"How are you feeling?"
I asked Blair. He had just woken up from his operation. I had done it in the professor's laboratory since it was still school days.
I wanted him to be under my control as soon as possible, leaving him unchained would make me uneasy.
"I'm feeling fine, just a bit of a small throb in my head, but nothing too major."
"Thats a good sign."
"So this is what you do to most of your subordinates, you really are a paranoid man."
He said absentmindedly while still touching the area where the stitch was. It would take a few days for the hair to grow back to normal.
Hair growth potions were everywhere in the market. That was why there weren't a lot of people with balding or thinning hair in this world.
They managed to create the most mundane thing.
"People aren't to be trusted. What if you one day decide to stab me in the back after getting a better offer?"
Blair nodded at that.
"That is true, I love money. Money is life."
I sighed.
"Did you really just agree to that? But you'll die if that thought ever crosses your mind."
"I know what I signed up for. I did a bit of investigation before approaching you."
"Ive actually been wondering, how did you even find this out? And you could have chosen any of the other heirs, I don't really have much power."
Blair chuckled.
"You haven't been as subtle as you think, young master. Your maid is quite unique in almost every aspect, there is no way anyone will miss that. Plus the fact that you practice alchemy adds to the mixture."
I wasn't trying to hide anything anyway.
"About the potions?"
"I was in Bloodmoor duchy at that time. I was the one who bought them. It has helped me a lot in my training, your strengthening potion."
I'd thought there was a spy in the mansion that mother had not sniffed out and killed. Those always try to sneak in every time. I wondered how those nobles never get tired.
"You should work hard to make me more money. I'll give you the formulas, and you can find a way to craft them. "
He nodded.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure to give you the most satisfying results, and if you have any other requests, I'll be more than happy to help.
"Since you've said that, I do have a small thing I would love for you to find out..."
"What is it?"
"I'm looking for zelph flowers, if possible, I would like you find the gardener."
Blair looked troubled as he thought about it.
"That would be difficult, young master. Dark elves are almost extinct. Finding one would be very troublesome. "
"I'll strengthen your body if you find even one, but you can also bring just the zelph flowers, but don't expect any rewards on that one."
"Do not worry, young master, finding things is what I'm good at."
He changed his statement pretty fast. The carrot and stick method was always the best way of motivation.
"Ooh i almost forgot. Just continue being by his highness side, it's too early to know of our association. "
Blair nodded.
"But you should know it won't be long before he finds out, the prince is a very cautious man young master."
"Then you will have to be careful. "
"You are really trying to get me killed aren't you?"
We both chuckled.
"The saint and the saintess should be arriving tomorrow, it's going to be a fun day."
I said nonchalantly. Two months had almost passed since I had come to the academy, and I was enjoying it more than I had thought.
The professor had been helpful, seraph, well, I've enjoyed her more than I care to admit, and everything was going smoothly.
Too smoothly actually. That worried me.
"Yes, the church has finally gotten an excuse to enter the academy. "
Blair said. I nodded.
"The academy is the best place to indoctrinate nobles before they go back to the outside world."
I turned and looked at Luna, who had been patiently standing behind me, listening in on our conversations.
"What do you think?"
I asked her.
"If I'm not wrong, the saint and saintess might have been found earlier than the church announced. They were probably being trained before they came to the academy. "
I nodded.
"Yes, the academy is like walking into a wolf's den. They will never allow their assets to come in unprepared and the fact that they are commoners cannot be overlooked. "
Blair said. He seemed to have completely forgotten he was also a commoner with the way he was talking.
"Master you have a meeting with the young mistress."
Luna said, cutting through the silence that had ensued after Blair's words.
"Okay, I'd better hurry if I'm not, she'll throw a tantrum. "
I walked to the bathroom to clean myself and get rid of the smell of blood.
"Let's go."
I said after Luna helped me dress. I had come prepared with everything since I knew I would be visiting her after Blair's operation.
"Why are you in such a rush, you should slow down"
Blair said. He had followed us even after releasing him. He was free to go wherever he wanted, but he had refused. I wasn't in the mood to care anymore.
"Not my problem, you should go and rest."
"No, I've always wanted to meet the famous Seraph. "
"That's my sister you are talking about, I don't want to break your neck."
I said jokingly. Blair laughed.
"No, I wouldn't even think about it."
I shrugged and knocked on the door to her office. It was situated a little off the other professor's offices, probably because she was only working part-time.
The teacher's office was located on the first floor of the school building. It occupied half of the first floor since there were more than a hundred teachers in the academy.
The academy itself was five floor building built in a circle with an empty space in the middle for the students to rest and study.
"Come in."
I turned to Blair and waved him away, he raised his hand in surrender and left going to the main exit direction. I entered the office, leaving Luna by the door.
"Sister i missed you?"
I said and pulled her into my arms. I leaned in and kissed her before letting her go.
"Why did you call me?"
I asked her as I sat down on the visitor's chair. She sighed and shook her head.
"It was Mother who wanted to talk to you."
She said pointing at the image stone. I sat upright and pushed my mana into it. The image of my mother came up almost instantly.
She was sitting on her office chair, a black fur coat over her, hair held in a bun, and holding a cigarette. She took a puff before blowing it out.
"Good afternoon mother?"
I said with a smile. She had been angry when I called and told her about taking alchemy, but a bit of sweet-talking and compliments had done the job.
She had only cut off my allowance for this month, but I had enough money not to be affected.
"Is your brother behaving?"
She asked Seraph completely ignoring me. Seraph looked at her before smiling and shaking her head.
"No, mother, he has started to associate himself with the seventh prince."
This little backstabber. Mother turned to me her eyes cold.
"Why don't you ever listen to me Lucian?" She said in resignation, " Getting involved in politics will be a headache, listen to me when I tell you this."
I shook my head in denial.
"I've been avoiding him as much as I can, but he won't stop following. Isn't it better if I just talk to him, but go through these chase games? It's annoying. "
"He's been following you around?"
Seraph asked. I nodded.
"The second princess had also been doing the same thing, trying to become friends. Her words not mine."
Seraph added. I turned to my mother, who was looking at us, and shrugged my shoulders.
"We're being forcefully pulled into this, we can't help it."
Mother was quiet for a while before she sighed.
"I'll deal with this myself. I'll be coming to the capital next week anyway. "
She said. I smiled at that.
"You rarely leave home, why would you be coming?"
I asked curiously.
"Its a the king. He summoned me."
My eyes widened. I could count the number of times my mother has ever been summoned to the capital. It had to be something important or he was dying.
"Is something the matter mother?"
Seraph asked.
"Nothing. Just concentrate on the academy, both of you. I'll be going. "
She leaned over and got near her beautiful face becoming more visible before the image disappeared.
"When will you stop tattling to mother every time, you're not a child."
I turned to Seraph the moment her image disappeared.
"I can't help it, I like seeing your surprised face."
She said with a soft chuckle.