Chapter 24: Until Morning in the Royal Library.

He gazed at Amelia with quiet eyes.

“I heard from my brother that he’s recommending you for the Special Class, and I couldn’t help worrying that I might have forced you into something unreasonable.”

“Julius-sama did?”

Amelia asked back in surprise, and Sarju nodded.

“Ever since you started helping me, it’s been incredibly useful. Not only do you provide on-site data, but there’s no one else I can discuss magic theory with to this extent. Because of that, I ended up dragging you around without considering your own convenience.”

He gave a wry smile, as if to say he couldn’t speak ill of his brother.

“But apparently being my partner is quite exhausting. I have no intention of forcing that on you.”

“That’s…”

The reason Sarju’s assistants always burned out was because keeping up with him was extraordinarily difficult.

His thoughts constantly ranged widely and deeply across countless fields.

“Julius-sama didn’t order me to do anything. He simply bowed his head and asked me to look after his younger brother.”

For a member of the royal family to lower his head to the daughter of a provincial lord—it alone showed how deeply Julius cherished his brother.

“My brother… Even so, the fact remains that you were placed in a situation where refusing would have been difficult.”

He had believed that every time an assistant changed, it was because he exhausted them with his demands.

That was why he began working alone.

And now he was concerned that Amelia, too, might actually be forcing herself to help him.

“If Father provides the recommendation, then perhaps you could research whatever field you truly enjoy. That’s why I brought this as well.”

What Sarju held out was a letter of recommendation from His Majesty the King.

He must have obtained it while Julius was explaining the Special Class to Amelia—that was why he had arrived late.

Considering how many times he had already helped her, Sarju truly was a kind person.

She didn’t want him to misunderstand and think she was only helping under duress.

“Sarju-sama. The truth is, I’ve loved compiling data ever since I was a child.”

So she decided to speak her honest feelings.

“For many years I’ve been diligently recording data, but I could never put it to good use—it just piled up in the warehouse. That’s why now, being able to help you is genuinely making me very happy.”

Perhaps those were words he had never expected to hear.

Sarju looked at her with faint bewilderment.

Praying that he would sense her sincerity, Amelia smiled softly.

“Besides, discussing magical theory is fun. My knowledge is still far from sufficient, which is exactly why I want to enter the Special Class. I’d like to learn even more there than I can now.”

She explained that she wanted to acquire the skills to assist him even better in the Special Class—and that Julius’s recommendation would be more than enough; she didn’t need one from the King himself.

“…I see.”

Sarju nodded slowly, as though savoring her words.

His complicated expression looked almost like continued concern for her.

“I’m truly sorry that His Majesty went out of his way to write a recommendation for someone like me.”

“No. If that’s what you prefer, then it’s fine. Sorry for taking up your time. The magical theory books are over there—take your time reading them.”

“Yes. Thank you very much.”

Thinking he must have his own research to attend to, Amelia left his side and headed toward the bookshelf he had indicated.

(Wow, so many!)

There were countless valuable volumes, including old books now out of print.

Amelia picked up several, sat down, and became completely absorbed in reading.

Some were still too difficult to fully understand, but even skimming them felt like valuable study, so she read on voraciously.

After finishing who-knows-how-many books, Amelia suddenly came back to herself.

When she looked out the window, the sky was faintly brightening.

(Eh? Wait… did I really read all the way until morning?)

Panicking, she glanced toward where Sarju had been.

He was still in the same spot, diligently writing something.

Looking around the library, she noticed the librarian had quietly changed shifts—now a young man stood in her place.

Sarju probably spent entire nights here often, and the librarians were accustomed not to disturb him.

But even if she couldn’t say it aloud, continuing like this would ruin his health.

Besides, it was still early morning.

Thinking he should rest at least a little, Amelia approached him.

“Um, Sarju-sama.”

“…Amelia? What is it?”

Assuming she had a question, he looked up.

Slightly awkward, she told him.

“No, it’s just… it seems morning has come.”

“Already that late?”

He, too, had been so immersed that he hadn’t noticed at all.

“I’ll have someone escort you back to your room.”

“Shouldn’t you rest as well, Sarju-sama?”

She suggested it, but he shook his head.

“No, there’s still more I want to do.”

“Then… I still have books I’d like to read…”

After staring at each other for a moment, they reached the conclusion that they could simply return before the maid came to fetch them.

“Until a good stopping point.”

“Until I finish this book.”

With that, they both returned to their work.

Naturally, time slipped away unnoticed.

Eventually the searching maid found them, reported to Julius and Sophia, and—

“I was the one who suggested the library, but I never imagined you’d read straight through until morning.”

Sophia looked astonished as Amelia bowed apologetically.

“The books were so rare and fascinating—I just couldn’t stop.”

Beside her, Julius was scolding Sarju.

“You were in the library until morning yesterday too, weren’t you? Two days in a row is too much. No matter how many results you produce, no one will be happy if you ruin your health.”

Julius and Sophia sighed in unison.

“For now, rest even just a little. I’ll submit the recommendation. Those taking the Special Class exam are permitted independent study until the test date, so come to the academy in the afternoon.”

Amelia felt as though her worries had doubled.

This wasn’t how things were supposed to go.

Muttering to himself, Julius’s voice filled her with guilt, yet she obediently let the maid lead her away.

She was allowed to rest in the guest room until noon, then ate a combined breakfast and lunch with Sarju alone.

She accompanied him in the carriage back to the academy in the afternoon.

Thanks to a bit of sleep, Amelia felt refreshed.

Sarju, however, looked somewhat fatigued.

According to him, resting actually made him feel worse afterward.

“You look energetic, Amelia…”

“Yes. I’ve been running around farmlands since I was little, so I’m sturdier than I appear.”

She told him not to hold back and to give her any task he needed.

Kaido, the escort knight riding with them, gave her a complicated look—the same expression Julius had worn earlier.

He probably thought her worries had only increased.