Chapter 74

The tranquil view of the library vanished, and instead, a clear lake appeared before her eyes. The scent of the green forest and the refreshing humidity suddenly washed over her.

Ariel looked around in confusion.

A quiet waterside with weeping willows hanging down… It was the same lakeshore she had seen on her first day at the academy.

“Why did we come here, Senior?”

Even when she asked, Lexius didn’t offer much of an explanation. He released Ariel, whom he had practically pulled into an embrace, and walked over to a nearby bench before plopping down and gesturing for her to come over.

“Come here and get some rest.”

Seeing his clear smile, Ariel moved towards him. As she took a seat next to him, he patted his thigh.

“I’ll lend it to you. Lie down.”

“Is that okay?”

“It’s okay, that’s why I’m saying it.”

He generously offered.

Ariel hesitated for a moment before leaning over and resting her head on one of his thighs. She was actually quite tired, so instead of refusing, she wanted to enjoy the comfort.

“Thank you, Senior.”

Feeling the firm touch of his thigh against the side of her face, Ariel drowsily opened and closed her eyes. On the other hand, Lexius let out a low, brief laugh at her lack of hesitation.

“There’s no need to thank me.”

His fingertips gently brushed away the hair that had fallen on her forehead. His touch was soft, like a pleasant breeze, and Ariel felt her entire body relax as she felt herself drifting off to sleep.

‘Wouldn’t it be a nuisance if I fall asleep like this?’

She attempted to start a conversation while lying on her side.

“But… I heard that magic is learned and mastered according to one’s aptitude. Shouldn’t I also be learning it in a way that suits my aptitude?”

“Education that suits your aptitude comes after you’ve mastered the basic knowledge. And—”

He placed his hand under his chin and covered her eyes as he finished his words.

“If you’re here to rest, stop thinking about all that.”

“…Ung.”

Ariel, reassured by Lexius’s deep and gentle voice, fully closed her eyes.

“Senior… thank you so much. I was able to do my best because of you.”

Before falling asleep, with her mind drifting, Ariel sincerely thanked him. Despite how troublesome it must have been, he took the time to guide her through everything, and he seemed different. Her initial impression of him, which had been the worst among the targets over the past week, had completely disappeared.

“I’ll definitely repay this kindness…”

“Sleep.”

Lexius dismissed her thanks with an air of annoyance. His response seemed rather cold on the surface, though Ariel took it as a form of consideration towards her. He probably just wanted her to stop with the unnecessary chatter and rest quickly.

His brief, indifferent command eased her nerves.

And just like that, she drifted to sleep.

Once Ariel was completely asleep, he removed his hand from covering her eyes. Her peacefully sleeping face looked innocent and defenseless. The expressionless face he had been wearing shifted into a strange smile, like a child who had just thought of a mischievous prank.

“Kindness, huh? I wonder if you really understand what you’re saying…”

His suddenly changed expression was almost like a mocking sneer.

   ̊   · : * ✧ * : ·  ̊      

There was a slight cluttering noise, followed by a sweet scent that tickled the nose.

Ariel woke up as if drawn by the changes around her. As she blinked her eyes, she noticed things that hadn’t been there before—a white outdoor table with fruit sandwiches, freshly baked croissants, and green grapes placed on top.

“Junior, you’re awake?”

At the playful yet gentle tone, she turned her head from where she had been lying on her side and looked up. Lexius, looking down at her, flashed a bright, refreshing smile.

“It’s time to eat.”

With a firm arm, he quickly lifted her body from where she was lying.

The force of being pulled made her vision rapidly rise. As she stared ahead in a daze, his hand gently brushed through her tousled hair.

“Senior… how long did I sleep?”

“Two hours.”

“Did I sleep that long?”

“Yeah. You slept well.”

Seeing him laugh with a chuckle, Ariel suddenly felt embarrassed and started fiddling with her bangs.

“Did I make a weird face?”

“Not really. You always looked weird.”

“Is that so? I thought you liked my face.”

“Yeah, I do like it.”

He spoke in a slightly more serious tone than before. His demeanor shifted subtly, to the point where, if you listened closely, it could almost be mistaken for a subtle confession.

Ariel felt a sense of déjà vu but kept her composure.

“But you still like my face.”

“Why do you think it’s only about the face?”

“Because I only asked about my face? Even if you say you like me without specifying, I know you’re talking about my face.”

“What if it means something else?”

He gave Ariel a meaningful smile, testing her reaction. Yet her response remained the same as before.

She replied calmly.

“If it means something else… then saying you like me would be a lie.”

“Why would it be a lie? What if I really had feelings for you?”

“Lie.”

Her response remained consistent.

Lexius seemed increasingly intrigued by Ariel, who showed little reaction despite his repeated attempts to bait her. As if trying to figure out why she kept seeing through his lies, he questioned her persistently.

“Why do you think that?”

“Hmm… It’s hard to explain exactly, but when it feels like you’re trying to lure me in, the atmosphere subtly changes. It was the same when you came to Count’s estate before. You suddenly seemed strangely serious and sincere.”

“So, shouldn’t you feel that it’s sincere? Why are you taking it in the opposite way?”

“I don’t know. For some reason, it just felt that way.”

When she answered that way, the pretense on his face completely disappeared. His expression became slightly taken aback, revealing his genuine feelings. Lexius, who had been making eye contact with Ariel, suddenly turned his head to an empty space.

Bzzzzz—

The cell phone in her skirt pocket vibrated.

Ariel’s expression faltered for a moment, startled by the sudden ringing, but fortunately, Lexius’s gaze was directed elsewhere at that moment.

‘…Has his favorability increased? What could have caused it?’

There had been no changes even when she was struggling through the grueling classes, so the sudden increase in favorability was surprising.

She quickly glanced at him.