Upon hearing Cedric’s request, the one who reacted the most was Lavia, who stood beside Harvey.
She had originally been looking down at the notes Harvey had taken for her. When she heard the Mentor call out Harvey’s name, she was first slightly stunned.
After clearly hearing that instruction, she subconsciously stood up.
“Mentor, is there something you need Harvey for?”
Clearly, Lavia did not want Harvey to be left alone.
Cedric explained in a gentle tone, “There are some matters regarding temporary auditing and entry registration that I need to confirm with him.”
Even Harvey couldn’t help feeling that this Mage Mentor’s temperament was truly gentle.
But Lavia was not satisfied; instead, she frowned.
Before she could even close the book in her hands, she had already spoken first.
“If it’s just this kind of thing, is it necessary to keep him alone?”
The students who had been preparing to leave found their steps involuntarily slowing as they reached the doorway.
Anyone could see that this Duke’s Daughter was throwing a tantrum.
No one was willing to miss such a spectacle.
Cedric looked at her with some surprise, but still showed no trace of annoyance.
“It’s just a little internal procedure at the Academy. It won’t take much time.”
“Besides, since he is someone you brought, we should complete the necessary formalities to avoid further trouble later.”
Lavia looked at him, saying nothing.
She didn’t believe there was any simple procedural issue.
The enrollment process had long been arranged and prepared by the Duke’s Mansion; Harvey’s paperwork couldn’t be missing anything.
Even if there were, the Academy staff would come to complete it themselves.
Cedric didn’t argue with her either. Calmly, he put the lecture notes into a wooden box beside him.
He casually added, “If Miss Lavia is worried, you can wait outside my office for a moment.”
“I promise it won’t take too long.”
The students, who had only slowed down, now weren’t in a hurry to leave at all.
Several who were about to leave lingered by the door, none willing to miss the excitement.
Everyone thought that the next moment, this Eldest Miss of the Astarea Family would explode on the spot, or at least retort a few more words.
Just before Lavia was about to speak—
Harvey, standing beside her, quietly touched the sleeve of her dress that hung by the edge of the table.
A very subtle movement, unnoticed by anyone present.
Lavia’s expression paused.
Then, she only quietly looked at Cedric for a moment and nodded.
“…No need for that trouble.”
This overly calm response left everyone momentarily unable to react.
Lavia paid no attention to the surprised looks from others. Hidden under her sleeve, she pinched his fingertip, then let go.
She closed the notebook in her hand and then looked at Harvey.
The coldness that had shrouded her expression just moments ago faded away in an instant.
She even smiled at him.
“Then I’ll go out and wait for you first.”
Harvey’s expression remained normal, and he smoothly continued the conversation.
“How could I let you, Eldest Miss, wait for me? Please go back first. If you need an attendant, I can—”
He stopped mid-sentence.
Upon further thought, he realized he couldn’t do anything.
It was unrealistic to either go fetch Evelyn first or escort Lavia back and then return.
Since the Mentor had kept him on the spot, there was obviously no intention of letting him leave midway.
And letting Lavia go back alone was even more impossible.
Not just because of the potential risks that might not occur.
Simply on the principle of the distinction between master and servant, there was no reason to let the master leave alone.
That would be too rude and also damage the dignity of the Duke’s Mansion.
Lavia’s lips curled slightly. Out of habit, she reached out to tug his sleeve.
But as soon as her fingertips lifted, she casually withdrew them as if nothing had happened.
“It seems you have no objections. Don’t worry, Mentor Cedric won’t give you a hard time.”
“…Okay.”
Harvey complied helplessly.
‘I wasn’t worried about how the Mentor would be.’
After saying that, Lavia hugged the notebook and turned to walk out of the classroom.
The students standing by the door exchanged glances and left the classroom with various expressions.
Clearly, no one had expected Lavia to agree so readily.
They all regretted staying to watch the intimate interaction between the two.
At the podium, Cedric watched the backs of the students and shook his head with a helpless expression.
He had already anticipated such a scene.
He was also a bit amused and exasperated by that Duke’s Daughter’s temperament.
After a moment, he gestured to Harvey.
“Let’s go.”
He picked up the wooden box and lecture notes. “Please come with me.”
Harvey nodded and quickly followed.
The corridor outside was crowded with people, even more bustling than before.
The pre-noon sunlight streamed through the tall arched windows on one side, casting bright patches of light and shadow on the stone floor.
Occasionally, the sound of conversations from other classes after class could be heard at the end of the corridor, muffled by the thick walls.
Cedric walked ahead at a leisurely pace, holding the lecture notes and wooden box.
Harvey followed half a step behind.
The two walked through the corridor without speaking.
Until they turned a corner, Cedric, as if suddenly remembering something, turned his head to look at him.
“Did you do something just now?”
Harvey was startled.
“…What?”
Cedric’s smile remained gentle, but his tone carried a hint of subtle teasing.
“Earlier in the classroom, I originally thought Miss Lavia would argue with me.”
Harvey frowned instinctively after hearing this.
“The Eldest Miss is not the type to be imprudent.”
He said this very seriously.
It was both to explain Lavia’s behavior and to defend her reputation.
A student who argues with a mentor in public is not well-liked anywhere.
Harvey knew that Lavia could be ill-tempered at times, and when she was in a bad mood, she would speak without restraint.
But she never took her anger out on others.
And she would never lose her composure to the point of arguing endlessly with an Academy mentor in public.
After hearing this, Cedric shook his head and laughed.
The laughter wasn’t sarcastic, but it made Harvey frown even more.
“Did I say something wrong?”
Cedric shook his head.
“No.”
He seemed to be choosing his words. After a moment, he said with a smile, “It’s just that this sentence truly has her character.”
They were clearly two different people.
Harvey didn’t understand.
Cedric looked at him. “It seems you really have no self-awareness.”
Harvey grew even more bewildered.
He was silent for a moment, then asked, “Mentor, what exactly are you trying to say?”
Cedric didn’t answer immediately. He continued walking with that faint smile.
His boots stepped on the stone brick floor, making a regular and soft echo.
“That Eldest Miss of the Astarea Family is indeed a person who knows her limits.”
“But she also carries the honor of the Astarea Family. She cannot casually change her attitude and stance, unless…”
Harvey’s steps faltered slightly.
But Cedric seemed not to notice his odd behavior, continuing to walk forward with a casual tone.
“The other party has corresponding value—”
“And you are the first member of the opposite sex I have seen that she continuously protects.”
The distant, muffled conversations of students seemed to suddenly fade away.
Harvey stood there stunned. “I…”
He wanted very much to tell the other party the truth: that he was not a respectable assistant.
But that would bring more trouble.
He had the truth, but had to use lies to make everyone accept it.
Harvey, who was interacting with others for the first time, felt a bit confused in his heart.
Cedric turned back to look at him. Seeing the young man’s almost blank expression, the smile in his eyes deepened.
He slowly helped him out of his predicament.
“Forget it.”
“If you’re unwilling to speak, I won’t force you.”
He didn’t continue pressing. Instead, he changed the subject and suddenly laughed. “You are the first person to attend my class so seriously. I have a little favor for you. You don’t mind, do you?”
“?”
A question mark seemed to appear above Harvey’s head.
He subconsciously took a step back.
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