Standard Contract Guidelines for a Fraudulent Marriage - Chapter 19

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 19

“Starting tomorrow evening, we’ll practice drinking together.”
“You’re serious about this?”
“Of course. You’ll have plenty of occasions to drink in the future. Losing yourself to it isn’t good, but you need to become accustomed to it.”
“If you’ll let me talk about how alcohol is made, I’ll be delighted to learn.”
“Excellent. This should be interesting.”

Adelia practically bounced on her toes, so thrilled she scarcely knew what to do with herself.

She’d never tasted alcohol, but the process of its creation—that was her domain.

The thought of expounding on the infinite possibilities and charm of yeast made her lips tingle with barely suppressed excitement.

‘Even this will become a memory someday.’

Even if their relationship had an end written into it, there could be no harm in savoring the present joy.

Adelia tucked her mingled hope and sorrow deep into her chest and carefully grasped Roarstun’s hand.

***

In the Research Laboratory, Adelia assisted and learned from Siern’s work while continuing, whenever time allowed, her own investigations into Mold No. 9 that she had discovered.

“What in the world are you researching so intently?”

About ten days into her mold studies, Siern finally showed interest in Adelia’s work.

Adelia, who had been wolfing down a sandwich he’d brought, looked up in surprise.

“Mm? Uh, well……”
“Swallow first, then speak.”

Adelia covered her mouth with her hand, chewed and swallowed dutifully, then her eyes sparkled.

“You’re interested in seeing it, Professor?”

A professor taking notice of a first-year student’s research was rare indeed.

Lucky for her that Adelia was the only student in Siern’s laboratory; had it been crowded with seniors, her work would have gone unnoticed and buried.

So even Siern’s lukewarm inquiry about what she was doing struck her as nothing short of a gift.

“I’m curious what’s so entertaining that you’re skipping lunch. Thought I’d take a look.”
“You’ll find it fascinating, I’m sure! I’ve discovered something about the feeding habits of Mold No. 9, and if we apply it well, it could help us develop soil with strong acidity!”

Siern regarded her with quiet amusement.

“Why are you waving your hand around like that?”

Adelia let out a small gasp and lowered her arm, murmuring to herself.

“Force of habit……”

Siern chuckled softly and shrugged.

“So you’re talking about Holems?”
“That adorable thing has a name?!”
“Not officially published, but we’ve called it that here in the lab. A student who graduated just before you arrived gave it that name. Its nickname is Holly.”
“Holly! What a lovely name! And it suits perfectly too. When you observe it under light, the edge of its mycelium sparkles like holly leaves.”

Siern touched the corner of his mouth. He was fighting back a smile at Adelia’s childlike enthusiasm.

“At any rate, develop soil with strong acidity? How exactly?”
“Well…no, let me show you directly!”

Adelia led Siern into the Research Laboratory proper.

Though she’d only just begun her Independent Research, the space was filled with evidence of her labor.

Siern observed with considerable satisfaction the Biology formulas and information neatly jotted on the Mobile Blackboard, then he paused, genuinely surprised.

When had he last found a student’s progress quite so gratifying and worthy of pride?

“Professor, this way, please!”

Siern was startled to realize he was wearing a satisfied smile, and he schooled his expression into indifference as he approached Adelia.

She waited, wearing both a Mask and Laboratory Goggles, for him to position himself before the Microscope.

Once he was ready, she carefully dropped a solution onto the slide.

Siern gazed quietly through the lens, then straightened and looked at Adelia without speaking.

And then he asked:

“What made you think to introduce acidic substances?”

Adelia answered as if she’d been waiting for precisely that question, her small chest swelling with pride like a child’s.

“When I observed it, the mold displayed strong basic properties. So I became curious what would happen if I neutralized it. As you know, many of these organisms show fascinating reactions when they lose their original characteristics. At first, since you said Independent Research, I planned just simple observation, but these little ones behaved nothing like what I expected! They just…well, surprised me at every turn!”

Adelia, without noticing, had raised her voice and was gesturing wildly until she suddenly stopped, as if catching herself.

Then, with a radiant smile and catching her breath, she spun her hand in a circle and pointed toward Siern.

“What do you think, Professor?”
“It’s an interesting reaction. The idea itself is commonplace, though.”
“Exactly! But all great discoveries begin with ordinary ideas!”
“I wasn’t saying your work is trivial, so there’s no need to defend yourself.”

Adelia clenched her fist and bounced excitedly on her feet.

This amounted to high praise and recognition at once.

A professor of Siern’s caliber would hardly gush over a mere first-year’s discovery with talk of genius.

“I hear they call you a genius here at the Academy. Seems there’s some truth to it after all.”

Adelia’s eyes widened at the remark.

Siern quickly added:

“I mean your approach to research.”
“I feel like I just received an enormous compliment.”
“Not enormous, but it is a compliment.”

Siern stepped back from the Microscope and removed the Laboratory Goggles as he spoke.

“It’s a sound idea. I’ll set aside time for you going forward. You should pursue your research.”
“Is that truly so?”
“Why would I lie about something like that?”

Adelia felt as though fireworks were detonating in her mind.

Siern, watching with amusement as she barely restrained herself from leaping and punching the air in celebration, made a gesture.

It meant they should leave the Research Laboratory.

Adelia followed him out eagerly.

She was too excited to think clearly, but she obeyed and soon found herself seated on a sofa in the Lounge.

“Finish your lunch first.”

She managed to eat the sandwich quietly for a moment, but just as suddenly, a thought struck her and her head snapped up—only for Siern to beat her to it.

“I hear Dorotea invited you?”

—Don’t worry. You just drink tea. What’s there to bungle? Unless you pour it into a flowerpot instead.

“My…my husband said something similar.”
“Well then, nothing to worry about, is there?”
“But……”

“Dorotea and I know each other personally.”
“Personally?”

“Oh, I’ve heard that. We spoke briefly at the party about it……”

“Because she’s interested in science? No, that’s not it.”
“Then…?”
“I too received patronage when I was at school, which allowed me to continue my studies. Like you. It was Dorotea who sponsored me back then.”

“A nobleman?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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