Chapter 6.1

Sion, who had made a surprise appearance and nearly caused me to faint, had an early breakfast with me the day after the ball and then returned to the Grand Duchy.

When I asked what had happened, it turned out Alberto had told their family the news. That news had caused an uproar in the Grand Duchy. They had a heated debate over who should go to Rivai, and apparently, the Grand Duke and Sion even got into a physical fight.

The Grand Duchess stepped in to mediate, saying that it wouldn’t look good for the Grand Duke or herself to show up since I had basically received the invitation as the family’s representative. However, even the Grand Duchess had no disagreement that one of the family members needed to go to Rivai.

After a fierce process, Sion was the one who was chosen. He had gathered and badgered the mages to activate the magic circle and appear at the ball.

‘What did the mages do to deserve this…? On behalf of my family, I apologize…’

Before activating the magic circle to return to the Grand Duchy, Sion took a small orb from his pocket.

I thought it was a gift for me, but it was a gift for the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess. It was an orb with a spell that could record and replay scenes, like a camera. What was recorded on the orb was, of course, a scene of me at the ball.

Aaaah! Of course! They’re not the type of people who would just let it go!

“Give it to me, oppa!”

“Even if it’s your request, that’s difficult. I need to look at this to soothe my longing whenever I miss you. Well then, Eloe, I’ll be going now. Take care.”

“Why did you show it to me if you weren’t going to give it to me? You’re just trying to tease me!”

“That’s not it… I just thought you should know that I’ve captured your likeness.”

“How very conscientious of you…”

“You’re embarrassed. It’s a natural thing, but you’re hearing praise. You should thank me.”

That’s not praise, you dummy!

What should I do about Sion, who turns into an idiot in front of me?

As I sighed and pressed a hand to my forehead, Sion smiled softly. He then gestured to the waiting mages. The mages began to inject mana into the magic circle. The blurry light flickered.

“Eloe, we’re always on your side. Don’t forget that.”

“Okay. You take care, too. Please, please tell our parents not to worry because I’m doing well.”

“I will. If things get tough, you can always come back.”

After giving my head one last pat, Sion disappeared. It was only when I felt the faint touch and warmth left on my head that it truly sank in that Sion was alive.

I clenched my fists with both hands.

“Yes, yes! Nice!”

I did it! I saved Sion! You’re so great, Han Seha! You did a good job!

No one else might know, but who cares? I know, and as long as Sion is alive, that’s enough.

I left a greeting for the mages who were looking at me with strange eyes and returned to my room. The bright sunlight pouring in through the window seemed to be a premonition of my future.

That’s right, that’s right. My future will be as bright as that blue sky. Goodbye to the sorrowful days when I had to endure all kinds of abuse and contempt from Jeras. Goodbye!

 

***

 

Days went by, and I was so consumed by a sense of accomplishment that I lived a life of laziness. But then, I snapped out of it. My life wasn’t over just because I had achieved my top priority of saving Sion.

Since I was the daughter of a successful Grand Duchy, I could probably laze around and live off them forever. But I decided to take advantage of being in Eloe’s body, which had everything, and do all the things I had always wanted to do but couldn’t. In particular, my desire to learn magic remained unchanged.

I hadn’t seen Jeras even once since the ball. I was being very careful not to create a situation where I might. Before going to the temple, I would check if Jeras was there, and on days when he might show up, I would send someone else in my place.

Jeras probably had a rough idea. That I was deliberately avoiding him. Well, he might not care one bit, and if he doesn’t, that’s fine by me.

‘I have to be careful until the transmigrated Siliya appears and meets Jeras. But didn’t they meet around now in the original story? As I recall, she was supposed to transmigrate right after the ball…’

I couldn’t be sure when Siliya would transmigrate. It was common for the original story to change when a transmigrator intervened. Even if I was just an insignificant side character, Sion being alive would inevitably affect the flow of the story in some way.

In other words, the original plot I knew might become useless from now on.

‘For now, I’ll have to wait and see until Siliya shows up. I hope the story doesn’t change too much.’

That way, I could avoid danger and reduce the chances of Sion being in danger.

Anyway, I could just leave the big events that were going to happen to Siliya and Jeras and enjoy my life.

For that reason, I had set up a table in a corner of the mansion’s rear garden for a leisurely reading session.

Ah, this kind of peace… I love it.

The Grand Duke’s residence also had a library, and although it wasn’t as big as the one in the Duke’s castle, it was still of a decent size. The book I had chosen was titled “An Introduction to Magic,” which was a very simple and intuitive title. As an introductory book, it contained the classifications of magic, basic principles, and simple spells for beginners.

I slowly read through the classifications of magic.

Magic was broadly classified into black magic, divine magic, and elemental magic, and elemental magic was further divided into five attributes: fire, water, wind, earth, and light.

Good. It’s a common setting, so it’s easy to understand.

But when I looked at the table of contents, all the other attributes had separate chapters, but the light attribute had none at all. The answer to that question appeared in the very next paragraph.

[The history of the light attribute being included in elemental magic is not very long. There is a lot of debate among mages as to whether the light attribute should be included in elemental magic. This is because no mage who can use light magic has appeared since the Archmage Haiola. There is no record of a mage using light magic before Haiola either. In other words, the dominant opinion is that light magic is not a type of elemental magic but rather Haiola’s unique magic. The author of this book agrees with that opinion, but has decided to include a simple explanation given that this is an introductory book.]

“Hmm…”

To establish the best academy on the continent, you probably had to have the skill to create a whole new type of magic. How powerful would that be? The title of Archmage wouldn’t have been given easily.

Anyway, since Kieryk said I was blessed with mana, I should be able to use all four attributes except for light. If I work hard, I might be able to become a mid-tier mage, if not an Archmage.

I heard that mages who reach a high level don’t age and live for a very long time…

‘I don’t plan on going that far.’

If I become a mage, I’ll be able to do so much more than I can now, right? I could activate a magic circle on my own or create various items for my daily life. Maybe I could even recreate items from Korea exactly as they were, or even better. Since there’s already something similar to a camera, it’s not a far-fetched idea.

‘I’m getting so motivated. I want to go to the academy soon.’

“Lady!”

Hilda, a maid who was assigned to me, just like Karin, ran up to me. Hilda was different from Karin in many ways, but thanks to her cheerful and lively personality, we quickly became close.

If Alberto saw her running like that, he would scold her a lot.

“Lady, Lady! A letter from the academy has arrived!”

“Really? Give it to me quickly.”

The dark brown envelope Hilda handed me was sealed with red wax. On the front, it said, ‘To the esteemed Lady Eloered Shu Le Kilmaria. Absolutely no one but the addressee may open this.’

When I broke the wax seal, the white letter paper inside moved on its own and floated into the air.

“Wow… As expected of Haiola Academy, even their letters are special!”

“Yeah, yeah. I know. It’s really amazing.”

Hilda and I, both excited, stared at the letter paper. The letter paper crumpled into a ball and shot out a beam of light, forming a human-like figure. Wow, this is crazy. A video letter with magic!

-Hello. I am the head of admissions for Haiola Academy. This letter is being sent to candidates who have been granted the right to take a special entrance exam.

“Kyaaa! Congratulations, Lady!”

“Thanks, but be quiet, Hilda! I can’t hear!”

I tried to calm down the overexcited Hilda. Hilda went “Hah!” and covered her mouth with both hands.

– The special entrance exam will be held at the academy one month from now. This letter serves as your admission ticket, proving your eligibility for the special entrance exam, so please keep it safe and bring it with you on the day of the exam. If you do not bring your admission ticket, you will not be able to take the entrance exam.

They seem to be very concerned about security. Maybe they are being more thorough because it’s a special admission rather than a regular one.

– We look forward to seeing you at the academy in a month. Thank you.

The video letter ended. Huh…? Is that it? Really? It just told me the exam date and that’s it?

When the video ended, the letter paper unfolded again and slid back into the envelope. A new blue stamp that wasn’t there before was now on the paper. I took out the letter paper and placed it on the table, then turned the envelope upside down and shook it. Not a single speck of dust came out.

This is ridiculous. How am I supposed to take an exam when I don’t know anything about it? They should at least tell me the subjects!

‘Should I ask Sion? He didn’t take the special exam, but since he’s from the academy, he must know, right?’

“Hilda, I need to send a letter to my brother. Can you get me a pen and some letter paper?”

“Yes! Understood! Should I also bring some fresh tea while I’m at it?”

“Yes. That would be great.”

“I’ll be right back!”

Watching Hilda’s retreating back, I slumped down in my chair.

Haaah. What if there are a ton of exam subjects? I only have a month, so I don’t have a lot of time. I might have to pull all-nighters every day like during college entrance exams, barely sleeping four hours a night.

“Ugh… ugh… I hate this. I hate it so much…”

I should have just said I’d make a donation to get in. What was I thinking, wanting to take a special exam for some kind of glory…? I wanted to beat up my past self.

I was trying so hard to look good to my family, and this is what I get.

As I was groaning like a zombie, lying on the chair, I felt a presence behind me. Hilda must be back already. I just wiggled my hand to greet her.

“You brought cookies too, right? I need to get a sugar rush before I write the letter. Come and sit down. Let’s eat together.”

“Shall we?”

“…Hilda, why did your voice suddenly get so deep? Is my hearing messed up because of low blood sugar…?”

Jeras, who gracefully sat down in the empty chair across from me, was too vivid to be a hallucination.

Why is he here…?

I was just blinking, unable to believe it. Jeras stared intently into my eyes, then propped his chin up with both hands and smiled sweetly.

“I missed you, Lady.”

“…I didn’t miss you.”

Oops. I was so surprised that my true feelings slipped out. How embarrassing. I quickly averted my gaze. Jeras, as if he had expected it or didn’t care at all, continued to smile brightly.

“Is that why you’ve been avoiding me?”

“How did you know?”

“I’m not an idiot; of course, I’d know. You’ve really gone out of your way.”

Jeras looked at me with a look of exasperation. He’s quick on the uptake.

“I don’t know why you dislike me. I haven’t done anything wrong to you.”

“…It’s not that I dislike you.”

“Then what is it?”

Jeras leaned his body toward me. I didn’t know how to explain this. And I wasn’t sure why I even had to…

Of course, to give him the benefit of the doubt, I could understand why he was curious. Who likes to be disliked for no reason? Even a brazen person like Jeras would hate that.

“Well, if I had to say… I’d say you’re a bit of a burden?”

Siliya and he were going to meet soon anyway, and getting close to Jeras would only lead to unnecessary misunderstandings. I didn’t want to get involved in a love triangle between the heroine and the male lead. Getting involved in a lovers’ quarrel with a predetermined ending never ends well. I don’t even genuinely like Jeras…

When I expressed my complicated feelings in a roundabout way, Jeras tilted his head slightly. The expression on his face clearly showed he didn’t understand.

“I like you, Lady. You’ve captured my heart.”

“WHAAAAAT?”

“You saved me, after all. Whether it was because of the prophecy or not.”

Jeras’s expression and voice were so serious that I couldn’t tell if he was joking or being sincere. His gratitude for being saved seemed genuine… but since I didn’t know his true intentions, it was difficult to respond carelessly.

As I remained silent, only a heavy silence filled the space between us. Ugh, a serious Jeras is so awkward. I’d rather just bicker and fight like we used to.

“What’s this?”

Jeras noticed the letter envelope on the table. I quickly reached for it, but his hand was much faster than mine.

After looking at the envelope from both sides, Jeras propped his chin with one hand and shook the envelope with the other.

“A special entrance exam for the academy?”

“Yes, it seems so.”

He guessed the contents without even opening it. As expected of a top graduate of the academy. Ah, for the record, Sion was the second-best graduate. The big difference in their scores was due to Sion’s lack of talent in magic.

How petty. Not everyone can use magic, so shouldn’t they exclude it from the evaluation?

“Someone of your status could get in with a donation, couldn’t you?”

As Jeras said, there were three ways to get into Haiola Academy.

The most common way was the regular entrance exam held at the beginning of each year. Most students entered the academy this way.

The second way was to pass the special entrance exam, which I had requested through the Grand Duke. Anyone with a verified guarantor could apply for the special entrance exam, but you couldn’t take it right away. Some people even had to wait several months and end up taking the regular exam the following year.

The last way was the donation-based admission that Jeras mentioned, which required an enormous donation. Many children of noble families who failed the entrance exam used this method. It was also a common choice for royals or nobles with urgent circumstances because they could be admitted immediately, even after the semester had started.

“The Grand Duchy’s financial situation isn’t bad. The Grand Duke wouldn’t be stingy with money for you, either. Ah, I get it.”

Jeras snapped his fingers and grinned. Soon, a high-pitched voice mimicking a girl’s voice ignited my shame.

“I’ll pass the exam with flying colors and make my parents proud! Right?”

Ugh… He hit the nail on the head. My face flushed with heat. I turned my head away.

“That’s not it, okay? I just thought the donation money was a waste!”

“Your face says that’s exactly right. Don’t be embarrassed. It’s commendable. I’m sure they’ll think so too. ‘Oh, how commendable.’“

“I said it’s not! Why are you here? Just state your business and leave quickly. I’m busy!”

“I’ll be your special tutor.”

“What?”

“I, the top graduate of the academy, will do it myself.”

“No, thank you.”

I flatly refused. Jeras, who had been puffing out his chest, froze in that exact position. It was clear he never expected to be rejected. That was even more absurd.

Even if he were the greatest genius among all the academy graduates, I would still hate it if he were Jeras. The thought of Jeras being my tutor… was horrifying. I already hate studying as it is, so how could I study with Jeras around?

“Don’t worry about the tuition. I don’t plan on taking any. It’s my repayment for saving me.”

“No, really, it’s fine… I study best by myself.”

“Do you even know what the exam subjects are?”

“Of course.”

“Did you know? You have a habit of pushing your hair back when you lie.”

I didn’t know that. Now that he mentioned it, I realized I was indeed pushing my hair behind my ear. Startled, I quickly took my hand away.

Jeras crossed his legs and leaned back in his chair. His playful red eyes were asking me what excuse I would make next.

He’s so nosy. I grumbled to myself. Then, a good idea suddenly came to me.

“If you really want to repay me, I’d appreciate it if you’d speak to me in a more respectful way from now on.”

“I think I’m treating you quite respectfully.”

“Are you kidding me?”

I glared at Jeras. He just shrugged, neither confirming nor denying it.

What part of only using respectful language when he felt like it was “respectful”? He was so shameless.

It was a bit random, but I asked him to speak to me respectfully because I wanted to create more distance between us. It didn’t seem like Jeras would easily back down with the excuse of repaying me. Since I was reluctant to receive anything from him, this was the best way to get rid of him quickly and make myself feel better.

But Jeras was not an easy opponent. As always, he tormented me in an unexpected way.

“Your request isn’t unreasonable. We’re almost on equal footing, so I understand your frustration. So, let’s do this. You can speak to me informally as well.”

“Can’t you just speak to me respectfully?”

“They say a person who changes suddenly dies. I don’t want to die yet. I have a lot of things I want to do. Come on, try it.”

He was pushing me to speak to him informally all of a sudden. I was dumbfounded. Jeras persistently urged me on as I was left speechless.

“You did it just fine back then, so why can’t you now?”

“…When did I?”

“You said, ‘Jeras! You can’t leave!’“

“That was because the situation was so urgent!”

“The first time is the hardest, but not the second. Well, do as you please. Anyway, I’m going to help you get into the academy. I’ll do my best. That’s my repayment.”

In the end, he meant he wouldn’t grant any of my requests. A repayment is supposed to make the recipient happy. This was nothing short of a threat.

It was impossible to beat Jeras with a normal approach. If that’s the case, I’ll go all out too. Otherwise, I’ll die of frustration.

“Hey.”

I crossed my arms and tilted my chin up defiantly. Jeras looked at me with a face that was about to burst with laughter.

I deliberately spoke in a more defiant and rough tone to get on his nerves, imitating the way delinquents spoke in movies and dramas.

“What are you looking at? You told me to speak informally. Cancel it now if you’re not happy with it.”

“You’re doing great, Lady. I’m not unhappy. And I have no intention of canceling it.”

“Stop with the useless talk and just tell me what the special exam subjects are.”

Instead of getting angry, Jeras chuckled. Then, he spread his fingers. I couldn’t tell if his personality was good or bad.

“There are a total of five special exam subjects, divided into theory and practice. History, language, mathematics, and etiquette. You’ll take the theory exam in these four subjects.”

Jeras, who had folded all his fingers except for his pinky, continued.

“The remaining one is, of course, the practical exam. The practical subject is either magic or swordsmanship. You choose what you want to specialize in at the academy. You should choose magic.”

“But I can’t use regular magic. Can I use divine magic?”

“It doesn’t matter. Divine magic is a type of magic. Especially for the magic exam, they just test whether you have the aptitude or not. You’ll pass with flying colors.”

He answered every question I threw at him without hesitation. It seemed he had the skills to back up his offer to be my tutor.

By the way, there were four theory subjects… and mathematics, of all things. My head already started to ache.

“If you don’t have any more questions, let’s get up. We should go.”

“Where?”

Jeras, who had already stood up from the chair, stretched. He then walked toward me and bent down.

The ends of his dark, purplish-black hair tickled my cheek. He was so close that his eyes felt like they were reflecting my face.

After some time, Jeras pressed both of my cheeks with his large hands.

“Mmph!”

“From now on, when we’re studying, you should call me ‘Teacher,’ Student Eloe. Understood?”

“No! You’re young yourself!”

“Will you be okay if you can’t get into the academy? How disappointed would the Grand Duke be if his precious daughter failed the exam and had to pay a donation to get in?”

Jeras muttered in a voice full of false sorrow.

Of course. He’s not the kind of guy who would just offer to be a tutor for no reason. He wanted to be called “Teacher” by me!

I decided to give up everything. I was too tired to figure out where his traps and schemes began and ended. The only way to escape this guy was to pass the special exam.

“…T-teacher…”

“Good. You did very well. Now, let’s go study.”

He must have heard my meek voice because he smiled with satisfaction and let go of me. He walked ahead with a brisk stride, whistling. The unnamed tune was cheerful, a stark contrast to my feelings.

You seem to be having a lot of fun. Of course you are.

“Why are you doing this to me?”

Unable to contain my resentment, I asked his back. Jeras, who was far ahead, turned around. Standing out of the shade and in the bright sunlight, his smile was so dazzling it felt ominous.

“I told you. You’ve captured my heart, Lady.”

“Even a dog would laugh at that.”

Jeras let out a burst of laughter. It must be nice to have a fun life. Thanks to him, all my life plans have been ruined. I was now facing a life of studying, and I had to call the guy I dislike the most in the world “Teacher.” Ah, what a pathetic life I lead.

Like a cow being dragged to the slaughterhouse, I was pulled by Jeras toward the mansion’s library.