Chapter 174
Chapter 174
It was getting late.
The beautiful girl returned the book to the shelf, looking for what to read next.
Kyon’s lateral vision let him fully appreciate her dressing style: a graceful ebony hairpin in her hair done in a ponytail, a tight jacket that didn’t not restrict her freedom of movement, a short black skirt that emphasized her slender thighs, delicate sexy black tights with a diamond pattern, shaping her nice long legs.
Kyon felt uncomfortable next to her, and it wasn’t about her aura that overshadowed everything around her, sending a chill to the hearts. A fragrant, juicy piece of meat was hanging around him. The temptation to taste it was too big. The situation with Juno was alike, but Kyon had long-term plans for her. This dark person was inaccessible and unapproachable. She instinctively attracted Kyon. Given his fatal weakness for beauty, it took him a lot of effort to ignore her.
Sixteen hungry eyes stared at the young lady from her back, almost drooling.
An angry girl came into the library, loudly stamping. She yelled furiously at one of the eight boys:
«I’ve been looking for you everywhere, and you’re in the library staring at the butt of some missy?! Asshole! Who gave you the right to look at other girls when you are engaged?!»
«I just came to read books!» – A big, beefy guy tried to justify himself, red in the face.
«What books? You’re sharp as a marble!» – The girl grabbed the guy by the ear and dragged him out to the accompaniment of his cries. She was much stronger than the unfortunate boy. Besides, she was the patriarch’s granddaughter in her family and dictated everything that her fiancé did. He had no choice but to grovel before his powerful, authoritative wife-to-be.
Everyone in the library giggled except for Kyon and the girl in black. She didn’t seem to notice anything. Apparently, it wasn’t the first time something like this had happened. She could steal any boy from any girl in the kingdom if she wanted to. But she had better things to do. The beautiful lady was distant and cold. She didn’t show any interest in anyone.
A couple of minutes later, Kyon grunted thoughtfully. Was she still choosing a book? It usually took her only ten seconds… And then it dawned on him. The young lady was giving him a hint that she needed help. Girls often imply things to save face or because of common courtesy. In her case, it wasn’t so obvious. The girl’s face expressed confusion at the choice which book to read. The young lady didn’t know how to make hints and was too proud to ask.
Kyon remembered yesterday. He should ignore her or even beware of her charm. She was too beautiful… Fortunately or unfortunately, the lovely stranger had already interested Lovr.
*sigh*
He said idly, without turning his head:
«You were a bad girl yesterday, but I am ready to help, anyway.»
The descendants of direct blood almost growled at his impudence. He didn’t only dare to speak with her, offering his useless help, but also reproached her! Is he stupid to treat a high-born lady like this? Like she would condescend to his level! However, what happened next made them reconsider their worldview.
The lady kept tactful silence for a few seconds, and then said quietly:
«I want to know the biography of all the generals, as well as the Empress.»
Kyon knew perfectly well that she wasn’t interested in well-known facts, she wanted to find out what was hidden behind their exploits. In other words, she wondered what was written between the lines.
«Alright. But I don’t help anyone if I get nothing in return.» – Kyon said and turned around.
Their eyes met.
An icy flame was lurking in the depths of her bewitching dark brown eyes. It could burn the weak in spirit. The girl impressed Kyon with her beauty, her pale and smooth skin, long eyelashes, gracefully arched eyebrows and a delicate nose… Her love for the black color made her look like a panther, an intimidating, dignified nocturnal predator. However, her deadly cold aura was more suitable for death.
It was surprisingly uncomfortable to look at her, the sense of danger increased tenfold. If Kyon was less self-confident, he would definitely look away. It was foolish to risk his life looking at her. However, he considered her glance as a challenge, so he stubbornly stared back with an indifferent look, even if he really wanted to hit himself for being so pig-headed.
In his turn, Kyon surprised the girl with his audacity. She rarely deigned to look at anyone and always gained respect in return. No one had ever held her stare for more than a second. And yet, the boy was no fool. What was the reason for his behavior? She had never met a jerk like him, especially considering his development at the pathetic first phase. Where did his confidence come from? And why didn’t her beauty captivate him? There was no fear or admiration in his eyes… She didn’t understand. What if he preferred boys?
As for his word about getting something in return, the young lady was not used to being obliged to anyone. In fact, everyone helped her with great pleasure for nothing in return. However, this boy had clearly warned her that she would owe him. What a presumptuous boy…
«I will pay you for the information.»
Kyon smiled and shook his head.
«Well… I don’t want your money.» – He added to answer the silent question on her pretty face. – «Let’s discuss the details later. Deal?»
The young lady nodded and sat at the reading table in the corner, keeping a straight face.
Kyon looked around the room. The stunned guys were staring at him in shock. He grabbed a chair and sat down opposite the girl.
The boys were boiling with rage and jealousy. The impudent jerk in the first phase of development was sitting two steps away from the beautiful high-born lady who radiated an incredible aura of inaccessibility and dignity. What are they doing wrong? If they were even one-tenth as impudent as this kid, they would be lying with their throats cut open. No doubt about that. Why was he still alive? They looked at each other and saw the same confusion and shock in each other’s eyes.
Kyon’s of darkness slowly made a turn.
«Let’s set some ground rules to get us started. I know by heart every History book in this room and have incomparably greater knowledge than you. Don’t argue with me. You can ask questions, dig into details, and make assumptions. Nothing more. Roughly speaking, I am your teacher, and you are my student.»
The girl frowned her thin eyebrows. The reckless boy got caught with a death wish. He was looking right into her eyes with no fear or respect. But she could not punish the one she needed. And she needed him as a search engine for her questions. She had to put up with him and do without instructive bloodshed.
«You are not qualified to be my teacher.» – Her icy gaze pierced the boy. The guys nearby could not look at her even out of the corner of their eyes.
«Why are so biased against me. I agree that not everyone is a good teacher, but I am a rare exception to the rule, which you will soon see. By the way, I will teach you things using the method of discussion and logical analysis rather than cramming as some stupid teachers do with their narrow-minded students. First, you will read the book that I choose for you, and then we will discuss it.»
«I doubt that you are capable of rational analysis. Just give me the facts. Answer all my questions, and I will analyze events, causes and effects by myself.»
Kyon shook his head:
«It’s either as I say or nothing at all.»
They bored each other with their eyes. Infuriating. Finally, she said:
«If I don’t get a competent analysis, you will do as I say.»
Kyon smiled contentedly.
«Good. And now we will discuss the book by Grigory Zhirinovsky that had recently recommended to you.»
The girl folded her hands in her lap and turned into an attentive student. At least from the outside. This scene shocked the audience. The greenhorn could persuade her to play by his rules! It couldn’t be true… Not here, not in this universe…
«First, tell me who General Richard is and what he is like. Tell me your point of view, after which I will analyze the mistakes.»
{What a presumptuous idiot…} – The girl thought irritably and told him her opinion of the general based on the book she had read.
Kyon listened to her, nodded thoughtfully and started discussing things with the air of a qualified psychologist.
Listening to Kyon’s analysis, the girl had changed her view on his teaching skills in just a minute. His arguments and conclusions went smoothly and competently, most importantly, they were logical. The information that naturally followed from seemingly simple facts was new to her. She could only wonder – {Why didn’t I think of this before?}
After ten minutes of his analysis, the girl felt like a stupid student at the lesson of the professor from the Department of History with many years of experience. He tore her arguments to shreds. He made snide comments on any of her incorrect or inaccurate answers, and then gave her a detailed explanation of her mistakes. She had an urge to punch the arrogant smarty-pants. Even if he did not show off his knowledge, at least from the outside, she had a feeling that if he wasn’t confident in his integrity, he would gladly give her a smack after each mistake she made.
During the lesson, the young lady did not feel she was more intelligent than her “teacher.” Kyon had taken into account not only the author’s style but also his mood, his worldview, which helped him easily pick out the truth from the text. The more the girl listened to this weirdo, the more freakish he seemed to her.
Initially, the lady considered Richard a hero of the empire and a competent strategist. After reading this book, she changed her mind. The talented, brilliant general turned into a liar and an ordinary commander of an average mind and skills. Nothing outstanding. And only after Kyon’s incredibly competent analysis, she could see the hidden truth. She had to change her mind again. The general turned out to do everything that was beneficial for his older brother, the patriarch of the Valentines. That’s why his actions were so uncoordinated. She recalled the boy mumble right after leafing through the book: “I guess a more pathetic and weak-willed general does not exist.” Did he read the whole book and make a thorough analysis in a minute? Was she dealing with someone supernatural?
The girl wasn’t going to let the young sage go until she found out everything she needed to know.
«Good. Or rather, terrible. You did not understand even three percent of the true motives for the general’s actions. Your teacher isn’t pleased.» – Kyon pretended to complain, shaking his head in disappointment,
Her icy aura intensified. The girl stared at Kyon with her brown eyes dark anger but did not argue. The truth was on his side. But what was this heavy feeling in her chest? Was it defeat? Or crashed expectations? No one but her uncle dared to talk down to her, let alone look her in the eyes. And yet, the boy was cheeky enough to call her his student, berate her and withstand her aura… The little snot didn’t know who she was. Let him remain in sweet ignorance.
Kyon used his remarkable willpower to resist the temptation to lower his eyes. It was more difficult to control his desires in this world. For example, fear grew root in his soul, and he had to overcome it. He had to struggle with symptoms, and it was sad. On the other hand, he had never experienced pressure from a single glance of the beautiful girl! It was impressive and intriguing. Challenging.