A Genius Boy Who Was Exiled From His Family Home for “Not Being Able To Use Magic” Becomes a Witch’s Apprentice and Masters All Magic in the Right Way. This Is How You Use Your Magic, You Know?

Chapter 139.1. Doubt And Trial

“…Um.”

In front of the princess, who had made quite the shocking first impression, Hermes found himself at a loss for words.

But he couldn’t stay silent forever, so he tried to initiate communication.

“Um… Princess Liliana?”

“Call me Lily. It sounds much cuter that way.”

With her small frame and arms crossed, the princess pouted her lips as she said so.

…That’s the first thing she points out?

“Then, Lady Lily. I believe you’ve already heard, but I am—”

“I know. You’re the new tutor.”

Just as Hermes began introducing himself, Liliana cut him off. She continued without missing a beat.

“I’ve heard plenty about you from Jurgen. He said you’re the hero who drove off the disaster that struck the Magic Academy recently.”

“I didn’t do it alone… but I won’t deny I contributed.”

As Hermes nodded, Liliana’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“So? From what I hear, you possess a ridiculous magic that lets you ‘copy magic.’”

“Yes.”

“And with it, you can wield any type of hereditary magic as much as you want.”

“In theory, yes.”

“To top it off, you can even combine multiple bloodline magics to create something even more powerful.”

“…”

“…I’ll just say it.”

She pointed her finger at Hermes and Jurgen, took a deep breath, and—

“—This! Is! Way too exaggerated!!”

…Right, thought Hermes.

Layla’s soft, amused murmur drifted through the air: Yeah, that’s the natural reaction.

Liliana kept going.

“Jurgen! I appreciate you trying to raise my expectations, but there’s a limit, isn’t there? Do you think just because I’m a child I’d fall for such nonsense?”

“But it’s all true, you know…”

“There you go again!”

Unhappy about being treated like a child, Liliana puffed up her cheeks in frustration.

To her, Hermes spoke calmly.

“Lily-sama.”

“What now?! Are you going to say something else nonsensical?”

“No. I’ll put aside the duke’s clumsy explanations for now.”

Hermes understood that his magic would be hard to believe by the kingdom’s standards.

He could see it now: the fact that Jurgen had accepted his magic immediately when they first met at the duke’s manor—that was the strange part.

Perhaps Jurgen’s thinking had become more flexible due to his involvement with Rose. And now, Jurgen seemed to expect that same flexibility from others. This situation was the result.

Setting that aside, Hermes asked an important question based on what he had just heard.

“Earlier, you said you don’t want to become king. That’s not what I heard before. Could you explain what you meant?”

“Oh, that’s what you’re asking about.”

Liliana seemed to relax a bit, her tone calmer now that the conversation returned to familiar ground.

“I don’t know what Jurgen told you, but… I only agreed to lend my name.”

“Lend your name?”

“Yes. It seems Jurgen has some agenda tied to this conflict. For that, he wants to use my name as a member of the royal family to back his plans. Though frankly, I don’t think my name holds much sway.”

…Interesting.

Jurgen’s goal was, in essence, to change the values of the entire kingdom.

Installing someone he supported on the throne would be the fastest way, but it wasn’t the only option.

That raised further questions—what exactly Jurgen intended to do, how Liliana’s name would play into it—but those were matters Hermes would ask Jurgen about later.

“So you have no intention of taking the throne.”

“Exactly. Or rather, it’s more accurate to say I have no intention of competing for succession.”

“Why is that?”

At the genuine question, Liliana lowered her gaze slightly and spoke in a subdued voice.

“Because… fighting against your own family is just stupid, isn’t it?”

“—”

That was a simple, childlike reason—but pure and understandable.

“Besides… If my brother and sister are serious about fighting each other, there’s no way I could intervene.”

Her voice trailed off into a soft murmur.

But the important part was what she’d said before that. Sensing the shift in mood, Liliana suddenly raised her voice, as if to mask her vulnerability.

“A-Anyway! I just want peace. I’m happy living quietly in the castle, enjoying sweets from time to time. That’s enough for me!”

“As a member of the royal family, that’s… questionable, though.”

“Sh-Shut up! That’s how it is, alright?! I have no desire to be king, and learning magic would be a waste! There! Any objections?”

Liliana tried to forcefully end the conversation, but Hermes reflected for a moment.

He understood her stance. If she insisted, he could simply leave things as they were and walk away. A while ago, he might have done just that.

But now…

He had learned to feel. He had learned to engage.

And above all… perhaps it was because, in many ways, she reminded him of someone he knew well.

Simply put—he was curious. There was something more to her, something she hadn’t yet expressed.

And so, he spoke.

“Even so, I’ve been entrusted with this task by the duke. I can’t just walk away, nor do I want to.”

“Hmph.”

“So, may I ask you to reconsider? What would it take for you to accept?”

“You really won’t back down, huh? …You’ll regret this, you know.”

Liliana fixed Hermes with a sharp gaze.

But seeing he wasn’t backing off, she gave a thin smile.

“…Very well. I’ll test you.”

“Test me?”

“Simply put, a trial. If you meet the conditions I set, I’ll consider changing my mind.”

“…I see.”