The Spoiled Young Lady

Wade lowered his gaze slightly, his fingertips gently rubbing the rim of his cup. Thinking of such a scene, amusement showed in his eyes.

"He would probably say... 'The children chose the path of courage themselves,' right?"

"Ha ha ha ha..."

Madam Piquery burst out laughing. "Exactly, exactly! That is exactly what he would say! Wade, you really do understand him!"

Just then, there was a light knock on the study door, and the butler hurried toward it.

At that moment, Wade noticed Madam Piquery's brows furrow slightly, a trace of displeasure appearing on her face.

Wade looked toward the door and saw a maid standing there with several exquisite pastries on a tray. The butler took them, and as he turned around, a corner of a black robe appeared at the edge of the doorway, its silver buttons particularly distinctive.

That style and pattern...

Wade frowned as well.

He remembered the two people who had always hovered around Madam Piquery during the Alchemy Competition.

Questioning in his eyes, Wade looked toward Madam Piquery. She merely gave a slight shake of her head, signaling for him not to ask.

As the butler set down the pastries, Madam Piquery tapped the book in her hand and said, "Regarding this book of yours... ah, no, it should be the learning methods you taught those students. I have a few questions about them as well..."

Seeing Wade's expression, she smiled and changed her wording. Then she opened to a bookmarked page and said:

"For instance, this concept of emotional anchors... it is exceptionally ingenious. Much like how you used equivalent exchange in Alchemy to explain Transfiguration, it is highly enlightening for students who have only just encountered magic, guiding them into the right state more quickly."

"But if the anchor itself is destroyed,