Golden Melody (Editing)

Chapter 76

Chapter 76 – Math and Delusions of Staying Professional

Zatariel's Point of View

Soft.

That's the first word that comes to mind when I look at my student.

Soft features.
Soft voice.
Soft... brain.

Miexha Wayne Verra—fiancée of the Republic's first son and the human embodiment of a very anxious hamster—sat beside me, gripping her pencil like a sword.

A sword she was clearly using to battle the very concept of mathematics.

And my self-control.

We were knee-deep in fractions.

"One half plus three fourths," I said patiently, pointing to the problem.

She stared at the paper.

I stared at her.

One half of my brain was teaching.

The other half whispered:

If she tilts her head like that again, I'm going to combust.

She did.

Head tilt.

Blink.

Tiny confused frown.

Combustion imminent.

"Okay," I said, clearing my throat like a man trying to remain a respectable educator. "Let's convert them to the same denominator first."

She nodded seriously.

Like a tiny scholar who still counted on her fingers.

Just as I was about to introduce decimals—

The door flew open.

In stomped her oversized bodyguard brother.

Also known as Sphere the Wall.

He fixed me with that same blinkless glare reserved for traitors, criminals, and men who breathe too close to his sister.

Then, without a single word, he walked over— And scooped Miexha up like she weighed absolutely nothing.

She squeaked.

They left the room.

I slowly looked at the clock.

Ah... Break time.

Cruel. Tsk.

I collapsed back into my chair.

And then— I made the mistake of opening her notebook.

I skimmed it with a teacher's quiet pride.

¼ + ¾?

Correct.

Simplification?

Spotless.

Even her diagrams were neatly labeled.

Wait... this?

I frowned.

What the— Doodles?

Of me.

My hair. My glasses.

Even the tiny mole under my right eye that most people never notice.

The jawline? Unreasonably heroic.

The smirk? Absolutely criminal.

One drawing even had a tiny caption beside it:

"Riel ♡ = calculator."