"He is quite popular, especially amongst the girls."
Julie, who has been silent this whole time spoke.
"Indeed, a little too popular actually…"
"Well, he is strong and talented…
Not to mention incredibly handsome.
The only thing holding him back is his humble background, however, that wouldn't be a problem once he breaks through Advance Stage and becomes a Master Stage Cultivator.
With his talent, he will become one in a few years and once that happens, there would be flocks of women rushing toward him, therefore, it is only natural that those girls would try their best to get their hands on him.
After all, the sooner the try, the higher the chances of their success."
Julie analyzed everything in great detail.
"Thinking about marriage already? Shouldn't you focus on your studies?"
Evane raised her eyebrow.
Hearing those words, Julie smiled wryly.
"Let's be honest here, Teacher Evane, majority of the students joins the Royal Academy not to learn, but to find a perfect partner for themselves.
This is the only place where we could properly interact with people of our age and status, in other words, this is the only place where we are free to choose our partners ourselves.
Once we leave the academy, our parents would be the ones deciding our marriage partners.
By then, we won't have the freedom to choose.
We would be forced to comply with our parents' demands.
Of course, students of Prodigy class are a little different and don't focus much on this stuff, however, with someone like Nux right in front of their eyes, they won't give up on this opportunity at all."
"…"
Evane couldn't help but be amazed.
She has been teaching in this Academy for years, why hasn't she noticed this tell now?
'Are these really just children? Why are they worried about stuff like marriage so early?'
This was a big shock for Evane.
"T-Then why aren't you going after him?
Do you not like him?"
Evane questioned in curiosity.
"I find it hard to believe that there would be any girl who would not like someone like Nux. I am not an exception either.
However, my parents have already arranged my marriage with Earl Andrew, I don't have the luxury to choose now."
Julie answered with a small smile on her face.
"Huh? Marriage? So quickly?"
"Teacher Evane, we might be students, but we are still more than 20 years old, some of us are even 30. It is a perfect time for us to get married.
It is you who is unusual for staying single for so long.
Well, I think that is a little expected since you are the Princess of the strongest Kingdom in the world, your parents don't force you to marry someone, right?
Though I will say, Teacher Evane, you are missing out.
Marrying someone you like is a big change in your life, it is an experience that I am looking forward to."
Julie smiled.
Again, Evane turned silent.
'I am the unusual one…?'
She questioned inwardly.
She thought about it a little more, however, suddenly, she recalled someone Julie said,
"You are marrying Earl Andrew?"
"Yes, that is correct."
Julie nodded.
"Isn't he, like, 3 times older than you? Are you comfortable in marrying someone like that?"
"…"
Hearing that question, Julie turned silent.
There was a change in her expression for a second, however, she quickly hide that and smiled,
"Of course not. Due to Cultivation, age is nothing more than a number.
He may be in his 70s right now, but doesn't he still look like a man in his 30s? What's the problem then?
Also, I have heard that he is caring and cherishes people close to him.
What else could I wish for?"
'Age is just a number huh…'
Evane muttered inwardly.
'She is marrying someone who is 3 times older than she is and is completely fine with that…
Doesn't that mean me getting together with Nux is fine as well…?'
Evane thought inwardly and soon, her face turned red.
'No no no no! Just what in the hell am I thinking!?'
Evane then shook her head, however, Julie continued,
"I truly believe that as long as you like someone, you should truly pursue him, factors like age, status, and anything else are irrelevant. In the end, your inner satisfaction is what matters the most."
More and more strange thoughts started entering Evane's head and her face turned redder and redder while she glanced at Nux who was standing right in front of her.
If anyone else saw her right now, they would easily guess her feelings right now, however, the girl, who was standing with her right now, didn't notice anything.
Julie was lost in her thoughts.
What she said earlier was a lie.
She did not like that bastard Andrew at all. She has heard that he was a pervert who lusts after women and is unbearably rude. Of course, she didn't believe those rumors at first, however, she has met this man before and was sure that he wasn't a good man at all.
He was a far cry from the dream man she had imagined in her mind.
The only reason she was marrying him was that her parents forced her to.
Their reasoning was clear, since he is older than her, he would be dying sooner than her as well, once he dies, all his properties would belong to her and would indirectly belong to their house.
It was a long-term plan and recently, it was quite popular amongst the noble houses.
Of course, there were some problems with this plan like children and stuff, however, that would be dealt with later. Julie didn't bother with those either.
However, no matter what, Evane was still a Princess that belongs to the Royal family, there is no way Julie can tell her the truth, this might destroy her family after all.
Therefore, Julie just lied.
What she didn't know, however, was that her lie had opened a completely different path in Evane's mind.
