The Reincarnated Archmage

It's unusual for my brother to call me into his private office. Usually, he's the one who's visiting me in my room so we can have our afternoon tea and have a chat. If my brother wants to tell me something, he will mention it during our tea time. Since he calls for me in his office, I can think that he needs to discuss something important to me.

I knock on his office door three times and I heard my brother inside telling me to come in. When I opened the door, I saw a familiar man in his office. It's the young professor I met at the academy. If my memory serves right, his name is Tristan. He's currently having a conversation with my brother when I entered his office. When he turns his head to look at me, he has a blank expression on his face.

"Come closer, Aly. I want to introduce you to this gentleman." My brother said and I walk towards him.

"Aly, this gentleman is Mr. Tristan Lanmere. He's also one of my professors in the academy. From now on, he will be your tutor until you attend the academy." My brother explains.

Oh. So this man will be my tutor from now on. If that's the case, then this young professor also got my father's approval. Then he is really a reliable man to teach me everything just like what the rumors said.

This is the first time I'll be getting a tutor. When I turned seven, the one who taught me is my parents. It's not really a problem since both of them are intelligent and knowledgeable in every study field. And besides, we are also avoiding to add more rumors about me.

When my parents taught me, I decided not to pretend in front of them anymore. I showed them that I can learn everything that is written in a single book within a few days. My parents both praise me for being a genius. But if you'll see my capability as an outsider, you'll see it as a strange thing.

It is not normal for a seven-year-old kid to learn and memorize what is written inside the book in just a few days. A normal child can memorize the whole book within a month or two with an a.d.u.l.t that can supervise them. Because I am a real a.d.u.l.t trapped inside a child's body, of course, my mental ability will be more developed and more m.a.t.u.r.e than the others.

And besides, there were still people who were opposed to women having the same knowledge as the men in a society. Even though this kingdom allows women to have an authority and be involved with politics, some people were just accepting it as a facade to avoid conflicts and criticism to those who favor this rule. Most people who were opposed to it are coming from the Noir faction.

So to avoid other rumors which can affect my reputation, my parents decided to teach me themselves until they can find a suitable tutor for me. They also try to make me understand that I should keep my abilities a secret for now. When I asked them the reason why in a childish way, they told me that it is for my own protection which I easily understand. Even if they don't tell me, I don't have a plan to spread this information to everyone. I just want to live normally and enjoy my second life in peace.

"I am Tristan Lanmere. Just like what Mr. Cedric said, I will be in charge of the young lady's studies from now on. We hope to have a harmonious time together." The young professor said then bows his body a little.

"Good day, Mr. Tristan. I am Alyssa Elise von Vivione. Please take care of me." I said with a proper curtsy.

Then he looks at me straight in the eyes. That look again. He is looking at me with an unreadable expression. I wonder what he is thinking whenever he looks at me like that.

My brother explains more details about the topics I need to learn and my schedule to Mr. Lanmere. He will be teaching me some of the lessons in the academy as my early preparation. My brother also noted that he can teach me anything aside from magic.

Ever since my family learned about my condition, they tried to avoid me being exposed to any magic lesson. They were afraid that I'll be hurt again because I can't use magic like them. I understand them, but I'm not that s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e. I admitted that I feel a huge blow to my ego and pride when I learned I can't use magic like before, but it doesn't mean I need to be upset all the time just because of it.

And since it's already peaceful in this timeline, then there is no need for me to use magic to show my capabilities. Having the power to use magic is now something that can be used to show status and authority to others. If it's just for that reason, then I don't need to use magic anymore since I'm already a Duke's daughter. That makes me a lady from a lineage second in the Royal family. I already have a status and authority so I don't need to use much magic to show it.

Mr. Tristan didn't question this part which makes my brother satisfied with him. After a few more conversations, Mr. Lanmere left the mansion. We both agree that we will start our lesson tomorrow. When Mr. Lanmere's carriage is already out of my sight, I turn my head to my brother.

"Why did you choose him, brother?" I asked.

My brother smiles at me before putting his hand on top of my head to give me a pat.

"I didn't choose him. He chooses you."

"Huh?"

"Mr. Lanmere is a famous professor at the Academy. He also became one of my teachers while I'm staying there and he always surprises us with his wide knowledge. Because of his popularity, a lot of nobles and aristocrats tried to get him as a tutor for their children. But Mr. Lanmere refused them."

"Why is he refusing them?"

I heard that Mr. Lanmere comes from a baron house in the countryside. Because of his background, a lot of people were looking down on him even he becomes a professor of a great academy. It's much more logical to accept the offer of those nobles and aristocrats if he wanted to have a good reputation within the noble society. With these, even if he comes from a low noble status, no one would dare to insult him.

"I also asked the same question to him. He simply said that those children from aristocrats are not worthy of his time. If he'll teach those children who don't even have an ounce of interests in books, then he doesn't need their money and fame." My brother said and suddenly laughs. "He also said that if he's going to tutor a child from a high noble society, he should at least see a great potential of that child."

I can't help but frown a little when I heard what my brother said. That Professor Lanmere is quite arrogant for a noble of low status. But on the other side, I admire him for his bravery when he refused those people. Some people find it hard to refuse someone, especially if they are more powerful than them.

"Hmm. So Mr. Tristan..."

I look up at my brother and he nods his head. So following what my brother had said, then that means Mr. Lanmere personally choose me to become his student? Did he see a potential in me when we met during my brother's graduation? But it's just a short period of time and we never exchanged too many words with each other.

"You're thinking too much, Aly." My brother said as he lowers his upper body and lifts me in his arms. "Are you scared of him? He may show no emotion on his sturdy face, but he's kind and good to his students. So don't worry too much."

I'm not worried about it. And his expression didn't scare me. Not even the slightest. It's because I know that my mother is scarier than him. We can't beat her even if me, my brother and father joined forces, especially when she's mad.

-//-//-

"We will end our lesson here for now." Mr. Tristan said in a monotone voice before closing the book on his hand.

"Okay. Thank you for teaching me today, Mr. Tristan."

It's been two weeks since Mr. Tristan started to be my home tutor. He's good at handling his students. I can already grasp the topics he's teaching without me reading the whole textbook. And now, we're currently studying the economy of the kingdom. It may be an advanced lesson for a normal child, but since I've already passed the basic lesson with perfect marks, we're now already studying the basic lessons taught in the academy for the first-year students.

At first, I thought Mr. Tristan will be afraid or will look at me with disgust the first time he learned that I've already finished the whole basic lesson within a week. People tend to feel afraid of something that is unusual to their common thinking. But Mr. Tristan just mumbles a word of apology, which makes me confused. Then the next day, he brought the textbooks he usually used in the academy when he's teaching there as a professor and treated me as if I'm already a student of an academy.

At first, I thought Mr. Tristan is just being formal to me when he shows me a blank look and a monotone voice on the first day of our lesson. But it seems like he's normally like that. He compliments me whenever I passed his examinations, but his voice was void of emotions. When I asked my brother about it, he just pats my head and tells me not to fret too much about it since he's always like that.

Well, it's good for me if it's like that. I find our situation normal and comforting. At least I met someone who is not too doting on me or too soft on me since I'm a Duke and Prime Minister's daughter. But something is just bothering me about him.

I always caught his eyes staring at me. At first, I thought he just finds me cute just like the others. But that's not the case. He always looks at me, especially in my eyes, as if he's looking something on it.

Since he openly stares at me, I'm also doing the same as him. I discovered that he's hiding his eye color behind his round glasses. His eye colors were similar to mine, but in a lighter shade. It's not too flashy and noticeable just like mine. Maybe it's the reason why he keeps on looking at me?

Our little staring contest ends when the door of my room opens. We both turn our heads to see who enters my room. It was Lyle the cat who pushes the door open. Mr. Tristan piles his books and bows his head a little on me.

"I have to leave now. See you tomorrow, Ms. Alyssa."

"Okay. Thank you for your hard work today, Mr. Tristan. Have a safe trip."

He then walks straight to the door and holds the doorknob. He takes a quick gaze towards Lyle before opening the door and leaves my room. Then Lyle climbs and sits on my l.a.p.

'Your new tutor has a weird habit of looking at us.' Lyle commented through telepathy.

I only nod my head as an acknowledgment of what he says.

'I can't sense anything dangerous from him, but it's better for you to be on guard whenever he's around. Who knows what he is planning.'

'Lyle, being suspicious of everyone you'll meet is not a good habit.'

Lyle just sways his long tail slowly. He's not listening to what I say. I let out a sigh and gently pats his back.

'By the way, your secret bodyguard is now hiding behind a huge tree that can be seen in your window.'

I turn my head to look at the tree Lyle is talking about. There really is a huge tree, but I can't see anyone there. It's either my bodyguard is great at hiding or I simply can't see him with my own eyes. I guess the latter is a more plausible reason.

'Just let him do his job. You don't have to tell me about his location.'

'I thought you want to meet that kid?'

'That's true, but I don't want to force him if he doesn't want to. Don't worry. I have a feeling that I'll be meeting him face to face soon.'

'If you say so.'

After that, Lyle curls his body on my l.a.p and take a nap. Looking at him, I can't help but to shake my head. The supposed to be powerful Dark Spirit is now in the form of a cat and acts like a real cat now. I doubt that he's enjoying this feeling and just deny everything to me.