The writing of Tenten Kakumi is so solid I was confident I knew Euphie well enough to know that Anis bringing Lainie to the manor be a problem at all. Sure enough, after a few tense moments, Euphie makes clear to Lainie that she’s heard her circumstances, and that there’s no hard feelings. It’s such a sweet and empathetic welcome, and Lainie’s tearful relief is so pure, I gotta admit I tear’d up too! And this is before the dang OP!
As if there were any doubt, these young women have each others’ backs. That extends to Ilia and especially Tilty, who is eager to meet the girl with magicite in her body, unlike Anis, not by choice. Meeting Tilty in person (and experiencing her inherent powers) strengthens a working theory Tilty, like Anis, had already been working on.
She consults a forbidden text Anis brought from the library a while ago, one that chronicles a magician who used the lives of others to extend his life so that he could continue the ages of research needed to find the “truth” of magic. And after a procedure that “awakens” the magicite within Lainie, her eyes suddenly turn red and she sprouts fangs. That’s right, she’s a vampire…or at least the descendant of one. That’s freaking awesome!
With the eyes and fangs also comes a control over her power of persuasion she never had. Lainie is infinitely grateful to Tilty and Anis. As Euphie observes them, she wears a face of jealousy without knowing it. Tilty takes her aside and calls her out on it, asking her what she is to Anis and where she sees this going. Euphie isn’t sure, but knows it requires some serious thought, and Tilty gently warns her not to go into whatever she decides half-heartedly.
Tilty isn’t the only one who sensed something off with Euphie. That night, Anis visits her in her pajamas with the hunch that Euphie was feeling down. Euphie asks Anis why she’s so into magic, and all Anis can really say is that it’s akin to being in love; you don’t know why, you just are. Euphie says she wants to fall in love like that, and Anis takes her hand and asks if she can sleep with her tonight.
That morning, after Lainie gets her breakfast of Ilia’s blood, another side-effect of her awakening (I love how polite Lainie is in asking for it, and how understanding Ilia is) Anis receives summons she’s been expecting. It’s from the Ministry of the Arcane, insisting she give a lecture properly explaining who she intends to use the dragon materials.
To Anis’ surprise, Euphie volunteers to handle this matter, and at the lecture, we find out why. Anis is regarded as a potentially dangerous heretic, and her magicology and magical tools are considered sacrilege against the spirits and gods those in the kingdom worship, as well as the old boy network that is the ministry.
The fact she can’t actually use magic is another mark against her, but Euphie steps up and provides a passionate, full-throated endorsement not just of Anis’ broom, but of the concept for a more practical and versatile flying machine—the development of which will require dragon parts.
As a famous and established magical genius, Euphie speaks with an authority the ministry cannot challenge or throw into doubt, especially with the new knowledge that essentially exonerates her of wrongdoing in the Prince Algard affair. She also makes clear that Anis’ inventions aren’t an affront to the spirits and gods, but are in fact an expression of respect.
Anis’ talents are a gift from those very gods—like Mozart’s music—and magicology and the products it yields will make the kingdom more secure and prosperous. With her combined full-hearted defense of the princess and convincing sales pitch, Euphie wins the majority of the ministry’s hearts and minds. She also gets an impressed smirk from Tilty, and moves a grateful, blushing Anis to tears of joy.
While watching Anis and Tilty talk the other day (and inadvertently glaring at them), Euphie thought to herself “these two are incredible”. That’s true, but she is too! And now they’ve got the ministry on their side and an adorable vampire friend!
In fact, things are looking so far up that part of me worries about what Algard might have cooked up for them down the road. But really, as long as these women continue to love and support and be good to one another, I’m confident nothing can stand in their way!