“Um… Mina, was it?” asked Elric after an awkward moment of silence.

“Yes…? Yes!”

Mina’s face went completely red as she struggled to compose herself. “I apologize for my shameful behavior… I am here to guide you to the dining room, Sir Elric.” Her voice was barely steady as she spoke.

Elric stared at her. 

He was expecting a maid to guide him, but he was confused about why she was acting so strangely about it. 

“...Alright,” he hesitantly replied. He quickly fell into stride behind her as they proceeded down the hallway, keenly aware of the sneaking glances she cast his way.

Upon entering the dining room, Elric was greeted by the sight of a grand, polished table that impressively stretched out before him. The viscount had not yet arrived; his seat at the head of the table vacant.

Alyvia, already seated to the left of her father’s chair, looked up at the sound of Elric’s arrival, her face contorting in surprise as she met his attractive gaze. 

“E-Elric?!”

This reaction again… he thought.

“Yes, my lady?”

Alyvia opened her mouth to speak but found herself at a loss for words. Shrouded in embarrassment, she swiftly closed it and cleared her throat. “Have you found everything to your satisfaction?”

Elric nodded. “Yes, thank you. Your hospitality has been most generous.”

“I’m glad.” 

“Sir Elric, your seat is over here,” Mina smoothly interjected, guiding him towards the opposite end of the table. It was a seat that would offer a direct view of the viscount. As Elric took his seat, Mina excused herself with a deep bow, and Elric’s gaze wandered to the empty seat placed to the right of the viscount’s.

“Is there no madam of House Humes?” he asked with genuine curiosity.

A flicker of confusion briefly passed over Alyvia’s eyes before she responded with an awkward nod. “My mother passed away long ago, and my father has shown no interest in remarrying.”

“Oh… my apologies for the unnecessary question.”

“It’s quite alright!” Alyvia quickly reassured. “Truthfully, I was too young to remember any sentimental memories, so I take no offense.” 

“…..”

“As long as my lady takes no offense.”

Alyvia gave Elric a warm smile. “The servant you met earlier, Thomas, is the butler of the manor. I’ve discussed with him who you are and why I brought you here. He will relay that information to father.”

“I see...” Elric responded. He remembered the solemn look she had on her face as she spoke with the old butler. It must have been then, he thought.

As if on cue, the double doors of the dining room swung open, and Thomas entered, following behind a well tailored man.

Light brown hair similar to Alyvia’s, a silver monocle adorning his right eye, and an authoritative presence that automatically filled the room.

There was no doubt about it. 

“Father,” Alyvia greeted, rising from her seat with a respectful bow.

The man was Viscount Humes.

Urghh…!

A sudden, involuntary shudder ran through Elric’s body.

This… this feeling!

His mind flashed back to the unsettling feeling he experienced four years ago when approaching Leonard’s aura barrier. I don’t feel as sick as last time, he quickly evaluated. It seems my body is warning me again. But from what…? The viscount?

Elric forced himself to stand. “I, Elric, greet the viscount.”

The viscount looked at him with an unreadable expression, his gaze lingering on Elric’s distinctive purple eyes. “Ah, so you are Alyvia’s savior.”

“Such a title is too grand for me,” Elric immediately replied. “I was merely helping a lady in need.”

The viscount stared at him a little longer before letting out a sigh. “Sit.”

Elric sat down, a faint smell of cigars lingering as the viscount passed by.

Once the viscount took his place at the head of the table, the servants began to drift in bearing trays laden with steaming dishes and decanters of wine. They moved efficiently, arranging everything on the table with skilled accuracy. It was only until the food was in front of him that Elric realized how hungry he was. 

The minutes passed in a subdued silence, the only sounds being the clink of silverware and occasional sips of beverages, until finally, the viscount broke the quietness. 

“You said your name was Eric?”

“Elric, my lord.”

“No family name?”

“…It is Sinclair.”

Sinclair? thought the viscount. That sounds familiar.

“How old are you? You seem rather young to be able to deal with two Frost Hounds.” 

“I turned sixteen this year.”

“How impressive. You’re two years younger than Alyvia.”

“Father…” groaned Alyvia.

The viscount ignored his daughter and continued to look at Elric with an inscrutable expression. 

“300 gold,” he stated evenly.

Elric continued to eat.

“That’s more than enough to compensate a commoner like yourself, right?”

Elric chewed slower, then finally swallowed.

“My lord… I do not wish for monetary compensation.”

Alyvia shot Elric a puzzled look and the corners of the viscount’s eyes crinkled. “Do tell,” he said, leaning forward slightly. “What is it that you desire so much that you dare refuse a sum equivalent to a small house in the capital?” 

Elric locked eyes with him. 

“Alacia Academy. I would like the viscount to sponsor me.”

SHIING! 

Elric didn’t even need to look. He could feel the faint breeze of drawn swords aimed at his neck.

The viscount let out a dark chuckle.

“Is that so?”

*

Alacia Academy.

Renowned for its unparalleled prestige, it stands as the pinnacle of higher education in the Kingdom of Selis. Dedicated to cultivating generations of strong mana users, this academy trains only the most talented children of noble families, bolstering their power and influence in noble society.

As long as you graduate from it, a secure future is guaranteed.

“If only we weren’t nerics. Then it may have been possible for you to attend Alacia.”

Elric shook his head at the memory of his mother. His intentions of attending weren’t as good-natured as hers. 

“What a strange way to treat your daughter’s savior,” he said in a firm voice.

The viscount narrowed his gaze. “Didn’t you just say you were undeserving of such a title?”

“That was before I was shown disrespect.”

“How dare you!” shouted a soldier beside Elric. He pressed the edge of his sword against Elric’s throat, drawing a thin trickle of blood.

“You must have lost your will to live,” said the viscount as he took a sip of wine.

“I intend to live a long life, my lord,” Elric responded coolly.

The viscount let out a humorless laugh, then his expression turned grave. “Alyvia, finish your dinner in your room.”

Alyvia’s mouth opened in protest, but the viscount’s gaze silenced her. With a resigned sigh, she pushed back her chair, cast Elric a conflicted glance, then left the dining room. Several servants quickly collected her dishes and followed after her. 

Once she was gone, the viscount turned his attention back to Elric.  

“Did you use Alyvia to get to me?”

“Yes.”

The soldier’s sword pressed further against Elric’s throat.

“It appears I have raised my daughter too delicately,” said the viscount. “She failed to recognize that she invited a wolf instead of a puppy.” His voice was low but carried an unmistakable edge.

Elric frowned. From the moment the viscount entered the dining room, he could tell the man was far from naive. With such individuals, it is better to be bold from the start to gauge their reactions. Yet, despite all the time that has passed, Elric still couldn’t discern what the viscount was thinking. “A wolf is only as dangerous as the threats it faces, my lord,” he replied, choosing his words carefully. 

“I can’t tell if you’re brave or foolish,” sighed the viscount. “Very well. Explain yourself; your life depends on it.”

Elric took a measured breath. This was the chance he was aiming for, yet the stakes now felt unexpectedly high. 

“I won’t deny that I planned to take advantage of your kindness,” he began cautiously, “however, you’ve misunderstood. I had no hand in orchestrating the hound attack. For a mere forager to attend Alacia, sponsorship by a noble is essential. My encounter with Lady Alyvia was purely coincidental, and I was driven by the circumstances to seize an opportunity, not to deceive. If my lord wishes to decline sponsoring me, I will depart immediately and find a noble who will.”

The room fell silent as Elric’s words hung in the air. 

The more I study him, the more… The viscount scoffed at the ridiculous thought. “Lower your swords,” he said, breaking the silence.

The soldiers surrounding Elric obeyed their master’s command. No longer feeling the cold steel of a sword scrape against his throat, relief flooded through Elric.

“You say you don’t want monetary compensation, but I doubt a forager will be able to afford Alacia’s tuition.”

“I intend to do more than simply pass the written entrance exam,” replied Elric. 

“You… are you aiming for first place?”

“.....”

“Ha. You even know that those who place first in the entrance exams receive free tuition. You really…” The viscount ran a hand down his face.

Elric’s eyes briefly widened in surprise. It was only for a second, but the viscount’s dispassionate tone revealed a hint of irritation. 

“The life of my daughter is a debt I do not take lightly,” continued the viscount. His gaze was intense as he spoke to Elric. “So I shall accept your audacious request.”

“Than–”

“On one condition.”

“.....”

“And what would that be, my lord?”

“I’m sure you’re aware that one must be seventeen years old in order to enroll as a first year at Alacia.”

“...I’m aware.”

“Reside at the Humes Manor for a year.”

“Pardon?!”

Why would I do such an annoying thing?! thought Elric. 

“In a year, you’ll be seventeen, and I would like to keep an eye on my daughter’s soon-to-be classmate.”

“Soon to be…” A shocked expression befell Elric’s face. “Lady Alyvia attends Alacia?!”

The viscount took another sip of wine and confirmed with a casual nod. 

Elric inwardly groaned; he didn’t anticipate this at all. This must be the reason behind his irritation, he mused. 

“Six months.”

“What?” asked the viscount.

“I will reside at the Humes Manor for six months, not a year."

The viscount raised an eyebrow, clearly taken aback by Elric’s counteroffer. “Why only six months?”

“Lady Alyvia is two years my senior and thus of marriageable age. It would be unwise for any man, regardless of his status, to reside with her for more than six months unless they are formally engaged.”

“.....”

Thomas leaned down from his position behind the viscount. “He’s got a point, my lord.”

The viscount’s lips curled into a cold smile. “Alright. Six months. But you’ll return to the estate at the end of the year.”

“Of course, my lord,” answered Elric. Mom and Aunt Serena’s conversations about high society weren’t pointless after all! he internally rejoiced. 

“It’s settled then,” sighed the viscount. “Thomas.”

The old butler approached Elric and handed him a pouch that was overflowing with gold coins.

“An apology for the lord’s previous disrespect.”

Elric gripped the heavy pouch and rose to his feet. “The viscount’s generosity truly knows no bounds. But do not worry, my lord. As long as I am a guest of House Humes…”

Thud.

“I won’t forget my place.”

Mindful that his foothold in the Humes Estate was a precarious one, Elric excused himself with a graceful bow.

As he closed the door behind him, the pouch of gold coins glinted on the dining table’s surface.