By 11 a.m., Maia's lessons concluded—not because the day's coursework had been exhausted, but because Norton might wake up around this time, requiring her service. Furthermore, Lady Windsor would be leaving the castle to attend to her duties, necessitating Maia's teacher, the Banshee, to accompany her. This meant Maia had to resort to self-study for the remainder of her lessons.
If Norton was free, this arrangement worked well; however, if he required assistance, Maia couldn’t complete her studies, which would result in punishment upon review the following day. To resolve this conflict, Maia often found herself sneaking out of bed in the middle of the night to study by candlelight.
“Maia! Maia?! Where are my clothes?!”
When Maia hurried back to the room, Norton was already awake. The first thing he did was call out for someone. Over the past few years, his life of nobility had nudged him towards dependency. Without Maia, he struggled to find his own clothes.
“Coming, Master!” Maia called through the door before rushing in, anxious. She noticed Norton's clothes from last night strewn across the floor and bent down to pick them up, only to lose her balance and start falling.
Resigned to the impending pain, Maia closed her eyes, ready to accept the fall. She planned to quickly gather herself, continue tidying up, and apologize profusely to her young master, despite not having done anything wrong.
Typically, in such situations, a man might gallantly catch a lady—should they be of commoner status. But a noble young master like Norton would simply let his maid fall.
In previous similar incidents, Norton had merely muttered, “Clumsy.” But this time was different.
As Maia braced for impact, she heard a snap. Suddenly, she felt the air lift her, causing her to hover above the ground. Frightened but submissive by nature, she dared not struggle, allowing the unseen magical winds to set her back on her feet.
Though unsure what had just occurred, Maia sensed Norton had somehow intervened. This unexpected assistance left her flustered and unsure of how to respond, fingers entwined nervously. It wasn’t until Norton impatiently called out again that she snapped back to reality.
“—Where are my clothes?!”
“—I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’ll find them right away, Master.” Flustered, Maia quickly picked up the clothes, threw them into a basket she’d brought for laundry, and rushed to Norton’s wardrobe. She retrieved a complete set of attire, including a suit, shirt, and socks, before helping Norton dress as he sat on the bed.
While Norton finished waking up, Maia ran out to fetch hot water, assisting him with washing his face and hands, and combing his hair. Such meticulous care had initially struck Norton as excessive, but he soon grew to enjoy it. The once self-reliant ace pilot of a Seirin mech was slowly becoming accustomed to a life of ease, moving towards decadence.
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Yet Norton remained unaware of this change. He focused on his growing magical power and mastery of the Winds of Magic—evidenced by his ability to lift Maia with casual magic, without tearing her apart by accident. Despite his smaller stature and diminished physical strength, his combat prowess had multiplied, leaving little room for mundane concerns.
Despite the late night, Norton slept soundly, comforted by the Knights’ Codex. Awaking earlier than usual, his unexpected timing flustered Maia and surprised his sister Juana.
“You little lazybones,” Juana teased as she prepared to descend the stairs. Seeing Norton emerge from his room, she quipped, “Stayed up late last night and still up so early today. Is the sun rising in the west?”
Juana was surprised to see Norton up and about; usually, he slept in, especially after a late night at a banquet. Unlike her, who had school, he had no such obligations. Juana had figured she wouldn’t see him until much later.
“That doesn’t matter,” Norton replied, his drowsiness returning with a yawn, contemplating a return to bed.
Spotting his sleepy expression, Juana discerned his intent. With a raised eyebrow, she preemptively said, “Since you’re up, don’t waste it by going back to sleep. Mother’s about to leave. Come downstairs and say goodbye with me.”
Norton was about to protest, but Juana cut him off with a firm, “Don’t say no!”
Thus, pulled along by his sister, Norton was compelled to go downstairs and bid Lady Windsor farewell.
As this pair of siblings descended rapidly, Lady Windsor hurriedly approached, worriedly admonishing them, “Don’t run so fast, you might fall!” Reaching her, Juana and Norton were met with a mix of maternal worry and scolding glances focused on Juana.
Lady Windsor affectionately embraced Norton, checking over him for any injuries—despite the absurdity of a tomb-exploring child getting hurt on a staircase.
Only after ensuring Norton was unscathed did Lady Windsor relax, admonishing Juana, “Don’t drag your brother around like that. He’s still young. If he gets hurt, it’ll be your fault.”
It was clear from Lady Windsor’s demeanor how much more she valued her son over her daughter, almost to a fault. Juana’s face fell, nearly to tears under her mother’s severe tone.
Since her husband’s death, Lady Windsor’s life revolved around her children. With Juana being a girl, the family title of Count von Carstein would indisputably pass to Norton. Lady Windsor’s affection for him bordered on the obsessive, making Norton her entire world.
Such overwhelming affection made Norton feel pressured. He had a complicated relationship with his parents, and the intensity of maternal love sometimes left him bewildered. Lady Windsor’s occasionally penetrating gaze felt almost deranged, unnerving him.
He didn’t enjoy the excessive attention—too much love made him uncomfortable. Having someone expect so much of him was suffocating.
Once Lady Windsor finished fussing, she realized time had slipped away. Juana had only intended to say a quick goodbye with her brother. Under her mother and sister’s watchful eyes, Norton quietly uttered, “...Mother,” his voice barely above a whisper.
Satisfied with his greeting, Lady Windsor departed with her entourage of vampires, Banshees, and Blood Chalice Knights.
Norton silently acknowledged he wanted to call her “Lady Windsor,” but past experience reminded him of the pain it caused her. Her anguished look during such instances—and Juana pinching his side mercilessly—made him wary of repeating it.
After seeing their mother off, Norton joined Juana for breakfast. Though Juana soon left for school, Norton returned to his room, sent Maia away, and collapsed back into bed, fully dressed, resolving to sleep until noon. He vowed never to wake early again.