Chapter 48
It just had to be lunchtime, which meant Lia had no choice but to eat with Byron.
Although Byron wasn’t acting suspicious in any obvious way, Lia still watched him carefully.
「But if Lady Lia continues to pay attention to me… perhaps I could try a little harder too.」
That warning-like remark he had made in the carriage not long ago came to her mind. As well as the unsettling look on his face when he had said it.
Something feels off. He’s too entangled with too many people to just be the “sub-male lead” who replaces Jen. He’s Ernian’s sibling, Hahnemann’s adjutant… and even connected to Corend.
It was especially that connection with Corend that bothered her most. With Corend’s help, Byron had been able to revive his once-ruined family—he might truly be a loyal subordinate to him.
“Does the food not suit your taste?” Byron asked cautiously.
Lia hurriedly shook her head and pretended to focus on eating.
“No, it’s just… I’ve got a lot on my mind because of the exams.”
“But tomorrow is the last one, isn’t it?”
“Ah… unfortunately, tomorrow’s exam is in herbology…” Lia muttered under her breath.
“Herbology is difficult for you?”
“Well, not exactly…”
“Hmm…”
Byron set down his knife with a clack and slowly stroked his chin.
“I think I may be able to help you.”
“Huh? What do you mean…?”
Lia gave him a doubtful look, but Byron only smiled more confidently. His grin didn’t fade—if anything, it deepened.
As if to prove his self-assured attitude, Byron led Lia straight to the apothecary after they finished eating. It was a place she had passed by before but never entered.
I guess I’ve never really had a reason to be sick…
Until now, Lia had thought of the apothecary as nothing more than a school nurse’s office, like in Korea. A place you don’t go unless you’re ill. But once she stepped inside, she realized it was nothing like that.
Aside from the first floor, the entire building from the basement to the third floor was filled with countless rooms—each a garden where herbs were cultivated. There was indeed a small infirmary on the first floor, but it was minor compared to the research and study areas. In short, it was less for treating illness and more for researching herbs.
“Wow…”
Lia’s eyes widened as she looked around. Most of the gardens were open-air, except for some temperature-sensitive rooms. Byron led her to the second-floor garden.
This one was made entirely of glass. The glittering panes reflected sunlight everywhere, and in the center stood a transparent fountain. Only when Lia approached did she realize it wasn’t glass—it was ice.
“It’s magically created ice,” Byron explained, appearing behind her before she noticed. “Even under such strong sunlight, it will never melt.”
Lia nodded absentmindedly, then asked, “You seem to know this place well?”
“I’ve been here often.”
She wanted to ask when, why, and with whom, but Byron didn’t give her the chance. He simply stepped away to wander the garden, forcing her to follow quickly.
“It looks more like flowers are grown here than herbs.”
As she said, colorful flowers bloomed everywhere.
“Flowers can also be used as medicine. Petals, stamens, even roots.”
He really does know his stuff…
Lia looked at him with curiosity.
“You seem to know quite a lot about herbs?”
“…Just the basics. I’ve only picked up bits from coming here frequently.”
He looked slightly uncomfortable as he said it.
Why does he come here so often?
Byron hadn’t been enrolled in the Royal Academy for long. As a noble, he wasn’t forbidden from entering the apothecary, but for a student to come here frequently enough to be familiar with it was unusual.
Lia let the question drop. It wasn’t what she most wanted to know. To change the subject, she asked,
“What’s Erni doing these days?”
“Still staying at home.”
“She hasn’t come to school? She still needs to attend classes.”
Lia worried—would skipping exams here bring disadvantages, like in Korea?
“…She’s learning from a private tutor.”
A tutor…
At first she brushed it off, but then one name flashed in her mind.
Could it be Corend teaching her directly…? No, surely not.
She eyed Byron suspiciously, but he ducked his head to examine some flowers, clearly avoiding the subject.
“If you want to see the herbs that’ll be on the exam, the third floor is best. Since you said your problem is recognizing them and knowing their uses. They even grow poisonous plants there, so it’ll be good study.”
“Ah… okay.”
Byron seemed genuinely intent on helping her with the herbology exam. Lia wanted to press him further, but held back. If she recklessly brought up Corend, Byron might clam up completely.
But then, why did he ask me to eat with him in the first place?
She tilted her head in puzzlement. Aside from small talk, Byron hadn’t said much during the meal.
“Um—”
She was about to ask when—
“…Ah!”
A small cry came from nearby.
A scream?
She turned toward the sound. A young boy clutched his finger.
“Are you all right?” Lia hurried over. Blood dripped from his finger—he must have touched a thorny flower without realizing it. The boy looked up at her, teary-eyed. More than the pain, he seemed intimidated by being addressed by someone who clearly looked like a high-ranking noble.
“Let me see.”
Lia gently took his hand with a reassuring smile. Murmuring a spell, a soft white glow spread from her fingertips. The bleeding stopped in an instant.
“Wow!”
The boy’s eyes widened as he stared in wonder at his now-uninjured finger.
“You mustn’t touch things carelessly.”
“…Yes, I’m sorry.”
Scratching his head sheepishly, the boy soon ran off when a servant called him.
“He must be one of the children who work in the garden,” Byron said suddenly from behind her.
“You seem very skilled with healing magic, Lady Lia. You’ve only just begun learning it, haven’t you?”
“It’s just…”
Lia trailed off, then a thought struck her.
“Ah, well, we recently got a new professor. Do you know of him?”
“A new professor?”
“Yes, he’s an excellent teacher. Professor Corend.”
Byron’s face froze for a second before smoothing into a smile.
“Is that so?”
Lia hesitated, then decided to take a gamble.
“Sir Byron, you already knew, didn’t you?”
“…Knew what?”
Lia rose slightly on her toes and whispered in his ear,
“That the professor using the alias Corend Rium… is actually His Majesty’s younger brother.”
Byron stared hard at her, as if trying to read her intentions. She only shrugged innocently.
“I’ve noticed, Lady Lia… you really do take a great interest in me.”
Lia swallowed hard but forced herself not to show nervousness.
“Well, wasn’t it you who said before that you were the one so interested in me?”
“Haha, yes, I did say that.”
“…So why exactly did you ask me to eat with you today?”
“Well…”
Byron tilted his head slightly. Because she had whispered, their faces were already close—now even closer. Lia held his gaze, and he narrowed his eyes.
“You don’t look away.”
“…Should I?”
“You don’t know what I might do.”
“What do you mean—”
“For example…”
Byron suddenly cut her off, grasping her chin between two fingers and lifting her face. Startled, Lia scowled. He leaned in and whispered at her ear.
“Something like this.”
What’s he doing?
Byron moved closer, as if he might kiss her. Lia shoved hard against his chest. For a war hero like him, such strength was nothing—but he merely shrugged and stepped back.
“Such games aren’t very fun.”
Lia frowned deeply.
“You’re not flustered.”
“Why should I be?”
Byron laughed aloud, then his face hardened instantly.
“The reason I asked you to join me today is… because of His Highness the Crown Prince.”
…Jen?
“What do you—”
“Lia?”
Just then, a familiar voice called out to her.
That voice…
Like a puppy hearing its master, Lia reflexively turned. At the entrance to the garden stood Cyclaen.
“Lia, it really is you!”
She ran over and took her place beside Lia.
“What are you doing here?”
“Oh, just… something.”
Any lingering unease Lia had been feeling vanished, and she smiled warmly, patting Cyclaen’s head. Only then did Cyclaen notice Byron at Lia’s side.
“Oh, Sir Byron. It’s been a while.”
“…Indeed. Lady Lusbell.”
They nodded politely at one another.
They don’t seem particularly close, as I thought.
“Lia, so what brings you here? Are you interested in herbs too?”
“Well…”
Clapping her hands, Cyclaen’s eyes sparkled with excitement—more than Lia had ever seen.
“Tomorrow’s the herbology exam, so I came to study a bit.”
“I see!”
Looking at her bright smile, Lia felt a pang of guilt.
She’s this happy just because I came here… if I’d asked her to teach me herbology, she would’ve been even happier.
Feeling petty, Lia awkwardly averted her gaze.
“Well then, I’ll take my leave.”
Byron suddenly bowed his head. Both Lia and Cyclaen looked at him. Only then did Lia realize she hadn’t asked him about that ominous comment he had made earlier.
“Wait—you’re leaving just like this? Don’t we have more to talk about?”
“Talk about?” Cyclaen looked curiously between them.
“Ah… he was just going to teach me about herbs.”
“Surely you have a much better teacher right beside you.”
A better teacher?
Lia realized he was gesturing toward Cyclaen. Indeed, she wasn’t wearing her academy uniform, but a different set of work clothes—stained all over with soil.
