Sera did not only explain the Affinity Potential Level Exam, but also the other tests such as Class Awakening, Class Physical Endurance, Basic Strength, and Basic Knowledge.

Leonor and the others listened carefully. There was not a single explanation from Sera that they ignored.

"Any questions?" Sera asked.

Among all of them, unexpectedly, Nicole raised her hand. Sera looked forward while Leonor and the others looked surprised. They all knew Nicole was the shy type and disliked being the center of attention.

However, there was a major question weighing on her heart and mind. If she did not get the answer soon, perhaps her curiosity would continue haunting her.

"What is it, Nicole?" Sera asked.

"About Class Awakening... we’ve already been training according to our classes. Did you all decide those classes for us?" Nicole asked.

Edmund, who was standing beside Sera, listened to the question. At first, he thought none of them would ask something like that, because their main focus was registering as students at Livden Academy.

No matter what class they received, they would probably accept it. If anyone were to ask, Edmund had expected it to be Denise or Helena.

Unexpectedly, it was Nicole. Beneath her quiet and shy personality was a sharp mind. She probably found it strange that Edmund trained them with different instructors.

Sera could not answer, and neither could the other instructors. Only Edmund could answer that question. Everyone’s attention immediately shifted toward him.

"Because I want to maximize your potential," Edmund explained.

"Potential?"

"Yes. Even if you don’t know it or haven’t realized it yet, the other instructors and I can clearly sense your potential."

"Denise," Edmund called.

Denise immediately stood up straight when he called her name, her attention still focused on Edmund.

"Tell me, what would you think if I asked you to choose the Priest class?" Edmund asked.

"I would reject it, not because Priests are weak, but because my passion is being a Knight."

Edmund nodded and motioned for her to sit again. He stepped forward, pulled out a wooden chair, and sat down while continuing the conversation with them.

"The best choice is selecting instructors that match your potential. That’s why Leonor’s training is very different from Denise’s. The same goes for the others," Edmund said.

"You’re one group, Diva. You can protect each other with your abilities and classes," Edmund continued.

"With those two reasons, I’m very confident that by assigning instructors according to your respective classes, you’ll be able to improve both your abilities and your personal potential."

Nicole nodded several times. Her eyes remained locked on Edmund’s face as she observed him carefully. Her cheeks turned red, and her pupils widened while looking at him.

Compared to other men, Nicole felt Edmund was gentle and full of compassion. He explained everything in detail without sounding condescending or judgmental.

Even Nicole, the one asking the question, did not feel intimidated. Instead, she became even more excited about the class Edmund had chosen for her.

"Was my answer enough, Nicole?"

"Yes. Thank you, Sir Edmund."

"I’m glad to hear that," Edmund replied with a wide and gentle smile.

"That’s all for now. Starting tomorrow, you’ll resume training according to your instructors," Edmund said.

Denise and the others nodded. They would continue training tomorrow to improve their chances of easily passing the entrance exam.

They excused themselves from Edmund and Leonor, leaving Edmund’s study to head home. Now, the only ones remaining in the room were Edmund and Leonor.

"You have incredible friends, Leonor," Edmund said.

"I know. I already felt that they were different... special to me," Leonor explained.

GRRRR!

While they were talking, Edmund faintly heard the sound of a stomach growling in the room. It was not his, but Leonor’s. The girl reflexively held her stomach, lowering her head with a flushed face.

A soft voice escaped her lips. "Sorry."

Edmund smiled lightly, not making a big deal out of it. Perhaps Leonor was hungry after training and completing guild missions all day long.

"Do you want to eat outside?" Edmund asked.

"Eat... outside? You mean at a restaurant?"

"Of course."

A bright smile bloomed on her face. She jumped up excitedly from her seat. "I WAAANT TO!"

"That’s good," Edmund said.

He stood up and invited Leonor to leave. However, just as he was about to open the door, he was startled by someone shouting from outside.

"How busy is he that he refuses to meet my father?!" someone yelled.

Edmund narrowed his eyes, grabbed Leonor’s hand, and stepped backward.

SLAM!

The study door was violently thrown open. A woman with short shoulder-length red hair entered the room. The first thing she saw was Edmund holding Leonor’s hand.

"Wow... what would my father say if he found out you refused to meet him because you were busy flirting?" Lara asked sharply.

"What? She’s my adopted little sister. Why would you think that?" Edmund asked. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Sebastian arrived and tried persuading Lara to leave, but she refused. She came to Edmund’s study solely to confront him and scold him for disrespecting the Siegfried Family.

"Who is she, Sir Edmund?" Leonor asked innocently.

Lara turned and smirked. "Me? I’m his future wife."

"Future... wife?" Leonor repeated, her shocked expression immediately turning toward Edmund.

Edmund could not do anything. She really was his future wife in the arranged marriage plan. Even if Edmund explained that the marriage was being forced on him, Leonor would still react the same way.

Slowly, Leonor pulled her hand away from Edmund’s grasp. She turned away and lowered her head, apologizing to Edmund for disturbing him.

"I’ll leave first. I don’t think I have the right to stay in this room," Leonor said.

"Wait, Leonor!" Edmund shouted, but the girl still left without paying attention to him.

"Go after her and calm her down, Sebastian. Bring Nisya with you."

"Yes, Lord Edmund."

Sebastian left the study, leaving Edmund alone with Lara. Lara’s gaze remained sharp, just like Edmund, who clearly disliked her attitude.

"You... have you gone crazy?" Edmund asked furiously.

"Crazy? You’re the crazy one, Edmund. You weren’t busy, yet you refused to meet my father!" Lara shouted.

"Not busy? What do you know about me?!"

"I’m the ruler of Archester City and the person responsible for the Archie Territory," Edmund explained. "And you say I’m not busy?!"

Edmund stretched his hand toward the back, pointing at the piles of papers containing the city’s trade and financial data. "Don’t you see those stacks of paper? Are you blind?!"

Lara looked at them. There were two piles of papers on Edmund’s desk. That alone was enough to prove that Edmund really had been working.

"So earlier that was—"

"She was hungry and I wanted to take her out to eat. Then you came here and confronted me. You really are impossible to control, Lara!"

"I... I didn’t know," Lara complained softly.

"Besides, why couldn’t you spare some of your time? Couldn’t you finish your work later?"

"Right now, there’s a massive wheat field fire disaster in the southern territory of the city. If I don’t act immediately, market prices will skyrocket!" Edmund snapped.

"I’m responsible for the city’s political, economic, and security stability."

"I don’t have time for meaningless conversations about marriage plans!" Edmund declared firmly.

Lara fell silent for a moment. Her eyes widened after hearing those words come from Edmund. "You don’t care about this marriage?"

Edmund narrowed his eyes, then walked past Lara. "From the very beginning, I never cared about it!"