Chapter 128

Since I’m exempt from cooking class during the second period on Thursday, I head to the greenhouse and infuse tiny bits of mana into the leaf buds of the detox herbs. I’ve never done such delicate work before. On top of that, I can’t pour in too much. If I’m careless, the mana reaches the stem, and it shoots right up. Since I planted 20 seeds, each stalk has several tiny buds. After finishing the painstaking task, I stretch my back.

“I wonder if I have to do this every day? I’ll need to wake up early on Saturday morning. I have to finish before Mary comes to fetch me. I might also need to come a bit early on Sunday.”

Infusing mana into only the buds seems like it will be great training for controlling my mana. I reflect on how I used to throw around my household magic so carelessly.

Though the detox herbs had spindly stems, leaves are starting to sprout, and they seem to be looking a little closer to the ones we used in Pharmacology.

“I’ll do my best and surprise Professor Mathias!”

…Or so I thought, but that teacher seems pretty tough to deal with. Besides, if she does rounds every morning, she probably already knows what I’m up to anyway.

Clang, clang! There’s the lunch bell.

Since I was messing around with dirt, I cast household magic all over myself. I probably ought to go to the upper-class dining salon, but eating there without Princess Margaret feels uncomfortable.

“The student cafeteria is more than enough for me.”

When we talked about the Music Club fees, Princess Margaret told me to eat at the upper-class salon on Thursdays, too. Looking back, I really should have discussed it properly with her then! Last week, just as I was trying to eat at the cafeteria, I bumped right into Prince Keith, and he dragged me off with him.

“Prince Keith has classroom lectures in the morning. That means he can come to the upper-class salon early.”

At times like this, it’s convenient that the elementary department timetable stays the same for three years. Practical classes take time for changing clothes and moving classrooms, but for lectures, I figured I could just shift my timing a bit. Plus, Patience walks slowly anyway. By the time I walk from the greenhouse to the cafeteria, Prince Keith and his friends will probably already be eating at the upper-class salon.

“Patience, you’re late!”

Wait, why is Prince Keith standing at the bottom of the stairs leading to the upper-class salon?

“Where were you?”

Don’t tell me he was waiting for me?

“I was at the Herbology greenhouse. I had no idea you were waiting. I am so sorry.”

Ignoring my apology completely, he briskly walks up the stairs.

“Prince Keith was worried because you weren’t at the student cafeteria either, Lady Patience.”

Hearing Ralph say that surprises me. I have no idea what there was to worry about.

“Since you are exempt from cooking class during second period on Thursday, I thought you were holed up in the Alchemy Club.”

Prince Keith really dislikes the Alchemy Club that much, huh? I wish he wouldn’t complain about other people’s club activities. It’s not like I complained about his Knight Club.

“Right now, cultivating detox herbs is taking up all my effort. Those detox herbs are truly temperamental and a real handful.”

Just like you, Prince Keith! …I didn’t actually say that out loud, though. Still, Prince Keith’s eyebrow twitched slightly. Did I trigger his slip-of-the-tongue radar?

“More importantly, what is Princess Margaret eating today, I wonder?”

Oh, nice save, Ralph!

“Last time, she said it was ham steak.”

That’s literally just slicing ham and frying it. I genuinely can’t understand how she managed to fail at that. What could it be today?

“Well, that sounds delicious, then.”

It seems Prince Keith’s attention has been successfully diverted. Phew.

“Considering Princess Margaret’s struggles, it feels improper for me to eat here. From next time, I’ll eat downstairs.”

I finally said it! Now I’ll be free on Thursdays. …Or so it should have been, but for some reason, Prince Keith stubbornly insists otherwise.

“My sister told me to eat with you. So I cannot break my promise.”

You really don’t need to be so stubborn about it, you know! Just eat happily with your two schoolmates!

“That’s right, Lady Patience, you’ve earned completion certificates in quite a few subjects, haven’t you? Prince Keith is planning to choose two courses once he enters the middle school department, so he’s trying to decide which subjects he should get completion certificates for.”

Hugo, did you just stop me from arguing back? Wait, am I being treated like a landmine (Keith) handler? Seriously?

“I think Literature, Mathematics, and Magic Theory are easy. If you ask the teachers beforehand, you can even take the sixth-grade final exams during the spring term.”

I left out History and Classics because I didn’t skip ahead in those during my first year. As for practical subjects, I’ve already cleared Dance, and Music and Art seem doable, too.

After that, I ate in silence while listening to the three of them talk about working hard to get completion certificates in Practical Magic and Physical Education. Yeah, there’s really no reason for me to be sitting here. It’s a real shame that Prince Keith is so bad at Classics, though. If he actually got serious, he could probably skip ahead in History. Then, if he could skip ahead or get a completion certificate in Practical Magic, it would even be possible for him to skip a whole grade straight to the third year of the elementary department.

I wonder if Samuel will be okay with Classics for the final exams? While thinking about that, a great idea suddenly struck me. Samuel has a great ear for music. The Dane language is similar to Classics. If he learns Dane, wouldn’t his aversion to Classics disappear? Let’s give it a try! Since Samuel loves music, maybe Dane songs would work well.

Even though Prince Keith and his friends chatter away freely on their own, he’s strangely sharp when it comes to noticing that I’m thinking about something else.

“Patience, what are you thinking about?”

Should I answer honestly? It is about Classics, which Prince Keith also struggles with… Well, whatever.

“My cousin Samuel is also terrible at Classics. I was worried that he might struggle during the spring final exams.”

Just hearing the word “Classics” makes Prince Keith’s eyebrow twitch. He hates it so much he’s developed an allergic reaction to it.

“I heard your cousin was bad at Classics, too, but are you really that worried about him?”

I can’t exactly say I used to be his tutor.

“Yes, my aunt asked me to look after him.”

Both Ralph and Hugo nod in agreement.

“He shouldn’t drop out of Class A, after all.”

“Our parents tell us the same thing.”

Now that the three of them are in their second year and know their ranks are high, they’re confident they won’t fall out of Class A. But back in their first year, they were dead serious about not falling behind.

“Since Samuel has a good ear for music, I was thinking it might be a good idea to have him learn Dane.”

None of the three understand what I mean.

“I plan to take Dane in the Civil Servant Course, too. My brother told me I should learn foreign languages.”

Prince Keith is as obsessed with his brother (Richard) as ever.

“I’m learning Dane alongside Princess Margaret, and it’s actually quite similar to Classics.”

The moment he heard that, Prince Keith had an instant allergic reaction.

“Dane classes are fun, you know. While the grammar is similar, it’s a language that’s still spoken today.”

He seems to have developed a tiny bit of interest.

“I see. That sounds much more worthwhile than studying the language of a fallen empire.”

I thought that was the end of the topic, but for some reason, Ralph brought up something strange.

“Lady Patience, you received a completion certificate for Dance, right? Doesn’t that mean your fourth period on Monday is free?”

I have no idea where he’s going with this, but running away is the best strategy.

“No, I take Herbology 3 during that time.”

That’s actually true!

“Didn’t you just say earlier that you were in the Herbology greenhouse? Were you lying?”

Prince Keith is so troublesome.

“The class itself is fourth period on Monday, but didn’t I mention earlier that cultivating detox herbs right now is a huge ordeal? You have to infuse mana little by little into those tiny leaf buds. If you pour in even a tiny bit too much, the stem shoots right up and it’s a failure. And since a single detox herb has multiple leaf buds, it’s really exhausting work. Doing the same tedious thing dozens of times… That witch of a teacher! Telling me I shouldn’t use household magic. I could finish this in a flash with household magic!”

As I was explaining all this, a sudden realization hit me. Professor Mathias had said during our very first class: “Herbology should be really compatible with your household magic.”

“I got tricked…” As I slump in defeat, the three of them stare at me in disbelief.

“Teachers in the Mage Course sure have a lot of eccentric people. Still, to think even Patience makes mistakes.”

Prince Keith laughs in a great mood. On top of that, he says something completely outrageous.

“Let’s have Patience teach me alongside Samuel, who’s also bad at Classics. You’re free on weekends, right? Then let’s do Saturday afternoons.”

Don’t just decide that on your own! I spend my weekends with my younger brothers (angels)!

“Prince Keith, aren’t there far superior tutors at the royal palace than someone like me?” I refuse! Yet Ralph and Hugo jump right onto Prince Keith’s bandwagon.

“That sounds like a great idea.”

“Where should we study?”

Hey, I’m turning you down here! It seems Ralph and Hugo are at their wits’ end dealing with Prince Keith’s hatred of Classics. They are fully intending to push this onto me. I am going to become a woman who can say NO!

Just as I mustered up my courage to firmly refuse, Princess Margaret appeared.

“Ah, Patience, I’m starving. Please call the server!”

Female students from the Domestic Arts Course are also taking seats at other tables. Before I can call a server, Prince Keith snaps his fingers, and one comes flying over.

“Whatever can be made the fastest is fine.” Ordering without even looking at the menu is so unlike Princess Margaret.

“How did cooking practice go?”

Princess Margaret frowns.

“We grilled fish today. But for some reason, it turned into charcoal, so naturally, even the teacher agreed it was inedible and excused us. Besides, nobody could even handle the fish, so there was a huge uproar, and the teacher didn’t even have the luxury to make soup. She told us to go to the dining hall.”

Cooking fish sounds like a high hurdle. But listening closely, it sounds like they were just fillets. All you have to do is sprinkle salt and pepper, lightly dust them with flour, drop some butter into a frying pan, and cook them.

Princess Margaret listens to Prince Keith while eating.

“I think that’s a wonderful idea. I’m working hard at cooking and sewing, which I’m bad at, after all. You should work hard at Classics too, Keith. Patience, please teach him.”

It doesn’t look like I’ll be becoming a woman who can say NO anytime soon.