Chapter 20
A week until the entrance exam results were announced.
Marcel and I spent our ti together as usual, following the sa schedule.
Of course, the awkward silence between us persisted.
During als, studies, and training, Marcel didn’t spare a glance.
But his attitude only revealed his thoughts more clearly to .
‘Sotis, no reaction is a reaction. Especially for a thoughtful guy like him.’
Even after sorting his thoughts, Marcel didn’t ask anything.
I easily deduced why.
‘He can’t bring himself to ask, “Did the family order you to hold back in front of ?”’
Asking that would an admitting how the family viewed his mana.
Despite the exam incidents, the family hadn’t taken any action against .
That ant they didn’t see my unexpected mana as a problem.
It was the perfect situation for Marcel to misunderstand the dynamic between the family and .
‘He doesn’t know this incident has only increased my value as his Well. So his misunderstanding can only grow.’
As I predicted—
Marcel, seeing continue my brazen act after revealing my strength, was convinced.
My acting was at the family’s—his father’s—behest.
And to solidify that misunderstanding, I played up my innocence.
“So, can I learn 2-star spells now, Teacher Fondes?”
“You barely managed a couple of Nux spells, and you want 2-star magic? No matter how great your potential, practical magic isn’t so easy.”
“Oh… I see.”
My shaless act continued, whether Marcel was watching or not.
Watching , a scene naturally ca to Marcel’s mind.
The mont Furas smirked, hearing my response in the main hall.
‘That smile on Father’s face… it wasn’t mockery, but a genuine smile. And he suddenly told to keep Eddie close…’
As ti passed, Marcel’s thoughts solidified toward ‘Father favors Eddie.’
And as that conviction grew, anxieties swelled in his mind.
‘Will I spend my academy years being treated like a fool by my assistant?’
‘Does Father distrust so much that he keeps a suspicious kid by my side?’
‘If he held back during the exam… what’s the point of my entrance score?’
Dark waves of anxiety slowly soaked Marcel.
Days later—
Two admission letters bearing Lieferden Academy’s seal arrived at Shainborough.
***
“Congratulations, Young Master!”
“We knew you’d do it!”
Shane and Sylvia’s jubilant voices filled the heir’s private study.
“You must have taken first place by a landslide.”
“Of course. From the written exam to the interview, everything was perfectly prepared.”
The tutors praised Marcel with almost exaggerated enthusiasm.
Their excitent stemd from seeing Marcel’s top-scorer admission letter monts ago.
“The Lord will be thrilled. Oh, I wish I could deliver the news of your top score myself instead of the butler.”
Sylvia, in particular, was brimming with excitent.
Beaming with a radiant smile, her violet eyes sparkled even brighter.
Her curved gaze briefly flicked to , sitting beside Marcel.
‘The absorption worked this well… He’s truly the perfect Well. My choice of Eddie will earn even more of Furas' trust.’
A fleeting look of pride crossed her violet eyes.
But it was purely from the joy that things were going as planned.
I quietly swallowed a laugh, watching Sylvia.
Her and Shane’s reactions were exactly as expected.
They believed Marcel’s top score was the result of absorbing my mana as his Well.
‘Their misconception works in my favor. They’ll act in ways that benefit without lifting a finger.’
They were the ones rejoicing, but I was the one whose plans were falling into place.
Not only had I succeeded in posing as a loyal Tail, but I also achieved my goal of taking second place behind Marcel.
‘Now, all that’s left is to et Leo with Clode.’
With a faint smile, I looked again at the elegant white paper before .
The admission letter congratulating Eddie Sumrson on his second-place enrollnt.
At the bottom was the seal of the academy’s dean, Leodimir Duke Devens.
‘He’d never expect his dead master to return as a family Tail and an academy enrollee.’
Snicker—
Imagining his wrinkled face filled with shock and wonder, I let out a small laugh.
“…!”
Marcel flinched at my laugh, pausing mid-page-turn.
My head naturally turned toward him.
“…”
Marcel’s gaze, which I thought was on his book, was fixed on my admission letter on the desk.
Feeling my eyes, he shifted back to his book.
But the air between us grew heavier.
My gaze fell on Marcel’s admission letter, half-hidden by his book.
Unlike mine, which lay open on the desk, his was folded back into its envelope.
It was as if it reflected his complex state of mind.
‘He’s definitely convinced he’s not the true top scorer.’
Marcel had shown little reaction to either his top score or my second-place news.
He only hardened his expression slightly more than usual.
His response was as I expected.
He wasn’t a fool.
He likely assud I held back during the exam to take a lower rank.
But his continued silence was starting to grate.
‘If he stays uncooperative at the academy… that’ll be a problem.’
Though just a tool for my revenge, Marcel was important.
He was, after all, the link between and the current Kirhausen head.
In the long term, maintaining a good relationship with him would benefit my revenge.
As I mulled this over—
“Teachers, could you leave us for a mont?”
Marcel issued a firm dismissal.
His sudden request startled the tutors, who looked between us.
But his commanding gaze brooked no argunt.
The tutors quietly complied with the heir’s order.
“…”
As they left, silence filled the study.
It was the first ti Marcel had made a move toward since the entrance exam.
I waited silently for him to speak first.
“I have one question for you.”
Instead of replying, I turned to face him, ready to listen.
Marcel, staring at his admission letter, asked,
“On the day we sparred in the training ground, during our first Sorbonduce, you overwheld in the first round but were defeated and fell off the stage in the second.”
“…”
“If you were hiding your strength for , there was no need to beat in the first round. Did you do it to mock ?”
“…”
His sharp gaze finally t mine with his last question.
I was inwardly surprised by the sharpness of his question.
But I quickly composed a natural expression.
“Mock… you, Young Master…? How could I, a re…?”
“…”
“I just thought… my loss in the first round might spur you to draw out more of your potential…”
“…”
Trailing off, I feigned nervousness, glancing at Marcel.
His expression remained impassive, showing no reaction.
But—
“For an assistant to worry about the heir’s potential. How thoughtful.”
From his flat tone and piercing gaze, I could clearly sense it.
A warning to an underling trying to overstep.
‘He thinks I’m getting too full of myself.’
As if to prove my feeling, Marcel continued in a thoroughly commanding tone.
“Thoughtful, but a truly wise servant doesn’t presu to know their master’s will.”
“…”
“Understood?”
“Yes, Young Master. I’ll keep it in mind.”
Marcel returned his gaze to his book.
I recalled his expression from monts ago, swallowing a laugh.
Not a twitch of an eyebrow or lip.
With just a cold, lowered gaze, Marcel made it clear he was looking down on .
‘And…’
The sharp glint that briefly flashed in his cold eyes as he asserted dominance.
Recalling it, I swallowed another wry laugh.
‘No matter how young, blood doesn’t lie. That’s the sa look as Ivan.’
***
Marcel’s top-scorer news brought a flood of congratulatory gifts to Shainborough.
Families seeking ties with Kirhausen, as well as those strengthening existing bonds, sent gifts in droves.
It was a testant to the family’s elevated status.
Yet, despite this joyous occasion, Shainborough’s atmosphere remained subdued.
The reason was simple.
“Since when was topping the academy entrance exam a big deal for Kirhausen? It’s just the heir starting to live up to his na. No need for a fuss.”
Furas' directive.
It was a rather cold response for a father hearing of his son’s achievent.
But his subsequent actions showed he was indeed pleased.
He gave generous bonuses to Shane and Sylvia.
He dined with Marcel on the day the admission letter arrived.
And he ordered all gifts be used for Marcel’s benefit.
As a result, Shane and Sylvia’s lives beca more comfortable, and Marcel enjoyed even finer goods and als.
Except for one thing.
A single word of praise from his father.
***
Lying in my room, I looked up at the ceiling, where the servants were bustling upstairs.
Though blocked by the ceiling, the thumping noises told what was happening in Marcel’s room.
‘They must be arranging the gifts.’
I shook my head, picturing Marcel’s cold eyes gazing at the lavish gifts.
Closing my eyes, I reviewed the events so far to check my plan.
‘Marcel’s entrance score clearly satisfied Furas. I’ve solidified my position as a valuable Well in the family.’
The start was decent enough.
Now, all that remained was to et Leodimir at the academy without issue.
As long as the trust I’d earned didn’t vanish, my plan should proceed smoothly.
Feeling I could finally relax, I closed my eyes deeply.
But—
Step, step, step.
Monts later, footsteps approaching my door forced my eyes open.
Not the heavy steps of servants, but refined, steady ones.
Before I could guess the owner, a voice ca from outside.
“Eddie, co out.”
It was Butler Ronan.
I shot up from my bed.
I glanced at the door, then walked over and opened it.
“What is it, Butler?”
“Co with . The Master wishes to see you.”
“…!”
At his words, I couldn’t help but falter in maintaining a natural expression.
***
Following Ronan, I arrived at Furas' office on Shainborough’s fifth floor.
A place accessible only to his closest aides, like the head butler or First Knight Commander.
Even Marcel, his son and heir, rarely entered it more than a few tis a year.
Yet here I was, a family Tail, stepping inside.
“…”
“…”
Furas and I.
For 30 minutes, silence hung between us in our first private eting.
Rustle—rustle—
The only sound in the quiet office was Furas flipping and signing docunts.
He sat in front of him but continued his work without a word.
And I knew exactly what he was doing.
‘Still the sa.’
Using prolonged silence to break and dominate his opponent was Furas' old bad habit.
He only began conversations after asserting complete control over the room’s atmosphere.
This peculiar thod of intimidation was famous even when Furas was young.
It had reached even my ears, though I didn’t live in the sa household.
‘They said the servants serving Ivan’s youngest son changed twelve tis a month.’
Whether his opponent could endure this uncomfortable silence without rash actions, showing patience and caution.
Whether they revealed discomfort or displeasure, indicating a submissive temperant.
Furas' silence was both intimidation and a test.
I knew exactly the kind of deanor he wanted.
‘Not too bold, but not easily discouraged. Quick-witted but innocently straightforward.’
I lowered my gaze from Furas to my knees, slightly bowing my head.
But I kept my back straight, maintaining proper posture.
Another ten minutes passed.
Finally, Furas set down his docunts.
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