The Ugly Lady’s Secret Pouch

Lila walked into the Academy with Lucas holding a basket in his arms.

The Lupus Vassium Academy was a place steeped in history. It was a long-standing tradition of the Academy to arrive in a carriage, dismount at a designated spot, and walk in.

There is no hierarchy within the Lupus Vassium Academy. The idea that was put into practice was to let go of your status when you stepped out of the carriage and walk inside.

“It had a very deep meaning.”

Lila nodded as Lucas, a graduate of the school, explained. The low murmur of his voice pierced her eardrums, reminding her that learning was not the same as socializing.

“That’s the kind of rule you’d expect imperial nobility to make, isn’t it?”

Lila’s eyes widened at the sour tone.

“What?”

“I don’t have a rank…”

Standing in front of the main building they had arrived at in the meantime, Lucas lifted his head. The scorching sunlight of the unforgiving summer spilled over the roof of the building.

His squinty eyes scanned the academy, his gaze cold for someone who had graduated from it.

Holding Lila’s hand in one hand, and holding a basket in the other, Lucas moved the steps that had stopped.

He whispered, his voice low enough for only her to hear.

“This place is no different from high society.”

“But just now…”

So, what the hell did he say on the way here?

Lucas said to Lila, who looked at him with an expression asking for an explanation, raising a corner of his lips.

“I’m just saying that they want to look powerful… Well, I don’t know what it was like when the Academy was first created, but now it just wants to wield it as one power… It means that the powers outside and the powers within here are different.”

“Ah…”

“Still, commoners have no power here. Barons and viscounts can’t either, which means it’s only the earls and above who can wield power here.”

“I see. I suppose it’s not much different from society, then?”

“I suppose you could say that, but the power structure is different. Marquis Benière holds the reins of power here, and not even two dukes can cross him.”

This was refreshing. The power of the Duke of Montefeltra could not be ignored, even if he was an ugly duke from the North.

The same could not be said for Frederick, the Duke of the South. Even if there were rumors of Heinrich’s illegitimacy, no one asked him directly about it or ignored it.

Perhaps the funniest part of the Vassium Empire is that it divides people by appearance.

“That’s the funniest part.”

As she spoke to herself, Lucas realized that she was talking to herself.

He let out a small laugh after her.

“They’re such idiots.”

His freckles glistened in the sunlight. He also had a goofy expression on his face that made him look like a goofball.

As they reached the visiting area, Lila heard the voice she had been waiting to hear. As if he’d been waiting for her to come, Michael came running.

“Lila!”

His chocolate hair glistened in the sunlight. His pink eyes sparkled as he jumped with a cheerful expression.

Lila stared, mouth agape at the sight as if to etch it into her eyes, then hesitated and opened her arms wide, like she’s possessed by something.

Come here, hug!

… that pose.

Seeming like he knew what she meant, Michael jumped up and hugged her lightly.

“Lord Michael!”

Lila exclaimed in a pained voice, rubbing her cheek against his.

“Hehe.”

Michael wrapped his arms around Lila’s neck in a tight embrace.

Lucas could only stare in disbelief as the two embraced fiercely.

“Is everything better now?”

Michael asked as he grabbed her shoulders and pushed her away. His touch paused for a moment as he studied her face, hidden by her bonnet.

“You’re not wearing makeup?”

He asked, surprised.

“No, I didn’t.”

“Why? You’re not going to wear it anymore?”

“Yeah, because I don’t think I need to anymore.”

“… Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Oh, and just in case, I also brought some magic tools that Michael made for me.”

“Good.”

Michael patted her on the head in praise. The corner of Lila’s eye twitched at the light touch on her bonnet.

“We’re still in the hallway, how long are you two going to be doing that?”

At Lucas’s grumpy tone, Lila stood up. She grabbed Michael’s hand and pulled him along.

“I brought you some bread, would you like some with your tea?”

“Henry will have it ready before you.”

The three stepped into the parlor.

“Welcome, Duke, my lady.”

Henry, who had been waiting, greeted them.

“How are you?”

Lila greeted him with a pleased expression. Henry replied with a cheerful expression.

“While the young master is taking lessons, it’s nice to be able to take some of my own, even if it’s only for a short time. They’re holding classes here that are required for butlers.”

“Ooh.”

Lila looked at Lucas in admiration, and then he explained.

“Most of them don’t change their butlers, so the curriculum is designed to make sure their butlers get the classes they need.”

“I see, that’s very practical.”

“Well, sort of.”

Shrugging lightly, he sat down on the couch first. Setting the basket he’d brought down on the table, he said.

“I want you to cut this into bite-sized pieces.”

“Yes, Duke.”

Michael squeezed Lila’s hand as Henry disappeared into the parlor.

“I didn’t realize you were coming with my uncle.”

Lucas’s one eyebrow rose at his nephew’s provocative comment.

“She should have come alone? Why?”

“No, I’m just sad that we’re going to have less time together.”

Lila clamped her mouth shut once more at his downcasted pink eyes.

Even though he was cute, he couldn’t be this cute. She hugged Michael’s head and groaned.

“Mmm, mmm!”

Michael, casually trapped in her arms, raised his eyes to his uncle, an unspoken protest of why they were together.

Lucas smirked in a false smile and crossed his arms, burying himself in the back of the couch.

It was strange to watch his nephew who acts so grown-up become completely a child when he was with Lila.

But that’s beside the point. When he receives this kind of gaze from his nephew, he want to give him a good scolding without her knowing.

After slicing and bringing over the steaming bread, Henry smiled wistfully at the affectionate pair.

“So, how is life at the Academy, are you finding it comfortable?”

Michael answered Lila’s question dutifully.

“Life is good. If it’s not good, does that mean I can’t meet Lila?”

“Lord Michael…”

Lila, who had been holding her hands over her face, looking impressed, sniffed the aromatic bread and quickly grabbed a small plate and set it down in front of Michael.

“It’s a famous bakery in the Commoner’s District. I heard its a place that many nobles visit. It’s a simple bread, but they say the flavor and texture are very good, so please try it.”

She scooped out the peach and strawberry jam she’d brought with her from the duchy and set it in front of him.

“How are your classes going? You got in early, so it looks like you’ll be moving fast… Are you keeping up?”

Michael, who was chewing bread in his dainty mouth after applying enough jam she gave him, glanced.

After finishing all his food and drinking a cup of tea, he turned to Lila and explained.

“Do you think I’m someone who would struggle with something like that? It seems like my progress is a bit slow, actually. It’s knowledge that I have already learned.”

“I knew it… You’d be able to handle it after all, Lord Michael.”

The child, whose cheeks were flushed with joy at the sight of her, grumbled softly.

“But how long are you going to call me Lord Michael… Now that you’re going to be my aunt, don’t you think this kind of honorific is a little unbecoming?”

“I told you so, wife.”

Lucas said, taking a break from his tea. Lila glanced at him, not unkindly, and then turned to Michael, hesitating.

“… Michael?”

“… Why?”

“Um… Michael?”

“… Ah, why.”

Lucas watched the two of them fidget with their hands and squint at each other’s faces.

His cheeks were flushed and he felt overwhelmingly embarrassed. What the hell is wrong with those two?

Noticing his wordless stare, Lila stuttered and asked.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Nothing…”

“You look at me like you were offended by something?”

“I want to tell you that you saw it correctly, but what… Let’s talk later.”

Of course, there was no telling what kind of conversation that would be.

Lila was relieved that Michael seemed to be doing well at the academy.

She would still have been nervous if they’d only talked through video communication tools. It’s just not the same as seeing him in person.

But despite what she thought, Lucas was scrutinizing his nephew.

He watched Michael’s behavior closely to see if he was uncomfortable with his movements, if he was making unnatural movements to cover something up, if he was lying, and the likes.

Fortunately, the movements were natural and he didn’t do anything that seemed to cover up something, but he was able to figure out that Michael was lying.

His nephew, who usually spoke in a loud voice when he was lying, had answered her question a moment ago in a higher pitch than usual.

Well, he had been to the Academy, so how could he not know.

He had heard that she had given him a cosmetic product to cover his freckles.

Still, Michael didn’t seem to use it. If he had, surely there must have been some snooty aristocratic scion who would have staked this child’s appearance on it.

No, most of them, he thought.

“So, in geography class, I gave a presentation using that block plaything.”

“… Seriously, Lord Michael is a genius.”

“Are you still going to use the honorific?”

“… It’s still awkward, so I can’t change it.”

Lila grumbled, her voice a mix of patronizing and affectionate. Michael shrugged and flicked the tip of her nose.

“It’s okay, you can change it slowly. I’m just happy to be called Michael, Lila.”

“… Michael…”

Lucas grumbled at her for shutting him up again, and just as he was about to speak, there was a knock on the door.

Michael arched an eyebrow and looked at Henry. Henry caught the gesture and quickly opened the door.

Opening it only a crack, he saw the visitor and gasped in confusion.

“Who is it?”

Lucas asked in a low voice, uncomfortable with the sight, and then a mellifluous voice came from the doorway.

“I heard the Duke was here, and I came to say hello. Do you have a moment?”

The voice was Alfonso. He was the Marquis of Benière, son of Benière, president of the Academy, and one of the Academy’s committees.