SGFM 02

Chapter 2

Siern seemed pleased by Adelia’s reaction, as she was completely absorbed in awe and wild fantasies, and gazed at her for a while.

“But…”

Adelia looked up at him with eager eyes.

“Who exactly are you?”

Huh…?

Adelia stared blankly for a moment before quickly clasping her hands together and straightening her shoulders.

“I’m Adelia Whitten. I’m the new research student who will be working and studying in this laboratory starting today.”

“Adelia Whitten? I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere. Adelia Whitten… Ah.”

Could it be? He actually remembers me?

Adelia clasped her hands together as if in prayer, her face filled with excitement.

The idol of microbiology, the god of microorganisms, actually remembers me! What an honor…!

“You’re the valedictorian of this year’s academy graduating class, aren’t you? I heard the old geezers were practically pulling each other’s hair out trying to take you as their student. Is that true?”

Adelia’s eyes shook as though an earthquake had struck.

She had heard something similar from Principal Moit of the Royal School.

Apparently, prominent professors from various fields—literature, mathematics, astronomy, and so on—had gotten into quite a dispute over who would take Adelia on as their student.

But… I never heard anything about them pulling each other’s hair.

Professor Siern stroked his chin as he spoke.

“And yet, I managed to take you on as my student without even fighting with those old geezers.”

“I-I suppose that’s true…?”

“If that’s the case, does that mean joining this laboratory was your own decision?”

Adelia’s lips pressed into a straight line once again.

It might have sounded like an ordinary question at first…

I have to answer this properly!

If she trembled here or showed any unnecessary anxiety, she would never earn Professor Siern’s trust for the rest of her life.

“Yes, Professor. I applied myself.”

“Why? The microbiology taught at the Royal School is barely more than a superficial introduction. Here in this laboratory, you’ll have to start studying from the beginning again.”

“Because…”

A faint glimmer of amusement appeared in Siern’s eyes.

“Because?”

“I…! I really love microorganisms!”

Adelia’s bright, ringing voice echoed through the quiet laboratory.

Siern’s expression became rather strange, and he narrowed his eyes.

“…You love microorganisms?”

“Yes! Their diverse shapes and colors… And their limitless potential! Once you learn what those tiny creatures, too small for us to even see, do in our everyday lives, there’s no way anyone couldn’t love microorganisms! Especially G7-3-I from the paper you published recently, Professor! When I saw its perfectly spherical shape, I could do nothing but marvel at it. And even though the clinical trial period was short, the effects were astonishing, and—”

“That’s enough. Stop.”

“Huh? Oh, but there’s still so much more I wanted to tell you.”

“I’ve heard enough to understand why you came here.”

Adelia, completely unaware that she had managed to make even the formidable Siern recoil, continued looking at him with an awestruck expression.

At least I know she’s a strange one.

That was what Siern thought.

In truth, microbiology was a field that struggled to attract people’s attention.

Even when someone made a new discovery, if it couldn’t be put to practical use, it would simply be forgotten.

If someone wanted fame, they would normally choose chemistry or the rapidly developing field of electrical engineering.

And yet, despite having graduated at the top of the Royal School, this girl had chosen to enter a laboratory that wasn’t particularly popular…

“All right.”

After thinking it over, Siern spoke.

“First, go change your clothes and come back. Today I’ll give you a brief tour of the laboratory, introduce you to the equipment, and explain the precautions you need to follow.”

“Gasp! Yes! I’d love that!”

“And give me a brief summary of the subject you want to research… Why are you drooling?”

Oh, no.

I was just so excited that I didn’t realize…

Adelia awkwardly wiped the corner of her mouth and pretended nothing had happened.

Siern stared at her strangely once again before continuing.

“Research students here have to write a short paper every semester and prepare research material to present at the regular research conference once a year. It won’t be easy, so steel yourself.”

“Yes, Professor.”

“Think carefully about what you want to research.”

“Yes!”

“Now go change your clothes and come back. The women’s changing room is outside, to the right.”

Adelia immediately left the laboratory with a radiant expression.

Tap tap tap…!

Her footsteps were so energetic that Siern suddenly let out a quiet laugh.

“What could possibly make her that happy? She’s certainly an unusual one.”

Meanwhile, after escorting Adelia to the laboratory, Roarston headed straight for the royal palace.

He was there to attend the officials’ meeting held once a week.

Under normal circumstances, he had no need to hold an official position.

However, his father had spent his entire life serving as a government official, accomplishing many things while leaving others unfinished.

Whether he liked it or not, Roarston had to participate in government affairs if he wanted to see his father’s unfinished work brought to completion.

His involvement was rather ambiguous, however—he mostly just showed his face and made his presence known.

But people who were captivated by Roarston’s overwhelming beauty tended to fall into a sort of collective delusion that simply appearing at the meeting meant he had fulfilled his role, whether he actively participated or not.

“Why, look who it is! Isn’t that Duke Ipsel?”

“It’s been a while, Marquis Gixon.”

“Haha! Good heavens. Do you have any idea how shocked I was by that news of yours? My daughter brought me an entire stack of newspapers, and I still couldn’t believe it!”

“It was a decision made rather suddenly, so I didn’t have time to announce it properly to everyone. Please understand. I am considering holding a proper wedding ceremony as well.”

“Of course. That’s only proper. You can’t just register your marriage with the church and call it a day, can you?”

A secretive smile appeared at the corner of Roarston’s lips.

As expected, his and Adelia’s sudden marriage had caused quite a stir.

I deliberately avoided holding a proper wedding ceremony precisely because I expected this. Looks like I made the right choice.

Because they had done nothing more than file their marriage registration without a wedding ceremony, the news that Duke Ipsel had married his Junior had spread even further.

There were few things capable of causing such a shock in conservative aristocratic society.

At the same time, the fact that Roarston had rushed to register the marriage so urgently gave people the impression that he had desperately wanted Adelia.

From now on, people would watch Roarston’s every move while inevitably wondering about the woman named Adelia, who had been elevated to the position of duchess in a single stroke.

If his goal was to make people recognize Adelia as the Duchess as quickly as possible, this had been the best method.

Wasn’t there a saying like this?

Beat the drums and announce good news throughout the neighborhood, but swallow bad news with your soup and forget it quickly.

Roarston wanted the news of his marriage to spread loudly and unmistakably.

That way, he could finally escape the relatives who constantly badgered him to get married.

And then there was also…

No. I shouldn’t think about that right now.

Regardless, everything had gone extremely well.

Of course, Roarston had been slightly worried that Adelia might feel disappointed about not having a wedding ceremony.

But she had completely vindicated his expectations by saying this:

—A-a-a wedding ceremony? You mean I’d have to wear a white dress in front of everyone, throw a bouquet, and… d-dance too?

—If we’re going to have a wedding, I suppose that’s how it would have to be.

—I-I absolutely can’t do it! I’d rather… I’d rather…!

—Rather?

—I’ll give up microbiology and become a research student in classical literature instead!

He wasn’t entirely sure what those two things had to do with each other, but her hatred of the idea of a wedding ceremony had certainly been communicated loud and clear.

“But what about that Miss Whitten you married?”

“Ah, yes.”

“Did you know her before? Or perhaps…”

Roarston met Marquis Gixon’s slightly suggestive gaze with a smile of pure innocence before answering.

“She was my junior at the academy. A very intelligent girl.”

“Yes, yes. I heard about her. She graduated at the top of her class this year, didn’t she? And apparently she got into some very demanding laboratory.”

“That’s right. I’d had my eye on her since our academy days. The more I got to know her, the more I liked her, so I proposed.”

“Haha! Even you, the man they call an impenetrable wall, couldn’t help yourself when faced with a lady who caught your fancy!”

Marquis Gixon laughed heartily and slapped Roarston on the back several times.

Roarston subtly avoided his hand and let his face turn slightly red.

He tilted his head and gave a bashful smile so beautiful that it was easy to understand why people made such a fuss about calling him the most beautiful creature under heaven.

Of course, Roarston wasn’t actually embarrassed.

It was simply one of his specialties.

Whenever he found himself in an awkward situation, displaying a little bashfulness like this usually caused the other person to back off on their own.

And besides…

There’s a trick to lying: mix in a little truth.a