I Was Reincarnated as a Duke as a Matter of Course, So I Bought a Slave on a Whim and Now There’s No Turning Back

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Chapter 12: Whenever I Think About You

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The moment the door to her room closed, Elysia collapsed onto her bed.

“…I’m tired…”

A soft pof sound echoed. Still in her dress, she lay face down. No attendants. No one watching. That fact alone made all the tension leave her shoulders at once.

“Haah…”

She rolled over onto her back and stared at the ceiling. She replayed the events of today. The academy. The classes. And then, that scene.

“…”

The instant she remembered it, Elysia began kicking her legs back and forth on the bed.

Thud, thud, thud.

“…Muu.”

A small, sulky sound escaped her. When Kaiel stepped forward just before Luka was about to step up.

(That was…)

“It was Luka-sama’s turn…”

She murmured it softly, to no one in particular. It wasn’t that she disliked Kaiel-sama, nor that she thought him unqualified. Nor would Luka-sama’s reputation have fallen because of it. But…

That moment when Luka stepped forward.

“…”

Her legs kicked again.

“…What am I even thinking?”

For Luka-sama, it had surely been a truly helpful action. If so, then Kaiel’s decision was correct. Most likely, Luka-sama could not use magic. He never spoke about magic, and he had said he lacked talent for mana. In that situation, Kaiel’s action had been perfect for Luka-sama. A flawless consideration, even if Kaiel didn’t mean it that way.

And yet…

Deep in her chest, something tightened just a little.

“…”

Elysia covered her face with both hands.

“…Tomorrow.”

She whispered quietly.

“Tomorrow… I will.”

She did not say what. But clearly in her mind, that unburdened smile floated vividly.

“…I wonder if Luka-sama will praise me.”

As she said that, the kicking of her legs sped up just a little.

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The hallway at night was quiet. Walking without making a sound was already a habit for her. No one had taught her. She had simply always done so.

(…Today was a long day as well.)

The academy. Classes. Practical exercises. And—Luka-sama.

Just remembering him made her chest stir ever so slightly. She returned to the room assigned to her and, for the sake of tomorrow at the academy, got into bed a little earlier than usual.

…Even now, the large room and high-quality bed almost made her forget that she was a slave.

(I’m not sleepy yet…)

She stared at the ceiling and quietly steadied her breathing. The sensation of sinking into the soft sheets still felt slightly unsettling.

(…I’ve gotten used to it.)

At first, she had been afraid to even touch them. The bed. The room. The food. Each time she was told, “It’s yours,” she believed it would someday be taken away.

At first, she had felt nothing toward him. No hatred. No anger. Because in this world, even family could not be trusted. So…

…That day.

She remembered the day she bathed with Luka-sama. To be honest, she never truly understood the reason. Something about “the responsibility to raise her,” or “social experience.” She hadn’t understood the meaning, but she hadn’t thought she had the right to refuse.

…She was afraid. At the same time, there had been nowhere to run. And yet….

“A bath’s nice, right? It warms both your body and your heart.”

The way he had smiled as if it were the most natural thing in the world. The distance between them, the way he touched her… Everything was awkward. It felt as though a light had been lit in her heart once more.

…Nothing was taken from her. On the contrary, she was called by name. She was given a name. Not as an order, but as if confirming it.

“Yuka.”

Each time she was called, something deep in her chest grew a little warmer. She thought she had been right to abandon her old name. She couldn’t help but start hoping…

(Maybe with this person…)

Next time, she decided she would give something back, and tried working for his sake. Before she realized it, her position had shifted from “the one being cared for” to “the one who does the caring.” But she didn’t dislike that.

(…Strange.)

She had never once imagined serving someone before. Her life and treatment were different from before. And yet…

He never gave orders. Far from fear, her heart warmed each time he spoke to her.

(…I want to be by his side.)

It didn’t take long for her to feel that way.

Morning at the academy. Luka-sama, looking slightly sleepy, suppressing a yawn.

“I don’t wanna go…”

The way he slowly stood up as he said that.

(…I can’t just leave him like that.)

So she stood beside him. As he wished, as an equal human being. By the time that became natural, the word “slave”—and her former self—had already begun to lose their shape within her heart.

(…The current me, as his Yuka.)

She quietly closed her eyes.

…Tomorrow, the same kind of day would come again. They would go to the academy, attend classes, and return home. That was enough.

…Because that was Yuka’s daily life.

(I want to believe in him. I want to feel, through him, the warmth I once thought I had lost._

Holding onto the faint warmth lingering deep within her chest, Yuka slowly drifted off to sleep.

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Chapter 13: The Expulsion Speedrun Begins!!!

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The academy in the morning was, honestly, sleepy. No, beyond sleepy, I felt so drowsy I was confident I could fall asleep while walking.

“Sleepy…”

“Please stay properly awake, Luka-sama.”

Walking beside me as I stifled a yawn was the usual Yuka. The night had felt strangely quiet last night, but it was probably just my imagination.

After that, Yuka and I parted in front of the classroom. When I entered, a few students were already seated. First period today was one of those mandatory Magic Department classes, so everyone was there. That was why we were in a large lecture hall. Honestly, I could sleep here anytime.

“Ah, Luka-sama!”

“Morning, Allen.”

I waved to the usual bundle of energy and headed to my seat. Then…

“……”

After sitting down for a while, I felt something was off. To my left was Elysia. To my right was Kaiel.

…Wasn’t I sandwiched again?

“Good morning, Luka-sama.”

“Morning.”

Elysia wore her usual calm smile. But somehow she seemed to be in a good mood…No, was she a little more excited than usual?

“Good morning, Luka-sama.”

“Morning.”

Kaiel was smiling too. Though his expression was somehow different from Elysia’s.

…What? Did I do something?

“It seems there will be a lot of practical exercises today.”

“Is that so?”

As she said that, Elysia placed her notebook on the desk.

“Did you review yesterday’s material?”

“Yeah, well… more or less.”

I had asked Yuka. She was amazing, considering she hadn’t even attended the class.

“I see.”

Elysia nodded in satisfaction. Kaiel glanced at her from the side.

…What’s the point of placing me in the center like this…

“Luka-sama.”

“Hm?”

Kaiel lowered his voice.

“If you are called to the front again today—”

“Yeah.”

“This time, please go yourself.”

…Huh? Why, though?

“Yesterday was merely an exception.”

“Eh, but it helped a lot—”

“It must be done fairly and squarely.”

There he went again.

Want me to smack you? (Unreasonable)

Kaiel was smiling gently, but his eyes were dead serious. I was really starting not to understand the principle behind his actions. Should I just hit him once after all?

“…You need not push yourself.”

This time it was Elysia.

“Luka-sama, please go at your own pace.”

“Exactly, I’m a firm believer in the my-pace philosophy.”

When I said that lightly, Elysia narrowed her eyes just a little.

“Yes. I am aware.”

She really did understand me well, as always. Right then, the bell rang.

“Please take your seats.”

The teacher entered, and the classroom instantly fell silent. Class began. It was a continuation of yesterday’s lesson. Honestly, I only understood about half of it. But I was properly taking notes. Sort of.

And then…

I suddenly felt a gaze and looked up. Elysia was looking at me. When our eyes met, she smoothly looked away.

Hm…?

Then, the other side. Kaiel was looking at me too. When our eyes met, this time he didn’t look away. He just kept smiling at me.

…What is it?

Lately, Kaiel’s smile had been starting to scare me.

But well.. …Even if I think about it, I won’t figure it out.

I faced forward again. After calmly finishing writing on the board, the teacher looked around as if recalling something.

“…Ah, yes.”

It was said casually. But with that single remark, the air in the classroom tightened slightly.

“Next week, the Magic Department’s Elementary Division will hold the first evaluation examination.”

A small murmur rippled through the room.

“The content will be basic. Measurement of magical power, stability of magical control, and simple construction.”

Concise items were written on the blackboard.

“There will be no ranking. No pass or fail.”

For a moment, relief spread.

…but. The teacher paused for a beat.

“However, these results will serve as the standard for your instructional policy over the next three years.”

The atmosphere changed.

“This is not an examination to measure talent. It is to determine what you are capable of at this point in time.”

His gaze swept across the classroom.

“There is no need to pretend, nor any need to overexert yourselves.”

And then he concluded quietly.

“Show yourselves as you are now.”

The bell rang, signaling the end of class. And yet… The classroom remained silent. No one stood up. Of course, I was one of them…

…Yeah… I’m finished.

As I was lightly crushed by despair, apparently unaffected by the heavy atmosphere, Elysia stood up.

“Let us go, Luka-sama. We have the same next class, correct?”

“…Ah, yeah.”

A test—something students hated most—was scheduled, yet Elysia was as impressive as usual. Also, didn’t her class overlap way too much with my classes?

“Elysia, you’re amazing.”

“There is no need for Luka-sama to feel pressured either. It is merely measuring your current ability.”

Well, that’s true, but…

I am weak. (Definitive statement.)

If my abilities were exposed in front of everyone, wouldn’t they all faint from shock instead?

“Everyone’s frozen in place. Isn’t that just how it is?”

“It is because they lack confidence in their own ability. Magical capacity aside, control over magical power is something that responds to effort.”

The atmosphere in the classroom shifted again. It felt tense, and at the same time, tinged with a sense of inadequacy.

Good for you all, hearing that at close range dealt me a top-tier critical hit. (Dying on the inside)

“……”

Suddenly, my feet stopped.

“Luka-sama.”