Chapter 25
Chapter 25
But the hypothesis was dismissed in one second.
'...That doesn't make sense.'
There were too many variables.
If she were meticulous enough to fool her with a performance like this, she would have used that acting skill to create today's situation in the first place.
She would have simply hidden herself thoroughly, kept quiet, and lived without drawing the attention of anyone other than Professor Iris.
The fact that Cassian had been honest meant his regret was genuine, too.
'What a cute kid.'
As Viscountess Müller climbed the stairs to the second floor, she recalled the name Cassian had just mentioned.
'Lily, was it?'
If he recommended someone while genuinely regretting it like that, there was no way she was a dud.
She had missed out on Cassian, the top prize in the bidding war, but she had secured the hidden prize, a disciple named Lily, so at least she had preserved some pride.
'At least it's better than Professor Wilhelm going back empty-handed.'
The more she thought about it, the more perfectly balanced the result seemed.
Professor Wilhelm, who would return empty-handed and still laugh heartily, "Ho ho! Maybe next time!"
She had salvaged the minimum practical gain and dignity by not coming in first, but not last either.
And finally, Professor Iris, who had kept her disciple.
'This turn of events probably wasn't what that student intended, but...'
The fact that he managed to steer things so smoothly with the three professors and leave none of them offended couldn't possibly be a coincidence.
This was in Corinth Del Farne's genes.
He must have some kind of innate instinct that manifested in the subconscious.
"Interesting. Very interesting."
When she returned to the office, there were two men inside and one woman nervously waiting her turn.
Iris von Evergarden.
Her already pale skin had gone completely white, as if nerves had upset her stomach.
As soon as Müller came in, Iris looked at her with anxious eyes.
'Oh my.'
A woman who was still young herself, and on the verge of losing a disciple even younger than she was, had "Surely... he wasn't stolen, right?" written plainly on her face.
Seeing that desperate look, Viscountess Müller got playful.
A winner should be polite to the loser, but...
'I'm in a position where I can be a little mean right now, right?'
Viscountess Müller smiled meaningfully and said to the three of them,
"Welcome back. Now it seems all that's left is for Professor Iris to go in last."
Then Professor Wilhelm looked startled.
He had seen Müller's bright expression and made a huge misunderstanding.
"Oh! Your expression is bright, so you got their approval?!"
"Well, maybe."
Viscountess Müller shrugged.
"Wouldn't it be more polite for Professor Iris to hear the result directly from Cassian himself?"
A vague, roundabout answer.
That alone was enough to heighten Iris's anxiety.
And then Professor Wilhelm, looking rather unwilling, landed an additional blow on Iris.
"Ah... that's true, too."
He clicked his tongue at Iris.
"Sorry, Professor Iris. I couldn't resist my curiosity and... tsk tsk."
Iris's mental state was crumbling to pieces under that sympathetic gaze.
'Hmm. I didn't mean to torment her this much.'
Just as he was starting to feel a little bad, Corinth set down his teacup and sorted out the situation.
"Professor Iris. Would you go now?"
"...Yes."
Iris rose weakly from her seat.
She trudged out of the office after the young butler.
Click.
The moment the door closed, Corinth chided Viscountess Müller.
"You were a bit mean, Viscountess."
"Exactly! She's already going to lose him and feel awful about it, so aren't you giving her false hope a little too much?"
Wilhelm chimed in.
But Viscountess Müller could tell.
'The Court Count knows.'
Unlike Wilhelm, Corinth understood the situation exactly.
As expected, like father, like son. Their knack for reading the room was on another level.
"I was just annoyed. Your child is such a desirable talent that I couldn't bear to be the only one missing out."
"Hmm? What do you mean? You were refused?"
Wilhelm blinked.
Corinth gave a snort of laughter and lifted his teacup.
He tried to cover his mouth, but Müller didn't miss the way the corners of his lips were already curling up.
So he really was the cool-headed head of the intelligence bureau after all.
'This family is surprisingly romantic, isn't it?'
The Farne family.
The more she learned about this family, the more interesting they seemed.
* * *
After Viscountess Müller made her cool exit, the drawing room.
I was buried deep in the sofa, staring up at the ceiling.
So this is what it feels like when your soul runs away from home.
In front of my eyes, the winning lottery ticket I'd just missed kept flickering.
Goodbye... my state-of-the-art greenhouse.
Farewell... my unlimited company card.
I was happy... you imaginary veteran farmers who would have treated me like a quartermaster.
As I was holding a funeral in my head, the door opened cautiously.
Creeeak.
It was Professor Iris.
There was no trace of her usual arrogant, confident genius.
Her shoulders were slumped, and her red eyes were trembling like a phone on vibrate.
'...What?'
Why was she so scared?
Iris couldn't even sit on the sofa across from me; she stood awkwardly and opened her mouth in a subdued voice.
"I could infer a bit from the viscountess's expression, but..."
She swallowed dryly.
"You really did make a decision."
Ah.
She figured it out.
So Aunt Müller didn't tell her the result straight out?
'That lady is really mischievous.'
I'd bet the dirt under my nails on it that she did it on purpose.
But this reaction in front of me...
'It's way too delicious.'
This woman was the type who'd make teasing her incredibly satisfying.
My sadistic urge began to grow and flourish.
I nodded with a very serious expression.
"Yes. I made my decision."
"...There's no room for you to change your mind, right?"
"Probably not."
I had refused while practically crying blood.
I can't take it back. I've already said it.
Despair spread across Iris's face.
If I teased her a little more, she might even cry.
'Maybe I should stop messing with her soon.'
She was my teacher in name, after all; if I bullied her any more here, I wouldn't be able to deal with the aftermath later.
Still, just a tiny bit.
Really just a little.
"Would you... like me to change my decision?"
"...I suppose?"
Iris raised her head.
Her eyes were desperate, as if clinging to a thread of hope.
I snorted and began gently clearing up the misunderstanding.
"You'll regret it."
"...Huh?"
"I said you'll regret it. Even so, do you really want me to change it?"
"...!"
At that moment.
Without even a 0.1-second delay, Iris's expression bloomed brightly.
You'll regret it = if I change it, it won't be you, right? = so that means I chose you.
The female professor in front of me understood that twisted logic in less time than it takes to blink.
'Damn, she's really smart.'
They say tact and empathy are also within the realm of intelligence.
I guess that theory doesn't apply to her.
She's really smart, but stupid.
"Then...!"
"Yes. I'm just going to leave it as is. I wrapped things up neatly, with no hard feelings."
"Ah...!"
When her red eyes curved with a smile, it was devastating.
So that's what a smiling gaze looks like.
Looking at her beaming face, I had no choice but to admit it.
She was as pretty as Lily and Elysia.
For the record, that's high praise.
In a world like this, there's no one prettier than the heroine and the villainess.
'A face genius, a magic genius, a body genius...'
The last one is kind of a trashy thought to have about one's student, but it's a fact.
I'm not the one at fault.
It's the teacher who's wrong for wearing an outfit like this.
But enough with the appraisal.
Now it's time to face reality.
I summoned some imaginary someone into my soul.
'No, elders! If you don't buy this, you won't be able to get off the bus! Aren't you going sightseeing?!'
Okay.
Spirit of a thug, come to me.
I adjusted my posture and put on the greediest smile in the world.
"Now then, Professor. Let's put the joy on hold for a moment."
"Yes?"
"Now it's time to negotiate. I just turned down Viscountess Müller's blank check, so I'd like to charge you for that opportunity cost."
Professor Iris blinked, then soon smiled and said,
"All right. Tell me anything."
She's a pushover.
A total pushover.
Normally I'd feel guilty about fleecing a pushover.
But maybe because I'd just turned down a blank check, not a speck of guilt was surfacing.
"You clearly said it, right? You said to tell you anything?"
"...Uh-huh?"
"No. Not 'uh-huh.' Just 'yes.' No backtracking today."
"...Yes."
That's right.
* * *
Her steps from the drawing room to the office were light, as if she were walking on clouds.
That one-on-one meeting with Cassian just now.
The conditions he set were quite serious.
Of course, most of those conditions focused on laziness and slacking off.
And the rest were conditions that would drain her wallet dry.
'It doesn't matter.'
What of it?
He had become my disciple.
Money was useless anyway; there was nothing for it to be spent on.
Magic research cost a fortune, but the academy provided her with an enormous research budget.
Separately, her own school would also support her without limit if she said she was short on research funds.
As for her personal fortune, if Cassian wanted it, he could shake it out and take every last coin for all she cared.
A moment later.
Click.
Creeeak.
When she returned to the office on the second floor, the corners of her mouth still hadn't calmed down.
The flip side was that a manic high had come just as strongly as the anxiety she'd felt all day.
Seeing that, Viscountess Müller tossed out a comment.
"It's irritating. You're so purely happy like that."
"Pardon?"
"Not that a loser has any right to say it, but congratulations. You've gained a talent."
Müller shrugged.
Only then did Iris snap out of it.
'No. From now on, I'm a teacher. I have to be solemn. I need to show dignity.'
She hurriedly fixed her expression and answered again in a solemn tone.
"Thank you. I was so anxious today that I ended up laughing rudely in front of the three of you without meaning to. I'm sorry."
Corinth, seated in the seat of honor, set down his teacup and smoothed things over.
"My son's decision seems firm, so I hope the two of you won't take offense. My child has very clear likes and dislikes."
Professor Wilhelm chuckled and stood up.
"Ho ho, so he's chosen to walk the path of magic after all. It's a pity, but what can you do? Your son will be a great man useful to the country no matter where he stands."
Viscountess Müller also rose, picking up her hat.
"I'll take my leave as well."
"Then I'll be on my way too..."
As Iris was about to say goodbye along with the two of them, Corinth raised a hand to stop her.
"Wait a moment."
"Yes?"
"If it's not too much trouble, I have something I'd like to say to Professor Iris separately."
Corinth's gaze fixed on Iris.
"Would it be all right if the two of you returned first? I understand the three of you came in Viscountess Müller's carriage, but once our conversation is over, we'll politely send Professor Iris home in our family's carriage."
The Court Count's voice was quite serious.
As Iris awkwardly settled back onto the seat,
Professor Wilhelm nodded.
"Of course. Now that he's become a student, there must be things to discuss as a parent, like teaching policy and the like. Understood. Then we'll head off first."
Viscountess Müller agreed as well.
"Of course. I'll be leaving first as well."
"Thank you for understanding."
*
After the two of them left.
Only Corinth and Iris remained in the office.
A strange tension hung in the air.
Now that they were left alone together.
Iris clenched the hands resting on her knees.
Her heart pounded.
'What is he going to say?'
Her genius brain spun rapidly and drew up a list of possible questions.
Question 1: magic education curriculum.
'He's probably asking about a systematic education plan, right? From basic mana sensitivity to advanced magical theory, I need to explain the perfect plan.'
Next, question 2: a detailed analysis of his child's genius.
'He may want an expert opinion on Cassian's potential. I should praise his formula-decomposition ability exactly as it is.'
And then question 3: career prospects after graduation.
'Royal court mage? Or a career in academia? It's only natural for a father to worry about his son's future.'
Of course, even if the third one wasn't about magic, the Court Count Corinth, who oversaw the imperial household and personnel affairs, would know much more about it.
In any case, she was prepared to give a perfect answer with sincerity no matter what question came.
This was practically the first meeting with a parent who had entrusted her with a student.
"Professor."
After a brief pause, Corinth spoke carefully.
"Yes, please speak."
Iris straightened her posture nervously.
Corinth cleared his throat once and awkwardly scratched between his brows.
"So... this may sound like a father defending his child, so please don't misunderstand me, but I'd like you to hear me out."
"Of course. I'll listen to anything you have to say."
"Perhaps..."
What is he trying to say that he has to drag it out like this?
'Don't tell me he's unhappy that it ended up being me?'
Under normal circumstances, she would never have thought this, but today was the day her self-esteem had fallen to the bottom of her life.
But soon after,
the words that came from Court Count Corinth's mouth were completely unexpected.
"As far as I know, there isn't a ball or banquet in the capital today."
"Yes?"
That was the same question Cassian had asked her not long ago.
Before she even had time to wonder what he meant, the next question followed.
"That outfit... you're not wearing it at school in everyday life, only for things like banquets, right?"
"...Pardon?"
Iris's thought process stopped.
It was not within the range of questions she had expected.
Not magic, education, or the future... but clothing?
She blankly looked down at her dress.
It wasn't the red dress she had worn yesterday, of course.
It was still the dress that blatantly showed off her figure, the one Seria had screamed about, asking if she was a succubus, and it suddenly stood out to her all over again.
Only then did she understand the seriousness in Court Count Corinth's eyes.
He was now regarding the educator who had taken his son on as a student with suspicion, as a father.
"...Ah."
In that instant, a hot flush suddenly began to rise from within Iris.
'I'm doomed...!'