"Ahem. My apologies."

Duchess Prelati gently lowered herself onto the grass, her skirt fluttering before settling over her milky-white thighs. A warm, almost disarming smile appeared on her lips as she tilted her head at Lancel.

"I merely wished to provoke you. That’s all."

"Uh..."

"Will you forgive me?"

If her eyes had been open, Lancel was certain they would be shimmering with a pleading light.

Now he understood where Ishtar had gotten her slyness from. It was from her mother herself.

"...Do you think I’m a joke, Duchess?"

"Eh?"

"L-Lancel, w-what are you saying—"

Duchess Prelati suddenly waved her hand, looking flustered as a faint blush spread across her face.

"I-I understand that you’re upset, but—"

"Since you’ve observed my fight with Heidi Ermengarde, I’m sure you’re aware of my disposition toward witches," Lancel said. "I’ve never had a pleasant time in Riviere until recently. So I’m tired of being pushed around."

"I... I’m sorry..."

Despite her position as a Duchess, Velina Prelati was a meek woman. Lancel had no intention of retaliating, but even then... wasn’t this too much?

Was this really how a guest was supposed to be treated?

If he had known she would treat him like this, he wouldn’t have come at all.

"Haa... it’s alright," Lancel said, letting out a breath. "I apologize for my attitude. But still... cut me some slack, would you?"

"Y-Yes...!" Duchess Prelati straightened her posture. "That’s right! I was informed by Ishtar that you’re currently facing a predicament, correct?! I can revoke your status as a research asset and grant you citizenship!"

"Oh..."

"So... will you forgive me?"

For a moment, Lancel was certain he saw fox-like ears appear atop her head.

She was sly, alright.

To have looked down on him earlier, only to turn around and appeal to him now with an offer he couldn’t refuse... she really was something else.

If Ishtar was already sly, then Duchess Prelati was on an entirely different level. She knew exactly how to use her endearing, feminine charms to her advantage.

"...Yes."

"That’s great." Duchess Prelati nodded. "So I take it... you’ll be marrying my daughter soon, won’t you?"

"Huh?"

"W-Wait, Master, what are you—"

"Am I misunderstanding something?" Duchess Prelati tapped her lips and tilted her head. "The moment I mentioned you, Ishtar wouldn’t stop talking about you. Even now, she keeps taking your side instead of mine. I’ve never seen her like this before. And given how close the two of you are, I assumed there was something... intimate going on behind the scenes."

Duchess Prelati just kept blabbering on, leaving the other two perplexed by the sudden escalation.

"Normally, I would reject such a proposal outright, but in your case, it’s different since you’re a male witch. Hm... perhaps if you could wait until my daughter inherits my name, then—"

"W-Wait a second!" Lancel cut in, stopping Duchess Prelati before she could continue. "Hold on! Marry? What are you talking about? This is way too sudden...!"

"T-That’s right, Master!" Ishtar quickly agreed. "And besides, I don’t like Lancel like that!"

"Is that so?" Duchess Prelati said. "Your tone suggests otherwise, though. Perhaps you haven’t managed to seduce him yet, but you seem rather smitten, my dear daughter. What exactly have you been doing behind my back?"

"M-Master!"

* * *

"Your master is really something, huh?"

"Just forget whatever she said," Ishtar replied. "It’s all nonsense. She’s always like that whenever I bring friends home. I thought she’d hold back this time, but clearly, I was mistaken."

"It’s fine. She seems like she cares about you a lot."

"About embarrassing me, maybe."

The two remained outside the Prelati estate, Lancel waiting for the carriage that would take him home.

"Anyway, congratulations," Ishtar said. "You’re finally going to become a citizen. So... will you be enrolling in the academy?"

"The academy..." Lancel trailed off. "Should I? I was actually thinking of going back home first. Maybe see my old friends..."

"Ah... so you’re leaving..."

"Not exactly," Lancel said. "Just... a short trip. There’s still a lot I need to learn about magic. And now that I’ve been granted citizenship, Riviere is my second home, isn’t it?"

For Lancel, the feeling was surreal.

Just four months ago, he had been trapped in a witch’s basement, humiliated and treated like nothing more than a tool for her amusement.

Now, he was being rewarded for enduring all of it.

Part of him wanted to find Angelica right now and spit in her face. But another part of him still felt that lingering fear.

In any case, once the documents were processed, Lancel planned to leave Riviere for the time being and return to Emadestrin to reunite with the people who believed he was dead.

And...

There was still a score to settle with a certain group of people.

"It’ll probably be processed within the week," Ishtar said. "In that case... you’ll be leaving the same day it’s finalized?"

"I think so."

"Then... Lancel..."

"Hm?"

"Do you have time right now?"

"...."

Later that night, Ishtar brought him to a nearby inn, where the two spent a hot night together.

* * *

——That’s him, isn’t it?

——He looks even more handsome in person.

——I never thought a man could look like that.

A few days later, Lancel made his way to City Hall. The moment he stepped inside, all eyes turned toward him. Whispers spread quickly as witches began taking notice of his presence.

Just as the others had said, witches in Riviere were starting to pay attention to him.

Lancel paid them no mind as he walked toward the counter. Though he couldn’t help but admit it felt good hearing all the compliments thrown his way.

——Do you think he’d spend a night with me if I asked?

——Forget it. I heard he’s already in an intimate relationship with Countess Lieber.

——Eh? That’s not what I heard. Wasn’t he involved with Countess Gretelle?

——I heard he’s Duchess Prelati’s little toy. That’s why she’s giving him special treatment.

"...."

What kind of rumors were these?

Not a single one mentioned his deeds.

Instead, they all revolved around his supposed relationships with witches, none of which were even true.

Lancel continued forward and stopped at the counter.

The clerk, a young witch seated behind the desk, froze for a brief moment before recognizing him.

"May I confirm, Lancel, correct? The case transferred under Duchess Prelati’s direct authority?"

"That’s right."

"I see..." She lowered her gaze, her hands already moving as she began sorting through a stack of documents. "Your records have already been pre-approved. We were informed to prioritize your processing upon arrival."

Lancel raised a brow slightly.

"That fast?"

"When it comes directly from a Duchess," she replied, giving him a professional smile, "there’s very little room for delay."

She pulled out a set of neatly arranged documents and placed them in front of him with care.

"These are your final registration papers. By signing here, your status will be formally amended from ’research asset’ to a fully recognized citizen of Riviere."

Lancel glanced down at the papers as she continued her explanation.

"This transition grants you full legal protection under Riviere law. You will no longer be subject to ownership claims, experimental registration, or forced assignment under any witch or institution."

"...."

"In addition, you will be granted access to restricted districts, educational facilities such as the academy, and personal property rights within the city."

"...I see."

For a brief moment, Lancel didn’t move.

Being acknowledged as an individual in a place like this was something else.

"...If there are no further conditions," he said, reaching for the pen, "I’ll sign."

"Of course," the clerk nodded. "Please review the clauses if you wish. Though I’ve been instructed to inform you that all prior restrictions tied to your former status have already been nullified."

"...Then there’s no need."

He signed.

The moment the ink touched the paper, a faint pulse of mana spread across the document, sealing the contract with a bright glow before fading.

The clerk exhaled, as if concluding a formal procedure.

"Congratulations," she said. "As of this moment, you are officially recognized as a citizen of Riviere. From this point onward, you will be treated as any other citizen under the protection of Riviere’s laws."

"...I understand."

He turned away from the counter.

And as he stepped back into the hall...

——I could probably beat him in a magic duel, right?

——Dream on. They say he defeated Heidi Ermengarde.

——Didn’t he seduce her, then stab her in the back?

——Wow, if that’s true, then he’s a different level of trash...

The whispers that had been lingering only grew louder.

"...."

* * *

"I’ll be going with you."

"Really?"

"Mhm."

Surprisingly, the moment Lancel returned home, Faust was already packing her bags.

"I was planning to head to Emadestrin anyway," she said, not even looking up as she continued arranging her things. "There are a few matters I need to settle. I might as well take this opportunity and go with you."

"Is that so? Then let’s go together."

"Yes." Faust finally glanced at him. "I’ve already prepared a carriage. So go and bring whatever it is you need."

"Alright."

That same afternoon, the two of them set off for Emadestrin.