Chapter 10: Cedric at School.

Two months have passed since Cedric started at the Magic Academy.

As it’s a magic academy, he’s naturally studying magic, and he finds it fascinating.
Each new spell formula feels like magic flowing and assembling in his mind, a sensation he finds deeply satisfying.

Understanding theory, practicing, succeeding.
That cycle is, for him, the greatest joy.

Cedric realizes anew how much he loves magic.
And Amelia loves it too.

When he shows her new spells, her eyes light up with excitement.
He enjoys seeing that, and he’s aware it motivates him to study more—a simple reason, he thinks.

But that’s not all.
There’s another reason to pursue magic.

(—I want to protect Amelia.)

At the recent dinner with his father and stepmother, Amelia’s water magic came up.
Her purification talent, they said, would be used for the ducal estate.

His father meant no malice.
It’s a natural decision for the estate and its people, as a duke.

But Cedric felt uneasy.

He absolutely wants to prevent Amelia from being used or hurt.

She said with a smile, “I’ll do my best for the ducal house, for Lord Cedric.”
That smile seemed slightly forced.

So he wants to grow stronger.
Strong enough to protect her.

To ensure no one hurts her.

He’ll master magic, gain strength, and secure a firm place in the ducal house.
That way, he can shield her.

(What face will she make when I show her this spell today?)

He thinks such things during classes.

The academy sorts students by grades, and as top student, Cedric is in the highest class.
It’s small, about twenty students.

Many are talented, and the lessons are advanced.

Among them are Prince Leonard, whom Amelia mentioned at the entrance ceremony, and Noah Ashbell, the purple-haired boy.

Both have strong grades.

Prince Leonard is sociable, often smiling.
He’s frequently surrounded by noble girls, exchanging soft smiles and words.

But to Cedric, those are fake smiles.
His mouth smiles, but his eyes hide something else.

—A royal mask, perhaps?

Noah, on the other hand, keeps to himself.
Less sociable than even Cedric.

He sits by the window, reading or gazing outside.
When spoken to, he replies briefly, never initiating conversation.

His rare purple hair stands out, yet he acts to avoid attention.

Cedric doesn’t know why Amelia noticed them, but after two months, he sees why they draw eyes.
Leonard is vibrant, Noah quiet but striking.

Still, recalling Amelia watching them stings his chest, so he tries not to dwell on it.

At the entrance ceremony, she did stare at them.

(—Not at me, but them.)

That thought irritates him.

Leonard, second in grades, is a rival Cedric refuses to let surpass him.
After each exam, he checks the score gap, relieved to stay ahead.

He can’t relinquish the top spot.

To grow stronger, to protect Amelia, he must remain exceptional.

Noah’s grades aren’t top-tier in this class, but something feels off.

Is he hiding his ability, or unable to show it?
He scores high on written exams but lags in practical magic.
There’s a strange dissonance in his magic flow.

Is something interfering, or is it deliberate?
Cedric doesn’t know him well enough to care.

Today’s classes ended, and he learned a new spell.
A water magic application to create ice crystals, forming small snow flowers in the air.

It’s a defensive magic variant.

He could raise an ice wall instantly to protect Amelia.

(What will she think when I show her?)

Smiling at the thought, he heard nearby girls stir.

“Oh… Lord Cedric smiled…”
“So lovely…”

Whispers reached him.
His appearance seems to appeal to the noble girls, and he occasionally hears such comments.

Leonard gets similar attention, but more overtly.
During breaks, girls flock to him.
Cedric, however, is left alone—everyone knows he’s married.

Once, a girl invited him, “How about dinner together?”
He replied clearly, “I have a wife, so no.”

The classroom froze for a moment.
Word spread that Cedric, at sixteen, was already married, not just engaged.

Being the only married student made him a curiosity.

It also spread that his wife, five years older, was part of a political marriage.
And that she was a notorious partygoer before marriage, information someone dug up.

That led to pitying looks.

That infuriated him most.

Why should he be pitied for having a wonderful wife like Amelia?
She’s kind, cooks well, looks adorable practicing magic, and has a dazzling smile.

Above all, she works hard for him.
She says, “For the ducal house,” with a smile.

He’s lucky to have her.

(They don’t know anything about Amelia.)

So he avoids talking about her at the academy.

He doesn’t want her exposed to others’ curiosity.

He wants to protect her.
To keep anyone from hurting her.

It’s also convenient that her presence wards off unwanted advances.

As he prepared to leave, a voice called from behind.

“Cedric, a moment?”

Turning, he saw Prince Leonard.
His silver hair gleamed in the sunset, his handsome face wearing a practiced smile.

“What is it, Your Highness?”

Cedric stopped, bowing.

“No need for formalities. Call me Leonard here.”

He spoke warmly, but Cedric shook his head.

“No, I’ll call you Prince Leonard.”

The academy allows less formal address, but Cedric wouldn’t casually drop a royal title.

Leonard smiled, a bit troubled, but it seemed forced.
His eyes held a trace of exhaustion.

Being a royal must be tough, Cedric thought.
Always watched, judged, expected to be perfect.

Is such a life fortunate or not?

“Your business?” Cedric asked.

Leonard raised his tone slightly.

“We’re planning a magic experiment in an empty classroom. Want to join? Everyone would be thrilled to have the top student there.”

Magic and experiments do interest him.
What formulas, what results?

He’s curious.

New knowledge could help protect Amelia.

But today, he wanted to see her soon.
To show her his new spell and see her smile.

Cedric answered briefly.

“Sorry, my wife is waiting at home.”

He started walking away.
But Leonard walked alongside him.

“Your wife… Married at your age, not just engaged, is rare.”
“So it seems,” Cedric replied curtly.

He’d rather avoid this topic.
But Leonard pressed on.

“I’d love to meet her sometime. The wife you cherish so much.”

“What?”

Cedric stopped in his tracks.

Leonard was smiling.
This time, it felt a bit genuine.

“I know you’re in a political marriage. But your reactions suggest you’ve built something special.”

Cedric was surprised.
He’s perceptive.

At the academy, pitying comments about his marriage irritate him, though he keeps a neutral face.
Leonard must have noticed those subtle shifts.

“I’ll likely have a fiancée soon, political or not. I’d like to build a good relationship, so I’d love to hear about yours.”

His words felt sincere.

Indeed, Leonard’s at an age where a fiancée is likely.
Hence the noble girls’ constant attention.

That must be tough, Cedric thought, deciding to talk a bit.

After a moment, he spoke.

“I don’t know if it’s a good relationship, but Amelia… she’s wonderful, so it depends on the person.”

He’d initially been harsh to her.
Doubting, rejecting, keeping distance.

So he spoke as if to his past self.

“At first, I didn’t trust her. It was a political marriage, and her reputation wasn’t great.”
“Hm.”
“But she nursed me through a fever, cooked for me, studied with me. Slowly, I opened up.”

He recalled that night.
Feverish, feeling a cool cloth on his forehead.

Her gentle hand wiping his sweat.
The warmth of porridge, her smile.

That was the start of everything.

Now, she’s learning water magic for the ducal house.
Saying she’ll work hard, smiling.

He wants to protect that smile.
To keep anyone from hurting her.

“I see. Mutual care is key,” Leonard nodded seriously, his smile genuine.

“That’s helpful. Thanks, Cedric.”
“No problem.”

They reached the academy’s entrance, stone gates looming, carriages lined beyond.

“I’ll take my leave, Your Highness.”

Cedric bowed, and Leonard waved lightly.

“See you tomorrow—oh?”

Leonard noticed something behind Cedric, smiling amusedly.

“I mentioned meeting her, and it seems the chance has come.”

“What?”

Cedric turned to see Amelia waving with a smile, approaching.

Her red hair glowed in the sunset, amber eyes shining.
Lifting her dress hem slightly, she hurried toward him.

“Cedric!”

Her bright voice.

Seeing her smile, Cedric’s chest warmed instantly.