Oh my god. Its Isidor.

My heart sank when I faced the person I had been secretly avoiding, but I managed to come to my senses and gave him the expression I had practiced.

Since the Master said I looked like I was frowning, I should raise my lips a little.

Long time no see.

I pretended to be calm, swallowing the embarrassment.

Hm. Its really been a long time. Im busy, so Ill go now.

I spoke coldly and started walking, but Isidor quickly caught up with me with a wide stride.

Where are you going? I came here to see the Princess. Why would I come to the Magic Department, if not for the Princess?

Me? Why why?

Why do you think?

I dont know.

I let go of my conscience and feigned innocence.

You havent come to the social club lately and havent been participating in club activities, so I was worried that you might be sick.

Amid all this, he cared about the health of a perverted drunkard. My abandoned conscience suddenly asserted itself.

Im not sick, as you can see, Im busy

Are you really alright? I thought you had a fever because your ears are red.

My ears are red?

I touched my earlobe without realizing it and cleared my throat once.

Its because its cold. The weather has gotten suddenly colder lately.

Actually, it wasnt very cold.

Oh no, are you cold? Lets go get some warm tea. I also want to drink warm tea because my hands are cold.

My eyes twitched spontaneously as he suddenly held out his hand, pretending to be pitiful.

Is he thinking of me?

How can they be cold when youre wearing gloves?

I said in a blunter tone.

This is made of thin cotton; you can touch it

Gasp!

Its cold. Lets drink. The warm tea.

After becoming embarrassed for a moment and quickly cutting off his words, I walked alongside him with my soul half separated from my body.

Isidor walked towards the main gate of the academy, which was crowded, and crossed the busy street.

Im not even a celebrity and Im getting a lot of attention.

He was exceptionally glamorous today.

Since he was wearing the showy uniform of the Knights, with chains and epaulettes, the gazes towards him were even more excessive.

The problem was that people were glancing at me with astonished eyes.

There are a lot of people today.

I muttered with embarrassment.

Shouldnt this be enough to reach the ears of a certain shameless person?

Isidor rolled the corners of his mouth like a badass.

Hes helping me.

He must have heard what the Montez family had done.

It hasnt been long since they brought up the marriage talks again, but if word spreads that I was alone with Isidor, Philap, who hates him, will be pissed off.

Serves him right.

But where are we going now?

I know a nice place. Im sure the Princess will like it, too.

Its farther than I thought.

If your legs hurt, do you want me to carry you?

I shook my head at his mischievous question.

Although it would stand out more, there would be not only rumors about me threatening Isidor, but also about treating him like a slave.

Im being swayed by the crime I committed, how can they say Im threatening him? Thats unfair!

You cant go that way.

He pulled my hand lightly. As he said, his gloves were thin, so I could feel his body temperature.

O-Oh.

I quickly lowered my burning hand and Isidor entered the old-fashioned tea house without a word.

Its a nice place.

I casually cast my gaze at the craftworks displayed in the lobby of the tea house, and then followed the employee who came to meet us into one room.

It seemed to operate on a membership basis, and there were no prices written on the menu.

I heard that this tea is good for your throat.

I used my voice quite a bit to give lectures in the academy due to the deans intimidation, and he was considerate of my condition and recommended me a tea.

Ill get that.

The tea we ordered was served in antique porcelain cups, and we enjoyed the teatime with ease.

How is the tea?

It smells good and is delicious.

Im glad you like it. This tea house is the first to bring small amounts of tea from the Heint Plateau. Ill send the specialties to your mansion when new products come in.

Its f-fine.

I got it as a gift last time as well.

Hm? Im sending it to Sir Rosad as a celebration of victory.

Im just kidding. You kept being cute ack!

As I kicked his shin as he sat across from me, feeling a moments embarrassment, he exaggerated that I had hit him in a vital point.

It was a mistake. A mistake.

I said, fiercely opening my eyes, and he gave a smile that showed off his dimples.

If the Princess says it was a mistake, it was a mistake.

The Princess is correct.

Suddenly, without warning, I remembered the scene where he listened to my drunken frenzy and freaked out again.

Although it looked like a peaceful teatime on the outside, I couldnt help but feel dizzy the whole time, like I was riding a roller coaster.

When we finished the tea and went out to the lobby, he talked to the owner and then gave me something.

It was a white porcelain craft in the shape of a turtle.

I looked at it unconsciously when I walked through the lobby because it looked like Purple, and he seemed to have caught a hint.

Wait.

After stopping Isidor, I called the employee and bought a porcelain in the shape of a cat.

I should have bought a cat too.

He made an expression as if he had made a mistake.

Its not for me. Its Sir Isidors gift.

As I held it towards him, he looked a little surprised and perplexed.

You said you like cats.

You remembered that? I just said it casually.

Well, maybe I remember

Thank you.

He hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.

Seeing his silent smile, which felt somewhat clumsy, I felt embarrassed for no reason.

Its just a cat made out of porcelain.

Was it just me? Strangely enough, he looked happier than when he did when gave that bright smile that showed his dimples.

***

She doesnt have to meet with that Visconti guy I clearly told her I would take care of it.

Deborah may have intended to upset the Montez father and son, but for some reason, even he was annoyed, so Duke Seymours expression stiffened.

But he seemed to be feeling good lately.

Why is he in such a bad mood today?

The Seymour vassals and the guards who gathered for the meeting of state affairs were silent as they watched the Duke.

Why are you all quiet like youre mute? Lets start the meeting.

Todays agenda was Rosads victory event.

Rosad, who was in high spirits for being praised by the imperial family and the wizardry association, asked his father at the end of the meeting.

Father.

What is it?

I heard rumors that Deborahs marriage talks are back in place recently. If the marriage is achieved, the formula patent will be transferred to another family, so

Pfft!

Rosad frowned as he saw Belreck suddenly laughing hatefully.

Whats wrong with him?

The question did not last long. Because Duke Seymour blew up in just one second.

That Montez bastard is using such dirty tricks and youre worried about the patent rights? You benefited the most from Deborah, how can you be so obnoxious?

Deborah likes Philap

Your sister loves magic the most!

Duke Seymour, who was annoyed, stepped out of the room with a cold face.

I cant believe youre thinking of getting your only sister, the treasure of the family, involved with that Philap guy. What a great character.

Rosad laughed at Belrecks whisper.

Arent you the one who wants to send Deborah away farther than anyone else?

When did I? Why are you accusing me?

Belreck feigned innocence, confidently.

This punk wouldnt have benefited like I did, right?

While leaving, Rosad felt confused and perplexed by the vastly reversed internal power structure.

And just the next day, rumors began to circulate in the capital that Princess Deborah wasnt satisfied with the marriage talks that the Montez family brought back after three years.

Its not that she wasnt satisfied with it, she despised it and burned all the letters.

As if they had memorized it under the Dukes orders, the Seymour servants went around telling a detailed story about how she said she would never marry the arrogant, pompous, boastful, ignorant of magic Philap.

I am confident that I am more cautious and charming than anyone else.

When Thierry, who heard the rumors, brought both hands to his chin, making a flower cup pose, the 5th Princess clicked her tongue with a scornful expression.

Youre ignorant of magic, so youre eliminated. And where in the world is a cautious gambler?

Except horse racing, I quit everything. Horse racing is undeniably a sport

The more I think about it, the more I seem to meet those conditions?

The 5th Princess muttered in a serious tone.

Anyway, Princess Deborah seems to have absolutely no lingering affection for Sir Philap.

Actually, she thought she would think about it a little bit.

She joined Epsilon, not Omicron, and partnered with Isidor, but no one seemed to believe that the Princess didnt have any lingering feelings for Philap.

Princess Deborahs obsession was that much notorious.

Rumor has it that she was harassing Mia.

The Montez must have thought so too, so they used the rumors in the same way to express their intention to refuse.

It wasnt the case for Seymour, as it was no different from hurting someones feelings.