The Marquis' Daughter, a Research Enthusiast, Fails to Notice Her Junior's Devoted Feelings After Her Engagement is Broken. - Chapter 1.7

The first step was enemy reconnaissance. I needed to gather detailed information on Prince Ernest’s situation.

To do that, I reached out to Burton Fouché, a friend from my previous study abroad at the academy.

Burton and I had kept in touch through letters even after I returned home. He was also the one who had informed me about Lady Frederica’s accelerated graduation. Of course, he knew about my feelings for her.

The last time we met was when I came to study in this country for the second time, but I had been too busy with my research to visit him again since then.

“Hey! You look well. Sorry for being late.”

“No worries. I’m just glad to see you. Thanks for coming today.”

After exchanging a handshake and celebrating our long-overdue reunion, we chatted over a meal, sharing updates on our lives and reminiscing about old times.

Burton mentioned that he was preparing for his upcoming wedding, which kept him busy.

After he spent a good while bragging about his fiancée, the conversation naturally shifted to Lady Frederica.

Burton had also heard the rumors, and while he shared some of the gossip circulating among the nobility, most of it was the same information I already knew.

“So, you want a more detailed understanding of the situation…? Honestly, that’s something the ladies excel at. Why not use your good looks and charm the noblewomen into talking?”

“I considered that, but… just approaching them could spark new rumors. I don’t want Lady Frederica to misunderstand.”

“I doubt she’d even care… but I see your point. Oh, right! I know a professor at the academy—a mathematics teacher—who recently fell off his horse and is out for a while. They’re looking for a temporary replacement.”

“A temporary teacher…? I’m young and have no experience. Would they really hire me?”

I was confident in my academic abilities, but I had never taught before.

“This is an awkward time of year, so there aren’t many candidates. Besides, what matters most isn’t experience—it’s family background.”

“Wait, what? I thought Razafest Royal Academy had an equal treatment policy.”

“That’s just a facade. Since I graduated from there, I can tell you firsthand—the academy isn’t about education. It’s about networking. Future connections. And if you’re still single, it’s also a place to find a spouse.”

“I see… So having a noble lineage ensures that even if something goes wrong, there won’t be a scandal.”

“Exactly. You’re unmarried, attractive, and from a noble family—even if from another country—so they’ll have no problem hiring you. Of course, as a teacher, you’re going to get a lot of attention from the female students.”

“Ugh…”

Memories of being chased by noblewomen resurfaced, making me feel a bit exhausted.

“So, do you still want to do it?”

“…Yes. This is a rare opportunity to gather information from inside the academy. Please introduce me.”

I bowed my head, firmly requesting Burton’s help.

“Got it. I’ll contact them right away. But seriously… you’re going through all this for Lady Frederica? Just what kind of woman is she?”

“She’s… an amazing woman.”

*”I figured you’d say that. But you know, Lady Frederica Lorenz is a mystery. She never had close female friends, and since she skipped grades, she hardly attended regular classes.

“At social gatherings, she only attended the bare minimum, and even when she accompanied Prince Ernest, she simply smiled politely and played the perfect noblewoman.”

“More than that… she has this aura that makes people hesitate to approach her.”

“You work with her in the research lab, right? What’s she like there? Does she talk much?”

*”We talk a lot about magical mechanics, but… not much about personal things.

*”She’s the type to handle things on her own, even when it’s physically demanding. She never asks a man for help.

“Even if something is heavy, she just uses enhancement magic and carries it herself. I wish she’d rely on me more, but… she doesn’t.”

“That’s rare. Most noblewomen prefer to let men do the heavy lifting, even if they can use enhancement magic. They worry about dirtying their dresses or messing up their hair.”

“She wears a lab coat since she’s always working with magic tools, so she doesn’t care about getting dirty. And her hairstyle is just a simple ponytail. She’s a practical person—if doing something herself is faster, she won’t hesitate to do it.”

“Wow… now I’m curious. I’d love to meet her someday.”

Burton touched his chin, looking intrigued.

“D-don’t get any ideas…”

“Relax! I’m devoted to my fiancée.”

“Fine, then.”

I gave him a pointed glare, and he quickly apologized.

A few days after parting ways with Burton, the academy contacted me, confirming my temporary position.

After getting approval from my professor and preparing my lessons, the days flew by, and before I knew it, the first day of class arrived.

✦ ✦ ✦

Starting today, I would teach at the academy three times a week while still working at the research lab.

It was a hectic schedule, but gathering information on Prince Ernest was worth it.

The only downside was having less time to see Lady Frederica.

Classes were divided into core subjects and electives, and I was assigned to Advanced Mathematics, an elective.

The morning classes were for core subjects, while electives were held in the afternoon.

My first lecture went smoothly.

I was nervous at first, but I managed fairly well.

Among my students was Nathaniel Newcombe, the heir to an earl and a close confidant of Prince Ernest.

Nathaniel Newcombe, with his neatly trimmed, slightly blue-tinted black hair and silver-rimmed glasses, was a strikingly handsome man.

He exuded an undeniably intelligent aura.

His academic performance was exceptional, consistently ranking at the top of the academy’s overall standings. It was clear that he was destined to become Prince Ernest’s close advisor, eventually securing a central role in the royal administration.

I had also heard that at the last soirée, he had accompanied the baron’s daughter alongside Prince Ernest.

If I could somehow build a rapport with him, perhaps I could extract some valuable information about the prince.

Since this was the first lesson, I decided to approach him after class and ask for his thoughts.

“There were no issues.”

That was the only response he gave before swiftly exiting the classroom.

Building a connection with him was going to be difficult… but I wasn’t giving up yet.

The advanced mathematics class had only a few female students, including Lady Mary Downing, the daughter of an earl and Nathaniel’s fiancée, along with a handful of others.

I let out a small sigh of relief.

With a class this small, even if I attracted some unwanted attention, I could probably handle it.

Burton’s words echoed in my mind—”Why not use your charm and ask the noble ladies?”—so I considered whether befriending the female students might be a worthwhile approach.

As I was wiping down the blackboard, Lady Mary Downing approached me.

“Professor, I have a question. May I ask?”

She spoke with grace and formality, and I immediately gave her my full attention, ensuring my explanations were clear and thorough.

She listened carefully, nodding in understanding.

By the time I finished, she seemed satisfied.

“By the way, how did you find my lesson? I asked Nathaniel earlier, but he simply said there were no issues… If there was anything unclear, I’d appreciate your feedback.”

“Nathaniel is quite intelligent, so I doubt he found anything difficult.”

She paused thoughtfully before continuing.

*”Your voice is very clear, which makes it easy to follow the lesson. However, I wish you had spent a little more time on this particular section.

“Perhaps it’s just that I’m not very bright, but…”

“Oh, absolutely not! Your feedback is incredibly helpful. And I think you’re a diligent and intelligent student. Keep up the great work!”

“T-thank you! I just want to catch up to Nathaniel as soon as possible…”

Lady Mary had golden hair styled in elegant ringlets, the very image of a refined noblewoman.

At first glance, her sharp, slightly narrow eyes gave her an intimidating air, but after speaking with her, I realized she was simply serious and hardworking.

Most importantly, she wasn’t trying to flirt with me—a rare and welcome change.

I needed to keep her as an ally.

“Feel free to ask me anything in the future. I’ll be happy to help however I can.”

“Fufu… Thank you, Professor. I’ll take you up on that offer.”

She gave a polite curtsy before leaving the classroom.

Right—she had offered to show me around the academy, hadn’t she?

Realizing I was running late, I hurried toward the faculty lounge.