Chapter 253: An Ordinary Afternoon [2]

By the time their study session ended, Garen had somehow managed to accomplish the least work out of everyone at the table.

This was particularly impressive considering how much time he had spent complaining about the assignments.

Ma?lle examined his notes and discovered that he had skipped an important conversion in the second calculation. As a result, nearly everything that followed was wrong.

Garen defended himself by pointing out that his method had been correct.

Unfortunately, magic was one of those subjects where getting the method right and the answer wrong could still result in an explosion.

Ilya helped him identify the mistake, leaving him to correct the remaining calculations himself. Once Garen understood the problem, the assignment progressed much faster, although he continued complaining about how unnecessarily complicated spell construction had become.

By late afternoon, everyone had finished their work.

Wolfram and Lisbet went to return several borrowed books, while Ma?lle accompanied Garen to the department office. Solveig remained behind for a little longer, helping Ilya organize the reference materials they had used.

Their earlier conversation came to mind.

"Thanks for checking on me earlier," Ilya said.

Solveig glanced at him.

"You already thanked me."

"Did I?"

"At least twice."

"Well, I suppose that makes three."

She smiled faintly before returning another book to its shelf.

Their conversation in the library had been brief, but Ilya appreciated it more than she probably realized. Most people had been understandably reluctant to discuss Saint Aurelia with him. Some were concerned about bringing up unpleasant memories, while others simply didn’t know what to say.

Solveig had approached the subject without making a spectacle of it.

She had asked whether he was doing all right, listened to his answer, and allowed the conversation to move elsewhere when he wanted.

That was enough.

Before leaving, she reminded him about the weekend outing their friends were organizing. Ilya had already agreed to attend, assuming nothing important came up, and she seemed satisfied with that arrangement.

They parted outside the library.

Ilya intended to return home early for once. Between his recent assessments, training sessions, and ordinary coursework, he had been neglecting several books he wanted to read.

Unfortunately, his plans changed before he could reach the academy gates.

"Ilya!"

He recognized the voice immediately.

Liselotte Aenne Bismarck approached from the opposite corridor, accompanied by two attendants who remained a respectful distance behind her.

The Imperial Princess looked particularly pleased to have found him.

"I was beginning to think you’d already left."

"Just finished studying."

"Wonderful. Then you can spare me an afternoon."

Ilya had known Liselotte long enough to recognize when she had already arranged something.

Sure enough, she explained that one of the academy’s private garden pavilions had been prepared for tea. She had finished her own obligations earlier than expected and wanted some company before returning to the Imperial residence.

Ilya considered the books waiting at home.

They had already survived several centuries. Another afternoon probably wouldn’t hurt them.

He accepted.

Liselotte smiled and slipped her arm around his as they headed toward the gardens.

The gesture had become familiar since her enrollment at Holy Trinity. At first, Ilya had found her public displays of affection rather troublesome, particularly after she announced their engagement before an entire classroom.

Nowadays, he barely paid them any attention.

That realization would probably have delighted her.

The pavilion overlooked a small pond surrounded by flowering trees. A tea service had already been arranged, although Liselotte dismissed her attendants to a nearby resting area once they were seated.

For a while, their conversation concerned ordinary academy matters.

Liselotte had heard about his performance during the practical assessments, including the cooperative exercise he completed with Elise and Solenne. She congratulated him, then complained that her own schedule had prevented her from watching.

Her disappointment appeared genuine.

Although the Imperial Princess received private instruction in addition to her ordinary coursework, she remained interested in the activities taking place throughout the academy. Her enrollment had given her an opportunity to experience something approaching ordinary student life, even if her circumstances made complete freedom impossible.

Their conversation eventually turned toward her recent obligations.

An upcoming Imperial gathering had occupied much of her attention, and several meetings with court officials had been arranged around her academic schedule.

The latter sounded particularly tedious.

According to Liselotte, one elderly nobleman had spent almost an hour explaining the importance of maintaining favorable relationships between the Imperial Family and the western provinces.

Ilya found that rather amusing.

The man had apparently delivered an entire lecture to someone who probably understood the subject better than he did.

"Did you tell him that?" Ilya asked.

"Goodness, no. He looked so pleased with himself."

"How considerate."

"I can be very considerate when I want to."

Ilya believed her.

Liselotte’s playful behavior sometimes made it easy to overlook how carefully she navigated the people around her. She understood when to flatter someone, when to remain silent, and when an apparently harmless remark could influence an entire conversation.

He had grown up surrounded by nobles, yet even he occasionally found her political instincts impressive.

There was a reason the Imperial Family had entrusted her with responsibilities despite her age.

As their conversation continued, Liselotte mentioned that she might be expected to attend the gathering alongside a suitable companion.

Naturally, she already had someone in mind.

Ilya.

Their engagement had been discussed privately between their families long before Liselotte’s arrival at Holy Trinity. However, while the academy now knew about their relationship, the Imperial Court had yet to receive a formal public announcement.

Appearing together at an Imperial gathering would attract considerable attention.

Ilya understood the implications.

"Has His Majesty approved?"

"Father knows I’m considering it."

"That’s a very careful answer."

Liselotte laughed.

The decision hadn’t been finalized, and she assured him that he would receive a proper invitation if the arrangements proceeded.

Ilya agreed to consider it when the time came.

He wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about formal gatherings, but he also understood that his relationship with Liselotte involved responsibilities neither of them could simply ignore.

More importantly, refusing to accompany her merely because he disliked court functions would have been rather inconsiderate.

She seemed pleased by his willingness to entertain the idea.

Afterward, their conversation moved toward their respective experiences at Holy Trinity.

Liselotte was curious about how his relationship with his former classmates had changed since transferring departments. She knew something of his earlier difficulties, although Ilya rarely discussed them unless the subject arose naturally.

He explained that the Magic Department had been a surprisingly welcoming environment.

His classmates were an unusual collection of people from different backgrounds, but they had accepted him without making his family’s reputation the center of every conversation.

Garen, in particular, seemed entirely unconcerned with noble etiquette whenever it became inconvenient.

Liselotte found his description entertaining.

She had met several members of his research group during her lectures and remembered their reactions to the engagement announcement.

Apparently, Garen’s expression had been especially memorable.

The afternoon passed pleasantly.

At one point, Liselotte asked about Elise, who had apparently been spending more time with Ilya again.

He explained that they had been friends since childhood and had gradually repaired the distance that developed between them.

Liselotte listened without interrupting.

She was already aware of their history, at least in broad terms, and she didn’t appear particularly surprised.

"She must be happy," she remarked.

"I hope so."

Liselotte studied him for a moment before taking another sip of tea.

Ilya wondered whether there was something else she intended to say, but she allowed the subject to rest.

For once, he appreciated her restraint.

Elise’s circumstances were complicated enough without him attempting to explain feelings he didn’t entirely understand himself.

As the afternoon wore on, their conversation became less concerned with obligations and academy matters.

Liselotte spoke about several places she wanted to visit around the capital, including a recently opened confectionery that had attracted considerable attention among the younger nobility.

Despite having lived in the Imperial Capital for years, she rarely had opportunities to visit such establishments without an entourage.

Ilya suggested that they could arrange something during one of her free afternoons.

Liselotte seemed genuinely delighted.

"Really?"

"Why not? You’ve invited me out often enough."

For a moment, she regarded him with an expression he couldn’t quite interpret.

Then her familiar smile returned.

"I’ll hold you to that."

Ilya had no doubt she would.

Still, he found himself looking forward to it.

Their engagement had begun as an arrangement between powerful families, and there remained plenty of things they didn’t know about one another. Yet spending time with Liselotte had gradually become something he enjoyed for its own sake.

She was clever, entertaining, and surprisingly easy to speak with once they moved beyond the formalities surrounding her position.

Ilya suspected that he was growing rather accustomed to having her around.

By the time they left the pavilion, evening was approaching.

Liselotte accompanied him toward the academy’s main entrance before returning to her attendants. She thanked him for spending the afternoon with her and reminded him about their proposed outing.

Ilya promised to arrange a suitable day.

He returned home later than intended, although he couldn’t say he regretted it.

The books waiting in his room would have to survive another evening.

At least this time, he had a rather good excuse.