Chapter 66: I’d love to have you as a student

"Mankind's creations must be put to proper use."

The last time Rishe met this man was on a moonlit night just like this one.

"I broadly agree with you, but that aphorism is imperfect. No one can agree on what 'proper' means."

The genius Michel Hévin had said those words with the same flowery herbal scent drifting around him.

"If I use this chemical I've created, the world will surely be thrown into turmoil. But what's wrong with that?" Michel had smiled softly, tucking his light blond hair behind one ear.

"Is it wrong to want to live to see the changes your work has wrought?"

"…Professor."

His violet eyes focused on Rishe. It was a lonely look, but he still smiled as he said, "Farewell, my student. I hope your life is a 'proper' one in your own mind."

That was the last time she'd seen him. But now, Michel stood before her once again.

Rishe was frozen with shock, and her guards stepped forward to protect her. "My apologies, sir. I can see that you're a guest, but would you mind telling us your name?"

"Hmm? Oh! Sorry if I startled you."

Michel bowed, moving with a strange fluidity, like he didn't have a spine. "I'm Michel Hévin. Just as you've surmised, I'm from Coyolles."

"The rooms prepared for you are quite a distance from here, sir."

"If you've lost your way inside the palace, we'll summon someone to show you back to the tower."

Rishe's knights—usually unfailingly polite—betrayed uneasiness as they spoke to Michel.

Michel, for his part, didn't seem bothered in the slightest. He flashed a grin.

"How kind. But I'm not lost; I'm just interested in speaking to this young lady here."

"Sir Hévin, I apologize, but Lady—"

"It's all right," Rishe cut in.

At once, the knights took a step back. "Very well."

She sent a silent thank-you for their dedication in protecting her and turned to face Michel.

Running into him here is surprising. However…

For the time being, Rishe had to greet him as if they were meeting for the first time. Besides, she had a question for him.

"I am Rishe Irmgard Weitzner. Sir Hévin, might you be one of the scholars His Highness Prince Kyle brought with him to Galkhein?"

"Well, I guess you could call me a scholar. I'm mostly concerned with research, though—I don't get out much." Michel chuckled.

"Those nails…" He pointed at Rishe's pink polish. She'd painted her nails before meeting Kyle in hopes of eventually pushing the product in Coyolles. "Is it gelwood sap? It's usually white, but you've dyed it a different color, I see."

Rishe swallowed.

He can tell all that from just a glance?

She had designed this nail polish herself. Michel couldn't have known of its existence before today, but he'd analyzed its components almost instantly.

"How did you harden it like that?"

"I added lish grass, gibi nectar, and lapet grass, then combined it all with glue."

"I see. Smart." Michel said, impressed. He glanced down at Rishe's nails again.

"Did you avoid cyril grass to prevent excess bubbles in the mixture?"

"It's just as you say. You're well informed."

"Well, it's just a theory." Michel gave her an impish look. "Do you think there'd be any change if you used estoma sap for that?"

She thought back to their days of experimentation. I handled estoma sap several times when I was studying with him, so yes, I do.

Looking at him squarely, she answered, "I believe it would harden into a much stronger polish—strong enough to glue a broken tooth back together. Also, it would probably harden clear."

"Mm. I agree."

"But that's just a hypothesis. I would have to verify it with experimental trials."

Michel's eyes went wide before he smiled softly, nodding with satisfaction.

"You're a good girl, aren't you? You hypothesize, come up with practical applications, and value experimentation and verification of your results. I'd love to have you as a student."

"Thank you, Lord Hévin."

He'd said the same thing to her in one of her past lives, but unfortunately, she couldn't give him the same response this time.

"Becoming your student would prove difficult, but…I don't suppose you'd mind teaching me for the brief time that you're here?"

"Sure, I don't mind. Though I'm still learning myself. There's plenty I don't know."

"Thank you very much. I shall call you 'Professor, ' then."

"Professor, eh? Heh heh, that's kind of fun."

Rishe smiled at his amusement and began to think.

The real question is what he's doing here in Galkhein. If it's for that chemical, then…

Impatience swelled in her chest, but she didn't want to pry and raise suspicions. He might simply be accompanying Kyle on the prince's orders.

While Rishe contemplated, Michel's gaze shifted once again to the field. "By the way, my student. Can we return to my initial question?"

"Of course. What were you asking?"

"The plants in this field appear to be of a slightly different sort than what I study. I'm no expert, and this is only a theory, but…" Michel brought the cigarette to his lips. "You're not planning to drug Kyle, are you?"

So much for not being an expert. He'd clocked this field instantly. One of her guards was even giving her a look of open-mouthed shock.

He wouldn't even tell me his own specialty. He'd just say, "I'm not an expert; I don't have perfect knowledge of all things. I can't say I understand everything."

Michel was the same as always. Well, not quite. She'd never met this Michel.

Rishe cleared her throat. "As a matter of fact, Professor, I'd love to speak about that."

This was perfect. She'd use this opportunity to put him to work for Kyle's sake.

That being said…

Some thirty minutes later, Rishe realized the situation she'd put herself in—and she was at a complete loss.

She'd arrived at a reception room in the palace, a smaller one than they'd used earlier. Along with Rishe were her guards, Michel, and Kyle, who had been summoned from his quarters.

…I didn't think I'd be going straight to Prince Kyle!