to do right now, so I spend most of my time mainly doing housework and teaching Stella.

I never dreamed of the day when I would be able to teach someone ...... things. All this time, I've been the one to be taught. Maybe this is how I felt about my mentor .......

I haven't seen my mentor for the past year.

I have corresponded with him by letter, but we have not met in person. The letter says he is doing well, and he has hired a new maid to take care of his personal affairs.

But tomorrow ...... I will finally be able to meet my master. I bought a new house and was invited by the master, who is now living there, so I'm going to head to his house.

'Big brother! Let's sleep together!

Oh. Okay.

Take a bath with Stella and go to bed together. This is one of our usual routines. She trots into my room and comes to bed with me. Then he falls asleep while hugging me tightly.

Big brother. ......

"Hmm? What's up?

"Tomorrow. You're going to Lydia's tomorrow.

Yes, but

Take care of yourself.

Oh. It's okay. I'll be back.

Good, good, good. Then he smiled and smiled, and then began to sleep through the night. With a smile on Stella's face, I too fell asleep.

The next day.

I decided to head to my master's house as soon as possible. I've received a map from the previous exchange of letters, so I'm going to use that as a base. He seems to be located in the far west, so it's quite far away. We'll have to turn several carriages and then head out on foot.

It was a rare feeling to come out this way.

This year, I never had to travel long distances and travel alone.

I arrived in front of the forest where my master's house is located. The forest is lush with greenery and a faint light shines through the trees. I walked through it without hesitation.

I wonder how my master is doing. I wonder what kind of life he is leading. I wonder how he will look when I see him and how he will speak to me.

These are the kinds of things I think about.

'Here it is,'

I arrived at it.

It was a large Western-style house. Apparently, a master and his maid live here together, and it's quite large for two people to live together.

Knocking. I came in on time, and I'm sure I'll be out soon. ......

'I'm Ray-White,'

The moment I said the words. The door opened with a squeak.

It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Kara-Hale.

It was a woman in a maid's uniform that came out and was heard. Her long, pitch-black hair was braided and pulled back in a bun. She has an infinitely blank expression and is staring at me.

'I'm Ray-White,'

Dear Mr. Ray. I have heard of you. I will take you to my husband.

"Thank you.

Carla led me into the room. The exterior of the room looks quite old, but inside, the interior was suitably luxurious. The chandelier was shining, and the space was clean and dust-free.

And I was going to meet my master for the first time in a year.

Ray! How you've been doing!

Lightly dominated hair. The long golden hair that was up to the master's waist was shortened to below the shoulder. And his expression is also somewhat radiant. The impression was much different from the last time I saw him.

'Master. Yes, I'm fine. I was fine.

I've been hearing from my sister, but I see you and Stella have become friends.

Yes, I do. We're always together.

Haha. I'm glad to hear that.

"Hair ......

Oh.

Master lightly touches his hair. I guess he knows what I'm trying to say.

'I cut it short. A fresh start, huh?

I see. I think they look great together.

"Oh, yeah?

Yes. When your hair is short, you look ladylike and neat.

"Huh? What's as if?

I feel a chilling sensation down my spine. The master is staring at me with a guillotine, which is clearly laced with murderous intent.

I'm not going to be able to get it right. It's very beautiful, isn't it?

You know. You're right!

"Ha ha ......

Smiling fondly.

Master has changed. He seems to be much brighter than before. He's been tense since the beginning of the Far East war. And now he is sitting ...... in a wheelchair. That fact is undeniably a reminder of my inadequacy.

What about your legs ......?

"Hmm? Well, I can't move yet, but I'll be fine nonetheless. And Kara's there, too.

Then Kara brought tea for me and Master.

'No. I'm the maid.

I'm not sure I'm not sure about her matter-of-factness with her words, but she didn't mention it because she seems to trust her mentor.

"How is Ray doing at your sister's house?

Yes. In fact...

I tell Master everything that happened in the past year. Then he gradually frowns. Have I said something bad?

"Hey Ray

What is it?

"Isn't that a little close to Stella?

Stellar and close? For me, I think I'm treating them as a natural brother and sister, but ...... maybe my standards are wrong. There's still a lot of things I don't understand.

You're not going to be able to find out what you're looking for. We're just brother and sister.

Is that so?

Oh.

So, after that, we had dinner together and I had to leave.

"Ray. You don't mind if I stay the night, do you?

No. I'm going home today. I'm going home today. I'm sure the carriage will be just in time.

"Well, ...... show me how you're doing again.

Yes. Then I'll leave you.

Leaving the master's house. It was already past dusk and it was dark outside. I was about to run out of the forest as the carriage was running out of time.

That's when I saw a girl with silver hair.

A girl with silver hair was bound hand and foot and gagged in her mouth. I'm not sure if she's conscious, but her eyes still seemed to have power. I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world.

''Noooooooooo!

Our eyes met.

A moment later, I immediately understood that she was calling for help.

This was the moment of the encounter between me and Princess Olivia.