Chapter 13: serves as an experimental subject

Upon leaving the old castle, which served as the main residence, following Noah, she entered a sturdy stone building next door. It seemed to be his laboratory and experimental room.

“The experimental building is separate from the lord’s mansion. Isn’t that inconvenient?”

The lord’s mansion was a splendid castle, very large, and one would enjoy exploring it if in good health.

Nevertheless, she couldn’t understand why he would have a separate research building outside. Perhaps Noah had his own reasons.

“If there’s an accident during the experiment, it could affect the household. That’s why the research building is separate.”

He said something very reasonable, and Fiene widened her eyes.

Indeed, the rumors were just rumors. At the moment he referred to Fiene as an experimental subject, she reconsidered that he might be eccentric.

Following Noah down a corridor with small windows and little natural light, they entered the laboratory. A well-mannered butler had prepared tea. In the laboratory, there was a tea table with a clean white cloth that clearly stood out.

“Lloyd, you can step back.”

Bowing, the butler called Lloyd and stepped back.

Shelves lined one wall, displaying various instruments such as flasks, beakers, and crystal vials. Additionally, bottles of herbs and dried medicinal plants were arranged by type, resembling a warehouse in a store.

Although there was a distinct scent of medicinal herbs, it was not unpleasant.

“Sit there.”

Fiene felt that something was different, but sat down at the tea table pointed to by Noah.

“Um, I came as a test subject. Why are there tea and sweets?”

On the table, there was steaming black tea and delicious-looking pastries.

“Oh, it takes a bit of time to prepare, so just wait with tea. If you collapse from the experiment before it starts, it’ll be troublesome.”

“Yes, thank you for your consideration.”

Fiene blinked at the hospitality she had never experienced, even in her own home.

The tone was curt, and the expression did not change, but she wondered if he was still a kind person or if harsh experiments were about to begin. Fiene’s heart wavered.

Unable to find an answer even after thinking about it, Fiene decided to drink the tea.

Next to the deeply brewed black tea, cream and sugar were placed. With plenty of cream, it was delicious and rich.

“This is the first time I’ve had such delicious black tea,” Fiene remarked, impressed.

“Lloyd is the best at making tea here. And coffee too.”

Coffee was a recent import from another country. Fiene thought Noah might be surprisingly fond of new things.

“Do you, Lord Noah, also drink coffee?”

“Yeah.”

Noah replied briefly. He was carefully placing a crystal on the wagon for the experiment.

As he seemed focused, Fiene, without bothering Noah, took a delicious madeleine. The dough was moist, and with one bite, the rich taste of butter spread throughout her mouth.

“Delicious.”

While sipping her tea, Fiene sighed in contentment.

At home, when she was unwell and resting, she was often criticized for “slacking off” or accused of wanting to attract her parents’ attention. However, here, they treated her with a more expensive potion than at her parents’ house and even provided medical treatment, allowing her to rest leisurely.

Furthermore, in the laboratory, they had prepared exquisite tea and delicious pastries. It was a complete and thorough service.

(Being an experimental subject might not be so bad after all.)

Fiene’s lips curled into a smile.

“Hey, it’s ready.”

Noah rolled a metal wagon that seemed to be for experiments in front of the tea table.

“What should I do?”

Fine felt a bit nervous.

“There are three crystals lined up. Wave your hand over them from left to right.”

“Is this a magical power test? I don’t have any magical power.”

Fiene tilted her head in curiosity.

“What you underwent was a mass test conducted in the country, right?”

In this country, when you turn seven, you are required to undergo a magical power test.

“Yes, at that time, I was determined to have no magical power.”

“That was a simple test. Some magical power can slip through.”

“Eh?”

Fiene blinked at the story she heard for the first time.

“Even if you don’t have magical power, It doesn’t mean you won’t develop severe magical power depletion. Just hurry up and wave your hand over the crystal. I want to determine whether my speculation is correct or not.”

Unfriendly, with messy black hair and a scar on the right half of his face that looked painful, Fiene no longer found him terrifying or ugly.

“Yes.”

She obediently waved her hand over the crystals. The first one showed no reaction, and the second one flickered slightly. When she touched the third one, it sparked, and she quickly withdrew her hand.

“Ouch, what’s this?”

Despite Noah’s assurance that it wouldn’t hurt, there was a slight tingling sensation in her hand.

“As I thought. This is rare. You’ve passed. It’s incredibly interesting.”

“Huh? What did I pass?”

Fiene had no idea what Noah was talking about.

“As my experimental subject, Wonderful .It’s worth researching. Well, I can’t help it. I’ll engage with you to keep you close by for my experiments.”

Fiene’s expression changed at Noah’s emotionless words.

“What! No way! If I’m engaged to you, you’ll be engaged to Muge. Are you planning to financially support my family?”

Fiene stood up from her chair in astonishment.

“Is that because you refuse to engage with me as an act of revenge against your family?”

Noah asked expressionlessly.

“Of course, I don’t want financial assistance given to my family! But it feels a bit different…”

There was resistance in a completely different dimension from revenge.

“Do you have someone you like?”

“No!”

It was an immediate response. Fiene rarely went outside, so she had no encounters with men.

“Then why? Is it because you have a physiological aversion to me?”

Fiene looked up at Noah’s words.

“I don’t think such disrespectful things! It’s not about me personally, but I don’t want to be engaged to you as my sister, Muge. That’s the only thing I absolutely dislike!”

“I see.”

Noah thought deeply, resting his chin on his hand.

“So, what were you planning to do if your sister hadn’t switched with you?”

“Well, wouldn’t it be fine if I died?”

“Are your siblings idiots?”

Noah’s words were straightforward.

“At least, they might be smarter than me.”

Fiene replied seriously, and Noah burst into laughter, holding his stomach.

“You’re an interesting one.”

After the laughter subsided, Noah said such a thing.

“Huh? Is that something to laugh about? There’s nothing interesting about me.”

Fiene felt slightly offended.

After being subjected to several measurements, Fiene was released by Noah.

“What kind of experiment is this exactly?”

Having only sat in a chair and been put through some measuring devices while drinking tea, it wasn’t burdensome at all.

“It’s still in the realm of speculation for now. I’ll let you know once I’m sure.”

Noah seemed cautious. However, Fiene wasn’t particularly interested in Noah’s research.

What she was more concerned about was her future residence.

“Noah-sama, as an experimental subject, I can’t stay in such a luxurious guest room forever. Is it okay if I move to a different room?”

“Yeah, move wherever you like. There are plenty of empty rooms.”

Saying that, he continued to focus on the measurement results without turning to Fiene.

With an air of familiarity, Noah took dried herbs from the shelf and started setting up a beaker. It seemed like he was not present mentally, deeply engrossed in his research.

Fiene left the laboratory so as not to disturb him.