Chapter 27

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*Gap. What a beautiful word.

*TL-RP/N: Those who are in a higher position within a contract are referred to as the ‘Gap.’

A favorable high status.

Commending ranking.

And standing atop… Gap!

The world’s greatest authority! Gap!

All right, then let’s do the power trick.

You have to be nice.

Irene straightened her back as she slightly raised her chin.

This was the attitude of the superior.

“It isn’t necessary for you to arrive earlier than the appointed time. You have signed a contract that stated you will tutor starting from nine o’clock and leave at six, with two hours of rest in between.”

“Uh… That’s right. But you’re actually keeping that agreement?”

“Was there ever a case where one signed a contract in order to only act against it?”

“But you know.”

The wizard folded his arms and tilted his head slightly.

“The only thing I read in the ‘How to find a job and survive in the capital’ section was your surname.”

Well, that’s not wrong.

“…So you came all the way to the Capital after reading such little words? On what basis was your trust?”

“I trusted the Count’s advertisement.”

“Didn’t the newspaper say ‘How to escape from being fooled by a job advertisement’?”

“There was no such thing.”

“Still, that was obviously a suspicious advertisement. “

“Suspicious?”

“Where in the world does a job exist where it presents the best treatment in the industry, hands a lot of money in a short period of time, and provides room and meals?!”

“You don’t know?”

“…”

Yeah, here’s one. Such a great place is where we are right now. They even pay you in advance.

“Of course, I don’t favor the work, yet I can’t help it. I decided not to run away. Wizards value their oaths.”

“So what are you going to teach me today?”

“What does the little girl want to learn?”

He reversed the question. Irene pondered for a while, however, there didn’t seem any particular subject she wished to learn.

However, she had a strong urge to become a Wizard’s disciple, since a while ago.

“Can I learn magic, too?!”

“Well, I don’t know.”

Having said that, the teacher tapped his finger on Irene’s silver hair.

The warmth emerging from this finger slowly penetrated from her head to neck.

“I don’t think my Lady can.”

“Why?”

“Just. It’s not possible.”

“That’s a shame.”

When Irene mustered a teary expression, he patted her on the head.

“If you keep saying that, scary grandfathers from the Magic Tower will take you, wouldn’t they?”

“Scary grandpas?”

“Yes, and then you will live in a place with nothing but books and dust.”

He shook both his shoulders. As if just thinking about it was terrible.

“Was teacher also kidnapped?”

“Do you think I’m crazy enough to walk there with my own two feet? That dirty place?”

“Then, is there a possibility that you’ll be taken back?”

Instead of answering Irene’s question, he only smiled confidently.

It seemed to somehow convey, ‘I don’t know if they can catch me this time.’

“What else do you want to learn besides magic?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never really thought about it.”

“Then there’s nothing to learn today.”

“That’s right.”

“What do you usually do at this hour?”

“Now, I do exercises. I just drank my milk. “

“Nice. Let’s start with that.”

“What? Exercises all the way?”

“Yes. let’s do that.”

But he’s very tall. I don’t think he needs this kind of exercising.

Irene first stood near the window. The wizard teacher also stood next to her.

When Irene lifted both her arms, he did the same.

She stretched once to the right, once to the left, and forward while in that posture.

“Ah, right.”

Irene, who stretched by leaning back, brought up something that she seemed to have recalled.

“I have a question, sir.”

“All right, I’ll take the first question from my student.”

He could barely reply as he moved his creaky body. He seems stiff.

“How did brother and father know right away that you were from the tower yesterday?”

“Well, because I’m handsome?”

He stuck out his face while answering Irene.

Irene didn’t respond. She thought indifference would be the best answer. As she continued stretching, now with her arms crossed, he asked in disappointment.

“Why aren’t you responding?”

“I thought you’d like it if I presented a ghastly reaction.”

“Well, you’re very quick to notice. Anyhow, your brother only discovered the fact due to the magical pattern engraved on my body.”

“Magic pattern?”

“It’s proof that one had been enlightened of the flow of mana. In order to do so, you’d usually have to go to the Magic Tower.”

He placed his arms over his shoulders and slightly ruffled his blue hair.

There was a small vine pattern between both his ears and neck. It was invisible until now, due to his hair.

Feeling quite intrigued, Irene halted her exercises and approached closer.

“Can I touch it?”

“No, if you press and hold it down, the mana won’t cycle and I would faint quite simply. It’s more than a matter of trust to allow someone to touch the pattern.”

“…A lie.”

I can’t believe such powerful wizards’ abilities could disappear so simply.

“If it’s a lie, why do wizards keep inside the tower, not having any trust toward others?”

“That…”

“That’s why wizards never sleep in the same room as anyone else.”

Was such a person really sleeping homelessly in front of someone else’s house?

Anyway, the pattern once again turned invisible after he lowered his hair.

After finishing the stretches, Irene washed her face thoroughly, changed her clothes, and returned back. Of course, the usual schedule had continued after.

“When I’m done with exercises, I read the newspaper.”

“Ho, is that why you had a newspaper placed on your desk?”

“Yes, I like newspaper clippings.”

Irene read the newspaper as usual. He sat on the desk and skillfully cut the article Irene marked.

“There are quite a few articles regarding the Crown Prince.”

Irene nodded as she glanced at the article he was cutting.

“That’s right. They’re increasing these days. It makes sense though.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Well, perhaps the reason is because he’ll soon stand in front of his people as the Crown Prince. As curiosity about the Crown Prince’s appearance grows, of course there will be more articles regarding him.”

“Then does that simply mean there’s a lot of demand for such articles?”

“Of course the Imperial family might have ordered the article’s distribution themselves. Moderating stimulates public expectations. Oh, cut this, too.”

Just like publishing a pleasing article about celebrities before their debut, it was a way to raise expectations.

Gathering article scraps ended earlier than usual. This was because the teacher not only helped with the cutting but also gluing the pieces.

“What next?”

“It’s different every day.”

As soon as I thought about what to do, the boy messenger arrived at the mansion and delivered a letter to Irene.

The white envelope did not contain the sender’s name, however, Irene had a good idea of who the person was.

He probably couldn’t find an appropriate name, so he sent it blank.

As I pulled the letter, I could see Elvin’s neat writing.

「I apologize for the sudden letter. I recalled we didn’t make a specific appointed time while speaking by the fountain yesterday.

If you let me know when and where you are most comfortable, I’ll try my best to match the timing. I would be happy if you could reply to the boy who sent the letter.」

When Irene looked up after reading the letter, the wizard teacher was smiling significantly.

Don’t tell me that smile means he thinks I received a letter from my boyfriend.

No matter how young and youthful I was, it is unfair to connect me to such a misunderstanding.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Well, I just thought our Lady also received such letters.”

“Wh, what’s wrong with this letter?”

“I know everything. I read it in ‘The Secret Lifestyle of the Capital Aristocrats.’”

What does that book seem to have a red label?

“What, what did it say?”

“It’s a duel, isn’t it? Where are the gloves?”

“…”

“What are you fighting for?”

“It’s not like that.”

“What do you mean it’s not like that? It seems like this person is dying to fight with the Lady. He even said he’d meet the schedule.”

It’s because he’s so considerate…! No, what are you talking about? The word ‘consideration’ cannot be applied to the Crown Prince.

“Are you going?”

“…I have to. And it’s not a duel.”

“But why do you have such a worried face? Are you afraid you’ll lose the duel?”

“It’s not a duel. I just don’t know what to tell my parents.”

“But when they hear of this, they’ll want to watch. Well, why don’t we just sneak out?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. As soon as I open the front door, I’ll be reported to my parents.” (P/N: the servants will report her actions and whereabouts to her parents.)

“You can leave without opening the front door. Don’t you think so?”

“What?”

When Irene asked back, he grinned so happily his eyes couldn’t be seen anymore.

“Have you already forgotten who the Lady’s teacher is?”

He lifted his right hand and swept the air.

Everywhere his fingertips passed, gold powder gathered from all sides to form a painting. Irene immediately recognized that it was a map of the capital.

When the map was completed, he glanced at Irene.

“Where does my lady want to go? Tell me.”

Irene immediately replied to Elvin. Coincidentally, the time was just perfect.

Why don’t we meet in the garden of the library?

Fortunately, the reply returned immediately. ‘Okay’. It was a short and concise phrase.