2.

Johann became silent. He did say her name but didn’t expect it to be really Elena Evoy.

Elena was standing close to the statue, dressed comfortably, not in her school uniform. Her hair that seemed to be tied haphazardly, looked free, and her loose robe looked even freer. In other words, she did not look like a lady from a noble family.

“Did you call me?”

“Uh, yes.”

A very calm voice asked him. Someone might think it was Johann who made a wish to the statue, not her.

‘Is she not embarrassed?’

You got caught while making a wish by believing in an absurd legend. Johann thought he would rather jump off the top of the dormitory than being caught doing that.

‘But it doesn’t look like she’s interested in dating.’

He didn’t mean that she wasn’t pretty. Elena Evoy was clearly a beauty. If Johann, with his high beauty standards, was saying that then there is no doubt about it.

However, apart from her beauty, she gives off a certain impression. With such an ice-cold look, obviously, no one would dare confess to her, let alone propose a relationship. Johann remembered Elena, who beat him to the stage as a student representative. He also vividly remembered many other stories about her.

“Was there someone by that name?”

“Wow, she’s so pretty. But is she upset? What’s with that look?”

“She seems a little scary.”

“Maybe she’s arrogant.”

 

Finally, after a long silence, Elena turned her head back first. She concentrated on her work again, as if she had completely forgotten about Johann. Her hands were gently rubbing goddess Fiona’s hand. Johann was dumbfounded by her shamelessness and looked at Elena.

“Do you have anything left to say?”

“… Huh?”

“I’m working, and you’re distracting me. If you want to see the statue, please wait a little bit.”

Work? With a dazed look, Johann repeated what he had just heard.

“Miss Elena, what work..?”

“Polishing the statue. I’m a little busy right now. If you enjoy taking a walk late at night, I’ll come back later.”

She said that so smoothly as if she was prepared for that. Work? Work..? Only then did Johann find a towel on Elena’s fingertips. At first glance, it looked a little worn out. On the contrary, the spot where Elena’s hand passed was very clean.

“May I ask why Miss Elena is cleaning it?”

“What would be a special reason for working? Obviously, I’m trying to make money.”

Johann was silent again. It was definitely a very strange situation where they were talking but couldn’t communicate at all. For Johann, who never thought of earning money or working to make money, it was hard to understand what she was saying.

“At the Academy..?”

“Of course, I have permission.”

I have no idea whether the Academy approving student labor is weird or Elena doing work. Is the self-made Viscount that poor? Johann shut up in shock.

Of course, the academy’s tuition was not cheap. It was right to say that even the children of the wealthy upper class also had to worry about it at least once. But Elena was a nobleman. For Johann, a poor noble meant someone who held one party when others held three.

A working noble. I’ve heard of it before, but this is my first time seeing it in person. Besides, she is a noblewoman. I’ve never heard of this before. Sometimes, there are people who become servants or lady-in-waiting to get acquainted with the Royal family, but that’s only for political benefits, not money.

“What…”

Johann barely kept his words to himself. ‘What kind of family did you grow up in?’ I can’t make such a rude remark to her face.

‘Hah…’

But in the meantime, Elena’s eyes looking at Johann were spectacular. Because her eyes revealed her inner thoughts, “I’m busy, and you’re bothering me.”

Johann laughed at the intense sensation he never felt before. However, in this situation, the one interrupting her was none but him. Johann walked away from that absurd and outrageous situation. Meanwhile, squeak, squeak. The gentle sound of wiping the smooth statue continued to break the quiet night air.

 

***

”

“

 

“This is the end of class. The first lecture must have been boring, but thank you all for paying attention. Then, see you next time.”

Basics of Magic Formulae class ended with the old Professor’s nice greeting.

“Professor Keaton is very kind.”

“My brother said not to let my guard down. He’ll give us the most assignments.”

“I’ve heard that, too. And I heard his tests are difficult beyond imagination.”

As soon as the class was over, he heard comments about the lecture from everywhere. Johann looked at the front seat pretending to organize his things. That was the seat of a person focusing on class for the whole hour while the other students that couldn’t endure the boredom did something else.

‘Is she not tired?’

Johann looked casually at Elena organizing her books. The statue of Fiona was located at the entrance of the garden. The area of the garden cannot be called small, even jokingly, and there are also many statues. It was already late when Johann went out, but if she cleaned everything, it would have taken quite a bit of time.

‘There must be a gardener.’

No matter how hard I think about it, I just can’t believe that a student, who’s a noble, not a commoner, was doing that there. But it was too strange to be considered a dream and her eyes that looked at him determinedly were very vivid.

I’ve never seen such a look before. No one in the empire dared to give Johann such a look. From the start, Johann was not the one to bother others. Instead, Johann was bothered by people approaching him for selfish interests.

“Johann, we are holding a party next week. Are you coming? My father is looking forward to it.”

Case in point. People who hold parties when the semester just began, even when vacations are set. It wasn’t usually Johann that bothered people, but them that bothered him.

Johann stared at Bach Hansen, who looked at him with a face that expected him to come. An idiot who relies on his parents and has no authority. Commenting briefly about him, Johann smiled, bending his eyes as usual.

“If Marquis Hansen is waiting, of course, I’ll go. It’d be an honor.”

“Thank God. He’ll be relieved.”

Pathetic. He glanced coldly at Bach who just turned around. Johann turned to Elena Evoy again.

‘…but is she always that careless. If she was caught by someone else, rumors would’ve spread already.’

Johann, still uncomfortable remembering yesterday’s events, suddenly thought. Although there were many aristocrats who had high ranks or made money through trade and mining industries, there were very few aristocrats who worked by themselves. Forget about an academy student working. I’m sure she’ll be looked down on.

Johann meant to keep the secret, but there was no guarantee that others would. He wondered what those snotty, prideful nobles would do once they found out that they lost to someone who works.

‘Wait. Why should I care?’

Johann, who was looking at Elena worriedly, paused. He and Elena Evoy had nothing to do with each other. To be fair, their relationship was nothing but one topper stealing another topper’s position, and even that was a one-sided thought.

Is it because I lost to someone for the first time in my life? It bothers me. I’ve never had a competitor before. That must be why I’m acting strange. Johann, who tried to rationalize it with many theories, recalled Elena’s eyes again.

‘That look is the problem.’

An indifferent look that shows neither kindness nor hostility. I wish her attitude was like everyone else’s. Is it really that annoying to hide your inner thoughts? But her eyes are too honest to do that. Johann thought he should just observe for now.

 

***

 

Johann did not deny his natural talent. After all, it’s good to be naturally gifted. He had a good memory, better athletic skills than others, and was a fast learner. As someone said, the words ‘gifted genius’ were just right about him.

But that isn’t the whole story. Johann did not shirk to put in his efforts. There is a limit to what natural talent alone can achieve. Johann was confident that he was one of the most frequent visitors of the library during his time at the Münew Academy.

After enjoying a meal at the academy’s student cafeteria, Johann headed to the library. Students stayed away from here at the beginning of the semester, but not Johann. Moreover, visiting the library frequently was good for his image. Actually, a part of Johann’s intellectual image was thanks to the library.

“… Miss Elena?”

Johann, who gave a light greeting to everyone he encountered, stopped when he saw an unexpected face. As soon as the familiar scent of books touched the tip of his nose, he met those dreaded amethyst eyes. Up close, her hair was a darker purple than he thought, and her eyes were just amethyst, no more or less.

“Yes?”

“Oh, I didn’t-“

Nice to meet you? Actually, it wasn’t. It wasn’t very nice to meet her. We don’t get along.

Just ‘cause? That’s a little weird. It didn’t suit Johann’s calm and gentle image.

Surprise? This fits the best, but it hurts my pride to admit it. What’s there to be surprised about?

“We meet again.”

“Yes.

“…….”

Eventually, he succeeded in thinking of a suitable greeting, but his opponent was not good. Her one-word replies were like a blocking wall. Johann remained silent with his signature sweet smile on his face.

“You’re working as a librarian?”

“Yes.”

“You seem busy.”

“…….”

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It’s that look again! I can tell her eyes are telling me to go away. Johann was frozen with embarrassment, even though he already went through it once. Johann was by no means tactless. In fact, he was quite witty.

It was obvious to the quick-witted Johann that Elena Evoy was not interested in Johann Eldorado Pertan. Simply put, he was a bother to her.

This simple fact gave Johann quite the shock. He stepped back while gloomily shaking his head. This can’t be happening. This can’t happen. 

 

***