I Got a Fake Job at the Academy

Chapter 858 – Side Story 131: Masterpiece and Fragrance (3)

Rudger's daily routine is simple. In the morning, he walks around the grounds and checks on the overall situation at Theon. Whether there are any deteriorating parts of the buildings, whether there are any incidents among the students, whether any of the staff need help.

After going around collecting various opinions and improvements, he has lunch.

Flora, sitting across from him, looked incredulous at his spoonwork so carefully that it didn't even make a clinking sound.

"How do you even eat like that? There's no sound at all. I thought I was eating with a ghost across from me." 

"If you concentrate on every movement, it's not difficult." 

"......"

Flora made a blank expression, but out of curiosity, she tried what Rudger said.

-Clink

Her spoon made a sound as it touched the plate. She tried several more times but it wasn't easy.

"Heh." 

"What's so funny?"

Flora felt somewhat wronged. Dining etiquette is naturally taught if you're a noble. Flora too had worked diligently from childhood to gain her father's recognition.

Now that she had become a duke, she had to pay even more attention to her conduct to firmly establish her position.

That's why she was the one who received praise among nobles, saying she was truly worthy of being a ducal family.

'But what is this person?'

He does things that others can only do with effort as if it's nothing. Even though he must be tired from the vast amount of work, not a hint of it shows.

Always dignified, always composed. Even from her perspective as a noble, Rudger was a perfect aristocrat. A nobleman among noblemen. Thinking about his actual origins, it's true he has a remarkable bloodline. But could someone who had been abandoned from childhood and even faced assassination threats have ever received education in dining etiquette?

'He learned it all on his own.'

That's why it was even more unbelievable. Even when learning as a student, Rudger was truly amazing, giving the feeling of looking up at a giant.

She thought that when she graduated from Theon and faced Rudger again as a proper member of society, they would be equals then but when she actually saw him, that wasn't the case at all.

He's still unreachably high. She thought she had caught up now, but he's so high that she can't even see his face properly. Why did she think it would be possible when she was an immature student?

When in reality it never was. Flora felt strangely shabby despite having risen to the position of vice-chancellor.

"Good."

At that moment, Rudger, who had finished all his food, said as he put down his spoon.

"Was it delicious?" 

"That's not it. What I said was good is that I can have a meal facing someone like this. And even more so because it's you." 

"......"

At those words from Rudger, Flora felt the anxiety that had been subtly building up in her heart melt away.

"More importantly, are you finished? It looks like there's still some left." 

"I'm on a diet." 

"That's ridiculous. Where do you have anything to lose?" 

"......There just is, okay?"

Flora blushed and glared at Rudger. Rudger just chuckled, finding such Flora only cute.

After lunch, the two returned to the chancellor's office. Rudger now had to wrestle with paperwork.

Already, documents were piled high on the desk.

"As always today." 

"That means there are that many areas to improve."

Flora scanned through the document contents.

"Why are they even requesting to keep cats on campus? What's this now? Making an artificial lake in the park? Do they know how much money that would cost?"

Most of the piled documents were meaningless. They were just content randomly written by students who didn't know any better, just saying whatever sounded good.

"You don't really need to accept even these." 

"The moment we start dividing what's necessary and what's not, the boundary becomes ambiguous. Wouldn't it be a bit sad if someone's earnest plea, truly needed and desperate, disappears meaninglessly?" 

"......Even so, it makes things hard for you, Chancellor." 

"What hardship is there when such a capable and beautiful vice-chancellor is helping me right here?" 

"Even if you say that, I'm not going to help you, you know?"

Flora shot Rudger a sharp look. But while saying that, she took some of the document pile and sat down next to Rudger.

"Move over a bit. I need space."

Rudger glanced at Flora's profile before diving into the paperwork.

-Rustle. Rustle. Scratch. Scratch.

The sound of paper brushing as document pages turned. The sound of a fountain pen passing over paper. Occasionally, even the sound of passing birds.

Inside the quiet chancellor's office, only intermittent sounds continued. The two didn't say a single word. Their concentration was remarkable.

As time passed, the document pile that had been merely high quickly diminished. Just as the work was coming to an end.

"Mmmmmh."

Flora made her first sound while stretching with all her might. Her body, which had stretched out elastically like a cat, returned to normal. Flora asked with a much lighter voice.

"I'm done. How about you, Chancellor?" 

"I'm almost done too. For what's left, since it's hard to reach conclusions right away, we'll need to find agreements through separate meetings later."

Rudger took off the rimless glasses he had been wearing for work. Flora stared intently at that sight.

"Why are you looking like that?" 

"Just. Because you're handsome." 

"......"

Rudger flinched for a moment at such an uncharacteristically direct statement. The usual Flora would have been too embarrassed to say something like this. That she said it means it's a kind of signal.

Asking if she doesn't need compensation for helping this much. It was Flora's own way of expressing herself.

Rudger put down his glasses carefully and turned his chair to face Flora.

"You know I really worked hard today, right?" 

"I know." 

"You know? Really? Then you must be grateful to me, right?" 

"I'm always grateful. If it weren't for you, who would have taken the vice-chancellor position? Everyone might have quickly left, overwhelmed by the intensity of my workload." 

"Hmm. Even though it's just flattery, it really is nice to hear. Then, you know what to do, right?"

Flora smiled subtly. She brought her face much closer toward Rudger. Rudger calmly examined Flora's appearance.

White skin without a single blemish. After becoming a mage and reaching higher levels, her beauty had reached its peak. Upturned eyes and sharp pupils, along with a prominent nose and small lips. She looks sensitive, but it harmonizes so well, creating beauty.

If there were a golden ratio for the human body, wouldn't it be just like this? She stared intently at him, then gently closed her eyes. She didn't say anything, but this was a kind of signal.

That sight was like seeing a cat that approaches while one is working. A cat that twists its body forcefully to avoid being petted, but then subtly approaches and rubs its body against one's leg when one moves away.

Rudger held Flora's small chin with his fingers. Flora, with her eyes closed, flinched, and the sensation transmitted through his fingers. She became tense yet expectant at the same time.

Their lips overlapped. As they exchanged breaths toward each other, it gradually became heated.

The silent, quiet sharing of feelings continued for about a minute. When their heads separated, Flora exhaled a heated breath.

Her face was now flushed red.

"How was it?" 

"Mm. This might be just barely passing?" 

"Aren't your evaluation standards too strict? I put in decent effort though." 

"Who was it that taught me that if I'm going to make an effort for you, it should always be my best, not just decent?"

At Flora's mischievous question, Rudger shrugged as if he couldn't help it.

"But, I'll help you out a bit this time."

Flora took Rudger's hand and lifted him from his seat. Then she went to sit on the large sofa in the chancellor's office.

Flora looked at Rudger and patted her thigh with her hand.

"Come here." 

"......?" 

"I'm telling you to lie down here." 

"Is that okay?" 

"I know even without you showing it, you know? You're tired today. You look fine to others, but since I'm close to you, I can tell. I can see your work efficiency is lower than usual." 

"Was it that much?" 

"Normally routine work that could be finished took 5 minutes and 36 seconds longer." 

"......Was it that much?"

In the latter case, it was admiration that she could notice to that extent. Rudger became a little scared of Flora.

"Anyway, you must be tired today, so I was telling you to rest. Rest is also a kind of work and its extension. It's something you always say, isn't it?" 

"I didn't always say it. Anyway, since you're saying that much, I won't refuse."

Since Flora herself wanted it more than anyone, Rudger decided to comply. He carefully lay down using Flora's thigh as a pillow.

The sensation touching the back of his head was unfamiliar, but not uncomfortable. Rather, it was so comfortable it was a problem.

"How is it?" 

"Good." 

"Not just 'good.'" 

"Mm. It's so soft that if I don't hold onto my consciousness even a little, I feel like I'll fall asleep right away." 

"Hmm. That much? Well, my skin is really good. Even if I don't look it, I manage it consistently."

Flora triumphantly stroked Rudger's forehead with her hand.

"Chancellor, you're too kind." 

"Me?" 

"Don't be too nice to the students." 

"If the chancellor isn't nice to the students, who will be?" 

"Anyway, don't be too nice. There are students whose eyes are disrespectful when they look at you." 

"Disrespectful......"

Isn't that quite a personal opinion? Of course, Rudger didn't point that out because Flora's expression became stern. It's like a preparation stage she often shows when loading up nagging.

"You didn't do this much when you were a teacher." 

"Well, that was......" 

"No saying it was because you were inexperienced with low seniority, or that it was a teacher-student relationship." 

"......" 

"Rather, if you've become chancellor, you should show more dignity. Because you treat students so kindly, the students keep getting too relaxed, you know. Do you know how stimulating it is for female students just to have that face approach them?"

Rudger just awkwardly scratched his cheek. He had no such intention at all.

"And even if you say you're concentrating on work, pay a little attention to me too." 

"......I seem to have been too irresponsible in that regard. I'm sorry." 

"If you're sorry, you need to show me that much sincerity. Plenty from now on. Got it?"

Rudger nodded, saying he would. Flora smiled with satisfaction.

"Anyway, today's work is done, so rest now." 

"Don't we have a gathering in the evening?" 

"There's plenty of time left. And anyway, so what if we don't go to that gathering? There's no one who'll say anything anyway." 

"That's true too." 

"Rather, use that time for me today. I have completely free time today, you know? Plenty of leisure."

So that's why she was being so proactive today - she had deliberately picked her timing.

"Sleep first. That way you'll be able to stay up late into the evening." 

"Were you planning this from the start?" 

"That's a secret."

Flora said that while gently stroking Rudger's hair with her soft hand. Rudger chuckled and activated magic.

It was a spell with no practicality whatsoever, just beautifully and neatly woven mana.

Its purpose was only one thing. Just to be beautiful and to stir emotions.

And this magic was for only one person. For the person who sees the color of magic, recognizes the depth of its beauty, and simultaneously smells the scent that cannot be smelled.

To Flora, this magic was a masterpiece more beautiful than any painter's work, and the sweetest fragrance in the world.

The two carefully fell asleep within the spell that beautifully adorned the chancellor's office. The time they wake up will probably be after the sun has set.