Chapter 114 - A Day Before (2)

While Alexandra was deep in thought, her father spoke cutting off her train of thoughts and pulling her back to reality. "About tomorrow…" HE started and Alexandra looked at his direction, his eyes wide with wonder as she waited for the next thing that he will say. What about tomorrow? Will he cancel it or what? Because if he will, that will waste all of my efforts just to prepare for tomorrow, she thought to herself.

Christian also stopped eating and looked at the direction of their father. "Are you ready for what will happen tomorrow?" Was what their father asked and he took a sip from his cup of tea. Alexandra let out a sigh of relief knowing that their father wasn't going to cancel it but just rather ask her that, he was just being worried for her because that decision was very sudden and he thought that she wouldn't be ready for it. Alexandra showed him a smile before she responded, "Yes, Diana and the other maids also helped me to prepare for tomorrow. I want to give them a good impression, so they helped me in doing so," Alexandra said, her voice sounded gentle and filled with warmth.

Her father nodded and replied, "I see. I already told them that they are going to meet someone tomorrow but I didn't tell them it's going to be you," Her father took a sip from his cup of tea after he spoke and Alexandra just smiled and nodded. Silence surrounded them once again, after this, I need to go back to the palace for the tutor and such. Then I will either just go read in the library right after our session or to eat dinner before taking a bath and going to sleep. Our session would last depending on our topic, if it's long, we would finish it a few minutes before dinner or we will stop and continue tomorrow but if it's just a short one, we would finish it an hour or two before dinner.

It's either one topic a day or two, she let out a sigh and she leaned back on her seat. "Are you worried about tomorrow, Alexandra?" Her brother called out to her and she looked at his direction to see him smiling at her, in a reassuring way as if he was telling her that everything will be fine tomorrow. Alexandra shook her head and smiled back at him before she responded, "Sort of. I am nervous, although I am prepared for what will happen tomorrow, I hope it goes well," There was a hint of worry which laced her voice as she spoke in a gentle tone.

Diana and Carlos encouraged her and reassured her before, so that eased her up a bit. "Don't worry, I will be there with you tomorrow. For support," Then he let out a small chuckle which rang inside Alexandra's ears, it sounded so gentle and soothing, his chuckle is like… beautiful and warm. Alexandra couldn't completely describe his chuckle and voice but she was attracted to it. Alexandra's smile widened and her eyes closed at the process, she didn't say anything but he could tell that she was being grateful and happy because of what he said.

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Alexandra arrived at the study room and Ferdinand was already there, waiting for her. All of the things that they will need was already placed on top of the table, it looked like he was waiting for so long for her to arrive. Alexandra felt guilty because of that.

When Ferdinand heard the sound of the door opening, he turned his head in her direction and their eyes met. Alexandra showed him an embarrassed and awkward smile, "Thank you for waiting for me, I hope you didn't get bored as you did," Alexandra said in a gentle voice as she walked towards the direction of the desk while Carlos followed behind her. Ferdinand nodded and a subtle smile was plastered on his lips before he responded, "It's fine, I arrived earlier than I should," He said and watched Alexandra as she walked around her desk to sit on the chair behind it.

Once she finally sat on it, she made herself comfortable first and dragged the chair near the desk before letting out a small sigh. "Okay, let's start," She said and that was the cue. "Have you done the homework that I gave you 2 days ago, miss?" Ferdinand asked and Alexandra nodded. She pulled one of the drawers and it revealed tons of paper inside, she took the one on the top and handed it to Ferdinand who stared at it for a few seconds before he took it. That was the homework he gave her 2 days ago, she has to answer all of the questions on that sheet and give it to him 2 days after. It was a 3-pages homework.

Thankfully, it wasn't that hard. She didn't even have to look at the book and look for the answers or ask others for help in answering, although she never did that every time she would do her homework. Since she listened to Ferdinand and wrote down all of the important things he taught her while he was discussing and writing on a small board which was almost as big as a whiteboard. Almost the size those people working in a company would use while in a meeting, talking about finances and their products. To not waste mana, he would use a pen-like thing to write. A marker, probably.

While Ferdinand looked at the paper, he nodded multiple times indicating that her answers were correct and she silently celebrated every time he nodded. After a few moments, he finally finished reading it and there was a faint smile on his lips, he looked like he was proud of her. Did I answer it all correctly? The look on Ferdinand's face tells me that I did, she thought to herself as she waited for his response or feedback on her homework.

"I am surprised that you managed to answer all of it correctly, it seems like you are paying good attention to everything that I taught you or did you ask for help or used a book while answering?" Ferdinand asked, sounding like he was amazed. Although he doesn't look nor sounded doubtful at the end or at his last sentence, why does it seems like he does? Was it the way that he asked her or what?

Alexandra, being an honest and straightforward person that she is, answered, "Are you that doubtful of my abilities, Ferdinand? You can ask Carlos or Diana or any other maids in this palace to see if I asked them for help. I always do my homework in this study room since I can focus here better than inside my room or library, you can't find a single book about the lessons that we have discussed in this study room. It is all inside the library but for the past 2 days, I didn't visit the library nor my father's library. Carlos can prove to you that. Besides, even at the previous homeworks that are like that one, I never asked for helped nor looked for answers in the book,"

Honestly, her answer seemed like she was being framed for stealing something or killing someone but the truth is, she is just proving or telling him that she didn't ask for help or looked for answers in the book. She hates it when someone doubts her abilities or such, so when he asked her that one question, that just triggered something inside her. Even though she was smiling at him while she spoke and her voice was gentle, she looked ticked off.

Ferdinand's eyes widened for a moment when he heard her answer. "I-I see," Was what he only said and Alexandra realized what she just said to him. Should I apologize or not? But I said those things to him, although I never insulted him. She let out a sigh, "I'm sorry," She said.

"What are you sorry for, Miss Alexandra? Is it about your response or answer when I asked you that question?" Ferdinand replied, there was no change in his tone of voice or in his expression. "Yes…" Alexandra responded. His mouth shaped into an 'O' before he said to her, "That kind of reaction or response is just normal. It sounded like I was doubting you while I asked you that question. But to remain calm and gentle as you replied without bursting into anger, like having a very angry face and angry tone of voice is sort of… incredible. I once asked that to someone I was teaching before and his reaction was terrifying, so afraid of receiving that kind of reaction or response, I never asked him or another person that question anymore. Although this time, it just slipped off my tongue. I should be the one apologizing,"

Just like usual, there was no change in his expression or tone of voice while he spoke. My father and Carlos told me before that Ferdinand taught the four princes before when they were still a kid, around when they were 4-5 years old to prepare them and to be advanced. Imagine all of the things that he has to go through when he was teaching Prince Gilbert who is always silent and it seems like you are talking with the wind and Prince Chandler who is like a volcano or something. He probably asked Prince Chandler that question since it looked like he will have that angry reaction or response, she thought to herself. No wonder he looked tired of everything and somehow used to this.

A smile crept up her lips before she responded. "I see, it must have been so hard for you," She said. Well, I am also glad that he understood. He just nodded. "Now, let's start our discussion, shall we?" He said.