The Marquis' Daughter, a Research Enthusiast, Fails to Notice Her Junior's Devoted Feelings After Her Engagement is Broken. - Chapter 1.8

After finishing my class, I was given a tour of the academy by Madam Janne Ones, a viscountess and the etiquette instructor, who was now one of my colleagues.

She explained that the academy promoted equality, and as such, faculty members addressed students by their first names, using either “-san” or “-kun”, rather than their family names. Teachers were also referred to by their first names followed by “Sensei.”

The only exception to this rule was Prince Ernest, who had to be addressed as “Prince Ernest.” Apparently, there had been a time when even the royal family was addressed by their first names, but that custom had since been abolished.

Among students, however, it was still common to refer to each other by their family names. Many had known each other since childhood, and after graduation, referring to someone by their first name in formal settings could cause serious social repercussions, so the practice persisted.

Since the academy housed the majority of the noble youth in the kingdom, the campus itself was vast.

At the heart of the academy stood the main academic building, where core subjects were taught. To its left and right, there were specialized buildings for elective courses. The campus also featured large training grounds for magic, swordsmanship, and archery, as well as a grand library and an elegant cafeteria.

Near the cafeteria, there was a campus store that sold essential items for students, and a beautifully maintained garden used for etiquette training.

A short distance away from the main campus stood the student dormitories, which housed students who lived too far to commute daily.

As we walked through the academy, I noticed several female students stealing glances at me from a distance.

Wanting to make a good impression, I offered them a polite smile.

The reaction was immediate—a chorus of excited squeals erupted, and the girls rushed toward me.

I immediately regretted my decision.

Had I overdone it?

Before I could react, one of the girls was shoved forward by the crowd and lost her balance.

Madam Janne stepped forward protectively, her tone sharp as she reprimanded the girl.

“Again, Sophie? A lady must never disgrace herself by stumbling so publicly.”

“But…! That’s not fair! I was pushed!”

The girl, with pink-gold hair, looked up at me with teary eyes, as if expecting me to offer my assistance.

Madam Janne let out a deep sigh, turning to the remaining girls.

“And all of you! Such improper behavior is disgraceful for noble ladies. A true lady does not shriek and rush forward. If you happen to make eye contact, the correct response is a small curtsy—nothing more.”

She waited for their response, and the girls quickly bowed and apologized before hastily retreating, leaving only the girl who had fallen behind.

“Are you all right? Can you stand? Do you need a hand?”

I instinctively offered my hand, but before she could take it, Madam Janne intervened, instructing her to stand on her own.

For a brief moment, a flicker of irritation crossed the girl’s face, but she quickly masked it with an apologetic expression before rising and bowing.

“Sophie tends to fall quite often. Whether it’s due to poor balance or something else, a lady must never allow herself to stumble in public.”

Something clicked in my mind.

“Sophie… Is she the one from the rumors?”

Madam Janne sighed once again and pressed her fingers to her temple.

*”Yes, that’s her. Since you’ll inevitably hear about her, I’ll explain. She’s the girl at the center of all the gossip.

“Somehow, she always finds herself in trouble, and every time, Prince Ernest comes rushing to her aid. Frankly, it’s exhausting.”

Her expression was one of clear exasperation.

“Professor Emil, please be mindful not to show excessive kindness to her. It will only encourage improper behavior.”

“Understood. I’ll be more cautious moving forward.”

So, this was Sophie Everett, the Baron’s daughter.

She certainly had an undeniable charm. Unlike the refined elegance of noblewomen, her appeal was more unpolished and innocent.

She had a subtle air of vulnerability, the kind that would make any nobleman—especially one raised to protect women—feel the instinctive urge to shield her.

If I was being honest, even I had almost fallen for it.

Seeing someone struggling right in front of me, it was difficult not to extend a hand.

Fortunately, Madam Janne had stopped me before I could make that mistake.

There was something dangerous about her.

Even the smallest act of kindness could snowball into something unintended.

✦ ✦ ✦

The Everett Baronial House was rumored to be extremely wealthy.

Baron Everett had originally come from a rural background, but about twelve years ago, he started selling innovative ideas to the nobility, amassing a great fortune in the process.

Some of his earliest ideas included “Isoflavone Lotion” and “Loofah Water”, both of which were initially dismissed as worthless. However, after selling the concepts to Dewar Trading Company, they became instant hits, now regarded as luxury essentials among noblewomen.

Later, he introduced “Manicure Polish”, which also became a massive success.

Then came the inventions that truly transformed noble society: the “Hair Dryer” and the “Hair Iron.”

Before these innovations, drying hair required large wind machines or personal wind magic.

However, the hair dryer allowed for more precise styling, leading to a boom in fashionable hairstyles.

This invention alone completely revolutionized noble fashion, giving women greater variety and control over their looks.

Thanks to his continuous innovations in beauty and personal care, Baron Everett’s reputation as a brilliant inventor spread rapidly.

Now, he sold his ideas at premium prices, making him a highly influential figure.

Dewar Trading Company, the exclusive distributor of his ideas, had expanded its influence, earning favor from both commoners and nobility alike.

Baron Everett moved to the outskirts of the royal capital eight years ago. Since then, his wealth had steadily increased, and it was said that he and his wife had developed quite the extravagant spending habits.

Their daughter, Lady Sophie Everett, seemed to have inherited their love for luxury, frequently purchasing new dresses to keep up with the latest trends.

From the looks of it, she had been thoroughly spoiled by her nouveau riche parents.

✦ ✦ ✦

After finishing my work at the academy, I returned to the research lab, where I found Lady Frederica.

Ah… just seeing her is soothing.

“Oh, Emil. I heard you’ve started teaching. How was your first day at the academy?”

A private conversation! She’s asking about me for the first time! I was so thrilled that I nearly floated away in excitement.

“Well, I think I managed fairly well.”

“That’s good to hear. You seem like you’d be an excellent teacher. Your reports are always well-organized. Balancing teaching and research must be tough—make sure you don’t overwork yourself.”

Lady Frederica always complimented me so effortlessly.

That was another reason why I adored her.

Just hearing her express concern for my well-being made my exhaustion completely disappear.

Even after she left, I stood there, savoring the moment, still overwhelmed by warmth and joy.

That was when Peter threw an arm around my shoulder.

“So, did you see the prince? Spill the details.”

“I didn’t run into His Highness, but I did encounter the baron’s daughter.”

After I finished recounting everything that had happened today, Peter folded his arms, his expression thoughtful.

“Hmm… That baron’s daughter tripping all the time… It might be intentional—a trick to attract men’s attention.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“You probably don’t know this, Emil, but that’s actually a common tactic among street prostitutes to lure in customers.”

I stared at him, taken aback.

*”They pretend to stumble by accident, creating an opportunity for a man to help them. Once the guy does, they thank him profusely and invite him somewhere—usually a tavern or an inn.

*”From there, things can go a few different ways. Sometimes, they get the man drunk and rob him. Other times, they spin a sob story about being forced into prostitution because of debt, making the man feel sorry for them.

“And before he knows it, he’s handing over huge sums of money to ‘save’ her. Then, poof! She vanishes, and he never sees her again. It’s an age-old scam.”

“Wow… I had no idea people actually did that.”

“Yeah, and noblemen are the easiest marks. Most of them have no street smarts and fall for it instantly.”

I was already wary of Lady Sophie Everett, but now? My suspicion had skyrocketed.

“Could you tell me more about these scams? I’d like to know what other tactics are out there.”

Peter, ever the storyteller, grinned and leaned in, explaining various deception techniques.

I rarely had connections to people familiar with these things, so his insights were invaluable.

“By the way, didn’t you develop that recording magic tool? And you even miniaturized it, right?”

“Yes, I’ve been working on further improvements.”

“Then why not take it to the academy and record interactions between the baron’s daughter, the prince, and his entourage? Who knows? It might come in handy.”

I blinked, then slowly nodded as realization dawned.

“That’s… actually a brilliant idea. Peter, I owe you one!”

“Damn right you do. Just let me see the footage later, and I’ll help you analyze it.”

That night, I stayed in the research lab, working meticulously on creating multiple recording devices.

To avoid suspicion, I disguised them as various accessories, ensuring that they wouldn’t be recognized as magic tools.