The Genius Tamer of the Academy

Chapter 170

Wait a minute.

If I didn’t mishear just now…

What… Did he just say?

“She’s your fiancée.”

Count Arkenent confirmed it, delivering the final blow.

Laughing heartily, Solia practically jumped in shock, as if having a fit.

It seemed she hadn’t been told anything before coming here, just like me.

“En-engagement? N-n-now?”

“Maybe not immediately, but soon enough.”

“W-what?”

It was like a bolt from the blue.

I was already freaking out being dragged here without warning, but Solia, who probably thought the idea of an engagement with me was appalling, must have been even more stunned.

“Uh… um… this is….”

Look at her—she’s terrified.

She genuinely dislikes me.

What kind of engagement is this?

The expression on Solia’s face was like someone being led to the slaughterhouse, and I felt guilty just looking at her.

Why drag someone who hates this so much?

“Haha.”

“Hahaha.”

While Solia and I were reeling as if hit by a bomb, the ones responsible for this situation were happily laughing.

Count Arkenent and Han taesu, who had already pulled out wine glasses, clinked them together at the table.

Then, turning back to us, they asked with curious expressions.

“Why the long faces?”

As Solia stood there stammering, Count Arkenent laughed and said, “This was something arranged by the adults since you were children. It’s not so surprising, is it?”

It’s not something to just brush off as normal, is it?

“I think the two of you suit each other quite well.”

“I agree completely.”

Count Arkenent and Han taesu were already lost in their own excitement.

Just thinking about Adela was making my head spin, and now an even more shocking situation was unfolding before my eyes.

Count Arkenent tapped on a chair, signaling us to sit.

Solia awkwardly took a seat.

“You sit as well.”

Han taesu’s eyes were on me.

Given the situation, I had no choice but to sit.

“I’ll sit down for a moment.”

I folded my hands politely while sitting on the edge of my chair.

I felt like an unwilling guest squeezed into a terribly uncomfortable setting.

Count Arkenent glanced back and forth between Solia and me, who were sitting awkwardly, and let out a hearty laugh.

“The kids must be shy.”

“Indeed.”

“They were always close, but now that the stage is set, they’re embarrassed.”

That’s not it!

Han taesu smiled warmly at me, completely unaware of my turmoil.

“If you came directly to me to ask for Arkenent’s help, then it makes sense. So, what do you think? Do you like the engagement?”

How am I supposed to respond to that?

I feel like I’m losing my mind.

“Uh….”

“No need to be so shy.”

“It’s not that….”

“Haha, let’s not push them too much. It seems like we should leave them to talk, don’t you think?”

Count Arkenent, reaching his own strange conclusion, patted Solia on the shoulder.

“Do you want us to step out?”

“N-no, that’s not….”

Solia blinked with a pale face.

Count Arkenent, finding even that adorable, chuckled.

“You talked about Siha so much at home, and now you’re acting all shy?”

“What? When did I…!”

“Count, there was a time this girl talked about Siha all day long—why are you reacting like that?”

“No! No, I didn’t!”

Solia frantically tugged at Count Arkenent’s sleeve.

She raised her voice but quickly lowered it when she caught Han taesu’s gaze.

“I-I never did that….”

Solia talking about me all day?

If she’d been cursing me out, maybe, but this sounds absurd.

I needed to verify whether that claim was true.

It seemed highly likely that Count Arkenent had just made it up.

Seeing Solia so flustered and feeling like I was sitting on pins and needles myself, I decided to wrap this up.

Solia was too shocked to speak, and I was in no better shape.

I had no choice but to step in.

Leaving the two to enjoy their wine and conversation, I looked at Han taesu and cautiously suggested it.

“Would it be alright if we stepped out for a moment?”

Han taesu smiled warmly at my suggestion to take a breather.

Count Arkenent nodded and added with a laugh.

“By all means.”

“Haha, look at that, they’re already getting along? Siha, take good care of her.”

“They make a wonderful pair.”

These damned busybodies.

I grabbed Solia’s wrist, who was just sitting there in a daze.

“Huh?”

Let’s go.

I gestured with my eyes, and Solia finally snapped out of it, jumping up from her seat.

* * *

“Engagement? Are you kidding me?”

I was just as blindsided as she was.

Solia was too shocked to even speak properly.

“W-what do we do about this…?”

She must have been just as taken aback.

Seriously, how can they be talking about engagement when we’re only sixteen?!

Solia was so flustered she could barely breathe.

Her lips had gone pale as she finally managed to speak.

“You… you were telling the truth.”

“Well, I didn’t expect it to come up this soon either.”

“Huh?”

“I thought it’d be at least four years later. Or at least two years down the road. I didn’t think it would come up so suddenly… Seriously, I wasn’t even prepared for this.”

“What are we going to do…?”

Solia murmured, clutching her forehead.

“I’m not even old enough for an engagement….”

“Huh?”

“It’s way too soon.”

She’s definitely right about that… but hearing her say it with such disgust suddenly made me mad.

Feeling strangely provoked, I retorted.

“Hey, I’m not old enough for an engagement either, okay?”

“I’m still in my 20s too, so I’m not at the age where I should be hearing comments like that just yet!”

When I go home for the holidays, I always hear, ‘Have you found a job?’ as a basic passive comment, but they haven’t started telling me to get married just yet.

Ugh… Why does everyone think I’m at the age to get engaged!

Something… feels off?

Feeling awkward, I added another comment.

“I’m really not at the age to get engaged.”

“Why are you getting so defensive? We’re the same age.”

Uh…

Uh…

Right.

“…?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

I almost forgot for a second.

I quickly calmed down and spoke casually.

“It’s just… you know… I just meant that we should think together about this serious issue.”

“Uh-huh.”

Solia nodded.

Whew, did I manage to brush it off?

I sat on the edge of the flower bed and let out a deep sigh.

Easier said than done; no brilliant ideas were coming to mind.

I was well aware that in aristocratic society, engagements between families mean more than just the union of two people. And I had serious doubts whether our own intentions would be properly reflected.

To put it more drastically—

If Han taesu were to arrange an engagement with the Emperor of Linia tomorrow, I’d have to—

No, that’s a bit much.

I’d rather choose death.

Anyway, Solia didn’t seem to have any special ideas either, so we squatted by the flower bed, racking our brains for quite a while.

If things continue like this, we’ll really be dragged into an engagement ceremony as is…

Then, Solia broke the silence.

“Let’s go see Professor Han Si-hyuk.”

“…What?”

“Maybe the professor knows something…?”

It was the conclusion Solia reached after a long contemplation.

Visit Han Si-hyuk.

Her reasoning was simple.

“He’s an adult, right?”

“…?”

Han Si-hyuk… sure, he acts all cool and composed, but technically, he’s three years younger than me…

But I couldn’t deny that he did seem like an adult.

What is this?

Am I mentally regressing to sixteen?

“Hmm.”

I stroked my chin, thinking for a moment.

Han Si-hyuk has a lot on his plate right now, so I’m not sure if he’d be willing to offer advice on kids’ engagement troubles.

But seeing Solia clasping her hands so desperately, I figured it was worth at least asking.

“Alright. Let’s go ask him.”

As Solia said, the insight of a seer might just be different.

* * *

Creak.

Han Si-hyuk looked up reflexively at the sound of the door to the interrogation room opening.

Located on the outskirts, this place rarely had visitors, but recently, more people had been showing up.

Last time, it was Adela. This time, it was Han Siha who had come to see him.

“I came to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

Han Si-hyuk greeted Han Siha with his usual calm voice.

They were never particularly close as brothers.

So, even after finding out they weren’t real siblings, not much had changed.

Han Siha got straight to the point.

“I’m… supposed to get engaged.”

“Engaged?”

“Well, it’s a long story, but the engagement has been arranged with the Arkenent family. And it’s set for next month.”

Despite no longer being blood-related siblings and not being suited for such personal consultations, Han Si-hyuk listened quietly.

An engagement between the Castica family and the Arkenent family.

It was sudden, but not unusual.

The Arkenent family might be a bit lacking, but Solia was a promising young magician, so she was a decent engagement candidate.

However, it seemed Han Siha was determined to break the engagement.

“Both Solia and I are against this engagement. We’ve been brainstorming ways to stop it, but we haven’t come up with anything. I came to see if you had any good ideas.”

“Hmm.”

Han Si-hyuk understood why Han Siha had come to him.

But there was something that piqued his curiosity.

After hearing Han Siha’s situation, Han Si-hyuk tilted his head and asked.

“Why are you against the engagement?”

“Well….”

“Yes, I get it. The Arkenent family might not be up to your standards.”

He mulled over it—maybe it was just a difference in family prestige.

Emotions are rarely considered in these noble engagements.

Judging by this, Han Si-hyuk spoke as if concluding the matter, but Han Siha waved his hand dismissively.

“That’s not the reason.”

“Then is it something else? Do you already have someone you like?”

Han Si-hyuk briefly wondered if it was because of Adela, but Han Siha shook his head immediately.

“No, it’s not that either….”

“Then what is it?”

“Sigh… This might sound a bit strange….”

Han Siha trailed off, then added with a troubled expression.

“It’s about… age….”

“What?”

Han Si-hyuk frowned instinctively.

“Do you like them young?”

If they were younger than sixteen…

Eleven, twelve? Han Si-hyuk, considering the extreme, grimaced.

His thoughts were clearly reflected on his face.

Han Siha sighed and rubbed his forehead.

“Can you not look at me like that?”

“Hmm.”

“It’s not that. I just think I should at least be with someone around a similar age….”

What’s he saying?

Solia is a classmate; what does he mean by a similar age?

Not understanding, Han Si-hyuk asked again.

“I don’t quite get it. What age are you talking about?”

“At least mid-20s….”

“What… what?”

Han Si-hyuk paused at Han Siha’s words.

That’s nearly his own age.

There would be a good ten-year gap.

So, he likes older women…?

Even if he prefers older women, ten years older is…

Well, it’s his choice, so who am I to judge….

“Why?”

“No… nothing….”

Han Si-hyuk shook his head at Han Siha’s question and muttered quietly.

“Taste is… hmm….”

This is tough.