Chapter 6

Even after experiencing such an incident just moments ago, Beatrice smiled softly at him. He couldn’t quite recall what he had said in response. What he did know for certain was that he could no longer treat her with the same lightheartedness as before.

The only vivid memory left in his mind was Beatrice’s harmless smile, one that seemed to say, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll never misunderstand you,’ even as she nervously kept her guard up, frightened by his actions.

Was it just simple curiosity? 

Curiosity, indeed. 

At some point, Julian found himself hopelessly caught in the mire that was Beatrice.

<The Room Where You Cannot Leave Unless You Wash the Rag>

It was a high-level spatial transmutation spell using ancient magic. However, as Beatrice had mentioned, the ancient magic remaining at the Academy would never harm a person. In fact, the spell was lifted immediately after Beatrice washed the rag.

‘If she had been more knowledgeable about magic, she would have noticed right away.’

Her request for him to check the door had been a stroke of luck for Julian. Locking a door with magic was easier for him than breathing.

Even when Beatrice, pale with anxiety, struggled desperately to open the door, Julian didn’t release the spell immediately. It was nothing more than a petty act of mischief.

How wonderful it would have been if he could have lived up to Beatrice’s trust.

But Julian Sancio was far too worldly and, frankly, a scoundrel to reciprocate such noble feelings.

It’s only natural that liking someone leads to desire. 

Wanting to touch, to feel, and eventually to possess.

He was like a cup filled to the brim with water. 

Just a tiny trigger, the smallest of reasons, and the emotions he kept inside would overflow.

The reason he acted cautiously around Beatrice was simply because he didn’t want her to hate him.

He didn’t want to shatter her expectations and disappoint her, causing Beatrice to despise him like the other women did.

In that sense, ancient magic served as a convenient excuse.

Just a little bit. 

He intended to indulge his desires just a little.

She was a seminary student. She didn’t see him as a romantic interest, or even as a man.

Even though she had defended him in front of others, in truth, she was frightened and wary of even the smallest gestures.

Julian knew this better than anyone.

Soon, these feelings would fade.

Normally, Julian preferred women who, like him, didn’t attach much significance to relationships between men and women.

So, when he saw Beatrice tremble at even the slightest prank, he thought perhaps the illusion he had of her would disappear.

If that happened, maybe he could see Beatrice with the straightforward eyes she deserved.

“I’m going crazy here….”

Julian muttered to himself, reclining sideways on the couch.

Other women wanted to be with him.

Despite being treated as a public enemy among the female students, his dormitory was constantly flooded with letters scented with rose perfume and chocolates spiked with love potions. He knew it well—his family, wealth, and looks made him a rather attractive romantic prospect in the eyes of women.

But only Beatrice was different. As soon as the experiment ended, she acted as if her business was done and wanted nothing more than to leave his side. He was just a little hurt by her behavior.

‘Ha.’

Julian raised his right hand.

Had he been burned by the soft, hot sensation that had touched his thumb? He couldn’t stop thinking about those moist green eyes that looked up at him, her fingers in her mouth.

What was this feeling?

The queasy sensation in his chest was unfamiliar to Julian.

If the assistant hadn’t visited the laboratory just then to lock up….

“Hey, do you have multiple personalities? You looked happy just a moment ago, but now you seem so troubled.”

Malek, noticing how quickly Julian’s mood had changed, joked with him.

Just moments ago, Julian had been delighted, examining a cheap healing potion, but now he was staring seriously at his hand.

Julian didn’t feel like answering Malek’s question. He absentmindedly touched his lips with the hand he had raised. When his fingertips brushed his lips, a warm sensation spread, as if he had been branded.

***

“Hmm! You really did make a magic potion.”

The professor couldn’t hide a hint of surprise as he looked back and forth between Julian and Beatrice.

“To be honest, I didn’t expect you to complete the assignment so diligently.”

He meant it.

Who was Julian Sancio? 

He was the one who had entered the Academy as a special case, without even taking the entrance exam. Despite such privileges, he barely attended classes, spending his days idly and playing around with female students—a constant thorn in everyone’s side.

Yet here he was, not only attending classes but also submitting assignments. Since he had entered, this was the only subject—Potion Brewing—that he had ever shown such effort.

‘At least he knows how to draw the line.’

Based on what he’d seen of Julian, the professor had expected Beatrice, caught in Julian’s web, to either drop out before the semester ended, or for Julian to simply stop attending classes as he always did.

The professor looked once more at the potion Beatrice had submitted.

“The purity of this potion is exceptionally high.”

Although it was a simple wound-healing potion, it was of the highest quality, with not a single impurity mixed in. The professor’s eyes narrowed. With Beatrice’s skills, who had only just started attending classes, it was impossible to make such a potion.

‘Is it because he’s a special admission student……’

Julian Sancio showing motivation. Four years had passed since he entered the Academy, but this was the first time the professor had seen anything like this. The professor swallowed.

When one sees a promising sprout, it’s only natural for a scholar to feel a sense of greed.

He had thought it was a bright yellow sprout that was dying, but maybe that wasn’t the case. Isn’t there a saying that a large tree grows slowly?

Perhaps Julian Sancio was such a person. The professor’s gaze toward Julian, whom he had considered an impossible case, began to change.

‘Guiding a student down the right path is the true duty of a master.’

The professor cleared his throat a couple of times.

“The assignment is a pass.”

Beatrice, who had been anxiously watching the professor, brightened. Feeling a bit sorry toward Beatrice, the professor raised his hand.

“For just the two of you, I think I’ll have to give a slightly more difficult assignment.”

“What?”

Beatrice’s eyes widened, as if to ask what he meant.

“What I mean is, I greatly underestimated the level of exchange students, Beatrice.”

The professor showed the list of magic potions submitted by the other students to the two of them.

“As you can see, this class is aimed at third-year Academy students. Everyone has submitted potions of a certain standard.”

“Ah……. but.”

Beatrice, who would eventually be tasked with making holy water, didn’t need to make anything other than wound-healing potions.

But before Beatrice could say anything more, the professor continued.

“Of course, as an exchange student, Beatrice, you only need to learn how to make wound-healing potions similar to the holy water technique. But what about Julian?”

Beatrice’s mouth fell slightly open.

“He’s an Academy student and must think about his future after graduation.”

The fact that he was the youngest son of the influential Sancio Marquis family didn’t matter much to the professor.

“Beatrice?”

“Yes, yes! Professor.”

“You received a lot of help from Julian during this class, didn’t you?”