<h4>Chapter 590: Best Student</h4>


    <strong>Evaline:</strong>


    <strong>F</strong>or a moment, neither of us spoke. The sounds of the diner filled the space between us... the murmur of conversations, the tter of tes, the hiss of something frying in the kitchen.


    Then Charles shifted slightly.


    "Um... Senior?" he said hesitantly.


    "Yes?"


    He nced around, then back at me. "Can I ask you something?"


    "Of course."


    He took a breath. "You said you are not doing me a favor. But... since you are here, and you don’t mind helping people in need..."


    I tilted my head, curious now. "Go on."


    He swallowed. "I’m really struggling in Herbs and Potions."


    That caught me off-guard.


    "What?"


    "I heard," he continued quickly, "that you are... well, that you are the best student in the subject. In the whole academy."


    I blinked, surprised. "Am I?"


    He nodded hurriedly.


    "Of course! When ites to Herbs and Potions, everyone talks about how good you are in it. And not just Herbs and Potions, you are good in every single subject. From students to Professors, everyone praises you."


    I just stared at him in shock. I knew I had been acing every single project, test, quiz, and exams so far, bing Professors’ favorite, but I had no idea they mentioned me to other students.


    "And I was wondering," Charles continued in a hopeful but cautious voice, "if you could help me a little. Just... exin a few things. I don’t want to perform badly ining tests and lose this golden chance to gain extra points."


    I met his gaze, seeing the sincerity there... the vulnerability of someone asking not out of entitlement, but genuine need.


    I gave it a real thought. Even if I wanted to help him, I couldn’t just say yes as I already had a lot on my tter.


    "How about you find me in the library at 5 in the evening on Monday?"


    His face lit up immediately. "Thank you, Senior. I’ll be there on time."


    I smiled back at him, hoping I could help him even if just a little. A customer called him over and Charles excused himself, rushing away to the customer’s side immediately but not before thanking me again.


    I let out a soft sigh and turned my attention to my phone, realizing I had a message from Kieran waiting to be read.


    <strong>Kieran:</strong>


    <i>Your book is the study.</i>


    I smiled and quickly typed back a ’thank you’. He was talking about the Record book. I left the tome with him earlier in the morning before leaving for work so he could take it to the mansion with him.


    Just as I put my phone back in my pocket, Charles returned with a cup of ginger herbal tea and ced it in front of me on the counter.


    "Here. Enjoy this while you wait for your order to get ready."


    His eyes were filled with hope as if he had presented me something to taste that he had cooked himself. It almost made me chuckle. He could really be adorable sometimes.


    "Why herbal tea and not coke?" I asked, curious about his choice.


    He gave me a sheepish smile and confessed. "I have always seen you preferring herbal teas over other drinks during meal times. The only few exceptions being milk and fruit juices. But if I served you either of those, you might feel full even before trying the food you are buying."


    I nodded my head in understanding while a smile yed on my lips. "Thank you for being so thoughtful. The tea’s just perfect for the time and weather."


    Right. The weather outside the diner was changing... fast.


    It had been only about ten minutes since I stepped into the diner and the sunlight outside hadpletely disappeared, not because the sun had set, but because dark clouds had covered the sky.


    I pulled out my phone again to check the weather, and sure enough, it showed heavy, continuous raining all evening and night with thunder.


    I let out a soft sigh, hoping I could reach home before the first droplets hit the ground.


    "Let me go and check how long before you get your order." Charles offered suddenly, probably because he saw me looking at the weather outside.


    It took about seven more minutes before the order was packed and I was done paying for it.


    "How are you going to take all these back to academy?" Charles asked when he noticed just how much food I had ordered.


    "Oh. I got the car waiting outside." I told him as I picked up a few of the paper bags to head outside.


    "Let me help you." Charles offered immediately, picking up twice as many bags as I did.


    The food was safely put in the car’s trunk in no time and I was on my way to the mansion. The rain did start falling halfway but it was light enough to not make the mountain road dangerous.


    At the mansion, Sera and others helped me get the food out from the trunk. I thanked Mr. Wood for his services as usual and handed him two bags that had enough food for him, his wife, and two daughters.


    He thanked me for the food and left.


    Once inside the house, I told Sera to deliver one of the food bags to Jasper’s house.


    "Wow! That’s a lot of food." Oscar whistled as he stepped into the dining hall where I was helping Sera set up the dining table.


    He stopped beside me and ced a soft kiss on my temple, not caring there’s nearly a dozen staff members present nearby.


    "What’s in thi-Ow!"


    I swatted his hand away from the bag he was reaching for.


    "What was that for?" He asked, looking at me as if I justmitted a crime.


    "These are deserts and drinks for thedies. Keep your hands away from them." I told him before signaling Sera to take away the rest of the bags.


    "Thank you, M’Lady."


    As Sera and the rest of the staff left the dining hall, River and Kieran finally arrived for dinner.


    "Let’s dive in."