Chapter 41

EP.41 Two People Who Resemble Each Other (2)

Torn shirt.

Professor Lania, drenched in cold sweat.

“······.”

Aila slowly opened her mouth.

“···It’s torn, isn’t it?”

A voice so low that even Aila was surprised echoed. A chilling, low-pitched voice. At that voice, Professor Lania shuddered and her shoulders trembled.

Aila lifted her head.

She tilted her head, following the movement of Lania’s eyes. She asked, making eye contact.

“Why is it torn?”

Aila’s eyes narrowed. Lania desperately avoided Aila’s gaze and slowly opened her mouth.

“Well, it was during the battle...”

Her voice trembled.

Aila cut in sharply.

“Lying.”

“Pardon?”

“My intuition tells me that you’re lying, Professor.”

Of course, it’s a lie.

Her intuition had reached the realm of foresight, but she didn’t have the convenient ability to read others’ minds.

So, it was just a guess...

“Hiccup.”

Judging from that reaction, it was definitely a lie.

“Hmm.”

Aila smiled with her eyes. Though her eyes smiled, her lips were stiff.

‘You tore it, didn’t you?’

“Hiccup.”

As Lania kept hiccupping and eventually started patting her chest, Aila covered her mouth and chuckled.

‘It’s fun to tease her.’

She took a deep breath and spoke.

“You’re lying. While my intuition is good, I can’t tell if you’re lying or not.”

“···Is that so?”

“Yes, but... judging by your reaction just now, it seems you were lying.”

Aila narrowed her eyes.

“Did you not like my gift? To tear it so openly?”

Lania’s shoulders trembled.

“No, it was an accident while washing...”

“Really? It’s made with magic-infused thread, so it shouldn’t tear easily. Are you lying again?”

“······.”

Now she clamped her mouth shut. Aila stared at her for a while before sighing.

“Well, that’s possible. So, did you come here to show me this?”

“Yes, since it’s a gift from the royal family...”

She muttered, hunching her shoulders.

Is she worried about some kind of sacrilege?

Her appearance strangely stimulated Aila’s sadism. Aila smiled mischievously.

“Hmm.”

Aila smoothed out the shirt and said.

“I’ll send you a new one.”

“···Really?”

“Since it’s come to this, having a custom-made one wouldn’t be bad, right?”

“Custom-made...?”

“Yes, the size is a bit big, isn’t it? Well, that’s not bad, but don’t you think you should have a well-fitting one too?”

Aila clapped her hands.

Soon, the door opened, and maids lined up in front of it. Pointing at them, Aila said.

“Would you like to have your measurements taken before you leave?”

“···Is it necessary?”

“Pardon?”

“It’s nothing...”

Lania bowed her head deeply.

With her head bowed and muttering, she looked different from usual.

This contrasted with her confident appearance on the podium and her fearless demeanor in front of monsters.

‘Something new.’

It felt like discovering a new side to her.

Aila smiled faintly.

‘Her first impression was completely different.’

The place where I first met her.

The girl I first saw in the royal library and the girl now felt very different.

When I first met her, she had an academic air.

She gave off a similar vibe to the wizards who spent their days locked in their laboratories.

But, how about now?

Aila recalled her appearance on the podium as a professor. Then, the image of her rampaging like a beast among the monsters came to mind.

‘She has many unique charms.’

Thinking this, Aila chuckled.

“What would be good...”

Aila muttered, scanning the woman in front of her from head to toe.

“Hmm.”

Lania felt a chill from that gaze.

* *

What was the age difference between me and the princess?

I suddenly thought.

‘Seven? Eight?’

I can’t remember exactly, but it was probably around that. Anyway, it wasn’t a small age gap.

Princess Aila.

The moment I heard that name, a young girl around ten years old came to mind. A girl I occasionally taught magic to.

Recalling the young girl who used to laugh and run around, I subtly lifted my head. In front of me sat a girl who was shedding her youthful appearance.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

She was still smiling.

However, that smile was very different from the one seven or eight years ago. How should I put it, it seemed more sinister.

‘Time is merciless.’

I feel my age in such moments... No, twenty-seven isn’t old, is it?

“Nothing. I’ll be going now.”

I answered and slowly stood up. Since I can’t refuse the princess’s offer, I’ll have to get my measurements taken.

“······.”

Seeing the maids gathered at the door, I sighed. Suppressing the sigh that was about to escape, I moved towards them.

“Professor Lania.”

Suddenly, the princess called me.

I slightly turned my head to look at her.

“Hmm.”

She moved her lips for a moment, then bowed her head. Her platinum blonde hair fell.

“Thank you for your help.”

With a brief expression of gratitude, she lifted her head. I met her eyes.

Her golden eyes, filled with determination, were strangely familiar.

‘Where have I seen this before?’

It wasn’t hard to recall.

It was probably during the incident of the court mage’s betrayal that shook the kingdom.

-Lord Laniel.

After the incident, the young princess, who came to find me, bowed her head.

A head that should have been heavy with responsibility.

Despite