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Chapter 15
One of the things that impressed me when I was preparing to enter the academy was that all the books were thick and heavy.
If it weren’t for a bag enchanted to reduce weight, there’s no way I could have run every morning shouting that I was going to be late.
Of all the books I’ve used in class so far, the magic textbooks were the thickest.
To exaggerate a little, if you hit someone’s head with the corner of one, it could crack their skull.
Of course, now I mostly used this book as a pillow instead of for self-defense.
To improve my grades, I had to become familiar with such books, and I finally found a way.
If I could achieve another goal at the same time, that would be perfect.
Carrying the heavy book in one hand, I headed to the club room with a tense heart.
Knock knock.
Since I was recognized as a club member, I could open the door freely, but out of courtesy for whoever might be inside, I knocked.
“Come in.”
A low voice came from behind the door. I had heard it once through a voice amplifier, so I immediately recognized it.
I opened the door and stepped in. Two desks were placed side by side.
Lucas was sitting at the desk on the right.
He glanced at me briefly, then immediately buried his head in a book.
I cautiously approached the side where he was sitting.
“Hi, I’m Olivia Bardedor.”
Lucas lifted his head for a moment to look at me and greeted me.
“I’m Lucas Benjamin…”
Then, perhaps out of embarrassment, he quickly lowered his head and looked at his book again.
Even though I hadn’t said anything, Lucas’s ears were red.
“Can I sit next to you?”
He nodded.
Instead of answering verbally, Lucas just nodded.
I deliberately tried to talk more to become friends quickly.
“I saw you on the stage at the freshman welcome party. You were first in our grade, right?”
Nod.
Again, he only nodded slightly, and my confidence started to shrink already.
I had to somehow become friends with Lucas, but judging by his attitude, he seemed to be very shy around strangers.
Luckily, I already knew his personality in advance. Otherwise, I might have misunderstood him.
There was no other way.
For someone like this, you had to give time to become friends.
Instead of forcing a friendship, I decided to observe him a little more.
“Sorry if I’m taking away your study time. Is it really okay for you to teach me?”
“It’s fine. Actually… I’ve already finished all the studies for this year.”
“Huh? I didn’t hear that right.”
I thought maybe my ears were mistaken at the speed of his advanced study.
“I know all the first-year courses…”
A ge-ge-genius… a genius appeared!
In this shoujo manga world, it was impossible to survive without being a genius.
Even my sister and the three male leads were all geniuses.
Lucas was in charge of the study genius role, and indeed, his reputation was well-earned.
“Already? Then you’re studying the second-year courses now?”
He shook his head.
“Then… could it be third year?”
He shook his head again.
“Don’t tell me… you even know the third-year material?”
Lucas hesitated, gauging my reaction.
It was true.
“Then isn’t it meaningless to learn at the academy?”
Saint Louis Academy is a three-year program.
Finishing even the graduation-year studies meant there was nothing more to learn here.
“With this diploma, it will be easier to achieve my dream.”
“Can I ask what your dream is?”
“Hmm…”
Lucas hesitated, stroking his mouth.
He seemed unsure if he should tell me his dream.
I wondered what embarrassing dream made him hesitate like this.
“I won’t tell anyone or laugh at you. I promise.”
“Okay.”
Only then did Lucas speak.
“Actually, my dream is… to be a government official.”
After saying it, his face flushed.
“A government official?”
The government official who gets a salary from the state?
The one who works mainly in the empire’s administration department?
“Yeah. I want to help the people of the empire somehow. But I don’t think there’s anything I can do directly… I’m only good at studying, so I want to go that way.”
I also wanted to say it.
“I’m only good at studying.”
I envied Lucas, yes, but more than that, I liked his future dream and the reason he chose it.
A stable job! Stable income! A just personality!
It seemed like the most stable option to support my sister.
“Wow, that suits you so well. I hope you really become a government official.”
“Is my dream… strange?”
“Not at all! I think it’s great.”
Lucas seemed surprised by my attitude.
Perhaps, as someone from a wealthy family, people reacted strangely when he said he would only become a government official instead of inheriting the family business.
But for me, it was the perfect choice for a brother-in-law.
He wouldn’t make my sister struggle and seemed like he could have a family-oriented life.
“Really…?”
Lucas looked down and smiled faintly.
He was definitely shy.
Sharing his dream meant he had opened his heart a little, right?
I seized the chance to talk more.
“It makes me so relieved that someone as smart as you will serve the empire.”
“I’m not a government official yet…”
“But a country like ours wouldn’t fail to notice talent like you. If not, we can ask Senior Liam!”
“That would be using delays, so not really…”
He was even virtuous!
My evaluation of Lucas kept rising without pause.
“It’s an honor to learn from someone as smart as you.”
“It’s not like that. There are many people smarter than me at the academy…”
Surprisingly, that was true.
There were my sister and other male leads.
But Lucas was smart too!
I hoped he gained confidence.
“By the way, why did you decide to teach someone you didn’t know?”
Lucas didn’t answer, only looked flustered and rolled his eyes.
“Was it… because my sister asked?”
Nod.
Lucas nodded, fidgeting with his fingers.
“If it’s Emma’s request, I’m willing to do it.”
When he said my sister’s name, his expression subtly changed again.
It was like he wanted to smile but couldn’t.
He seemed to be restraining his emotions.
I immediately noticed from that subtle expression.
Lucas clearly had feelings for my sister.
That’s why if my sister requested it, he was willing to teach a stranger.
“I see. Thanks to my sister, I get to meet you like this. She’s already told me a lot about you.”
“What… did she say?”
Curious, Lucas glanced at me.
“She said you’re really good at studying and teaching, that my studies would be perfect in your hands, and above all, that you’re reliable.”
By intentionally bringing up my sister, Lucas gradually relaxed.
Soon he couldn’t hide his expression at all, almost grinning.
It was slightly exaggerated, but those words made Lucas happy.
“Hmph, hmph. Really?”
Even though he had seen everything, he tried to compose his expression.
After a cough, he returned to his usual face, but his tense tone had disappeared, and his guard was down.
I wondered if I should continue talking about my sister, but Lucas spoke first.
“There isn’t much time, so let’s properly start the magic studies you said were hard.”
It seemed my sister’s words had actually motivated him.
“Okay, got it.”
I obediently opened the magic textbook.
Lucas matched the page I opened.
“What don’t you understand?”
“If I say everything from the beginning, will you be angry?”
Lucas stared at me blankly.
It was as if he was thinking, how is that even possible?
“It’s a lie. I’ve also studied some. The magic formulas here are difficult, after all.”
“Oh, the calculations can be difficult. To calculate easily, first…”
Lucas relaxed at my words and began teaching seriously.
When it came to studying, his shy demeanor disappeared, and he became sharp and active.
Although the study started partly as a lie, Lucas taught so well that I unconsciously focused.
“Ah, I think I can finally understand this.”
“You haven’t understood it yet?”
“I understand, I understand.”
I reassured the nervous Lucas.
“Was my explanation too fast?”
He even worried that I might have difficulty understanding his explanation.
“You taught so clearly that it wasn’t hard to understand at all.”
Soon, it was almost time to leave school.
I had thought studying was boring, but thanks to Lucas, I felt I could approach magic studies more comfortably.
I could feel his evaluation as a brother-in-law rising.
“Really? If you need it, I can explain it again next Friday.”
Lucas was the first to promise the next study session.
As his student, my attitude seemed to please him.
“I’d be grateful! Is there anything I can do for you?”
“What would you do for me?”
“I can’t just receive your help. If there’s something I can do, tell me.”
Like helping him with my sister to succeed.
