Home/The Peaceful Academy Life of a Magic Potion Professor/ch35

Chapter 35

"Prince Edward invited you to dinner?"

Headmaster Kamirgold's eyes widened in surprise. Lamiya explained the circumstances and added,

"Since I can't simply consider this a private matter, I wanted to let you know in advance."

"The Crown Prince does have his peculiarities, but... to go this far?"

Kamirgold frowned slightly, looking puzzled, then seemed to let it go.

"It's a rare occasion, so go and enjoy yourself. It's a bit unexpected, but an invitation from the imperial family is a tremendous honor. Don't worry too much about etiquette—just take it easy."

...Lamiya recalled this as she rode in the carriage sent by the imperial palace.

She'd never read about anything like this, never even imagined it, so she had prepared nothing. Her only thought was to get through the meal quickly and quietly. Drawing attention like this was absolutely not the kind of life Lamiya preferred. The luxurious carriage's plush ride and the coachman's smooth driving did nothing to change her mood.

"We have arrived."

The carriage stopped, and the door soon opened.

"Good day, Professor Lamiya."

Aide Charles, with his pale complexion, and several servants greeted her. Taking his proffered hand, Lamiya slowly descended from the carriage and replied.

"Hello."

"Did you have a pleasant journey? I will escort you to where lunch is prepared."

Lamiya followed Aide Charles. Even as she entered, she could feel it—the imperial palace was an enormous and magnificent place. Mariposa Academy was also vast, but this was on a different scale.

If just the Crown Prince's palace was like this, the entire complex must be many times larger. Lamiya's eyes widened at the sheer splendor—from the red carpets lining the corridors to the expensive ornaments and paintings. Having never seen anything like it, she was genuinely fascinated.

"This is the place."

Charles led her to a reception room where an elegant-looking table and neatly arranged tableware awaited. Important guests of the Crown Prince were apparently received in these private, intimate spaces—though to Lamiya, it still seemed vast.

Our sense of scale is very different.

Still, it was less overwhelming than dining in an even larger hall.

"Please be seated. His Highness will join you shortly."

Aide Charles gave a slight bow and left the room. The remaining servants poured water, and she naturally moistened her throat. It felt like stepping into a jewel box—a place where the world's most precious things were gathered. Everything was so large and glittering that it almost hurt her eyes.

Curiosity piqued. How had the artist painted those grand murals on the ceiling? How was this vast palace heated in winter? Did they have a map to keep from getting lost? And it occurred to her that living here would probably make regular exercise unnecessary, just from all the walking.

Now that she was here, she thought it might not be a bad experience—after all, when else would she ever set foot in the imperial palace?

"His Highness the Crown Prince approaches."

At the servant's announcement, Crown Prince Edward entered with a light step. Lamiya rose from her seat.

The man with short, fiery red hair and ruby-red eyes greeted her.

"Good day, Professor Lamiya."

He extended his hand.

"I stand before the empire's brightest sun. Please forgive any rudeness I may have shown unintentionally during our previous encounter."

At this unexpected apology, Crown Prince Edward waved his hand.

"I share some blame for not having explained things properly. I heard Professor Lamiya came to the capital from a rural mountain village—of course you wouldn't know. There's no need to apologize."

It seemed he'd done some research on her. Lamiya, of course, didn't mention it.

"Thank you."

"And I believe I should apologize first. Raymond."

Crown Prince Edward called his brother in a deliberately stern tone. The boy with red hair, resembling his brother, shuffled in hesitantly.

"Ah... hello, Professor."

Prince Raymond greeted Lamiya with a stilted tone. There was still no sign of genuine remorse, but he seemed somehow reformed? This fast? Lamiya's eyes widened slightly, a glint of interest in them.

"I heard from Raymond what happened. ...I couldn't hold my head up. Who would want to teach a royal who can't even manage basic manners?"

Edward covered his face with one hand. Prince Raymond's face might as well have been shouting "I don't need to learn that potion garbage!" but Edward seemed not to notice.

"I also bear responsibility for neglecting my brother while attending to my own duties. I apologize."

He bowed his head respectfully.

"I'm sorry, Professor Lamiya."

Prince Raymond, shoulders slumped, forced out an apology. Lamiya didn't want to drag this out any further—she certainly didn't want to be summoned to the palace again.

"Yes, I accept Prince Raymond's apology."

The Crown Prince's face brightened. Prince Raymond's, in contrast, looked like he'd bitten a lemon.

"Then, shall we eat? You may go, Ray."

The moment he finished speaking, Prince Raymond shot out of the room as if he'd been waiting for the chance—he clearly couldn't stand being there any longer.

As Lamiya and Crown Prince Edward took their seats, the meal began to arrive. She took a sip of soup—one of the first courses—and covered her mouth.

"Is something wrong with the food...?"

"No, not at all."

Lamiya admitted she'd been mistaken. Right, the imperial palace would have the finest chefs in the land... how could she not have anticipated that? Suddenly, the prospect of this meal didn't seem so bad.

"It's delicious."

She offered a faint smile. For a moment, Crown Prince Edward faltered, but she didn't notice.

"I'm glad. I'd hoped Raymond could join us, but he seems to need more time—I sent him away. Though I must admit, I was worried he might misbehave again. Haha."

"That's quite alright."

It was far more pleasant than eating under Raymond's hostile glare. And the food was delicious.

"He still has much to learn. Being royal, everyone around him indulges him—he's probably never had to apologize before. There are very few people who can tell him otherwise, except within the royal family. Showing him how to apologize to you, Professor Lamiya... it was quite a shock to him. He's never had to do that with me."

Lamiya listened as she slowly cut into the steak that had arrived as the main course and brought it to her lips.

"He'll need to change his way of speaking first. Mariposa Academy's rules state that respect for teachers should be shown regardless of status—yet he thought he was the exception... sigh... Even thinking about it now makes my face burn."

Edward looked away in embarrassment for a moment, then met Lamiya's gaze again.

"So I feel both sorry and grateful."

"Pardon?"

"No one other than family has ever disciplined Raymond like this. My brother is truly fortunate."

Crown Prince Edward laughed, saying it was amusing, and mentioned some incomprehensible remark about the Emperor being pleased.

After the meal, Edward offered to show her around the palace and led her to a beautiful garden.

"This is the Crown Prince's garden. Though it's mine, Raymond and Elise use it more often. Ah, Elise is my youngest sister. She's very cute."

It was vast enough that one could hide and never be found, rich with trees and plants. Here and there were pavilions and fountains for resting.

Satisfied by the excellent meal, Lamiya's mind was at ease as she slowly took in the scenery.

"It's beautiful."

It had a different charm from the raw nature of the mountains. Crown Prince Edward treated her with genuine sincerity—so much so that even Lamiya, usually oblivious to such things, could clearly feel it. She still didn't understand why he would go to such lengths, but according to Headmaster Kamirgold, Edward had always had such tendencies. She decided to chalk it up to their differences—their worlds were so far apart, it was only natural.

"Your Highness, I would prefer if you spoke more casually with me."

Lamiya felt burdened by the Crown Prince's constant formal speech toward a commoner like herself. But Edward smiled awkwardly and shook his head.

"Haha, I use formal speech with all the professors at the Academy. There's no need to feel uncomfortable. I believe it's basic courtesy to those who impart knowledge."

Hearing that, Lamiya decided not to feel burdened anymore. If he did the same with all professors, it would stand out if he spoke casually only to her.

"Brother!"

A young girl's voice called from a distance. Narrowing her eyes, Lamiya saw Prince Raymond and a little girl crouching over something. The girl waved her hand. Lamiya realized she must be the youngest princess Edward had mentioned.

He waved back with a bright smile.

"That's my youngest sister, Elise. Isn't she adorable? Whenever she smiles like that, she's so charming..."

His love for his sister dripped like honey from his eyes. Watching him, Lamiya recalled a recent newspaper article about parents and siblings doting on their loved ones.

Then, Elise suddenly jumped up and started running toward them at an incredible speed.

"Brother~!"

"Elise! You'll trip! Walk slowly!"

But as if his words had been a flag—

Thump!

—it happened.

"Elise!"

"Elise!"

Edward and Raymond rushed to her, pale as death.

"Are you alright?!"

Edward helped her up. Her forehead was badly scraped, bleeding, and both knees were scratched and bloody.

"Waaah! It hurts!"

Raymond shouted at the servants behind him.

"What are you doing! Fetch a priest at once!"

Crown Prince Edward was no different.

"Call the court mage!"

The two men fussed, trying to calm the princess. But her sobbing didn't stop easily.

"Excuse me."

Lamiya, who had been watching, stepped closer and examined the wounds.

"How dare you touch a member of the royal family!"

Prince Raymond's eyes flared with fury. But Lamiya ignored him, pulling a potion from her pocket and casually dropping a single drop on the princess's forehead. Instantly, the wound began to heal.

"!"

Crown Prince Edward and Prince Raymond's eyes widened in astonishment. Lamiya applied the same potion to her knees.

"Huh?"

As the wounds disappeared and the pain vanished, Princess Elise stopped crying. Soon, her eyes began to sparkle as she looked at Lamiya.

What's this? Has she never seen a potion before?

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