The Adopted Princess Hopes to Escape the Genre - Chapter 32
While the misunderstanding between father and son had been resolved, elsewhere, another misunderstanding was beginning to build.
“You’re telling me to choose between a mathematics lesson and an imperial history lesson?”
At my question, the head butler nodded solemnly.
“Yes, that is correct.”
During lunch earlier, Duke Delphinium had mentioned assigning me a tutor. What I hadn’t expected was that he meant tutors—plural. Since I was now part of House Delphinium, I apparently couldn’t afford to be lacking in any area.
Just when I thought I had escaped the clutches of private education, another round of it awaited me.
Fine. If I stretched my understanding to its limit, I could accept etiquette lessons. I was from a modern world and had been a commoner here, so learning noble etiquette made sense—even I had thought so myself.
But imperial history? What was I supposed to do with that?
They say a nation that forgets its history has no future, but to me, the history of this place was nothing more than background setting in a novel.
Even when I studied abroad, I never bothered with other countries’ histories because I didn’t see the point. And now, not only had I been forcibly transported into another world while struggling with assignments, but I was also being forced to study the history of a fantasy empire?
As that thought settled in, it felt like the lunch I had just eaten was stuck in my chest. Pressing a hand to my sternum as if to soothe the discomfort, I asked again.
“And I have to go to the temple in three days?”
“Yes, my lady.”
I numbly repeated the schedule the head butler had just recited.
‘Did they pick me up just to torment me like this?’
The head butler paid no mind to my reluctance and continued organizing my schedule.
“There are still many lessons left to arrange, but since we had to find tutors in a hurry, we were only able to secure instructors for mathematics and imperial history.”
“……”
“We are currently in the process of hiring tutors for dance, science, embroidery, tea etiquette, horseback riding, music, arts, and foreign languages. If there are any additional subjects you wish to study, please do not hesitate to let us know.”
‘Like there would be any…!’
“And in three days, you will be visiting the temple for basic theological studies and your baptism. Have you received a baptism before?”
Since I had no prior memories of this world, I hesitated to answer. The head butler, seemingly understanding my silence, smoothly moved on to the next topic.
“Which lesson would you like to take today, my lady—mathematics or imperial history?”
Standing still, he waited for my response.
I clutched the hem of my dress, sinking into deep contemplation.
Imperial history? Just thinking about it made me drowsy. Mathematics? I simply disliked it.
But based on the romance fantasy novels I had read, the level of math protagonists were expected to learn usually stopped at basic algebra. And unless academics played a significant role in the plot, it was most likely that I would only need to deal with simple arithmetic—or none at all.
‘If it’s just algebra, it might be manageable.’
After carefully weighing my options, I finally spoke.
“I’ll take the mathematics lesson.”
“Very well. I will make the necessary arrangements.”
With that, the head butler gave me a respectful bow and disappeared.
I should fully commit to the persona of an adopted princess hiding her genius. These days, keeping something hidden is all the rage.
In this world, being too exceptional or too lacking both caused problems. ‘Moderation’ was always best.
Knock-, knock-.
“My lady, your mathematics tutor is waiting downstairs.”
“I’ll be right there.”
Following the maid who had come to fetch me, I made my way to the room where the mathematics tutor was waiting.
Upon entering, I found a man with lemon-colored hair already seated inside. His shoulder-length hair was loosely tied back, and a pair of glasses rested on the bridge of his nose. A young man.
“Hello, I’m Lassetia.”
The man briefly scanned me before speaking in a cold tone.
“You may call me Hias, or simply ‘teacher.’”
Hias’s gaze held neither kindness nor hostility—nothing at all, really.
For a moment, I wondered if he was wary of me because I had been a commoner, but that didn’t seem to be the case. If I had to put a name to his emotions, I would say boredom, or perhaps indifference.
He simply wasn’t interested in me. He was probably only here because he had no choice but to comply with the Duke’s orders.
People like this were usually obsessed with academics. If I stood out too much, it would be a disaster—before I knew it, I’d become his one and only disciple.
‘I’ll have to adjust my skills carefully.’
Hias took a book out of his bag and placed it on the table in front of me. I glanced at him briefly before shifting my gaze to the book. The cover read, 『Mathematics Even a Fool Can Solve with Their Eyes Closed.』
The title only reinforced my assumptions. Humming to myself, I opened the book with a light and cheerful heart.
But my arrogance—thinking, ‘What if the lesson is so easy I can solve it with my toes?’—vanished within three seconds of turning the page.
Calculus, what the hell are you doing here?
