Chapter 962 – #207_Albiereo’S Close Tutoring (2)
#956
1.
The ‘Charisma Project’ with my great aunt was conducted in her office.
Albiereo, after briefly stopping by the library and returning with a stack of thick books, even brought a portable whiteboard, completing the preparations for the full-fledged lesson.
“Now, shall we begin our first lesson?”
“What are all those?”
“These are books about Gehenna etiquette and manners. They are the foundation for all the work we will do from now on.”
“Is it etiquette training?”
“Yes. A noble’s dignity, authority, and charisma are interconnected concepts. Following the norms and behaviors of the upper class is an important step in differentiating one’s status and refinement. For example, if Siwoo-gun usually acts solemn but then makes a mistake in a minor dining etiquette, how would it look?”
“Would I look like a wannabe noble, desperate to imitate them?”
“Exactly. Your comprehension is excellent as always.”
In other words, it meant that the dining etiquette of the Jemina Count family was not strict for no reason. Since ancient times, the upper class of society has distinguished their social status through various etiquettes.
For example, let’s say you ‘moderately’ pick up cheese with a fork at the table.
From a modern person’s perspective, this is not a problem.
However, to a witch of the noble class, it is not much different from eating spaghetti with your hands.
In addition, when eating fish, do not use a knife, but always use two silver forks.
However, when a small fish knife is provided, use it, but never use a spoon.
Cut the legs of a bird dish into two pieces, and cut the wings at the joints to eat.
Also, do not pick up and debone the bones with your hands.
If you do not follow these minor things, you will be treated like a barbarian.
Therefore, Siwoo must have been educated at the table under very strict coaching.
“But don’t I follow dining etiquette well these days?”
“Yes, Siwoo-gun. But dining etiquette is just one of many etiquettes. It’s not enough on its own. I plan to make you look like a Northern Border Count.”
“Do I really have to? That’s a bit cringey.”
“You speak as if you’ve done it before.”
Siwoo had previously received similar advice from Sophia during his thesis review.
So, he slicked his hair back and created a certain atmosphere through sharp words and actions.
Looking back, it was only possible because he was subtly pissed off at the ridiculous nitpicking; he couldn’t do it now because it would be too cringey.
A confident attitude, a cold atmosphere, a cold gaze, an authoritative demeanor, and a cool-headedness that strictly adheres to principles.
It seems like she’s trying to create a concept like that.
But there are several questions that follow.
The first one is this.
“But why a Northern Grand Duke of all things?”
“Because that’s the easiest path.”
Albiereo stated it lightly.
“If there are different types of charisma, there are many, but when looking at only the external aspects, that one is the easiest to imitate.”
“Ah, I understand.”
There are witches who show charisma with a gentle attitude, like Dorothy or Count Yesod.
But if you were to imitate that, you would give up early.
You wouldn’t even know where to start correcting it.
The second question is this.
“But wouldn’t the witches feel repulsed? Why does that kind of image seem a bit rude and bad-tempered?”
“That’s the important part.”
“Could you explain in more detail?”
“You have to look bad-tempered. You have to act like you’d do anything to inflict harm if you hold a grudge. You have to appear as if you’re willing to make unethical decisions to maintain power.
It’s better to be feared than to be smiling and giggling like you do now.”
“I see….”
I nodded for now, but questions still remained.
Would arrogant witches really accept such an image of Siwoo?
Even if Siwoo imitates it well, it would be a blessing if they didn’t just laugh it off, let alone feel any charisma.
It’s like how no witch would fall for a cult leader.
“Siwoo-gun. Do you see that painting?”
“Yes, I do.”
Albiereo said, pointing to a painting hanging on one side of the office.
Amidst the dense, deep green foliage, a small pond with shimmering sunlight and elegant water lilies floating on it adorned the canvas.
“What do you think?”
“What do I think?”
“I’m asking for your impression.”
The artworks hanging in the hallways and galleries were periodically changed, but that painting in Albiereo’s office never changed.
Perhaps it was that valuable?
“It’s aesthetic and… beautiful?”
“I guess so. That’s an unreleased work by Claude Monet, the founder of Impressionism.”
“Really?”
Monet was an artist even Siwoo, who was an amateur in art, had heard of.
Looking at the painting again, it even seemed to have some mysterious magic…
“Actually, it’s a lie. It’s a painting that my twins drew and gifted me during their art class when they were young.”
“……”
“But Siwoo, as soon as you heard it was an unreleased work by a famous artist, you looked at the painting again, didn’t you? Even though it was a painting you’d always seen.”
Albiereo continued, seeing Siwoo’s expression brighten as if he understood something.
“Just like humans, witches don’t just look at a single object when evaluating something. They unconsciously look at the story behind the object as well.”
Albiereo folded her slender fingers one by one, giving detailed examples.
“Siwoo-gun, you have a handsome face and the uniqueness of being a male witch, the myth of a genius who has explosively risen in rank in a short period, and the heroic narrative of stopping the flood. You were even originally a Gehenna slave, right? Even better. It’s a drama.
If someone sees Shin Siwoo, they can’t help but think of that aura first.”
“You’re giving me quite the high praise.”
As someone who was always scolded by his great aunt, it was a very unfamiliar evaluation.
“Objectively speaking, it’s true that Siwoo-gun is a great person.”
Albiereo said, resting her chin on her hand as if she didn’t like it.
“Anyway, if you don’t make any big mistakes in etiquette and your acting is good, it means that people won’t think it’s acting.”
As I nodded like a good student, Albiereo stood up from her seat.
“Okay, then before the lesson, I need to examine Siwoo-gun’s current level. Try to treat me with the utmost formality. It’s role-playing.”
“……”
“What’s with that expression?”
“Ah, no, it’s just a bit awkward.”
I couldn’t possibly say that the word ‘role-playing’ had reflexively made me think of bedroom scenarios, so I just mumbled.
“Awkward, my foot… Anyway, I’m a key figure in a certain academic society that Siwoo-gun wants to join. We don’t know each other. We’re meeting for the first time now. Action, cue.”
As Albiereo snapped her fingers to signal the start, her atmosphere changed completely.
It was like her gaze was different.
It naturally exuded an atmosphere of caution, curiosity, and authoritative confidence, as if she had come for a truly important secret meeting.
It was a transformation worthy of admiration, like she was wearing a mask.
“Alright.”
But Siwoo also had a knack for acting.
Even if it wasn’t role-playing with Amelia, wasn’t it the acting skills he had honed through various incidents so far?
Restrained, aristocratic, yet calm and overbearing behavior.
Undaunted boldness and serious words and actions.
First, I input my great aunt’s advice, closed my eyes, and grasped the emotional line.
I even did mind control, muttering that I was a damn cool Northern Grand Duke.
“Hello, I am the president of the society, Shin Siwoo. It is an honor to be able to host you.”
“Again!”
It was an immediate NG.
“Huh?!”
“What was that? That forced, Danish butter-like tone?”
“Was it cheesy?”
“Cheesy, and then some! I thought I was at a host bar! Moreover, ‘it is an honor to be able to host you,’ oh right…! You did work at a host bar…”
“A friend asked me, and I only, uh, served customers…”
Albiereo, who was clutching her head with a violent reaction, and Siwoo, who was shrinking back, feeling guilty.
It was a desperate performance on my part, but what exactly was so lacking?
“Haa…. It’s too artificial.”
“Isn’t it inevitable since I’m acting?”
“You have to act so perfectly that it doesn’t feel artificial! Naturalness, ease, and above all, it’s important to give off the nuance that you’re not conscious of it.”
It’s like telling me to act like I have natural breasts even though I had plastic surgery.
It also meant perfectly recreating the soft movements, the jiggle, and the grip.
It’s a very difficult request, as you can tell.
“Anyway, again. Try again.”
“Yes.”
My great aunt is very scary when she’s angry.
Strictly speaking, she wasn’t angry, but my great aunt was also scary when she was frustrated.
“Hello. I am the president of the society, Shin Siwoo. I have heard of your reputation. It is a pleasure to be able to work together…”
“Again!”
Another NG.
“No, wasn’t that really good this time?”
“Good? What are you talking about?”
I was really wronged this time.
I had lowered my voice as much as possible and thought it was quite plausible, but she was mercilessly tackling me.
A reasonable suspicion arose.
Could all these NG declarations be due to my great aunt’s prejudice?
Since Siwoo always showed a distrustful and unpleasant side, she didn’t like even his acting.
It was literally like she was looking at the ‘story’ rather than Siwoo’s acting.
When I cautiously voiced this opinion, Albiereo put her hands on her hips and scoffed.
“Do you think I can’t distinguish between public and private matters? After listening to what Siwoo-gun said, I think I know what the problem is.”
“What is it?”
“Wait a moment. I’ll be right back.”
Albiereo left the office without any further instructions.
