Chapter 98

William and Amelia sat facing each other on the sofa in the living room. William, with graceful movements, brought the cup to his mouth.

"Hmm, as expected, the tea here is delicious."

"I am honored."

Sylphie bowed her head modestly. At first glance, they looked like a noble and his dedicated maid.

"Was it Morning Mist, I believe?"

"From the servant who attended to you yesterday, I heard that Morning Mist is your preferred tea. For a second cup, I have prepared Amber Leaf."

"Your consideration is truly remarkable."

William smiled and, placing the cup down, turned to face Amelia.

"I apologize for the sudden visit today, Lady Amelia."

"Oh no, don't worry about it! Rather, I am the one who should apologize for troubling you to come here."

As Amelia bowed her head, William said with a serious expression.

"I am truly embarrassed to bring this up now, but there's no need to use formal language with me. While there are a few nobles among the professors, I am of humble origins. It feels a bit... awkward to be addressed formally by the future duchess."

"V... Yes, you're right..."

William, who seemed to have difficulty saying it, made a pause. Amelia's expression said, "I knew it..."

Sylphie sighed softly.

Amelia, who is generally humble to everyone, naturally uses formal language with people she meets for the first time. While this can be seen as a part of her character, it is not recommended for a duchess's fiancée, especially when addressing servants.

Although she has become more aware of this thanks to Sylphie and Oscar, William felt hesitant to use a casual tone with the person who would become his teacher.

(Traditionally, not using formal language would be correct...)

Tightening her lips, Amelia spoke.

"I apologize. I understand your feelings, but... even if you are of humble origins, it feels... a bit, no, quite awkward to not use formal language with someone who will become my teacher."

"I see..."

After a moment of thought, William said casually.

"I understand your request. Let's continue as we are."

"Thank you for your consideration...!! I apologize for being so demanding."

"Not at all, but let's get started then..."

As William was about to begin, Amelia looked as if she had noticed something.

"Um... is there something on my face?"

"Oh, no... I just noticed that the dark circles under your eyes seem a bit deeper than yesterday..."

William touched his eyes and then smiled wryly.

"Oh... I apologize for showing you such an unsightly sight. After returning to the university yesterday, I got so engrossed in my research that I ended up staying up all night."

"Are you alright? I understand the feeling of getting engrossed, but..."

Amelia, who also tends to lose herself in her work with plants, deeply empathized.

"Your complexion looks poor. Perhaps you should take a rest today."

"This is a common occurrence for me, so I'm fine. More importantly..."

Rummaging through his bag, William pulled out a stack of papers and placed them on the table with a thud.

"Is this...?"

"These are practice problems for you, Lady Amelia. I've prepared them to assess your knowledge, focusing on the basics."

"Wh-What!? So many!?"

Amelia leaned forward in surprise, using her fingers to gauge the thickness of the stack. Seeing this, William sighed inwardly.

(Students always seem to dislike the idea of tests, no matter who they are...)

But he couldn't be lenient here. Clearing his throat, William said seriously.

"While the idea of a test may be daunting, it's an important step to measure your knowledge. It may be a bit tedious, but I hope you'll give it your best effort..."

"Oh, no, solving problems is very enjoyable and I welcome it with open arms."

"Enjoyable...?"

William blinked, thinking he might have heard wrong, while Amelia looked down with a sense of guilt.

"You mentioned that you stayed up all night researching. I assume you also spent time preparing these problems for me. It makes me feel... very grateful and a bit guilty..."

Amelia's voice trembled. Realizing that her words were not self-centered but rather out of consideration, William softened his gaze.

"...It seems rumors are not always reliable."

"Huh?"

"No, nothing. Never mind."

Shaking his head slowly, William continued.

"Please don't worry about the effort. I decided to take on the role of your tutor, and I prepared the problems yesterday to quickly assess your skills."

"Thank you. Knowing that makes me feel more at ease..."

Amelia felt a mix of tension and excitement, knowing that she was expected by an expert in botany.

Until she left her family home, she had never been expected to do anything by anyone. This made William's words particularly stimulating.

(I have to answer as many questions as possible... I have to try my best...)

Amelia took a deep breath and resolved herself.

"You seem very motivated."

"I'll be careful not to overdo it. So, can I start solving these now?"

"Of course."

"Great."

Amelia clenched her fists happily in front of her chest.

"I might hurt my back if I sit here, so let's use that desk over there."

"Sure!"

Following William's suggestion, Amelia moved to the work desk in the corner of the living room and spread out the problem set.

"Is there a time limit?"

"There's no specific time limit, but let's aim for about an hour."

William judged that an hour would be appropriate given the volume and level of the problems.

"Got it!"

"Then, please begin."

At William's signal, Amelia picked up her pen and started working on the problems. Soon, the sound of her pen scratching filled the living room.

Amelia continued writing without stopping, like a migratory bird that never rests.

(Not many students approach tests with such enthusiasm...)

William watched Amelia, who was solving problems with a bright and lively expression, as if he were observing a curious creature. While Kaido University is known as the best educational institution in the Truwa Kingdom, only a few students enter with a strong sense of purpose.

Most students enter due to their parents' influence or a vague desire for a stable job in the future. Few take lectures seriously, and many complain about tests.

William, who had a similar experience as a student, had always thought that this was the norm for university students. He didn't think he was suited to be an educator.

He had decided to obtain a degree and join Kaido University to conduct research with state-of-the-art facilities without spending much money. He only stood in front of the class because he was required to give lectures a few times a week to have the freedom to conduct research at the university.

At thirty, William was still considered a young researcher and had no particular desire to nurture the next generation. He had been fulfilling his duties as a professor out of a sense of obligation.

(Seeing such enthusiasm, it feels like all the effort I put into preparing the test questions was worth it...)

Watching Amelia tackle the test with a lively expression, William felt a sense of fulfillment. However, a shadow of doubt began to appear on Amelia's face.

Her pen continued to move, but its speed gradually slowed. Eventually, her expression was clearly filled with anxiety.

"Was it a bit difficult?"

William asked. In fact, he had mixed in a few advanced problems among the basic ones, which he thought would be challenging for Amelia, who had not yet entered university.

However,

"Oh, no... it's not difficult... I'm fine!"

"I see."

Amelia started solving problems again. Although her response was not entirely convincing, William returned to the sofa without stopping her.

Until Amelia finished the test, William took out a report on the Red Death from his bag and began to read it.