Chapter 24

She didn’t necessarily have to go as far as marriage.

An engagement would have been enough. She could have extended the engagement period.

She only needed to buy enough time to escape from the clutches of Marquis Philia’s family.

First, she needed to collect evidence.

“You look pretty when you smile, Bri.”

“Thank you.”

“Since I haven’t seen this smile lately, you look especially beautiful today.”

Briseyes had her hair tied in a ponytail as Demian wanted. She preferred her red hair loose rather than tied. Having less pressure weighing on her head also helped her concentrate better when studying.

“A woman should be neat.”

Briseyes forced a smile at his words while glancing at Delilah, who had her hair down.

“Dili is different. Dili is my lover, and you are my wife. It’s different from the dignity you need to show as a Grand Duchess.”

“Yes, I know.”

Briseyes closed her mouth while trying to hide her expression that showed she hadn’t expected anything from him.

⁕⁕⁕

When they arrived at the classroom and were about to take their seats, Delilah grabbed Demian’s hand.

“Demi, let’s sit in the front today.”

Briseyes didn’t particularly want to be with him during class. Besides, sitting separately would be best for creating more witnesses.

But for some reason…

Seeing Delilah grabbing Demian’s hand with a bright smile gave her a strange feeling.

“Haven’t you been sitting with Miss Delilah a lot lately?”

“That’s right.”

“Would it be difficult to sit with me today, Demian?”

At Briseyes’s words, Demian answered with a broad smile.

“Not at all. Let’s sit in the front, where Bri usually sits.”

“Good.”

Briseyes said this and sat in her usual spot. Demian put down his bag as well.

“I……”

“Sit here, Miss Delilah.”

Briseyes pointed to the seat behind her.

“Yes, that’s a good spot.”

At Demian’s words, Delilah smiled brightly again and sat down.

Briseyes looked straight at Demian and said:

“It feels really good to sit together again.”

“Indeed. We sat together every day until our second year.”

Demian smiled with a flushed face as he recalled the past. His appearance remained the same.

Briseyes thought she was the one who had changed. Looking at his past self no longer made her heart race. She didn’t feel excited or cautious anymore.

She was just tired of having to act all this out for evidence.

“I think Bri’s hair color would be better if it were a bit darker.”

Demian tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear while staring at her intently.

“Being red, it really catches people’s eyes.”

“Do you hate that it catches attention?”

“Yes, because I’m certainly not the only one who finds you beautiful.”

Despite Demian’s gentle voice, Briseyes remained unaffected.

— Slide.

“What the hell.”

Callisten entered through the door with a scowl on his face.

“Welcome.”

“That’s my seat. Move.”

When Callisten growled at Demian, Demian unconsciously touched his injured ribs. Perhaps because Callisten had pushed him down the stairs last time, his lowest rib hurt whenever he made eye contact with Callisten.

“Since I’m Bri’s husband, the seat next to her is mine.”

He spoke firmly, but meeting Callisten’s red eyes made him feel chilled again.

Of all people…

Demian had encountered Callisten on the battlefield before. Though they were allies, the image of him fighting still lingered like an afterimage.

“Cal, sit behind.”

“Why? The seat next to you is mine.”

“Who says so? Be quiet and sit down.”

At Briseyes’s words, Callisten glared fiercely at Demian before speaking to Delilah.

“The seat behind Bri is mine. Move aside or to the side.”

“I’ll move to the side.”

So Delilah ended up sitting directly behind Demian, and Callisten sat directly behind Briseyes.

⁕⁕⁕

It was the third period, Basic Science.

Basic Science was divided into four subjects, and Class 1 had to take all four subjects. Classes below Class 5 only had to choose two subjects.

“Today in Basic Chemistry, we will learn about mass.”

Briseyes was very weak in science. While she could somehow manage mathematics, she struggled with science, especially physics.

Physics and chemistry weren’t just about memorizing formulas. They seemed like subjects where unpredictable variables constantly interfered.

She was concentrating as much as possible, taking notes from the professor’s lecture.

“Does anyone know why we don’t make swords out of high-purity gold?”

Every subject was set up to give bonus points to students who answered best during class.

Briseyes was aware of this and raised her hand.

“High-purity gold bends easily, but hardness is also important for sword materials.”

“Correct. Then why do you think gold is expensive even though it can’t be used for swords?”

Briseyes was flustered by the question that wasn’t in her preparation.

“Because gold cannot be artificially created like other minerals.”

She answered impromptu without realizing it.

“Correct. Have you read books written by alchemists?”

“Yes.”

“Ho ho ho. Impressive. That’s right. That’s why alchemists repeatedly failed. Gold is different from other minerals in that it still cannot be artificially created.”

Briseyes picked up her fountain pen with relief and took notes of the conversation.

“Today, this gold will be the protagonist of your assignment.”

The physics professor, true to his role, held up a round piece of gold and said:

“Your assignment is to find the exact weight of these gold pieces, each with different weights. However, you cannot use a scale.”

“Can we use a balance and weights?”

“Yes, of course.”

Briseyes was relieved that the content was more basic than she expected.

“Form groups of four and discuss.”

So Briseyes and Demian turned their chairs to face Callisten and Delilah. Callisten looked at Briseyes askew, but when she smiled at him, his expression softened.

“Bri, you seem happy sitting with someone other than me?”

“Of course. He’s my husband.”

Callisten had visited Jeronis Abein’s law office with her yesterday, so he knew why she was acting this way.

Even so, seeing her sitting with another man made him feel terrible. It also greatly annoyed him to see Demian touching Briseyes so casually, even though he knew it was an act.

While he himself touched Briseyes carefully, as if she might break or fly away with a breath.

“Has Your Highness already learned all of Basic Science?”

“Don’t. Speak. To me. How dare you, commoner.”

When Callisten warned Delilah, Demian frowned.

“Why are you treating Dili like that?”

“Oh, is this because she’s your lover and you’re looking after her?”

“……No.”

Demian was irritated by Callisten’s crooked attitude but was still somewhat afraid of him.

“Take it easy. We’re gathered here to discuss, not to fight.”

When Briseyes warned him, Callisten’s spirit deflated, and his shoulders drooped.

“Do you have any good ideas, Cal?”

“Yeah, but I only want to tell you.”

“Don’t. I think I already know how to do it.”

Briseyes looked at the balance and weights in front of her. And the perfectly spherical bead that was too perfect to be placed on the balance.

Moreover, half of the bead was stone, and half was gold. As if someone had brought an artificially made sphere with gold attached to a rock.

“Professor! The gold keeps rolling away, so we can’t measure its weight!”

“Is it possible to change the support?”

It seemed other groups were experiencing the same issue.

“Bri, how should we approach this?”

Casius, who was nearby, playfully asked. He had been eavesdropping on their conversation while watching his group desperately trying to prevent their gold bead from rolling away.

“Student Briseyes, have you already figured it out?”

The physics professor came over next to Casius, looking surprised.

“This beaker you gave us wasn’t given for no reason. We should fill it with water, put the bead in, measure the weight of the overflowing water, then separate the gold, put only the rock in, and subtract the weight.”

“Ho ho ho. Correct. And the method for extracting the gold?”

“By adding aqua regia to the alloy, heating it, decomposing it, and creating a chloroauric acid solution to separate the gold.”

Everyone nodded after hearing the conversation between the professor and Briseyes.

“There’s nothing more to teach today. I’ll give Student Briseyes a bonus point.”

“Thank you, Professor.”

“Well, since Student Briseyes has figured out the theory, the other group members should successfully conduct the experiment and submit a lab report.”

“Yes.”

“Yes, Professor.”

Callisten was looking at Briseyes with a strangely flushed expression. He stared at her with a reddened face before suddenly turning pale and clenching his fist tightly.

Even in this noisy classroom, Briseyes heard the sound of metal friction.

When her eyes met Callisten’s, she shook her head.

“Bri, I’m in so much pain.”

“Kaz, could I talk with you for a moment later?”

Briseyes ignored Callisten’s words and spoke to Casius, who was standing nearby.

“Yes, of course.”

He nodded with a smile in his eyes, impressed by Briseyes’s insight.

Briseyes strangely felt that it wouldn’t be bad to talk about a contract engagement with him, since he showed a flexible attitude toward her.

She didn’t see what expression Callisten had at all.