It was a perfect pronunciation and accent that was normally only used by the royal families. Robert was very surprised to see Charlize recite all of the contents of the textbook seamlessly. It was really the textbook of Adelio.
She displayed a perfect pronunciation and accent that was normally only found by the royal families. Robert was very surprised to see Charlize who had recalled all of the contents of the text book without a pause. It was really the text book of Adelio.
'This doesn't make sense.'
The book was only provided for the direct line of the royal family and was even prohibited for high-ranking nobles. It just doesn't make sense for her to know the contents of the book.
'How could she…?'
This girl, Charlize Ronan who was considered to be foolish…
'But, that's not all.'
Anyone could know the first page of the textbook. She could be bragging by memorizing small portions of the book. Robert regained his composure. But strangely, his hands were sweating. He believed she would fail to read the book anytime soon.
But a minute passed.
And after five minutes, she already narrated 20 pages of the book without showing signs of stopping. Robert was desperate.
'Did ten minutes already pass?'
Charlize kept reading calmly. Just enough to make Robert embarrassed for saying there are qualifications to reading a book. She was waiting for Robert to give up. Surprisingly, Charlize was reciting the book very earnestly. Robert was starting to look pale. Then he opened the book.
'It's the same.'
She was reading out the exact words of the textbook. She could really read the text book of Adelio? She wasn't a member of the royal family? Robert couldn't understand. He even came up with an absurd idea that someone might have made her memorize it because she was beautiful. But he already knew that wasn't correct.
"Stop."
Robert pretended to be sharp.
"Reciting a book isn't good enough. Reciting a book doesn't mean you have fully studied the knowledge."
"Is that so?"
Charlize brightly replied. Robert thought she was bothered, but she was smiling because it was interesting. Robert never knew that she had already memorized all of this book. Not only did she memorized the book, she was informed of opinions from every emperor for a few hundred years.
"Then you could ask me anything."
A woman, was attempting to dominate a person like Robert who judged others with prejudice.
A question? She could answer anything.
He thought Charlize Ronan was foolish. Feeling a bit triumphant, he asked her confidently.
"At the last portion of this textbook written by Adelio, it defines the most important elements of disciplines of kingship. What is it?"
"The ability to see the essence."
Charlize answered correctly. She continued.
"Everything is led to one point. It isn't just the most important element for disciplines of kingship. Economics, political science, history, the study of religion—all leads to this one point. Disciplines of kingship exists to develop the ability to see through essence."
Robert was quite shocked. Even Adelio didn't explain specifically that much. But she even pointed the unexpected parts and said the best answer.
Charlize smiled coldly.
"Some foolish people only study how to rule while studying disciplines of kingship. But how can we say one is a wise ruler just because his position is the emperor? Before ruling the kingdom, one must first not exploit their position, and they should respect others just the way they are."
Her fluent logic shocked Robert. She questioned back.
"What do you think?"
Robert was confused. Even though Charlize gave him enough time, he couldn't answer.
She stared at Robert.
"Those who only see the external appearance never realize the real value inside."
She was a girl with a pretty face. There were ambiguous words in her statement. It was like she was giving him a lesson.
But he tried to find a way to take control of the situation, but why couldn't he?
Robert stared at Charlize. Her blue eyes glowed mysteriously as if it contained the whole universe.
"The book is just a shell. Isn't actual comprehension needed to make it become useful knowledge?"
Charlize taught him a lesson who couldn't see the true essence. Robert was speechless as he was shamed by Charlize's ability.
'Is there nothing I can do?'
No, this can't happen. Robert barely managed to keep his composure. Lose to Charlez Ronan? Robert must defeat her.
"But that's only…"
Robert clenched his teeth and continued spoke.
"There's a rumor that the 13th prince is going to be assassinated soon. And by receiving lessons from a master it meant he is joining in the fight for the throne. You don't have the power to protect the 13th prince."
Robert was starting to raise his voice.
"What use is it to teach him? I mean, can he even understand what you are saying. He isn't the crown prince who had been educated strictly since young."
Robert thought by now, Charlize would falter. It was known that Robert was supporting the crown prince. As Charlize was working for the 13th prince, she would fear the crown prince. And eventually Robert will be the victor. To his surprise, she smiled even brighter.
Her eyes folded like a half moon. Her expression was dreamy and calm. She had a pretty smile on her face.
"I think my prince will understand the text book of Adelio better than the prince you're supporting."
Disregarding Dylan, was an insult to the royal family. Charlize wasn't kind enough to put up with this insult. She didn't know why, but maybe it was because Dylan respected her.
'A man who would become a tyrant shouldn't be disregarded by these people.'
Making one more person silent is always helpful. The atmosphere changed suddenly. If she could turn into anything at the moment, she was now a sharpened cold burning sword.
"Robert."
Charlize 'looked down' on Robert. Char was the magical sword. Even though she looked like an elegant doll who pretends to be human but she was still sharp as a sword. She was unrealistically beautiful, mysterious like a fairy. As soon as Robert saw the eyes of Charlize, he was terrified.
"Anyone who talked without a second thought, died quickly from olden times."
It was her warning said with in a cold smile that he should watch his language. Robert didn't know that it was filled with bloodthirstiness bloodl.u.s.t. The terror she invoked in him already exceeded the range of human capabilities. He just felt like he was suffocating.
'What is this?'
His mind started to break into pieces. Every part of his body started to become stiff. If he was terrified a little, he could have stepped back. But Robert went felt a cold chill and stopped. Robert opened his eyes. As she carved a seal on the Duke's body, he would not be able to disobey her orders from now on.
"I hope you could watch your mouth."
She loosened the tension as if it was nothing, but Robert still remained still. It was destructively beautiful and unbelievably intense. It was so intense that he almost suffocated only by looking at her.
"Then…"
She left only a parting word and left the library. There were textbooks in her hand. Fortunately, there weren't many people in the library at that time. There was only one person who saw Charlize's true side self beneath her persona, Robert.
"…"
He was holding his breath for a long time and he finally managed to breath. His hands were soaked in sweat. He never wanted to feel that mysterious feeling again.
That afternoon.
Char began teaching Dylan using the textbook for the first time. She had only taught him swordsmanship until now. The classroom was wide and clean. Mary helped Charlize organized the books onto the bookshelf.
"Your highness, you have to read fifty pages of the book. If you have anything to ask or if there's anything you didn't understand please ask me after studying them."
Dylan stared at the textbook about the study of kingship.
"It's the first day so let's simply study."
He raised his head again, and looked at Charlize quietly.
'Simply?'
His face seemed to send a non verbal question. Because this book's curriculum was about five times faster than the ordinary curriculum. But Charlize didn't avoid his eyes.
'Come on, it's easy for you.'
Even though she never said it out loud, he understood and replied to her with a meaningful look. They still endured the long silence. Soon, he sighed and started to read the book obediently. It was finally the free time for Charlize. She started to lightly create a mana circle in front of Dylan as if she was showing off. She backed the chair and stretched herself. She relaxed her muscles and took breathes peacefully. She remembered her mastery of the sword dance of emperors in the past. It's time to become the master of mana now. She started to think deeply.
'What happened earlier in the library, Dylan must have heard about it already.'
Char trusted Dylan's information gathering. But she never knew where he got that information from. But considering the performance he had shown before her return it was more stupid to think he would not know.
'I am always ready to answer anything you ask.'
But Dylan never asked information first. Charlize was waiting for him to bite the bait. Opening a light mana circle was hard and boring. The silence was broken by the sound of him flipping the pages. Charlize soon noticed that he was looking at her instead of the book.
'That kind of tickles.'
Her senses were very sensitive while working with mana. Even though she was closing her eyes, she could easily notice his gaze at her. He must be curious if she was using mana or not because it didn't make sense. Magicians were normally old, it was unbelievable for a young child to use mana. Charlize's existence was abnormal.
Dylan said.
"I read it all master."
Charlize slowly opened her eyes. She controlled the flow of mana in the classroom as she wished. When she opened her eyes, all the mana vanished.
"The sun hasn't set yet. You are very quick, your highness."
She smiled as she acted like she didn't know his true abilities.
"Do you have anything to ask?"
Charlize was nervous. Because right now, he was clearly looking at her. Tension rose in the air.
But then, his lips parted.
"You've never spoken about your family."