Rane followed Claude’s instructions and stepped into the formation and immediately a gentle force wrapped around his entire body, completely isolating him from the outside world.

Outside the formation, Claude and Soth were talking about something, but even though they weren’t far away, Rane couldn’t hear a single sound.

It suddenly dawned on him why Rita, who had been standing inside the formation earlier, hadn’t reacted at all to him coming in to speak with Claude—the magic circle had blocked her perception.

The space inside the formation wasn’t large and without getting close to Rita, it was difficult for Rane to fully step inside.

Claude made a few hand gestures to Rane from outside the formation, signaling him to get closer to Rita and even made an embrace gesture, indicating that Rane should hold her tightly.

Not knowing the exact procedure of the Pixie Covenant, Rane could only grit his teeth and follow the instructions.

Sensing someone’s presence approaching, a slightly uneasy Rita finally relaxed.

“Father, why are you only coming in now? Can I open my eyes…”

‘So Old Claude hadn’t told Rita that I was accompanying her to the Pixie Hall? Aren’t you afraid that if she knew the truth she’d beat me to death in a fit of anger? Oh… so he had her keep her eyes closed just to prevent her from killing me? Quite thoughtful—experience truly is wisdom.’

Rane grumbled in his heart, but his hands didn’t stop. He gently wrapped his arms around Rita’s waist, holding her in his embrace.

Rita, thinking Rane was Claude, didn’t resist and leaned into his chest.

Her cute little nose twitched, feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

‘Was it the perception interference from the Pixie Covenant? Father seemed a little shorter? And he didn’t smell like usual—more like the calming grass in that old man’s room. His whole body also felt stiff, probably due to the pressure from her just having signed the Pixie Covenant now.’

Thinking this, Rita felt some guilt toward her father and nuzzled his chest coquettishly.

Outside, Claude was still enjoying the scene, using body language to signal Rane to hold her tighter.

Rane returned a look indicating he was doing his best.

‘That’s enough, Old Claude. Rita’s magical source hadn’t fully stabilized; if she got too agitated, it would be a problem whether the two of us could even reach the Pixie Hall.’

“Cough—”

Claude realized he had egged things on too much. The matter with Rita and Rane could be handled slowly anyway; Rane would eventually go to the Royal Capital.

If Rane miraculously stabilized his condition, perhaps Claude could use his connections in the Royal Capital to get him into the Magic Academy Rita attended?

‘Ah, what a pity. Why didn’t I arrange a betrothal with Theodore back then? Then I wouldn’t have to worry about this brat being wooed away by some random girl.’

Regrets aside, Claude didn’t ignore the status of the teleportation formation.

When the time was right, he and Soth each took two white candles and placed them at the four positions under their feet.

The moment the magic circle, composed of the Pixie Covenant, was completed and the white candles were lit, the Pixie King would sense the covenant’s power and open the entrance to the Pixie Hall.

Claude timed it perfectly. As soon as the white candles were arranged, Rane and Rita’s forms inside the formation began to blur, the Pixie Covenant having just been completed.

Four flames ignited, the white candles burned fiercely and within seconds were nearly consumed.

The moment the white candles burned out, the formation under Rane and Rita erupted in dazzling light, instantly engulfing the siblings.

Only then did Claude breathe a sigh of relief. This scene was identical to when he had traveled with his father to the Pixie Hall years ago.

He knew that at this moment, his children had safely arrived at that ethereal and beautiful Pixie Hall.

“Go and bring Miss Miriya here. Regarding last night, it’s time to give her an explanation.”

Claude hadn’t forgotten last night’s promise. After all, it was his son who caused the trouble and as a father, he should make amends.

“Miss Miriya is very close to Miss Rita. If you tell her the truth, won’t she…” Soth worried that Miriya might inadvertently tell Rita once she knew the truth.

Claude shook his head, “This isn’t something that needs hiding. Rane was afraid he couldn’t overcome death and didn’t want Rita to be sad for him, so he didn’t plan to tell her the truth. If I, as his father, have no confidence in him, then all I’ve done for him over the years would have been a joke. I trust Rane, just as he trusts himself. I’ll explain things clearly to Miss Miriya. She’s a kind and considerate girl. After Rane goes to the Royal Capital, he will need someone who can understand and support him.”

Soth hesitated. Claude had considered everything he was thinking, but there was one thing he wasn’t sure whether to mention.

‘By doing this, could you be unintentionally raising a quality romantic rival for your daughter?’

Everyone could see that the two young ladies were close friends, but love is complicated and best friends are the most dangerous rival.

Miss Miriya was from the Church, while Miss Rita was nobility of the Kingdom.

The struggle between divine and royal power had never ceased, but due to the frequent natural disasters in previous years, both sides had temporarily set aside their disputes to stabilize the Kingdom.

Yet this was only temporary; their beliefs dictated that a fierce war would eventually erupt.

In frontier lands outside power struggles, conflicts might not be obvious, but Soth knew that the Royal Capital was already turbulent, even within the prestigious Magic Academy, where factions and party struggles existed.

From a standpoint perspective, the two young ladies were naturally adversaries, so for them to become close friends was already miraculous.

The idea of sharing one man was absurd; even if the ladies agreed, their respective factions would never consent.

Or would they just have to watch the close friends fall apart over a man?

Just thinking about this future possibility made Soth sweat.

And all of this was caused by his master’s unconscious decision. He wondered whether, in the future, Miss Rita would blame her father for being unnecessary.

The camaraderie between Soth and Claude was now a thing of the past. As a dutiful steward, he had no authority to question his master’s decisions, only to execute them faithfully.

At most, he could sigh during his leisure time.

‘Ah, this circle of nobles is truly chaotic.’