CH 88

I forgot that the study was located on the first floor of the mansion with a window facing the garden. I caught hold of the window sill and stared blankly at Dietrich who had jumped over the ledge, then quickly shook my head to return to my senses. 

“It’s nothing. It was just a joke.”

“A joke?”

“Yeah, a joke. So—“

Before I knew it, I was looking alternately at Dietrich, who had pulled out a sword infused with energy, and Damon, who had generated an ice crystal on top of his hand to protect himself. 

“Shall we put down our weapons?”

‘When did he use his abilities again?’

I sighed as I looked at the white sphere which didn’t lose its coldness despite the approaching spring season. 

“Okay?”

“If that bastard lifts his magic first.”

“If His Graces removes that frightening sword first, then I, too, will remove my magic.”

It’s unfortunate that they’re people who refuse to listen. 

I had no choice but to go in between Dietrich and Damon, spreading my arms out. For now, there’s nothing good with provoking Damon.

‘I still don’t know what he knows.’ 

If he knew that I’m not a Lagrange, then, there’s no way that Dietrich wouldn’t have guessed such a shallow truth.  After all, my ability to put Asmodeus to rest was not an ability from the North. 

‘Come to think of it, why didn’t he ask me anything?’

Dietrich clearly saw that my ability was not the power of the shadows, but the power to suppress and purify a demon’s energy. 

However, he never questioned the origin of my birth. 

At first, I was terrified that Deitrich would ask me about my identity at any moment, but right now, it feels strange that he’s not asking. 

‘Maybe he really hadn’t noticed?’

However, there’s no way Dietrich wouldn’t be able to deduce with his head that I’m not a person from the North. 

I couldn’t tell promptly right now that I’m actually a Euclid to him who’s currently preparing to go to war against Hermann Euclid. 

‘I can’t even begin to imagine how he would react.’ 

In addition, he wasn’t even slightly interested, so to come forward first and say ‘I’m not your biological sister, but your enemy’s flesh and blood,’ would be too difficult to do. Time went by too quickly while I was waiting for the right timing. 

‘But still, I can’t let him hear it from someone else.’ 

For now, the priority was silencing Damon. 

“Teacher, please remove that dreadful lump of ice. It’s cold.”

“But.”

“I’ll catch a cold. Although spring has arrived, the weather is still chilly.” 

I coughed frailly and stirred his guilt. Eventually, his brows knitted and lifted his magic. 

“Dietrich.”

Sshk. 

I confirmed that Dietrich had sheathed his sword and clapped my hands once to refresh the atmosphere. 

“There was a slight misunderstanding! Then, shall we start our class again?”

It was the student, and not the teacher, who hurried to have a class. I straightened my shoulder feeling like a model student filled with excessive passion. 

I rushed back to my chair and settled on the fluffy cushion, but Dietrich, who had finished his business, didn’t move and stood still as if stuck in place. 

I tilted my head, looking at him who had no signs of moving. 

“Dietrich, aren’t you leaving?”

“I’ll listen, too.” 

“...You’re going to listen to Madam Montmartre’s short-term lecture on social adaptation, ‘Become a High Society Queen in One Month’?

“That’s right.” 

Damon flinched as if he didn’t like the name which I dubbed his lecture. 

Dietrich ignored what I said and strode forward, sitting on the chair next to me. 

He crossed his elegant legs, propped his chin on his hand, and appeared like a student who didn’t listen well. 

“Are you really going to listen as well?”

“The capital’s society is a bit different from the Northern society.” 

“I don’t think it’s necessary for someone like you who took the successor classes, Your Grace.” 

“I’ll be the one to determine whether I need it or not. All you have to do is babble away.” 

It was as if he really was trying to monitor whether he was truly a pervert or not. 

I sighed and glanced sideways at Damon with a look that says it couldn’t be helped. 

“For now, I understand. What I was telling the lady earlier was the fact that the Bernoulli Empire had a relatively short history compared to the history of the continent.”

I didn’t know whether it counted as him being quick-witted or not, but Damon began the lecture by pointing his finger at the map spread out on the desk. 

“But don’t you have a way to make things fun?”

“Do you mean to say I don’t have such skill?”

Dietrich seemed to have a knack for listening using his nose instead of his ears. 

Instead of answering Dietrich’s childish remark, I focused on Damon’s lecture. 

“The reason why the relationship between the South and the North isn’t good is simpler than you think. It is because they were originally different countries.” 

I didn’t know that. When my eyes widened, Damon smirked and continued. 

“Southern people are mostly Willettons, characterized by their light skin. Having light-colored eyes and hair are the most common combinations.”

I tried to hide the back of my hand which was pale, not even white, and my pale pink hair as if the dye had faded. 

“On the other hand, Northern people are characterized by either black or dark hair and reddish eyes. Lagrange is therefore called the Shadow Clan or Blood (Consanguine) Clan –”

“Wrong.” 

Due to Dietrich disputing his explanation, Damon’s speech was cut off. He glared at Dietrich with a displeased frown. 

“You said you’re a tutor, but you’re more foolish than I thought.”

“What is it?” 

“The reason why Lagrange is called a Blood Clan is because of our repeated and endless slaughter.”

A laugh of disbelief came out of my mouth at Dietrich’s explanation. Was that something you should be bragging about? However, he briefly glanced at me and added. 

“Because there is not a day where the blood on the sword has ever dried up, so when one sees a sword with fresh blood that has not been wiped, they call it Lagrange.” 

“I didn’t know that. Thank you for sharing your valuable knowledge, Your Grace.” 

“You’re welcome, Madame Montmartre.” 

It was true that Damon’s nickname was Madame Montmartre, yet why did Dietrich’s pronunciation sound like a mockery? 

Perhaps I was the only one being sensitive about it, but Damon’s fingers in the air froze for a moment. 

“You can just call me Damon.” 

“No, I quite like the name Montmartre.” 

‘He’s teasing him, I see.’ 

I shook my head seeing the corner of Dietrich’s lips raise at an angle. As if following me, Damon breathed a small sigh. 

“Do you have complaints against me? Please tell me the reason.”

“You’re sent by a woman who was impatient to kill Anissa’s spirit at the ball as if she would devour people. Is there any reason for me to see you as good?” 

“I have no personal connection with Countess Hilbert.”

“But you have with Euclid. After all, you are one of the teachers of Hermann Euclid.” 

‘Damon was Hermann’s teacher?’

That’s a fact that I didn’t even know. As the protagonist, Hermann had many excellent teachers around him to help develop his abilities. It seemed that one of them was Damon. 

‘Well, Hermann was a munchkin who would, later on, use high-level of magic.’

Damon’s eyes widened as if it came as a surprise to him that Dietrich knew even such information. 

“.... While it is true that I once taught Hermann magic, right now, I am Lady Anissa’s tutor. I am going to be faithful to my role, so please don’t worry.” 

“Why should I trust you?”

Despite Damon’s calm explanation, Dietrich remained on guard. Damon shook his head and opened his mouth. 

“Lady Anissa has my weakness.” 

As he said that, Damon’s eyes trained on me instead of looking at Dietrich. I hastily shook my hand, doing my best to avoid Dietrich’s eyes which he had turned on me. 

“Weakness? I don’t know what you mean, though?”

“No. You know. You’re not very good at lying.” 

Damon continued slowly as if enjoying the tense atmosphere. 

“And I have also great interest in your secret. I think I roughly know what it is.” 

“What do you mean seecreeet~?” 

I jumped out of my seat with an awkward smile.”

“Really! What a funny! Teacher! You are!”

I clapped my hands together and Dietrich glared at me and Damon with a sour look on his face.

“What secret are you talking about?”

“That’s–”

Keeping an eye on Damon’s mouth, not knowing what else he would say, I quickly reached for the snacks on the desk.

“Teacher!”

“What is – oomph!” 

“Aren’t you hungry? Help yourself with some bread! You’re such a passionate teacher!” 

I stuffed a baguette into Damon’s mouth before he could answer Dietrich. I haven’t spread some butter on it so it may end up scratching the roof of his mouth, but that’s not important right now. 

‘This guy acted like he wouldn’t say anything earlier and yet.’ 

“I’m hungry, is our meal not ready yet? Shall we eat?”

“To think you’d overpower a magician with one hand.” 

Dietrich, who I thought would interrogate me for blocking Damon’s mouth, smiled with satisfaction instead and stroked my head. 

“Better than I expected.”

“…..”

“You did well.”