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Chapter 8
The moment those words left his mouth, Adelia’s eyes widened so much they looked ready to pop out.
“Th-that person… is that person?”
“Yeah. You didn’t know?”
How was I supposed to know?!
The Encilia Academy—where only the most outstanding students from neighboring countries were selected for intensive education—held a chess tournament every year.
It was a grand event that gathered not only the best from within the country, but also prodigies from nearby nations.
What had started as a simple, fun competition gradually turned into a matter of pride between schools. By the time it grew fierce, it wasn’t uncommon for hooligans from rival academies to get into brawls after each match.
“Encilia held onto the championship for eight straight years, right? There were all sorts of complaints—biased judging, tampered chess timers…”
“That’s right. In the end, no one ever proved whether those rumors were true or not.”
“And the senior who finally broke that undefeated streak was…”
“Rudolf. He might not look it, but he’s surprisingly aggressive. He hates losing.”
Good heavens.
All this time, Adelia had simply thought Rudolf treated her coldly because he found her uncomfortable.
She’d assumed it was because she wasn’t from a prestigious noble family, yet had suddenly become a duchess—a stone that had rolled in where it didn’t belong.
Maybe… he was just looking at me like I’m an idiot.
“If you get the chance later, try learning chess from Rudolf.”
“…Will I be learning, or just getting completely crushed?”
Roerston burst out laughing.
“You learn by getting crushed.”
“So I’ll just get crushed, then.”
Adelia, slightly dejected, poked at her dessert more than she actually ate it.
After finishing everything in the envelope, Roerston looked at her with a puzzled expression.
“What’s with that face?”
“…My face? What about it?”
“You look like someone who swallowed a whole frog and can’t decide whether to spit it out or swallow it.”
Adelia stared blankly at him.
She had no idea what kind of expression she was making.
Was this… some kind of humanities-style joke?
“…I was joking.”
That wasn’t very funny.
“But your expression really is strange. What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
“No, it’s not that. I was just thinking about something.”
“What were you thinking about?”
Adelia’s eyes rolled slightly as she hesitated.
“I was wondering… if I asked Rudolf—Senior Rudolf—to teach me chess, how he would react.”
“Hm. Do you know how to play?”
“Just the basics…”
“How basic?”
“Well… a pawn can move one square forward… or diagonally.”
At her proud answer, Roerston’s face slackened like boiled cod.
“Why are you making that face?!”
“…Sorry. I couldn’t help it. So even my clever junior knows nothing about chess. You should learn from me before Rudolf.”
Seriously?!
Sure, she only knew the rules—but did he really have to make that face?
Just as she was about to launch into an enthusiastic lecture about the admirable bacteria that break down leftover food waste—
Roerston suddenly held out his hand, stopping her.
“Wait a moment.”
“I haven’t even said anything yet.”
“I have a feeling it’s going to turn into a long story. Let me talk first.”
…This was why she disliked perceptive seniors.
“What is it?”
“In three days, we’ll be attending a party hosted by Lady Dorothea.”
“A p-party?!”
Roerston raised his hand again, and Adelia immediately snapped her mouth shut.
“It’ll be a quiet party with a pleasant atmosphere. Only respectable people will attend, and there won’t be that many guests. So you don’t need to be too nervous.”
“B-but I have to go too, right?”
“That’s why I’m telling you. We’ll be attending as a married couple.”
Adelia protested, almost desperately.
“I’ve never been to anything like a party! I—I didn’t even attend the end-of-year parties at the academy!”
The Royal Academy held a celebration party at the end of every year for students of the same grade to congratulate their promotion.
But Adelia disliked crowded places so much that she had received special permission from her teachers to spend that time in the library instead.
“There’s nothing to worry about. Back then, you didn’t have a partner to help you—but this time, you have me.”
His tone was full of confidence.
Adelia tried to meet his gaze.
But the gentle smile directed at her made her cheeks flush, and she quickly looked away.
He’s unnecessarily handsome, honestly…!
“You just have to stand beside me and smile. It’d be even better if you greet others yourself, but if I ask any more than that, you might collapse on the spot.”
Covering her mouth with her hand, Adelia muttered,
“…I already feel like I’m going to throw up.”
“You can throw up here if you want. Rudolf will clean it up anyway.”
At that, Rudolf—standing some distance away—glared sharply at the back of Roerston’s head, his face twisted in irritation.
“Senior, I really…”
“Did you forget our contract?”
“But you never said anything about having to attend parties—”
“As the lady of the house, what are you supposed to do?”
Adelia, looking utterly wronged, clutched her churning stomach and groaned.
“…I have to fulfill my role…”
Roerston snapped his fingers as if to say exactly.
“That’s right.”
“……”
“A duchess—especially a newlywed bride—failing to show her face at any party is considered a serious breach of etiquette in noble society. I chose a quiet gathering considering your situation, so that’s enough complaining.”
“My stomach feels twisted…”
Adelia shuddered dramatically.
Roerston stood up, leaned down, and lightly kissed her temple before speaking.
“It’s fine. You’ve got three days to get used to it.”
Thunk.
Adelia’s forehead hit the table with a dull sound.
Her head spun—whether from the shock of having to attend a party in three days, or from Roerston kissing her in a place where others were present, she couldn’t tell.
Seriously… how did things end up like this?
“…And why is he going around kissing me like that?”
Pouting, Adelia touched the spot his lips had brushed, her ears turning red.
About a month earlier.
“Who told Miss Wheaton about her sponsor’s identity?”
The reception room of the Ipsel Duchy was silent.
The grand, beautiful furniture seemed almost suffocating.
Adelia forced herself to sit up straight.
Then she stared quietly at Roerston, who sat across from her.
“You’re really not going to tell me?”
“…Yes. I’m sorry.”
“Miss Wheaton. No… let’s see. Look here, Junior.”
Startled by a form of address she’d never heard before, Adelia simply blinked without replying.
Seeing that, Roerston let out a quiet sigh inwardly.
So this is the prodigy who’s never once lost the top rank since entering the academy.
The one student who made even the professors groan, saying they’d have to create grades higher than A+ just because of her.
Yet the so-called genius didn’t seem as confident or sharp as he’d imagined.
If anything, she looked fragile—like a flower raised in a greenhouse.
The very fact that she had come all the way to see him and said she wanted to repay the support she’d received from the former Duke of Ipsel, little by little, showed just how little she understood the world.
“You know perfectly well what kind of intentions someone would have in telling you that. Don’t you? They wanted you to feel guilty.”
When sponsors and beneficiaries knew each other’s identities, trouble often followed.
There was also the possibility that someone wanted to humiliate Adelia.
“…Even so—”
“And yet, you won’t say anything, and you’re protecting that person…”
“……”
“…I don’t really understand.”
Adelia remained silent.
She seemed to be thinking about what to say, but in the end, she only awkwardly touched her cheek.
Her brown hair, falling past her shoulders, partially covered her face—but not entirely.
Soft facial lines, a small frame, delicate hands that looked as though one might want to hold them at least once.
The more he looked, the more different she seemed from what he’d expected. For a moment, Roerston found himself staring, almost entranced.
Anyway.
No one was supposed to know that the Ipsel Duchy was sponsoring Adelia. So how did they find out?
By rule, a sponsor could not directly contact their beneficiary, nor reveal their identity.
It was the minimum safeguard to prevent abuse of power—so that sponsors couldn’t manipulate or torment those they supported.
“No matter what, I can’t tell you.”
At her answer, Roerston’s eyes narrowed.
Judging by her expression, something was definitely going on.
“…Fine. We’ll leave that matter aside for now.”
That was something he could handle on his own.
There was no need to lecture this naïve young lady about it.
Only then did Adelia visibly relax.
Roerston gave a faint, wry smile.
So naïve. What am I going to do with someone this innocent?
After a moment of thought, he slowly closed and opened his eyes, a relaxed smile forming on his lips.
“Now then—more importantly, I’d like to hear the real reason Miss Wheaton came all the way here.”
“The real reason?”
“Yes. You found out I was your sponsor… so what exactly did you want to say to me?”
“…Were you really planning to continue supporting me so I could become a research student?”
“Of course.”
At his casual, unquestioning reply, Adelia only grew more bewildered.
