Orson and Olivia walked out of the inn and casually chose a nearby café to enter.
As they stepped outside, Orson glanced toward the front desk. The elven receptionist was staring intently at him, but when their eyes met, she hurriedly covered her face in embarrassment.
This wasn’t just an elven receptionist—she was practically an elven fangirl.
The two found a seat and placed their orders. Orson asked for a cup of coffee, while Olivia added a slice of cake to hers.
“Sorry about my sister’s behavior today, Orson,” Olivia began, breaking the silence before their drinks even arrived.
“It’s fine,” Orson said, shaking his head. “Lianca’s personality is just like that, isn’t it? As her sister, it must be tough for you to deal with her sometimes.”
He had already guessed the reason Olivia had invited him out.
She was likely trying to smooth things over between him and Lianca to ensure the alliance between the Dukes of Antica and Prussia remained intact.
If his engagement with Lianca were annulled, the alliance between their families would dissolve, rendering the earlier agreement void.
Olivia wasn’t naive. As the likely future ruler of the Prussian Duchy, she was already making preparations to secure her future diplomatic standing.
“Ah, you’re absolutely right,” Olivia sighed in agreement. “Lianca is so headstrong. She listens to no one but me.”
“And because of her status, combined with her natural talent, no one dares to teach her a lesson. So, she’s grown up like this.”
“I understand,” Orson nodded.
“In comparison, your Litte has such a wonderful personality—quiet, modest, and not one to fight or argue. He’s clearly a good little brother,” Olivia said with a smile.
“Litte is indeed a good kid.” Hearing someone praise Litte made Orson feel even happier than being praised himself.
After all, this was his student, someone he had personally guided!
The two continued chatting about casual topics for a while.
—
“By the way, Orson, do you plan to run in this year’s student council elections?” Olivia suddenly brought up.
“Ah, well...” Orson nodded. “Since the seniors all stepped down at the end of last semester, it seems like they’ve left the positions open for us second-years.”
“As a leader among the second-year students, it feels like I don’t have much of a choice but to run,” Orson said with a light laugh.
At the Imperial Academy, beneath the headmaster, there were two democratic institutions. One was the Academy Council, which managed faculty appointments, curriculum planning, and other administrative tasks.
The council operated somewhat distantly from the students, often feeling like it had little presence.
The other institution, which directly impacted student life, was the Student Council.
The Student Council wielded significant power.
It managed campus discipline, dorm inspections, event planning, course adjustments, and even vendor approvals. Moreover, the Student Council held influence over the election of the headmaster.
Luca, the current headmaster, had secured his position through the dual support of both the council and the Student Council.
“You’re definitely running for president, right, Orson?” Olivia asked, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “I’m planning to run as well. I hope we can continue working together in the Student Council.”
“Of course. I look forward to working with you,” Orson replied with a smile and a nod.
After finishing her cake, Olivia dabbed her mouth with a napkin, stood up, and said:
“Orson, if you think Lianca is too much to handle, you don’t have to tolerate her.”
“I have something to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now. Consider this coffee my treat.”
With that, she gave Orson a slight bow before heading to the counter to pay and leave.
Orson watched Olivia’s retreating figure, falling into thought.
What does she mean by that?
First, she asked me to understand Lianca, and now she’s saying I don’t have to put up with her.
Isn’t she worried that I might actually annul the engagement, breaking the alliance between our families?
Unable to make sense of Olivia’s intentions, Orson shook his head and sipped his coffee.
After finishing his drink, he got up and headed to his next destination.
—
In her room, Litte groggily opened her eyes.
Her limbs felt heavy, and her whole body ached.
Today’s battle with Lianca had taken a serious toll on her.
Glancing at the clock, she realized five hours had passed since they returned in the afternoon.
Now, she was lying in bed, the blanket neatly covering her.
Did Orson do this for me?
Thinking this, Litte tried calling out.
“Or... son?”
But there was no response.
Orson must have gone out.
Her stomach growled loudly.
“Ugh...”
But she had no strength left. Even getting out of bed felt like an insurmountable task.
What should I do...
Just as Litte was pondering her predicament, the sound of the door opening reached her ears.
Orson stepped in, and along with him came the enticing aroma of food.
He was carrying a paper bag with the name and logo of a restaurant printed on it.
1453 Grilled Meats.
Above the text was an image of a kindly old man with a white hat and a bushy beard.
Odd... why does a grilled meat shop need to emphasize the number 1453?
But Litte didn’t have the energy to think about it. All she could focus on was the mouthwatering smell of roasted meat.
“Litte, you’re awake,” Orson said, sitting down beside him and helping him sit up against the headboard.
“I went out for a bit and brought back some food. Want to eat?”
“Mm...” Litte nodded weakly. “But... I don’t have the strength...”
“Don’t worry, I understand. You worked hard standing for so long this afternoon,” Orson said as he opened the bag. The rich aroma of grilled meat and spices filled the room.
“I’ll feed you.” Orson wrapped a piece of grilled meat in a flatbread and brought it to Litte’s mouth.
“Here, Litte, open wide. Ah~”
Litte blushed as she looked at the food Orson held out.
This gesture felt overly intimate. Even though she knew Orson didn’t mean anything by it and was simply taking care of her, she couldn’t help overthinking.
Has Orson ever done this for his fiancée? Probably not...
Hehe, when I think about it like that, I feel a little lucky.
“What’s wrong?” Orson asked, noticing Litte’s hesitation.
“N-nothing.” Litte shook her head and took a bite of the flatbread-wrapped meat.
—
A few minutes later, Orson had fed Litte the entire meal. He then pulled out a handkerchief and gently wiped the corners of his mouth.
Satisfied that there were no grease stains on his face, Orson nodded in approval.
Meanwhile, Litte’s cheeks grew hotter and hotter as she watched his every move.
“Litte, are you running a fever? Your face looks really red...”
“I’m fine.” Litte shook her head. “Really, I’m fine...”
“Alright, make sure to rest well,” Orson said, pouring a glass of water and placing it on the bedside table.
“Tomorrow is the official start of the school year. You’ll be assigned to a class and meet your homeroom and other teachers.”
Orson continued explaining the procedures for the first day of school.
“Then there’s the dormitory assignment. The dorms are two-story houses shared by two students, and they’re pretty spacious.”
“Normally, only students from the same year are allowed to share a dorm.”
Hearing this, Litte’s mood dropped slightly.
Does this mean I’ll have to live apart from Orson?
“But, because your brother is no ordinary person...” Orson said, suddenly changing his tone. “I don’t have a roommate, so I spoke to the headmaster, and he agreed to let you share a dorm with me.”