༺ Prelude to Becoming a Professor (5) ༻
The First Imperial Princess, Elizabeth, held her chin at a minor question that had been bugging her for a while as she breezed through her documents with the company of a nice cup of tea.
‘Why didn’t he look at my face throughout the whole meeting?’
Ferzen Von Schweig Brutein
No. The second son of Brutein now bears the surname of Louerg.
And that same man never once looked in her eyes.
It can’t be a matter of etiquette….
‘I could try to dig up a little, but…’
It would be a waste of time.
As someone blessed by the God of Wisdom, Elizabeth was able to have premonitions about the result of her plans or actions, but she also had the talent to read a person’s mind for 3 seconds if they answered a question she posed.
Although this talent also had its restrictions, as she could only use it to read a person’s mind once every 3 months. Because of her blessing and talent, Elizabeth was entrusted with the task of being the new Imperial Academy’s Chairman.
Knock Knock-
—-Ferzen Von Schweig Louerg wants to speak with Her Highness the First Imperial Princess
‘…… ‘
He wants what now?
Elizabeth smirked as she allowed Ferzen to enter her office.
“Excuse me.”
A white shirt that created the perfect contrast with his stylish black suit.
The necktie is embroidered with the beautiful crest of Brutein.
His attire was rather simple in its design but elegant nonetheless.
A rare breed of aristocrat who doesn’t indulge in extravagant clothes.
“So Lord of Louerg, how can I help you?”
“If you please, Your Highness, could you take a look at this request?”
Keeping his head lowered, Ferzen presented a form to her – a huge one.
But contrary to its size, the message was simple.
He wants to change some of the furniture in his newly assigned classroom.
“Hm, I’ve never seen designs like this.”
The man had a knack for drawing; she had to give him that, but what also caught her eye was the extensive details of what his suggestion inquired.
“…… ”
Even if Elizabeth was the one financing this change, she found it difficult to refuse this suggestion as to why she thought that…..
From the form that Ferzen gave to her, she could see that the report was irradiating a bright red and magenta color.
Elizabeth’s blessing to foretell success is not something she has total control over.
Her blessing is akin to a mischievous child that relied on his mood, it might foretell the results of her plans or not.
‘It’s been a long time since I saw this combination….’
The Red color means bad luck, and the magenta means something misfortune.
In summary, if I allow this change, some kind of misfortune will occur, which is a shame.
However, if I refuse this, it would be a disaster.
So I got to choose the lesser evil?
“Sigh…. Do whatever you want….”
How can a simple change of furniture have the most ominous repercussions….
“Thank you.”
Ferzen, who seemed alleviated by this, took his leave.
And thanks to this peculiar reaction, a certain Princess’ curiosity was picked.
“Ah, Lord Ferzen?”
“Yes, Your Highness”
“In my presence, you should lift your head and look at me. I find it rather unsettling having to talk with someone without having eye contact with them.”
I wonder why he stiffened when I told him that… But soon enough, he turned around and looked at me with those unique red eyes of his.
“… … ”
Women are quite sensitive to a men’s gaze, you see.
Because of this, Elizabeth could sense that Ferzen’s gaze stayed on her face for a moment and then shifted to the hairpin placed in her hair.
‘Sure Enough… ‘
He is a true Brutein, alright.
Elizabeth maintained her mask on the outside, but on the inside, she was quite pleased with his perceptive gaze.
Different from most aristocratic ladies, Elizabeth doesn’t enjoy wearing flashy accessories.
But among the ornaments that were gifted to the royal family, I really liked this one. It’s simple in its design, made by carving sapphires and rubies in the shape of blooming flowers. But most people can’t recognize its true valor.
However, she felt a subtle amount of pride and joy when Ferzen seemed to recognize its true value.
“Hm?”
Flap Flap-
A Hawk sits lazily by the window as it flaps its beautiful wings.
Does this bird have no fear?
Even though she tried to ignore it, Elizabeth was starting to feel a little uncomfortable because the stupid bird was rather big, so she tried to wave her hand as if trying to shoo the hawk away….
Flap Flap!
“Kyaa!”
Suddenly, the hawk stretched his wings and jumped at her with its talons, messing up her hair.
Elizabeth, who was caught completely off guard, let out a rather girlish scream. Perhaps startled by her scream, the hawk flew to the window, having snatched her flower-shaped hairpin….
Bonk!
────!
Ferzen’s cane pressed against the hawk’s body, holding it firmly on the floor.
Then he removed the hairpin from its talons, grabbed the bird by its neck, and threw it out the window.
The hawk, who was flowing out the window, spread his wings and flew away.
“Stupid Bird.”
“Yes… it’s a predatory bird, so he must’ve been attracted by the hairpin because it was something shiny.”
Recalling her shameful scream, Elizabeth blushed as she tidied up her messy blond hair.
Seeing this, Ferzen took a jade-colored comb from his subspace and approached Elizabeth’s side.
“Allow me to fix it for you.”
“Hoh… are you sure? Fixing a woman’s hair can be quite challenging, you know?”
“If I wasn’t confident, I would never dare to touch Your Highness the Princess’s hair.”
“Heh, fine.. let me see what you can do.”
Hearing Ferzen’s confident words, Elizabeth calmly put her hands on her lap and straightened her back.
“Very well, if you excuse me for a moment, Your Highness.”
Ferzen’s large hands dexterously combed her hair with gentle movements.
Elizabeth wasn’t fond of having others touch her hair, especially from an early age, she would produce a lot of shameful expressions when her mother combed her hair.
After I grew and matured, I got used to my maids carefully washing and combing my hair but…..
“Hyaa~.”
“Are you feeling uncomfortable, Your Highness?”
“Hmmm? nonono. Go on”
In the now silent office, the only source of sound was Ferzen combing her hair.
“It’s done.”
When Ferzen finished combing her hair, Elizabeth looked at the mirror with a heated breath.
His words were indeed true, as the end result was more than satisfactory.
He combed her hair to perfection.
“Then, if you’ll excuse me, Your Highness.”
“Ferzen…”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Shouldn’t you leave the hairpin behind?”
“Oh….”
With a blank face, as if he had forgotten about the existence of my hairpin, Ferzen put my flowered-shaped ornament on my desk.
“If may be so bold, Your Highness…. This is indeed a beautiful ornament. However, I think your current look suits you best.”
“Are you flirting with me, Ferzen? Even though you already have a wife?”
“…. I wouldn’t dare, Your Highness. I just stated my most sincere opinion.”
“Sigh, alright, just go already.”
“Yes, Your Highness the First Princess.”
Creak-
Ferzen opens the door and leaves the office.
Elizabeth, now left alone, looked down at her hairpin.
‘He really has a knack for getting under my skin…’
Regarding the hairpin, the reactions of those around her were always rather sloppy.
So Elizabeth didn’t really listen to Ferzen.
My taste in fashion just gets misunderstood as strange.
“My style isn’t strange….”
Suddenly Elizabeth’s mood soured.
* * * * *
While on the Academy’s roof, I broke my connection with the summoned hawk and sighed in relief.
After cutting off my connection, the hawk returned to its original state as a corpse.
Since I made every effort not to look directly at her face, I prepared some contingency plans based on the idea that Princess Elizabeth might order me to look at her face, which, in the end, paid off.
‘Really…. that was unbearable.’
Wearing a hairpin only on one side, while annoying, is still something I can cope with.
It’s something I would have forgotten completely after leaving the office.
However, the hairpin used by the First Imperial Princess Elizabeth didn’t have color harmony.
The flower-inspired hairpin had exactly 5 petals.
Among them, three of those petals were red, and two were transparent blue.
And those petals were arranged in a round, blooming shape.
Had the hairpin been composed of a single color, I would have had almost no qualms with it. However, unfortunately, it wasn’t the case.
And on the red petals, the Imperial family’s crest was engraved.
Since red is a color that represents the Imperial Family, I can guess the intention the craftsman had for this ornament, but from my point of view, this hairpin was absolutely disgusting.
If only the hairpin had 6 petals… I would have applauded this unknown craftsman.
‘My acting was natural enough….’
Since the princess didn’t notice my discomfort and my proposal was approved by her, after disposing of the hawk’s body, I turned around and left the roof.
‘So that’s where those teachers from Rosenberg were?’
From the size of the crowd, they must be quite popular.
Since the classes on Black Magic were only held once a week, I already had some ideas on how to conduct it.
But I don’t need to bother with this for now, as I only need to submit my teaching plans to the Princess on March 3th, a week before the entrance ceremony.
‘Hmm, it’s 4:30 pm already….’
It’s been quite a while, but I should be able to return home before the sunset.
But just as I stepped out of the main building and went where my carriage was parked….
“… … ”
“… … ”
I faced Yuriel, who was walking across the street.
“Going back already?”
“Isn’t that obvious?”
“Hah, just so you know, since Black Magic lessons are only held once a week, there’s no need for you to get help from those Rosenberg’s teachers.”
Classes on Elemental magic are held 3 times a week.
For those aspiring to become Warlocks, it is of great importance that they learn the intricacies of Elemental Magic to better control the corpse of an elemental wizard, so most students of black magic will attend classes on Elemental Magic.
“Yuriel.”
“Humph, since when are we close enough for you to use my name without honorifics?”
“Professor Yuriel.”
“……”
“Why do you desperately seek my attention?”
“What…..No! Just so you know, the Alfred family is no longer obsessed with Brutein.”
“Is that so….”
I slowly moved forward and pushed Yuriel against the wall.
“So am I to understand that you are simply trying to pick a fight with me simply due to sheer pettiness?”
“…… ”
“Professor Yuriel.”
“I really hate your dishonesty, your dignity….. Can’t you stop being so stubborn!”
“…… ”
“Let me ask you this then, without the name of Brutein, what do you have left?”
At that, I whispered in her ear.
“If I asked you the same thing, what would you say?”
“Huh.”
Yuriel turned her head away from me, refusing to answer.
Looking at her act, I gently stepped on her left foot.
Since I stepped on her left foot, naturally, I had to step on her right foot as well
“Hey, it hurts…!”
“Professor Yuriel. Like it or not, you are from the Alfred Family, and they are supporting you.”
“I said it hurts, you sick bastard!”
“Therefore, think carefully. When the Alfred family is confident that they won’t cower in front of Brutein, then they must be prepared to growl like the dogs they are.”
Yuriel tearful eyes frowned, and she stretched her left hand to push me away.
I grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently.
With her instep pressed down, I clasped her hand over her head and then raised her face.
“Professor Yuriel…. You’ve become a tiresome woman.”
“…… ”
“The only mature thing about you are these stupid large overgrown lumps of flesh of yours that you make sure to emphasize….”
“… … !”
After I finished speaking, I let go of Yuriel, who was blushing furiously and covering her sizable bust with both of her hands.
“Have you finally gone crazy? Harassing an unmarried woman….”
“You’re only entitled to nice things if you’re benign to others. Your current captured appearance is rather unsightly.”
Tidying up my clothes, I stepped into the carriage, ignoring Yuriel’s grumbles.
Then, putting my cane back in my subspace, I instructed the coachmen to return to the estate where Euphemia was waiting.
It’s 5 pm.
I wasted half an hour bantering with Yuriel.
‘It seems that nothing more has happened.’
Even if the Claudia and Alfred families came into contact, and the information on what Ferzen did to Lizzy was divulged, I thought that the inferiority complex shown by Yuriel was a little off.
‘Maybe I’m overthinking this….’
Like a mountain, Brutein has always stood unmovable.
The Alfreds have been the ones who always tried to get in the way of Brutein.
And even then, Brutein only moved when the Alfreds went too far.
But of course, there’s no way Brutein could understand the thoughts of those lowly dogs.
‘My head hurts…… ‘
Even if Brutein keeps a low profile, it’s still capable of overshadowing them.
Seeing those dogs trying to clash with Brutein, I get this inexplicable desire to lock them in some dark pit and let them know who they are talking to.
It is quite an arduous task to suppress this impulse.
While gently massaging my temples, the carriage arrived at the mansion.
* * * * *
‘He’s here.’
Looking out the window in the master’s bedroom, which had now been thoroughly cleaned, Euphemia noticed Ferzen’s arrival.
While it had been boring, the solitude presented some unique comfort to her troubled heart.
‘Today’s… ‘
Not a safe day.
It doesn’t seem like that man was aware of my cycle, so if nothing happens, at least I would not bear his child.
Of course, I know this will probably occur at some point…
No matter how much I try to find a way out, I will have that man’s child.
But the thought of having a child who resembles him and being the mother of said child….
I can’t imagine that.
No, I don’t want to imagine that.
While immersed in those thoughts, Euphemia sat on the bed and hugged her knees.
‘What is he doing….’
No matter how long she stared at the door, it didn’t open.
Since the days were shorter in spring, the moment the clock announced it was past the sixth hour, the night began to fall.
Creak-
Hearing that dreadful noise, that man entered the room.
Seeing his characteristic obsidian hair, now glistering with water, it seems he was taking a bath.
“Euphemia, did you have dinner?”
“Yes”
“Is that so?”
As Ferzen, now clad in more comfortable clothes, slowly approached the bed, Euphemia flinched as she tried to get away from him.
Fortunately, the bed was spacious.
But, as if predicting her escape, Ferzen reached out to her and embraced Eupehmia’s waist pulling her into his arms.
And then he naturally stretched out his hand….
“I, I… I am tired today. It hasn’t even been a day since we arrived in the capital….”
“… … ”
Will this excuse work?
What if he doesn’t buy it?
This is the only card I have…
“I know.”
“……?”
But Ferzen agreed with her.
Surprisingly, he fell for it, and Euphemia didn’t dare to relax.
She remembered how that man reacted when she refused the necklace.
“Euphemia, I know what you are thinking, but it wouldn’t hurt to go along with your wishes once.”
“…… ”
“Today’s probably not a safe day for you.”
After confirming her fears, Ferzen gets up, brings a chair in front of his desk, and sits there.
“There are more to these… night activities rather than just copulating.”
“What…”
“It’s okay. What you don’t know, I will teach you.”
He sat on the chair with perfect posture, without any disturbance.
So he ordered her to sit before him.
Hyaa sorry guys, this chapter was supposed to come out in the middle of the week, but shit got crazy for me here with work-related stuff… anyways
Snu Snu is coming!!!!!
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