First impression? A white cat, totally pissed off.
Or rather, a white rabbit.
Heard rabbits kick the ground with their hind legs when angry, right?
For some unknown reason, as Carian got kicked by the girl, this was roughly what he was thinking.
However…
“…She reminds me of someone.”
White hair.
A thoughtful, serious gaze that suggested deep contemplation.
An imposing presence that wasn’t light or trivial.
Excluding her youthful appearance, she bore an eerie resemblance to someone Carian had lost long ago.
Was that why…?
“…Did I make some kind of mistake?”
Instead of pulling out his sharp blades, Carian awkwardly fidgeted. He still didn’t know exactly why, but just remembering someone precious from his past made it impossible for him to treat her casually.
The young voice continued, faintly sighing, mildly reproaching Carian for lacking proper etiquette toward nobility:
“I may not know who you are, but casually petting a woman’s head is considered rude behavior.”
Whether it was due to her upbringing, status, or lineage—Carian sensed something noble about her.
“My earlier rough actions… I apologize. It’s my first time experiencing something like this.”
Her calm voice carried grace and cultivation. That alone was enough for Carian to realize she wasn’t of low birth.
Shifting her gaze from Carian to the café owner, her composed face subtly hinted at indifference between her and Lilian now.
As if mocking him, Lilian smirked, clearly pleased by the girl kicking Carian.
‘She’s really enjoying this.’
But before Carian could fully retreat back to the table…
“Then, shall I prepare your usual strawberry smoothie today, Professor?”
“Yes… Ah, add a cappuccino and mango smoothie too. For the assistants.”
‘Professor?!’
Carian froze mid-step at the café owner addressing the girl as “Professor.” His head involuntarily turned back toward her.
‘Could it be… Leter Yurt?’
Without her robe adorned with ancient dragon symbols, he hadn’t recognized her initially. But upon realizing she was indeed a professor, everything clicked into place.
Her presence felt heavier now, her round eyes carrying profound intellect and sharpness beyond her years.
A faint but undeniable flow of mana radiated around her, hinting at her true strength despite her youthful appearance.
Still, considering their less-than-stellar first meeting…
“Ah, I really like that kid. I might even give her an award personally.”
Lilian muttered under her breath with a mischievous grin, scratching Carian’s nerves.
“So you’re hitting on underage girls now after going after older men? Quite the unique taste you have there.”
Carian lightly mocked as he resumed walking back to the table, causing Lilian’s forehead veins to visibly pop.
“It wasn’t flirting! I was merely searching for a mentor!”
“And yet you still haven’t realized such a person can’t be found through such crude methods, have you?”
“Well, desperate times call for desperate measures. Though, what would someone like you—a wandering orphan ungrateful for any grace—know about seeking a mentor?”
Both exchanged words laced with sarcasm while maintaining superficial smiles. Their conversation was unmistakably hostile to anyone listening.
Their tension once again filled the air, though without raised voices.
Suddenly, the young professor interrupted:
“You’ve always lacked propriety, whether in the past or now.”
-Woosh!
“Even if I haven’t tasted divine blood, knowing its feel wouldn’t hurt.”
-Rustle…
Unable to bear each other’s taunts any longer, both Lilian’s shadow and Carian’s staff of divine origins emerged.
Before things escalated further…
“‘Silence'”
“‘Order: Expulsion'”
-Pfft!
A cutting sound tore through the air, instantly altering the surroundings. The cozy café vanished, replaced by an expansive forest surrounding Carian and Lilian.
“W-What is this?”
“Seems professors really are professors after all.”
Carian let out a hollow laugh, recognizing they’d been expelled from the café by the girl.
Lilian appeared clueless about what just happened, but Carian saw no need to enlighten her.
“Alright, I should get going. Time to resume work soon.”
“What? Hey!!”
Carian moved away, curiosity about the young professor replacing his irritation toward Lilian.
Lilian, still seething at Carian, raised her staff toward a distant figure but…
-Whoosh!
“Tch!”
In less than a second, Carian vanished, leaving Lilian powerless to chase him. Reluctantly admitting defeat, her only gains were confirming Carian’s purpose at the academy and feeling slightly satisfied.
At least she knew Carian wouldn’t intentionally block her path anytime soon.
Regardless of what Carian sought at the academy—be it expensive artifacts or vault scrolls—it mattered little to Lilian.
‘Still, maybe I should drop a hint to the dean.’
Her next day’s meeting with the dean was purely to torment Carian, suggesting increased academy security during the upcoming Trial Period.
“In case someone breaks into my quarters, please keep an eye out.”
“…Understood.”
“Wha, already here?”
“Yes, she was sitting at the café.”
Carian omitted mentioning how he’d exiled Lilian using magic. Instead, he handed over the mango smoothie meant for Princess Irina.
After giving Evan his cappuccino, their conversation resumed. Apparently, neither expected Lilian to arrive so early.
Thus, Carian described Lilian’s state in the most positive way possible, avoiding unnecessary complaints.
“She didn’t seem too bad.”
“…That’s a relief…”
Seeing Princess Irina’s slight relief, Carian casually asked if she planned to meet Lilian.
However, shaking her head gently, Irina replied:
“I’ll meet sister after excelling in the Trial Period. Meeting beforehand would only increase my tension.”
Determined to approach Lilian confidently after proving herself worthy.
When Evan suddenly inquired about Lilian’s appearance…
“There’s a rumor she’s a once-in-a-millennium beauty. What do you think, Professor?”
‘Lilian…?’
Carian hesitated briefly, having known her since childhood.
Though not unattractive, she wasn’t exactly what one would call a conventional beauty…
Recalling moments like her casting third-tier security spells because some servant kept stepping on her heels…
“Haha… Funny joke, huh?”
“Heh…”
“…It was* a joke, right?”
To Carian, she’d always been more of a troublemaker than anything else.
So naturally…
“…The younger sister seems better.”
The honest response slipped out unexpectedly.
Destroying his idealized vision of the Ardenia royal family, calling her the continent’s top beauty felt wrong.
“A, ah… Definitely, Princess Irina is also very pretty! Haha…!”
Evan scratched the back of his head nervously, reacting to Carian’s blunt comment.
Of course, opinions vary…
…Though come to think of it, Carian himself used to be male once…
Moments later, noticing Irina had gone quiet, Carian tilted his head in confusion.
Had he said something wrong?
“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“No, no, I’m fine.”
Realizing class time was up, Princess Irina hurriedly left the faculty office.
With only five minutes left until his next class, Carian decided against dwelling on Irina’s odd behavior and headed to the lecture hall with Evan.
“Professor, the princess forgot her study materials…”
“…Please cover for me today. Thanks.”
