Larisa’s new tutor was, once again, a truly strange person.

“Larisa… What do you think happiness is?”

Larisa, bewildered by this philosophical question she had never heard before, blankly asked back.

“Pardon?”

“What is happiness?”

“Well, I’m not sure.”

Larisa wanted to study literature. Or perhaps mathematics. She also wanted to learn foreign languages, in case she might travel again someday. But the teacher didn’t seem interested in teaching such things.

“Larisa. The fate of this world might depend on your happiness.”

“What?”

Larisa gaped stupidly at this bizarre statement. Were all mages people who only said such strange things?

Unaware of what Larisa was thinking, Siod gazed out the window with a melancholic expression and sighed.

‘If this little one becomes unhappy, Vera will die, and our son will turn back time again, and Lord will step in and kill everyone, and then I’ll go mad too?’

It would be destruction.

“So let’s have an honest conversation. What do you think people need most to be happy?”

Larisa thought for a moment before answering.

“Money?”

Money. Coming from the slums, money was always what Larisa had desired most desperately. Money to buy meals, money to buy medicine for her sick mother – for Larisa, money meant survival.

“But you already have plenty of money.”

“…I don’t have any money.”

“That William, he’s rich.”

Larisa knew this too. After all, she had been the one to pilfer William’s wallet. William was already a millionaire.

“Anyway, when you get married, William’s money will be your money.”

“Um… Mother said I don’t have to marry William if I don’t want to.”

‘Well, of course she’d say that, having sworn to prioritize your happiness and safety above all else.’

Swallowing his true thoughts, Siod smiled and said,

“But Larisa, if money is happiness, wouldn’t it be better to marry the richest person in the world?”

“Is William that rich?”

“Indeed. Ten percent of Adelia’s national defense budget is paid to the Rodante family every year. Because Vera protects this country.”

It was difficult for a child to understand, but Larisa nodded as if she grasped the concept.

“Anyway, the Rodante family is the wealthiest in Adelia, and if Guinevere sets her mind to it, they could become the wealthiest family on the continent.”

“I see…”

“So you must marry William.”

Without waiting for Larisa’s response, Siod decided to be satisfied with this much. If he brainwashed her like this every day, she wouldn’t be able to think otherwise later.

“By the way, Larisa, what’s your ideal type?”

“What’s an ideal type?”

“What kind of man do you want to marry?”

“…”

This teacher was really strange. Larisa wondered if she should ask Guinevere to change her teacher.

“Since you seem too young to understand well, let me give you some advice. The top priority for a spouse is their face.”

“Their face…”

“Yes. Being beautiful or handsome is the best.”

Larisa smiled ambiguously.

“And as you know, there’s no boy as handsome as William. I wonder who he takes after, haha.”

Why did the teacher seem so proud? Larisa thought he was truly strange, but upon reflection, his words weren’t entirely wrong.

“You think so too, right? William is handsome, isn’t he?”

“Huh? Yes. He’s good-looking.”

“Right. Handsome and rich, isn’t he the best catch? We’re rooting for you.”

Uncomfortable with Siod’s sparkling gaze, Larisa shrank back. Still, Larisa was a child who spoke her mind.

“But, you know…”

“Yes?”

“I want to study quickly. I want to learn a lot and help many people in need later, like Mother.”

Larisa said this while clenching her tiny fists determinedly. Her ambition was quite adorable in its earnestness. While Siod found the child’s admirable intentions touching and heartwarming, he also felt a bit exasperated.

“It’s okay to live a bit more materialistically in this world…”

“Pardon?”

“Never mind.”

Siod swallowed his words, unable to bring himself to crush a growing child’s dreams. In a few years, when she’s more mature, maybe her thoughts will change?

“So, are we going to study now?”

“Yes…”

Siod answered dejectedly.

*

As William was about to board the carriage home for the weekend, he hesitated. Someone was already sitting inside.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

William quickly apologized and closed the carriage door. But the closed door panel bore the Rodante family crest.

‘This is the right one.’

William reopened the door with a bewildered expression. Then, a beautiful man with long silver hair grinned and said,

“Hello.”

“Who are you…?”

The man crossed his legs and asked meaningfully,

“Hasn’t Vera told you about me?”

“Vera?”

“I mean Guinevere.”

It was the first time William had heard someone use such a ridiculous nickname for his mother. William silently stared at him for a moment before boarding the carriage without a word. Then he sat opposite the man and began to eye him warily.

Siod was somewhat impressed. The young lad already had the skill to create a tense atmosphere. He seemed quite mature for a boy who had just turned 14 recently.

‘Just as I recognized him as my son, I wonder if he can recognize me?’

Siod silently gazed at William with subtle expectation. William was also looking at him. Even if he couldn’t recognize the dragon’s magical power, there might be some kind of blood connection.

Siod’s eyes sparkled with unreasonable expectation. Then William opened his mouth.

“Why is a magic faculty professor riding in our family’s carriage?”

‘Ah.’

He doesn’t recognize me. Siod cleared his throat unnecessarily and said,

“I guess you haven’t heard, but I’ve agreed to be Miss Larisa’s private tutor.”

“But Lala has no talent for magic.”

“There’s plenty to teach besides magic. Things like culture, life lessons?”

“You must have a lot of free time.”

Siod felt offended. Why the provocation? However, William didn’t seem interested in further conversation and opened a book. Siod glanced at it; it was an alchemy book.

“Do you like alchemy?”

Siod despised alchemy. The origin of alchemy came from humans extracting magical power from dragon corpses.

Contrary to expectations that he wouldn’t answer, William nodded readily.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“It’s none of your business. Please don’t concern yourself.”

Siod felt offended again.

“The journey might be boring, so you could at least tell me your reason.”

“Why don’t you just teleport to the front of the mansion?”

Siod gently massaged his furrowing brow and said,

“I’m just trying to get to know you. We’re not going to see each other just once or twice, you know?”

“Who knows.”

What do you mean, who knows? William didn’t seem inclined to answer.

‘Does he think I might get fired?’

Siod couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.

“What do you mean, who knows? I’m going to work hard because Miss Larisa is so adorable. We’ve already become quite close.”

At the mention of Larisa, William looked up. Now that he finally showed a proper reaction, Siod smiled shamelessly at William.

William frowned as he watched that handsome face.

“What’s your relationship with Mother?”

Siod’s shameless smile cracked. Suddenly coming at him like this? Siod pondered for a moment what to answer.

“…We’re well-acquainted?”

That was all he could say. Well, they had seen each other naked, so… However, William, having satisfied his curiosity, fell silent again.

Left with no choice, Siod glanced at the book William was looking at and said,

“That’s quite advanced content. Who taught you?”

“…”

“I know a bit about alchemy myself.”

William answered readily.

“I’m self-taught.”

After chatting a bit, Siod realized that this kid just lacked social skills. It didn’t seem like he was intentionally trying to be rude.

“It’s interesting to meet someone who likes alchemy.”

Probing a little, there was an immediate response.

“Professor, as a mage, don’t you have no need to learn alchemy?”

“That’s true.”

William’s face, now curious, finally looked properly like that of a 14-year-old boy. Siod gave a vague explanation.

“I tend to like unusual things.”

While thinking this person was strange, William accepted the explanation. There could be all sorts of people in the world, after all.

Usually, alchemy was a field pursued by people like himself who had a desire for magic but lacked talent. There was no need for a mage to learn methods of extracting magical power from nature to implement magic.

So it was quite interesting to hear that a mage talented enough to become a professor at the Royal Academy at a young age had also learned alchemy.

“I heard it was your birthday recently, William? I was wondering what to give you as a birthday present. If you ever get stuck on any part of alchemy, feel free to come to me.”

“Well then… I’m actually stuck on this part.”

‘So quickly?’

Siod inwardly regretted burning all those alchemy books he had found. Maybe he should look for some perverted dragon who might have kept alchemy texts.

For William, hearing Siod’s interpretation felt like finding an oasis in the desert. Although there were alchemy professors at the academy, they couldn’t provide such clear answers.

Because it was such a minor field that didn’t receive mainstream treatment, he had to listen to their constant complaints about not even receiving research funding. But suddenly, someone who knew alchemy so well had appeared.

William asked in an excited voice,

“How did you study it? Even the alchemy professor at the academy didn’t know this part.”

“…Uh. Well. I’m self-taught too?”

He had learned it out of hostility rather than interest. After all, it was the duty of the dragon race to prevent alchemy from developing beyond a certain level in order to preserve their species.

“May I come to you occasionally? That is, if you’re not busy.”

Who would have thought that alchemy, which he so despised, would become a pretext for bonding with his son? Siod nodded with a bright smile.

“Of course. I’ll be staying at the Rodante residence on weekends too. Feel free to come anytime.”