Chapter 38: 038: EVIL ME........ COMPLIMENT??

I immediately reached for him, but instead of looking like he was in pain, a smug smile curled on Azarael’s lips.

He gently slipped out a drink from inside his coat, and I froze. The glass shimmered with the reflection of the room’s light, and he laughed. "I just choked a little, guess I was drinking too fast," he said and took a sip. I just stood there, exchanging looks between him and the others.

"Unfortunately, he’s telling the truth," Veyra said, and I closed my lips. I gently pressed my hands to my forehead and let out a bitter, confused laugh. Liora rushed towards me, hugging me tightly.

I hugged her back and she snuggled in my arms. "Thank you, Raven," she said. "I’m weak, that’s why my family is so ashamed of me, and..."

"You’re not weak, you just need to have confidence in yourself. Have a look at me, I’m barely D-rank, and as you can see, I’m plenty strong, hehe," I said, and watched as she gently saddened.

"You don’t need to say all this to make me feel better. I’m used to being a disappointment," she said, but then her beastman began to move... he was attempting to sit up but froze when he noticed me and Liora, our hands intertwined. I watched his eyes narrow in jealousy and couldn’t help but smirk... I pulled Liora closer and held her by the waist. She blushed at my subtle action... I was taller than Liora; she was about 5’5, and I was 5’7.

"If you were a guy, I would have fallen for you," Liora said, and I felt the air in the room fill with tension. My beastsmen walked towards me and held my waist, all crowding around me, giving Liora the look of, Really? She has us already. I couldn’t help but laugh at their actions.

My lips parted, but in a flash, her beastman was behind Liora, resting his head on her shoulder. "She has me..." he said and stared at Liora. "You don’t need anyone else," he added, and Liora’s cheeks heated up.

"We’ll be off now," I called out. My beastsmen were already dragging me out of the room. Were they really jealous of me and Liora? I couldn’t help but laugh at the thought. She waved goodbye and I closed the door behind me.

"What’s wrong? She’s a girl and she’s my friend," I said, and they all grunted in disapproval.

"You are not allowed to hug her so closely," Veyra said, and Ryker nodded in agreement. My lips parted slightly, and I turned to stare at Azrael. At least he was the least stubborn one who liked opposing them.

"Come on, help me," my eyes sparkled, and his smirk stretched.

"They are right, you were way too close to her," he said, and I rolled my eyes.

"You are all funny," I said, shaking my head and walking to my door... I paused the moment I heard movement. I pushed the door open and—

I gasped.

The Architect. "Young Duke," he said and bowed respectfully. I had forgotten construction had been happening on the balcony for the past few weeks.

"Is everything set up already? Why are you here?" I asked, and he pointed to the broad paper on the desk. I moved and stared down at it, my eyes lighting up.

"You modified it?" I mumbled, and he hummed.

"It would have been a tad bit harder to build the structure with the previous blueprint, so I slightly altered it. I just made it more acceptable," he paused and trailed his gaze outside. "I just created what the balcony could accept," he added, and I smiled. I picked up the paper, staring at it deeply, and sighed.

"Glass?" I asked, and he moved closer, staring at the paper. He chuckled. "It’s a design. Those downstairs, if they stayed under your balcony for shelter, they would be able to see your merman swimming," he said, and my brows furrowed slightly.

"Why should other females get to admire my beastman?" I said coldly, and he froze. "I did—" he said softly, trying not to say anything out of line.

"I love it," I blurted out, and he stared at me in confusion. "What?" he said, and I turned to him.

"I like the design. I get to boast about my merman, they get to see him and be filled with jealousy. Isn’t that great!" I said, smiling brightly, and watched as he stared in disbelief.

"You sounded angry earlier," he said, and I laughed.

"I wasn’t," I said, and turned back to the paper.

"It’s already been done, the construction. We are just filling in the water," he said, and my eyes sparkled. I immediately rushed to the balcony, and there the pool was. I couldn’t hide my satisfied smile. I hadn’t been in the back for days due to the training, but to see the pool already completed... I couldn’t hide my happiness. Now, Thyrian could stay with me.

"Master," I heard Thyrian’s soft voice and snapped my head to the side. He was in the pool already?!they must have shipped him here. I rushed towards the tank and placed my hand on the glass. He did the same too, moving his tail and slapping his fin against the water. It splashed, and I felt it.

"Is this the surprise?" I asked, beaming, and he chuckled. "Hmm, guess," he said, and I squinted my eyes. I was pretty shocked to see them arriving, and him too, so to me...

"Yes, seeing you here already is the surprise," I said, and he blushed. I felt his eyes narrow towards my back, and I turned to sight the others.

"Oh, look, Thyrian is back," I said, and they flashed smiles, except Azrael, who still had that cold look on his face.

I opened my mouth, but then I sighted Headmistress Lysanadra through the glass and snapped back in shock.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, and she flashed a smile.

"The Architect teaches here, and I came to welcome him. Is there a problem?" she said, and I raised a brow. "Teaches?"

At that moment, he walked forward.

"Forgive me for forgetting to tell you beforehand. I was invited to be a professor here and teach students about engineering," he said, and I nodded, understanding him. In the original novel, he was sent here! How did I forget... it was during this time he and Elowen grew closer. She became his apprentice and got a lot of praise from him, even though he was a hard beastman to please. Elowen got a lot of attention from the other students as a result of this... This time, I’ll seize the opportunity.

Although I’m from the modern world, I’ve worked my whole life. I also fancied one thing: research. I was a research freak, always thinking of the next invention I could create, but I lacked money, opportunities, and proper training.

"About being your apprentice, I accept," I said softly, and watched as Lysanadra’s eyes narrowed in confusion.

"Apprentice?" she asked, staring at me like I was lying.

"It would be my greatest honor to work with you," he said and bowed. I bowed too. "No need to act so formal, Professor. As your new apprentice, it’s my own greatest pleasure. I hope to learn a lot from you," I said, smiling and turning to look at Lysanadra. He just stared and turned to her.

"She’ll be my apprentice starting today. You should send someone to show her around the laboratory we will be using," he said, and her lips parted in clear disapproval.

"Her? She’s basically a tyrant and does whatever she wants... She’s evil. I recommend you choose our best student, most promising student, Elowen. She has shown amazing talent and shows room for even more improvement," she coaxed, and I rolled my eyes.

"Of course, it had to be Elowen. This novel was still focused on making her the female lead," I thought and let out an unsatisfied groan.

"If you have a problem with him choosing me as an apprentice, come to me, not him," I said, and watched as her brows furrowed in anger.

"When elders are discussing, young kids should be quiet and watch," she spat, and I laughed.

"Young? Lysanadra, I’m twenty-three. Who’s the kid here?" I said, and watched as her eyes darkened. Her lips tightened and she stared at the Architect.

"It wasn’t my fault you had to arrive at the academy at age twenty-three while others were attending at the ages of eighteen to nineteen. Raven, you should be ashamed. You are too old to be here. It’s clearly tactical and disgusting," she spat.

"That’s enough," all my beastsmen said in unison, and I froze. Oh... they were protecting me.

"Shut it, you are just lonely beastsmen," she yelled.

"You seem to be forgetting something. As long as we serve a noble background, we also have to be respected," Ryker said, and Veyra’s lips parted.

"Or have you forgotten the rules because you’re so old?" Veyra added. I couldn’t help but burst out laughing, and she threw me a glare.

"Come on, you know he’s right. You’re old. Of course, forgetting rules happens," I mocked, and she clicked her tongue. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"I hope you see who you want as your apprentice. Not only is she ill-mannered, her beastsmen are worse," she cursed and walked out grumpily.

"She had a nice taste though," I heard the Architect say, and I raised a brow.

What does he mean?