Chapter 412: Strata Magic School (3)
"Miss!"
"Yes?"
As I turned my head at the loud shout, a maid came rushing toward us from a distance, panting heavily.
The woman, who was running so vigorously that her maid uniform's skirt fluttered wildly, passed by me and Jeff before stopping in front of Luna and starting to jump up and down excitedly.
"Miss!"
"Cheryl. Have you been well?"
"I haven't slept a wink worrying about you, Miss! Hnggg!"
"Anyone would think I'd gone off to some harsh place."
The woman called Cheryl was an ordinary girl around 160 cm tall, with her brown hair tied back in a ponytail.
Her Disposition window didn't show anything standout. Just that she had a lively, scatterbrained personality?
Luna exchanged brief greetings with her maid Cheryl, then brought her over to introduce her to me.
"This is Cheryl. She's taken care of me since I was little. And this is Seong Su-ho. He's a friend studying with me at... Strata."
"Hello."
"H-Hello..."
"...?"
She didn't seem shy at first glance, but Cheryl merely bowed her head politely while eyeing me warily.
Was she about to pull some noble nonsense on me too? Even though she herself wasn't a noble...?
As I was thinking that, Luna seemed to realize her oversight and introduced Jeff as well.
"And this is Sir Jeff, the eldest son of the Pots Count family."
"Ah... Hello. I'm Cheryl, working for the Brandtrup family."
"Yeah, sure."
Jeff waved his hand dismissively, making it clear he wanted nothing to do with her.
I almost felt sorry for the servants back at the Pots estate.
Well... the servants at the Pots Count's place were pitiful anyway...
What bothered me was Cheryl, who was now glaring at me subtly.
Why's she glaring at me like that?
She's showing her hostility so openly that it seems she simply doesn't like you, Master Su-ho.
What did I even do wrong...?
As I reflected on myself, Cheryl suddenly beamed brightly at Luna as if nothing had happened.
"The Duke said to join him for dinner."
"Duke Brandtrup...?"
"Yes. And... he asked you to bring your companions along."
"Got it."
Luna replied to Cheryl, then turned to me with an explanation.
"You should change clothes first. The uniform isn't bad, but the Duke is a bit strict, so it'd be better."
"Yeah... alright then..."
"Miss~ Let me help you after so long."
"Yeah... thanks."
Cheryl grabbed Luna's luggage with effort and led her into the annex.
Once Luna and Cheryl had disappeared, I turned to Jeff, who was brimming with anticipation beside me.
"Hey, you stay here and unpack the luggage."
"What!?"
Jeff started whining loudly at me.
"I got invited too, you know? At least for dinner..."
"What are you talking about? You're not invited as a guest—you're here as my attendant. Oh, originally the Dean's, but..."
"This fucking..."
After a few days with me, Jeff had learned that arguing out of pride got him nowhere, so he just obeyed orders.
But today, he seemed unwilling to back down.
"Pl-Please. Just the dinner seat...?"
"..."
I already knew why he was begging like this.
Karin Brandt Rupf.
She'd surely appear at the dinner the Duke had invited us to.
He just wanted to see her, no matter what...
I carefully placed a hand on Jeff's shoulder, lowering my voice.
"That's not how you beg."
"..."
A grinding of teeth echoed briefly, followed by a trembling voice from Jeff's throat.
"Pl-Please... I beg you..."
"Is that all?"
Jeff's forehead flushed red, veins bulging like they might burst.
Thankfully, neither his forehead nor his throat exploded.
"I... I beg you... sir."
"...Good enough!"
I decided to let it slide at that.
Seeing this guy grovel was satisfaction enough.
I removed my hand from his shoulder.
"Normally I don't care, but if you show some manners when it's just us, I'll treat you right. Got it?"
"Y-Yes... sir."
Oh... that face you're making isn't 'got it' at all, is it?
I chuckled inwardly and sent him off.
"Now, go change and get ready."
"Grk..."
Jeff quickly gathered the luggage and headed into the annex.
I watched him go, smiling.
I was gonna bring you anyway.
Having received the Duke's invitation, I sat at the dinner table, gazing at Karin Brandt Rupf, who wore a relaxed expression.
As I looked at her, I communicated telepathically.
Damage at 0?
Not quite that much. ...I'd say about 0.5 damage.
Whoa... you detected that much? As expected of the CEO...
Karin Brandt Rupf merely kept her serene smile, showing no reaction to Jeff's appearance.
Five of us sat at the long dining table.
On the left side: Luna, me, Jeff.
On the right: Louis, Karin.
The seat in front of Luna was empty, Louis sat across from me, and Karin across from Jeff.
Left side: outsiders. Right side: Duke's family...
I could guess who owned the head seat and the one next to Louis.
Creeeak.
The door opened, drawing everyone's eyes.
Two people entered.
The middle-aged man, around late 170s cm tall, had neat blond hair and a clean-shaven face. He wore something like a military uniform, as if he'd just arrived from outside.
Beside him walked a woman around late 160s cm, with long blond hair, dressed in a red gown, moving gracefully.
The Duchess... looked more like a beauty in her prime than a middle-aged woman.
She's pretty.
[...]
What? A little appreciation's fine!
I said nothing.
That's the problem—you said nothing!
[...]
Reprimanded, Armonia fell silent, and I kept watching the approaching pair.
As everyone, including me, stood to greet them, the dignified middle-aged man nodded.
"The palace took longer than expected. I hope you've been well, both of you."
Louis and Luna replied in turn to Duke Brandtrup.
"Yes, Father."
"Yes, Duke."
"And..."
The Duke approached me without sitting, looking me over intently before speaking.
"You're that famous Seong Su-ho, I presume?"
"I don't know about the rumors, but yes, that's my name."
Duke Brandtrup extended his hand for a shake.
As I took it, he continued.
"Louis contacted me ahead. Spend the summer semester in our annex and recover from all the fatigue on body and mind. If anything's lacking, don't hesitate to ask."
"Thank you."
"And..."
The Duke glanced at Jeff beside me.
"How's Count Pots?"
"H-He's doing well."
"Good... I've heard he's had a tough time lately. Glad to hear it."
"Eek..."
Stung by his conscience, Jeff flinched and shrank back.
Duke Brandtrup gave Jeff a sidelong glare before moving to the head seat.
"Enough greetings... Let's talk slowly over the meal."
At the Duke's words, butlers and maids wheeled in carts of food.
The table filled quickly, and dinner began.
The meal itself was dreadfully boring.
The topic was Louis's school life.
The Duke led most of the conversation, with others just responding.
The Duchess I was curious about ate elegantly in silence, lips sealed.
I set aside thoughts of the Duchess for now and surveyed the surroundings, impressed.
Wow... so many tangled relationships at one table.
Luna and I were lovers; Louis, unaware, had a crush on her. Karin despised Louis as her mortal enemy. Jeff admired Karin. I manipulated Jeff like a puppet. And Karin was interested in me...
What a mess.
"Glad your school life's going smoothly. Keep at it."
"Yes, Father."
With guests like me and Jeff present, no heavy topics arose.
The meal ended anticlimactically after light chatter.
The Duke said to me as it wrapped up.
"Use the annex freely. Speak up if anything's inconvenient."
"Thank you for your consideration, Duke Brandtrup."
"Hm..."
The Duke nodded and left. The Duchess glanced at me briefly, bowed politely, and followed.
Phew... finally over. Huh?
Louis, who had been statue-like before the Duke, suddenly perked up and approached Luna.
"Luna, speaking of which, you're staying in the annex? Why? Come to our mansion quick."
"No. I've always lived in the annex, and I plan to during this semester too."
"You don't mean you're staying there with that guy right now?"
Even knowing I was nearby, Louis openly treated me like a weirdo.
Luna sighed deeply.
"Louis... do you have to call a friend that?"
"...Friend?"
Friiiiend? FRIEEEEND!?
[...]
I nearly shouted my telepathic outburst aloud in shock.
Luna began lecturing the dumbfounded Louis.
"Louis, even if we're close, does it make sense for me to sleep at your mansion?"
"But..."
"Plenty of others have stayed in the annex before. Don't make me look weird now."
"...Fine."
Luna... that lightning-quick excuse in the crisis was masterful.
Louis replied to her, then came to me quietly.
"I'll send someone to attend you in the annex... Watch yourself."
"Jeez..."
I took it as a warning: surveillance incoming, so behave.
Just then, a maid entered the dining hall, bowed to Louis and Karin.
"Young Master Louis, Miss Karin. The Duke requests you."
"Ugh... Got it. Coming now. See you tomorrow, Luna."
"Yeah."
Louis followed the maid with an uneasy look. Karin...
"Heh..."
She was smiling at me.
As our eyes met, Karin gave a subtle eye smile.
Unexpected.
After sitting stone-faced, eyes fixed on the Duke throughout dinner, she suddenly smiled at me.
What the...?
Before I could ponder, Karin followed Louis out.
Her expression wouldn't have been visible to Luna from her position.
The problem was the guy next to me.
Worried Jeff might flip out, I glanced down at him.
"Di-Did she just smile at me? Knew coming was right. Heh heh heh..."
"..."
Now it was time to peek into this idiot's head.