***

The next morning. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Edwin woke up early in the morning. His room was separate from Sera and Leonor’s, located on the first floor of Sera’s residence.

When he opened his eyes and turned to the side, a familiar face appeared before him. Blonde hair, body covered by sleeping pajamas.

Sera. It was clearly Sera.

Edwin let out a sigh. He could already guess that Sera would sneak into his room.

When he looked beneath the blanket, it seemed Sera had only come to sleep beside him.

He sighed softly, pushed the blanket aside, and sat on the edge of the bed. His hands kept rubbing the space between his eyes, confused about where to begin.

Sera noticed movement beside her. She opened her eyes and looked ahead, seeing Edwin already awake and sitting with his head lowered at the right edge of the bed.

The woman sat up as well, then crawled closer to Edwin and hugged him from behind.

She rested her head on Edwin’s right shoulder and wrapped both her arms around his neck.

Edwin was not surprised. He had already expected Sera to wake up and immediately hug him.

His back could feel her body beneath the pajamas.

"Is something on your mind, Edmund?" Sera asked.

"Today, I’m going to Livden Academy and registering as a Highborn Instructor there," Edwin replied.

"Again, my name is Edwin," Edwin said.

Edwin raised his hand toward his face, activating the forbidden magic that emitted a rather dazzling white aura.

The moment the forbidden magic activated, his face instantly changed from Edmund into Edwin.

Edwin turned to look into Sera’s eyes. "I don’t want you accidentally calling me the wrong name later. They could get suspicious."

Sera smiled faintly. "I’m not used to it yet. Your face as Edwin is handsome. I like it. Still, I prefer your real face, Edmund."

Edwin sighed. He removed Sera’s arms from around his neck and stepped farther away from the bed.

Both his hands grabbed the curtains and pulled them open, revealing the front yard of Sera’s residence.

"You’re taking me there, right?" Edwin asked.

Sera lay back down lazily, resting her head against her hand. "Of course. You already helped me join them. Now it’s my turn to help you."

"But I should remind you again, the exam to become a Highborn Instructor is extremely difficult. You might fail," Sera answered.

Edwin turned around and looked back at Sera. "What are the tests?"

"First, a physical endurance test. Second, a combat test. Third, a written exam."

"The examiners are the Academy Class Elders. However, if you choose to become a regular instructor, you’ll probably only fight the head instructor," Sera explained.

"What do you think I should choose? Class Instructor or Subject Instructor?" Edwin asked.

Sera sat up cross-legged, still wearing her pajamas. Her eyes glanced upward while her hand held her chin, as though carefully considering the best option for Edwin.

"I think... it would be better if you became a Subject Instructor, because Clara clearly won’t choose the knight class."

"If you become a Class Instructor, it’ll be pointless. You’ll have a hard time meeting Clara," Sera answered.

"So I only need to defeat the head instructor, correct?" Edwin asked, and Sera nodded.

"You can definitely do it," Sera said. "If I remember correctly, he’s still level 41."

Edwin nodded. He would do his best to make sure his chance of passing as a subject instructor succeeded.

Right when Edwin and Sera were talking, the sound of knocking echoed from the door.

Sera stood up and opened it, revealing Leonor behind the door.

"Leonor?" Sera asked.

"Do you need something, my girl?" Sera asked while stroking the red-haired girl’s hair.

"I’m looking for Sir Edmund. Have you seen him?" Leonor asked.

"Hmm... I think he already left," Sera answered.

Leonor fell silent for a moment, then glanced inside the room. There, a man stood with the same build as Edmund, but clearly a different face.

Leonor narrowed her eyes sharply, staring at the man as though examining something.

"Oh... I see. I think I’ll ask him about it later," Leonor answered while looking back at Sera.

"Yes. Nisya will come here later with your clothes. For now, you’ll stay here first, Leonor."

"All right, Sister Sera."

Before Leonor left, she briefly glanced toward Edwin with a sly grin spreading across her face.

Edwin felt something strange, but he could not confirm what it was yet.

Leonor’s expression when she left the room... felt strange.

Sera turned back around. "Come on, let’s get ready. My servants will prepare a luxurious shirt for you. A good appearance earns a good impression."

"Thank you."

The woman walked away from Edwin’s room, replaced by the arrival of a maid carrying breakfast and a set of luxurious clothes for Edwin.

The man accepted them and ate breakfast in his room. However, while eating, the sound of knocking echoed for the third time.

Edwin quickly walked over and opened the door. He was surprised to see Leonor visiting.

"Hello. I just saw you here. Are you Sister Sera’s friend?" Leonor asked with a smile.

"Y-Yes. We’re... old friends."

"What are you doing?" Leonor asked.

"Having breakfast while getting ready to go to the Academy."

"The Academy? Livden Academy? Are you registering as a student?" Leonor asked.

What’s with her? Why is she being so friendly to me? I’m sure my face doesn’t look like Edmund’s.

"More accurately... an instructor."

"Oh, I see."

Without hesitation, the woman casually entered the room and looked at Edwin’s breakfast menu placed on the glass table in front of the small sofa.

On the bed was the outfit he would wear later to register at Livden Academy.

"M-Miss... I’m trying to get ready. If you don’t mind—"

"No. I’ll stay here with you," Leonor answered while sitting on the edge of the bed and smiling at Edwin.

"You and Sister Sera aren’t dating, right?" Leonor asked.

"What are you talking about? We’re just friends. Nobody’s dating."

"That’s good. I’m glad to hear that."

"My name is Leonor," Leonor said while extending her hand.

Edwin walked closer and shook Leonor’s hand. "I’m... Edwin."

"So does that mean I can call you Brother Edwin now? I’m Sera’s student," Leonor replied.

"If that’s what you want, I don’t mind."

Leonor smiled and nodded, watching Edwin sit back down on the sofa and continue eating the breakfast prepared by the servants. Leonor kept observing Edwin for a reason.

Something in Leonor’s heart told her Edwin was unusual, somehow familiar to her.

Leonor had already considered many possibilities, but she did not want to rush things.

"Earlier this morning, I asked Sister Sera about Edmund. Do you know anything about Sir Edmund?" Leonor asked.

"Edmund?"

"Edmund Aschwin. A Viscount from the Aschwin Family."

"About that... I don’t know anything," Edwin said.

Leonor smiled, then casually continued, "I like Edmund."

COUGH!

Edwin instantly coughed after hearing Leonor say something like that, grabbing his glass and drinking the water inside it. Leonor did not react at all, only staring at him with probing eyes.

"Edmund is a Viscount. Of course many people like him, right?" Edwin asked.

Leonor smiled faintly. "True."