Algernon Black

(Chapter 71) Nothing Interesting Yet to Recall

"It's quite alright Lucy." The professor stated calmly over Lucy's panic. "In fact," Brickwood whispered, leaning closer to Lucy's ear so she was the only one to hear his words. "I thought coming up with such an innovative solution showed just how remarkable you truly are."

Lucy blushed at the hair's length of distance between them.

"Thank you for showing them just how right I was about you," Brickwood praised, lifting her hand to his lips and planting a soft kiss overtop her knuckles. "It's only a matter of time now before they start to see you as truly remarkable  as I do."

Lucy wasn't sure how he had intended the words, but his tone and eyes felt as if he had just told her something scandalous and not at all appropriate for a teacher to be saying to one of his students. Lucy looked to see if anyone else had noticed, but thankfully no eyes were upon hers that she saw.

Algernon had seen the entire show. He took a glass of dark purple nectar from a passing waiter and gulped it down. His sour face afterward was not at all caused by the bitterness of the sparkling alcohol.

"Lucy."

Brickwood and Lucy turned to the source of the call. The headmistress was standing next to several well-dressed men and women as she requested her. "Come here, darling."

Brickwood nodded for her to go, smiling proudly at her back.

Lucy trekked over, with her hands clasped together. She was nervous to be joining the conversation of so many nobles but tried her best to walk with poise.

"Councillors, this is Lucy Lahue." Silvia introduced as she wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Lucy felt uncomfortable from the unexpected touch, but bowed her head politely.

"Lucy comes to us from a lower rank of society." The headmistress stated before the other nobles even had a chance to greet her back.

"Very low." Criticized a man with a very ornate mustache who scrutinized Lucy's minimal appearance. She also wore no jewelry which was very strange for nobles, as they wore an abundance to show off their standings. Algernon was one of the select few that could showcase all his wealth and power with just one weighty piece.

"But we have been pleasantly surprised by her ability to keep up with the other students." The headmistress spoke of Lucy as if she wasn't there. "She was even able to make it to the end of the tourney."

"No doubt due to an advantageous teammate." Said a different man, who looked down at Lucy from his glass of liquor.

The headmistress nodded in agreement. "Still it is an accomplishment for one so ordinary to stand next to greatness and not fold."

"Certainly." Said another of the nobles who gave Lucy a scrupulous look over as he judged her dress too simple to be expensive and too plain to be fashionable.

Lucy avoided their judgemental stares and stayed quiet in the hopes she could be excused from the conversation.

"Speaking of," The headmistress said. "Lucy, go fetch Algernon and ask him to please come join us as well."

"Certainly," Lucy repeated in the same tone the rude man had used. She found Algernon wholly disengaged from the idle conversation Pecilia was having with some nobles that had surrounded them. She had attached herself to Algernon's arm for more than just the concern of looking dateless, and though Algernon disliked the skinship at least he didn't have to overexert his already weak conversational skills when she was around.

"Algernon," Lucy called, interrupting his attempts at self-imposed silence. "The headmistress is asking for you."

Algernon looked Lucy up and down just as the councilman had, though he wasn't critiquing her choice of clothes, but veneer of sadness. He was about to ask if everything was ok when Pecilia spoke.