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Chapter 64
“Did the sorcerer offer to help, so you ended up working here? Ah, by any chance, has the sorcerer been acting differently than usual lately, or something like that…?”
“Einra.”
A cold voice cut through my words.
I noticed Lloyd looking at me with a slightly sulky expression.
When I tilted my head in confusion, he sighed as if he was about to say something.
“What do you mean, tilting your head cutely like that while asking?”
“…?”
“You went on and on talking about another man in front of me, and now you make it so I can’t even get angry.”
“…??”
I frowned, thinking he must be joking, but Lloyd just smirked helplessly and patted my head.
“I felt it when I first saw you too, but Einra, you’re really cute. How can someone be this cute…?”
“…….”
I realized for the first time that having my head patted could feel so unpleasant.
‘It was fine when Harnen patted me.’
But the crown prince’s touch, which was of no help at all, felt like something you would do to a pet, and it made me angry.
I frowned and reflexively tried to shake his hand off when…
“Miss.”
Livia called me over.
Relieved, I quickly stepped away from Lloyd and went to Livia.
“What is it? What’s the matter?”
“It’s time for you to attend the Duchess’s lessons. Lady Karenche should be arriving soon, so let’s head to the reception room.”
“….”
So, I really had to take that lesson?
As I hesitated and took a step back, Lloyd approached from behind and said, his voice tinged with amusement:
“Since you graduated at the top of Atlanta Academy, Einra, you should be able to handle the Duchess’s lessons easily.”
“Ah… yes…”
I muttered under my breath, averting my gaze.
People often misunderstand—just because I graduated top of my class at the academy doesn’t mean I’m a naturally gifted student.
‘Atlanta Academy prioritizes major credits over liberal arts when calculating final grades!’
And my major was spirit magic.
By the time I had already signed a contract with Elye, I had already aced my major, so graduating at the top was inevitable.
In that sense, Harnen, who shared the top spot with me, was the true top student.
‘I’m absolutely not good at studying. I barely managed the NCS exams…’
And now, I had to take lessons too!
But I couldn’t escape, because I had things to do here.
While sulking inside, Lloyd’s eyes lit up as he said:
“Or, shall I attend the lessons with you? I think having me by your side might give you some encouragement.”
“….”
I almost blurted out something rude.
I collected myself and considered how to refuse politely.
“Your Highness, just a moment…”
At that moment, a servant approached Lloyd.
A flash of annoyance crossed his golden eyes.
“What is it?”
“Well… there’s an urgent message…”
“Say it here.”
The unspoken pressure from Lloyd made the servant visibly nervous.
Finally, the servant cautiously spoke:
“Ah… Miss Aila wishes to see the Duke…”
“Hah.”
Lloyd’s face instantly contorted.
He roughly swept back his hair and muttered disdainfully:
“She thinks a lowly girl showing a little interest gives her the right to climb up. If she didn’t have a decent face, she wouldn’t even dare look at my toes…”
I shivered involuntarily at his harsh voice.
I knew he wasn’t a good person, but seeing it in person was completely different from reading about him on paper.
“…Bring her to the reception room. I’ll go myself if any trouble arises.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
The servant bowed deeply and rushed off.
Lloyd’s golden eyes softened as they met mine. He brushed my hair behind my ear and spoke gently:
“I’m sorry, but today I think you’ll have to attend the lesson alone, Einra.”
‘Tomorrow, I’ll definitely join you.’
With that, he smiled faintly and turned away.
‘No matter what, to insult someone you once dated like that…’
I shivered and rubbed my arms.
All the kindness he had shown me earlier was probably also extended to “the little Miss Aila.”
How could one person’s attitude change so drastically?
“Miss, shall we go now?”
“…Yes.”
I followed Livia to the reception room.
“Hello, Einra! I’ve heard so much about you. I am…”
Lady Karenche, who was to give my lessons, seemed more interested in talking than in the lesson itself.
She went on and on about whether I remembered meeting her at the last banquet, how she hadn’t realized I had been in a relationship with Lloyd, and countless other topics.
‘It’s impressive that she hasn’t asked a single question about Akes…’
Recalling the nightmare from the last banquet, I forced an awkward smile.
“Uh, Lady… when will the lesson begin?”
“Oh my, how careless of me! Let’s begin right away!”
The first lesson was on the etiquette of Elberk.
Even Harnen, Akes, and even the emperor had said that etiquette didn’t have to be perfect if I didn’t want to learn, but apparently, to be part of the Baharman family, it was essential.
‘…Is rebellion considered a virtue in Elberk’s etiquette?’
I couldn’t believe someone aiming for a proper position would have to master etiquette perfectly.
Regardless, the lesson continued.
Lady Karenche explained from a thick etiquette book, but her voice resembled a lullaby from a university lecture hall.
‘No, Einra. Don’t fall asleep. This is a one-on-one lesson…’
I couldn’t openly doze in front of someone diligently teaching, but I also couldn’t stay fully awake.
Frustrated, I resorted to distracting myself with other thoughts.
‘Well, they said I didn’t have to learn etiquette anyway.’
If someone objected, I could argue with the former emperor of Belzesti, the current Duke of Serenia, or the current emperor of Elberk.
Satisfied with this thought, I remembered Dante.
‘Come to think of it, he asked me about Harnen and the Belarisian emperor.’
Back then, I was a bit flustered and didn’t think much about it, but now it seemed significant.
Dante, from Belzesti.
Questions about Harnen and his thoughts on the Belarisian emperor.
And suspicions regarding the Baharman Duke House, which might have allied with Belzesti.
Could it be a coincidence?
‘…No, the situation is just too precise.’
A sudden ominous feeling ran down my spine.
‘As I thought, Dante knows something.’
Wherever there was a variable, Dante was always involved.
Akes under a curse, blocked natural affinity, the spies eliminated simultaneously.
Even if it wasn’t all Dante’s doing, he clearly played a crucial role.
‘First, I need to investigate Dante’s study.’
I couldn’t do it directly, so I planned to use the spirits at night.
From the intermediate spirits onward, the contract allows shared vision with the summoner.
I would have Undine infiltrate Dante’s office to investigate.
“…Einra? Are you okay?”
“Yes, yes?”
“Are you alright? You haven’t responded for a while.”
Lady Karenche looked at me worriedly.
I smiled awkwardly and avoided her gaze.
I had been too absorbed in my thoughts and got caught too early…
