Chapter 89

In a room on a mid-afternoon, Amelia and Logan sat side by side on a luxurious sofa. Across from them, a man with light blonde hair sipped his tea.

"This tea is delicious. Is it Fairity?"

The man asked Laila.

"You know it well. This is a special blend of Fairity, called Morning Mist."

"Of course. I thought it had a very fragrant aroma."

As the man spoke, Laila smiled, bowed her head, and left the room.

"Excuse me, it's not often I get to enjoy such tea, so I couldn't help it."

"I'm glad you liked it. That's the best part."

Logan said, and the man turned to Amelia and spoke.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Amelia. I am a professor at the Royal Kaido University, and my name is William. It's a pleasure to meet you."

With that, the man—William—bowed respectfully. William was a tall man with a well-proportioned face and a slender build. Despite his title as a professor, he looked young, around his late twenties. His long golden hair was neatly styled, and his calm blue eyes, adorned with a monocle, exuded intelligence.

However, upon closer inspection, there were unmistakable dark circles under his eyes, suggesting that he spent his days and nights immersed in research, lacking sleep. His attire was fitting for a professor: a deep green vest, black slacks, and a white shirt with a black tie, all harmoniously matched.

"I, I'm Amelia. I serve as Lord Logan's fiancée..."

"Fiancées don't serve, you know."

"Aah, I'm sorry, you're right, I apologize!"

Logan's correction made her spine tingle. Amelia, who rarely had the opportunity to interact with people outside the mansion, was thoroughly nervous in front of William.

William, however, smiled warmly at her and said,

"I apologize for the sudden visit. Although I'm dressed formally, I'm just a humble scholar, so please feel at ease."

"Thank you for your consideration..."

(He seems so kind...)

Amelia's impression of William was summed up in that one sentence. His polite speech, gentle demeanor, and sincere attitude in conversation revealed his courteous nature and respect for others.

Logan then introduced William.

"Mr. William is a professor at Kaido University, the most prestigious university in the Truah Kingdom. According to Oscar, who introduced him, he is known as a young genius who has made a name for himself."

"Your praise is too much."

William bowed his head, showing no trace of arrogance, only humility.

"His specialty is pharmacology, primarily the blending of plants. He has published numerous papers, and his expertise is well-recognized. There are few in the country who know more about pharmacology than he does."

The more Amelia heard about William's impressive background, the more intimidated she became.

"Why... why would someone as remarkable as you be here...?"

Amelia asked, and Logan smiled slightly and said,

"Starting today, Mr. William will be Amelia's tutor and will visit our home regularly."

"Wh-what...?"

Amelia was taken aback, but quickly understood the meaning.

"Wh-what!?"

Her surprised voice echoed through the reception room.

"What are you surprised about? Didn't you say you wanted to learn from an expert?"

"W-well, I did say that, but there's no need to call someone as remarkable as you...!"

"That's how much I believe in you, Amelia."

"Your words are kind, but I feel extremely unworthy..."

Amelia's heart was pounding. The idea of such a remarkable person being assigned to her, someone with such low self-esteem, felt overwhelming. The high expectations placed on her were almost suffocating.

"I've heard a lot about you from Lord Logan. Apparently, you are a rare genius with extensive knowledge of plants and pharmacology..."

William said calmly, but his eyes shone with a discerning light.

"N-no, I'm not that... remarkable..."

– Don't say 'not that.'

Amelia suddenly stopped herself.

– Words that belittle yourself lower your value. They make you lose confidence in your words and actions, and things don't go well.

She remembered the words Logan had spoken to her the other day.

(Denying yourself is easy...)

– So please, don't belittle yourself. Amelia is... more than enough, remarkable.

(Denying myself would betray Logan's feelings... I don't want that...)

Amelia clenched her fists tightly. Her gaze, which had been lowered, lifted, and she spoke directly to William.

"I may not be a genius, but I do have a fair amount of knowledge about plants and the pharmacology of plant blends."

It wasn't a statement brimming with confidence, but it was a more positive explanation. Her words, spoken with clear intent, resonated firmly in the reception room.

Logan seemed to smile slightly, noticing the slight increase in confidence in Amelia compared to before.

"I see."

William's expression remained unchanged, but he smiled and asked in a calm tone,

"Then, may I ask you a few questions about the preparation of pharmaceuticals using plants?"

"Y-yes, please do!"

William's monocle glinted.