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Chapter 96…………………………….
I was at a loss for words.
He hadn’t said a single thing all morning, so I thought he had just decided to give up and move on…
“When I first lost Della, you should have told me. That the Duke was her master. But you stayed silent.”
“……”
“Did it please you to watch me desperately searching for her? Was it fun?”
“N-no! I didn’t hide it on purpose, I just… didn’t know how to tell you…”
“Then you should have said something the day you snuck into my room. But you simply let Della go quietly.”
“……”
“You deceived me all this time, and now you’re asking me to trust you?”
“That’s not…”
[Stage 2: The raven’s master isn’t me, it’s Piace. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Piace.]
I felt miserable having to drag Piace into my excuse.
But there was no other way.
“The raven’s master isn’t me, it’s Piace. If you don’t believe me, ask Piace.”
Ah… If there’s a hell for liars, I’m going to live there for a thousand years.
“Piace? Is that true?”
[Stage 1: (sounding unimpressed) I told you to ask, didn’t I? And really, why are you getting so worked up over something so trivial? You sure do hold grudges.]
“……”
I had absolutely no idea what that damned writer was trying to accomplish.
Did they want us to get engaged—or to grab each other by the hair and have a full-blown fight?
“I’ll admit I made a mistake. Let’s forget the past and deal with what’s in front of us.”
Leonhart let out a long sigh and nodded.
I bit my lip and started thinking.
If Piace being adopted by me is an important part of the story…
Then no matter how much I resist, the damned writer will force Leonhart and me into an engagement.
But if the Imperial Law changes so that I can adopt Piace after the engagement…
Then there’s no need for marriage at all.
“Let’s get engaged.”
“That’s the best plan the Duke could come up with? Ridiculous.”
“And after that, I’ll have an affair. Very publicly.”
Leonhart looked at me, speechless.
“Then Your Highness can dump me.”
“How will you bear the humiliation…? Are you serious?”
“We have no other choice. It’s the only way.”
I ground my teeth, thinking of that damned writer.
The news of my engagement to Leonhart swept through the capital.
At first, I didn’t think much of it.
No matter how big a scandal, it fades with time.
But even after a week, the rumors didn’t die down.
If anything, people’s curiosity only burned hotter.
They gossiped endlessly about our supposed romance.
According to the rumors, Leonhart and I were having the love affair of the century.
Apparently, I’d opened my “search for a fiancé” out of anger after a huge fight with him, and in a dramatic turn, Leonhart had driven off all the other candidates because he couldn’t stand losing me.
When I heard that story, the spirits laughed so hard they nearly fell over. As for me—speechless doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Even the students at the Academy were obsessed with our engagement.
“That’s all for today’s lecture. Any questions?”
“I have one!”
“Yes?”
“How did you meet the Third Prince?”
“What’s it like being engaged to him?”
“Bwahaha!”
The students burst into teasing laughter.
I stopped closing my book and simply looked up at them.
Immediately, the ones pounding on their desks went dead silent.
“Ian Pascal.”
“Y-yes, Professor…”
“You must have mastered my entire lecture if you have time for such useless questions. Then explain the evolution of architectural construction techniques.”
“I—I’m sorry…”
“Since everyone seems so relaxed and interested in my personal life, I assume all your assignments are done?”
“N-no, Professor!”
“Good. I’ll add another. A new layout plan—public playground, for ages 2 to 12. Due next class.”
“Aaaah! Professor, please, anything but that!”
Leaving their wails behind, I exited the lecture hall.
Outside, Rusfel and Owen were waiting.
“Sounded noisy in there. Did you give the kids more work again, Your Grace?”
“Assignments.”
Owen stifled a laugh, clearly sensing my mood.
“The students seem really curious about your engagement to His Highness.”
“Too curious.”
“You could’ve gone easy on them. The architecture students already call you the witch obsessed with homework, you know.”
In just a week, my nickname had evolved from “Witch Professor” to “Homework-Obsessed Witch.”
“The best way to learn design is by doing it yourself. That’s how you spot the flaws.”
Rusfel nodded in agreement.
“That’s true. Magic devices are the same—you don’t know what’s wrong until you build one.”
He’d already finished his “sprinkler” and was testing his next invention.
“Full-scale projects are ideal, but models work too. If they can’t even handle that, they should quit.”
“You’re as thorough as ever, Your Grace.”
Owen looked at me with admiration, which I found uncomfortable, so I changed the subject.
“Let’s eat.”
“Sure… Wait, where’s His Highness? He’s usually glued to your side.”
“At the Central Plaza. Said he needed to report to his aide since we were away longer than expected.”
“Ah… because some of the assassins escaped, right?”
A few days ago, the Imperial Knights had raided multiple assassin guilds at once.
Unfortunately, some assassins managed to break through the perimeter—members of the same guild that had been hired to kill me.
“The Knights are tracking them. They’ll be caught soon.”
“So His Highness is staying at your mansion every night now?”
“He’s not staying—he’s guarding me day and night. Please phrase it that way.”
“Still, His Highness doesn’t seem picky about where he sleeps. Though he is with food.”
“As long as it’s not too dry, he sleeps fine. Sure, he prefers meat—but at least he’s not like someone who claims vegetables turn them into cows.”
“Ugh! Stop hitting me!”
I felt someone’s stare and turned. Owen was looking at me curiously.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“It just seems like you know more about His Highness than we do. Did Lady Adelle tell you all that?”
“……”
Before I could answer, Rusfel smirked and said,
“Owen, you wouldn’t know this, being a priest, but when people get engaged, they do learn everything about each other.”
“Oh, really? I didn’t know that.”
They were among the few who knew our engagement was fake.
And yet they’d been teasing me nonstop for a week.
At least they’re just teasing me this time.
I glared at Rusfel, pretending to be annoyed.
“You sure talk like you know a lot for someone who’s never been in love.”
“I—I have been in love!”
“What? When, Professor Rusfel? You told me you never had!”
“……”
Rusfel’s face turned bright red.
I couldn’t help but snort as I entered the dining hall.
When I appeared, the other professors quickly cleared their trays and fled.
Ever since three professors had been caught bad-mouthing me and got fired, no one dared sit near me.
I quietly took my food and sat down.
“Professor Rusfel, how’s that thing I asked for? I said I wanted it done today.”
“It’s finished. I’ll send it to your mansion later.”
“Good.”
“What is that thing, anyway? It’s cute, sure, but doesn’t really fit your taste, Your Grace.”
“What are you thinking? It’s—”
At that moment, the cafeteria entrance grew noisy.
“Hey! Piace! The Professor’s here!”
“R-really? Where?”
It was Piace, along with Zanachiel, Tan, and Ryan.
Upon spotting me, Piace came running.
“D-Duke—Professor!”
No one had told her to, but at the Academy, she called me Professor.
I had to fight the smile tugging at my lips.
“What brings you here during lunch?”
“I-I have something for Professors Rusfel and Owen!”
The two blinked in surprise.
“For us? What is it?”
Piace shyly handed them small cards.
“P-please come! Hehe.”
Blushing, she bowed quickly and scampered off.
Rusfel and Owen, holding the little invitations, turned on me.
“That thing you asked me to make… was it for her birthday?”
“More or less.”
“Does His Highness know?”
“Of course. He got his invitation yesterday.”
“Then why didn’t you tell us? We’re her godfathers! We almost missed her birthday!”
Two days ago, Rusfel had officially become Piace’s godfather.
Piace was thrilled—having a Master-level mage as a godfather! Not that she knew what Master-level even meant. She just smiled because everyone congratulated her.
Later, she quietly asked me what “godfather” meant.
Owen also looked mildly hurt.
“Your Grace, you could’ve at least told me. I’m her theology teacher, after all.”
The temple hadn’t yet given Piace its blessing—since she hadn’t awakened as the Saintess, doing so early could attract the attention of the dark prophecy’s villains.
So Owen had been assigned as her theology tutor.
Publicly, I’d requested it for her “religious education,” but in truth, Owen was there to watch over her.
The moment she awakened as the Saintess, the temple would bless her immediately.
Piace adored Owen almost as much as she did Rusfel.
Maybe it was because his gentle priestly aura made her feel safe—even her stammer lessened around him.
Now both men looked troubled.
“Owen, have you ever given a child a present before?”
“No. What should I do?”
“Oh no. Do you think she’d like the new book The Correlation Between Magic Power and Geometry?”
“Uh… maybe not that. How about we survey some kids first?”
“Hmm, good idea. We’ll do a week-long survey and pick the most popular choice.”
“Sure, but wait—let me check the invitation date… What?! It’s tomorrow!”
“What? Owen, hurry up and eat! Just shovel it in!”
“Yes, sir!”
I watched the two of them frantically scarfing down food and finished my own meal at a leisurely pace.
