Theorad, the Star Instructor
Six days later.
Imperial University Mage Tower.
“Ooh…”
At a café on Rioveda Street, Pares gazed at the cup before her with shining eyes. Steam rose from liquid as dark as graphite. There was something extraordinary about the sight.
“So this is the drink people have in the Kingdom of Agela…”
She gently swirled the coffee and breathed in its aroma. The rich, roasted fragrance was enough to make her mouth water.
I'm glad I came to the Mage Tower.
Coffee could be found elsewhere, but shops that ground their own beans and brewed it fresh were rare. She had long wondered what real coffee tasted like. Having accompanied Weedra, the chairman, to the Mage Tower, she had finally found a chance to satisfy that curiosity.
I haven't anything else to do today, either.
Weedra had allowed her some time to herself. Pares intended to spend it as elegantly and leisurely as a Mage Tower student.
She smiled, raised the cup, and extended her little finger for the benefit of anyone watching. People on the mainland drank this way, she'd heard.
Slurp.
Pares took a delicate sip and set the cup down again.
“Uh… ah…”
Her smile remained in place. Her eyes, however, trembled.
Why is it so bitter?
Everyone around her drank with such relaxed expressions that she'd expected something sweet and fragrant. The reality was an almost unbearable bitterness.
Why would anyone spend money on this?
She stared mournfully at the rest of the cup, wondering how she could possibly finish it. Then the conversation at the next table caught her attention.
“Did you apply for that special lecture with the instructor's name kept secret? The competition was fierce.”
“You mean ‘Multipurpose Observation and Creative Conception in Magical Design’? I applied because I thought it sounded interesting, but I didn't get in.”
Pares pricked up her ears.
Everyone's talking about that lately.
She'd heard repeatedly that an extraordinary guest had come to the tower. She wasn't one of its students, so she'd paid little attention to the details.
But what sort of person attracted this much gossip? Pares stirred her coffee with a spoon and listened.
“Too bad for you. I was selected.”
“What? You don't even study magical design.”
“True. But the instructor is so handsome that I couldn't resist.”
“How would you know? I thought his identity was supposed to be secret.”
“My father has money and connections. I begged him to find out and help me get a seat. Besides, you're the only person who doesn't know he's handsome.”
“You're unbelievable. Someone who actually wants to study might have lost a place because of you.”
Handsome?
Pares leaned closer without meaning to.
“As though I'm the only one who applied to see his face! Admit you're jealous.”
“I'm not. Though… exactly how handsome is he?”
“He looks like a nobleman. Well, he actually is one. I ran into him in the library, and he said, ‘Move aside. You're in the way.’ Can you imagine? Ah, I can't get over it.”
The student pressed a hand to her cheek, looking thoroughly smitten. Pares found herself picturing the encounter.
“From a noble family? Which one?”
“You truly don't know? He's the head of House Deharem, a viscount. I hear he's also serving as deputy count in Pelgaroin County.”
“Wait. Viscount Theorad?”
“Of course. Who else?”
“My home is in Pelgaroin County. But did Viscount Theorad really tell you to get out of his way? He doesn't seem like that sort of person…”
Pares nodded in agreement. She remembered her conversation with Theorad in the mansion's drawing room. He had teased her a little, but he'd been a kind and considerate older brother figure.
Come to think of it…
She hadn't known he would be lecturing at the Mage Tower when she came. Considering that he had perfected artificial rain magic, perhaps she should have expected it.
“Hee-hee.”
The thought of meeting Theorad here put her in a much better mood.
I'll ask him to have tea with me when we meet.
She took another cheerful sip of coffee.
“Ugh.”
It was still awful.
“Uh…”
Alverine had served as a librarian for three years, but never before had the job presented such a peculiar crisis: an impossibly beautiful woman was standing before the desk, glaring at him.
Her silver hair shone like sunlight on fresh snow, and her softly gleaming red eyes seemed capable of drawing anyone in. Her fine features, graceful figure, and flawless skin surpassed those of every lovely student Alverine had seen in the library.
I'd heard Viscount Theorad had a beautiful maid…
The rumors had hardly prepared him for meeting her. Theorad himself had drawn admiring glances when he'd visited the library; now the elf had left Alverine staring. The world seemed terribly unfair to ordinary people.
He kept the complaint to himself. He had a job to do.
“Hello. How may I help you?”
He gave the elf his practiced professional smile. She remained expressionless. Sweat gathered at his temple.
The elf studied him a long moment, then spoke.
“Master.”
“…Pardon?”
“Has Master been here at the library?”
So she was looking for Theorad. Alverine hesitated before shaking his head.
“He was here earlier, but left on an errand. If you like, I can tell him his maid came looking for him when he returns.”
“…That won't be necessary.”
The elf looked around. Row upon row of shelves held an enormous collection of books on scholarship and literature, fitting for the Imperial University's Mage Tower. Her gaze settled on something, and she walked toward it.
As long as she was merely browsing, Alverine had no reason to interfere.
She really is beautiful, though.
Alverine watched her go, then shook off the thought and returned to his book. It was a serious offense for a commoner to make improper advances toward the maid of a nobleman. He had no intention of inviting trouble—and hardly expected this particular woman would respond to flirting in any case.
“…”
A shadow fell across the page. Alverine looked up to find the elf holding out a book. Her cheeks had taken on a faint color.
“This… I'd like to borrow it.”
He glanced at the cover and nearly started.
The library has a book like this?
Dust lay thick on it. The title was so frank, and so peculiar, that he was embarrassed even to read it.
Do maids study positions like these for their masters nowadays?
He was curious, but it was none of his business. He accepted the volume, noted its title on the lending register, and entered the borrower as “Maid of Viscount Theorad Deharem.”
Alverine finished the paperwork and returned the book with a polite smile.
“It's classified as literature, so the loan period is one week. If you need more time, please come back before the due date. You may renew it twice.”
The elf nodded, tucked the book into her arms, and left.
Alverine watched until she was out of sight. Then he turned and sighed.
“You can come out now, Viscount.”
Clatter.
The hatch to the underground storeroom shifted and opened. Theorad cautiously poked his head out. After looking around and satisfying himself that the elf really had gone, he exhaled and climbed the ladder. Dust coated his shoulders.
“Why were you hiding?”
Theorad brushed off his clothes and answered flatly.
“That's not something you need to know.”
“Of course. And about what you promised…”
“Ah, yes. One moment.”
Theorad searched his pockets, produced a silver coin, and handed it over. Alverine accepted it with a delighted smile.
“Thank you. You've been in the library since early this morning, haven't you?”
“I have a lecture tomorrow. I'm merely assessing the intellectual level of the Mage Tower's students.”
In truth, Theorad had been working desperately to prepare the lecture. But the elf had told him to maintain an arrogant attitude throughout his stay, so he forced himself to speak coldly.
Alverine, unaware of that, regarded him with fascinated curiosity, as though trying to understand a genius's peculiar pride. Unable to stand the look, Theorad cleared his throat and touched the brooch at his neck.
“Why did my maid come to the library, anyway?”
“She was looking for you, Viscount. When I told her you'd left, she borrowed a book and went on her way.”
“A book?”
What could an elf who knew little about human magical scholarship want from this library?
“What did she borrow?”
“It had a very long title. I wrote it down. Here.”
Alverine handed him the register. The moment he read it, he froze.
Even You Can Seduce a Man if You Read This: An Intensive Study of Twelve Positions Men Love to Death.
The blood drained from his face.