Suddenly, everything clicked together in Aldric’s head. This toad was trying to snag his student away to curry favor with a powerful head family, and maybe even the heir herself. No wonder he’d wanted to meet Aldric in person. He'd already tried to coax Kedrin into giving him Lilianna, then asked to meet with Aldric directly when that had failed. Even if it was just a branch family, Kedrin would have a hard time turning down a personal request of a distant relative of the Asimov house. He was effectively going over Kedrin’s head while framing it as if he was doing Aldric and Lilianna a favor.

“I implore you, Professor Aldric, for the sake of the young lady’s education, please consider allowing her to transfer to my class. It is nothing against you or your teaching abilities. I simply desire to provide her with the best resources available to her. Of course, it would have to be her decision in order to abide by the rules of her family, but I’m confident I can be very persuasive.” He gave them all the confident grin of a man who did not like to take no for an answer.

Kedrin and Zasia both looked deeply displeased by this turn of events. Neither of them had the position to turn down a personal request that wasn’t directed at them, much as they clearly wanted to. Kedrin had authority as headmaster, but if Rainer couched his request as being in the interest of Lilianna’s education, Kedrin’s bias towards Aldric would be obvious.

Aldric could simply refuse this request. Rainer was being pushy, and it wouldn’t be that odd to reject him, even if others would frown upon it.

Then Aldric remembered that this man was a noble. Based on the wicked gleam in his eye, this man fully expected and wanted him to reject his offer. He would spin it however he liked, frame it as though Aldric’s pride was impeding Lilianna’s future, that it proved he was unworthy of being here. It would be empirical evidence that Rainer could weigh against Zasia’s and Kedrin’s recommendations of Aldric. Hell, he might angle to get rid of Aldric altogether and take over his entire class. Having two Great Houses owe you favors was certainly better than one.

Dealing with these sorts of people was always a never-ending ordeal of putting out fires and sleeping with one eye open. Aldric now had suspicions over just who it was that had started all those rumors about him. He had dealt with more than his fair share of such people in his time, and was not eager to play this game again. No, the only way to deal with folk like this was to uproot them entirely.

“How about I make you a counteroffer?” Aldric asked, grinning wolfishly.