After leaving the academy headmaster’s office, I headed toward the laboratory, but Lord Julius was following closely behind me, and it was kind of terrifying.
Walking in total silence was frightening enough on its own, but the sheer difference in our heights made having a giant of a man walking right behind me genuinely intimidating.
I stopped fearfully and turned around, only to find Lord Julius looking down at me with a puzzled expression.
Wow, he really is huge. Just how big is the height difference between us…?
“Um, Lord Julius, could you walk beside me instead? Having you right behind my back is a little scary…”
“Ah, my apologies. It was force of habit from guarding the prince.”
Force of habit. Ah, so he meant his habit of following behind Prince Fred.
Perhaps feeling embarrassed after being pointed out, he stroked his chin as he shifted to walk alongside me.
Even walking side by side, our height difference naturally didn’t change, so I still had to look up at him all the same.
However, the fear vanished, and I let out a soft sigh of relief.
“Please drop the honorifics and just call me Julius, Rosie-sensei.”
“Ehh… That’s a bit difficult to do all of a sudden. I’ll try my best, though. In that case, Julius… could you also speak to me normally? It just feels so strangely unnatural.”
“We are technically teacher and student, though?”
“Lab assistants are different from ordinary students. It’s not like there’s an age gap between us like with the other professors, and I’d hate to work together while struggling to speak casually.”
Realizing I had to be the first to drop the formal tone if this was going to work, I tried speaking casually.
He seemed surprised at first, but responded right away.
“Fair point. Well then, I’m in your care. Ah, is it alright if I call you Rosie? Naturally, I’ll call you ‘Sensei’ during class, though.”
“Yup, that would be a huge help. Looking forward to working with you, Julius!”
When we entered the laboratory, it was still sparsely furnished and spacious.
Perhaps it would become cramped later on if students started dropping by or if more lab assistants joined us.
Classes hadn’t started yet, so there were no students around either.
The space for just the two of us felt vast, and I had the feeling our voices were echoing.
“Well then, this is the laboratory. The back area serves as living quarters. When are you moving in, Julius?”
“Huh? Moving in?”
“Hmm? Didn’t you know the back of the laboratory is designed to be lived in?”
“…I didn’t.”
“I live back there myself, and as my lab assistant, your room will be there as well, you know?”
“Haaah?! Living together… Are you serious?!”
“I guess nobody explained it to you. It’s true, though. Shall I show you around? Follow me.”
“Ehhhh…”
At the end of the hallway leading to the back of the lab, the room at the very back was mine.
Since it was meant for an instructor, it was the largest room, complete with its own restroom and bathroom inside, as well as kitchen furnishings—though I hadn’t used them yet.
In front of it were two rooms on either side, meaning that up to four people besides me could live in this laboratory.
I had thought about bringing Miller from our viscount estate once things got busy. Bringing a personal maid right from the start felt like inviting people to say, This is why nobles are so pampered, so I was currently living on my own for the time being.
I never imagined I would end up hiring a lab assistant so soon, though.
“The room at the very back is mine. You can pick any of these four rooms. Choose whichever one you want as yours, and bring your luggage over. Which one will it be?”
“…”
“If you can’t decide, I’ll just pick one for you.”
“Is it really fine? A noble lady living together with a man…”
“Ah, I’ve thrown away living as a noble lady. The headmaster understands that, which is why I think he introduced you to me. Besides, didn’t you say it doubles as a bodyguard duty? If anything, I think he thought it would be dangerous for me to live all alone.”
“…I see. Rosie’s bodyguard, huh? Got it. In that case, I’ll take the room next door.”
Frame it as bodyguard duty, and it became much easier for him to picture. Not that I wanted to be guarded the way he used to guard Prince Fred, though.
Choosing the room adjacent to mine, Julius stepped inside.
Most of the furniture should already be provided, so he could start living here simply by bringing his clothes and other essentials.
Having already left his family home, it seemed he had brought his luggage with him when enrolling in the academy.
Waiting for Julius to return after fetching his belongings, the two of us decided to have a meal, marking the start of our life together under one roof.