The Reincarnated Archmage

"Miss, a letter addressed to you has arrived."

Zain placed the letter on my desk before informing me that he'll brew my favorite tea and bring it here. After he left, I look at the letter and smile wryly. Even if I don't open it, I can easily guess the content of the letter.

Three years had successfully passed and I am now currently at the right age where I need to attend the academy, which I'll be staying there for four years. Last year, the prince started attending the academy. It's a good news for me since there will be no annoying prince that may disturb me anytime. But since I'm a noble and still the prince's fiancee, I'm required to attend the academy. At least before I meet him again in the academy, I got a whole year without him pestering me.

It's already decided that I, Victor and Eliana will attend the academy in the same year. Victor is too excited and already plans to join the school tournaments and competitions to showcase his talent in swordsmanship. As for Eliana, she also has a lot of plans to make sure that we'll be having the same class and dormitory. These two children were too excited that I can't exactly follow their energy for these things.

Lyle naturally will follow me in the academy since he's my contracted Spirit. It's actually the best choice since Lyle can always protect me and the children if something happened. As my personal butler, Zain will also come with me. The academy allows the nobles to bring at least one servant with them to make their life in the academy easier. Zain will also become a student there as he assists me with the things I'll need.

I get the letter and tear the envelope open. I quickly scan the content of the letter and it didn't fail my expectation. Just like my brother, I pass the examination with a perfect score. If I show this letter to my family later, I'm pretty sure they'll make a huge fuss out of it and will throw a lot of compliments saying that I'm a genius.

But I'm not really a genius though. In fact, I feel like I'm cheating while taking that examination. The questions written on the exam sheet are all familiar to me. Why? Because those questions are the ones I made a long time ago.

When I'm still the Head Archmage, the King at that time wants me to personally choose the students that will study at the academy. Since I'm too lazy to personally talk to them one by one, I just made a hundred questionnaires and let the students to answer it. The questionnaires consisted of history, mathematics, alchemy and anthropology. Whoever can answer half of it correctly will be qualified to become a student in the academy.

Who would have thought that the academy will keep those questionnaires and will still use it as a question for the exam? And to make it look like a new set of questions, they just simply change the wording of each question and put additional questions that the current school system is teaching right now.

I just thought of those questionnaires randomly though. But those people treated it as if I gave half of my knowledge about it. If those people will learn the truth about it, I'm pretty sure they'll be disappointed in me. The image of a hardworking and diligent Head Archmage in their head will be destroyed.

Zain returns in my room holding a tray full of my favorite tea set. I can smell the aroma of my tea as Zain gracefully pours it in a cup. He also prepares a slice of strawberry cake perfect for this tea. After taking a small sip of my tea, I placed the cup on the saucer before looking at Zain.

"Zain, have you already prepared your luggage?"

"Of course, My Lady. Tomorrow, I'll help you to prepare your luggage. I'll also start preparing the carriage we'll use and make sure that you'll be comfortable with it."

I just smile at Zain since I still can't persuade this child to stop being so formal at me. I tried to tell Zain that he can totally regard me as his friend. But Zain still refused to do it and maintain to be my personal butler who aims to be the best just for my sake. Since I really can't persuade him, I just let him do what he wants.

When the evening comes, I informed my family about the letter from the academy and its content. As expected, they were so happy for me and keep praising me for being a genius. Because my father is too happy, he even opens five bottles of rare and expensive vintage wines. He even let the servants have a taste of it.

Collecting vintage wines were my father's hobby. Each bottle costs at least five gold coins. I think that opening these wines just because I passed my exam is too much. But I can still remember that father also did this when my brother passed his exams too. In the end, I didn't say anything and just let him do what he wants.

Since I'll be attending the academy, it's natural that I'll be staying in the dormitory prepared by the academy. It's decided that I'll leave next week. My mother still wants me to consider if I want to attend the academy.

Thinking about it, mother usually works in her office and rarely leaves the house. It is me who always accompanies her. It's either I spend my extra time to silently read a book in her office or have our morning tea together. She must be reluctant to let me go and study in the academy. Mother said that she can prepare a list of professors to travel to our house and teach me personally so there's no need for me to go to the academy.

Mother, do you want me to become a shut-in and never step out of our house? And don't be so abusive with your authority as a Duchess.

In the end, I persuade my mother and promised her that I'll definitely go home every semestral break and don't be like my brother who didn't go home and stayed in the academy until he graduated. Brother also said that he may visit me in the academy if he will have something important to do in the capital. Father already tells our servants to prepare the things I'll need to bring. He even makes a mental note to have a long discussion with Zain about my safety.

As I watch my family being like this, I'm pretty sure that I'll miss being with them. But it's okay though. It's just four years. It's only a short time and without noticing it, I'll be meeting my family and have a lively dinner like this with them.