Without even realizing it, I fell asleep during a lesson. 

I couldn't imagine what my punishment would be, so I was afraid to open my eyes. I had a five-minute period where I was awake but pretended to still be asleep because I was unable to figure out a course of action. 

During this time I heard the door open and someone approaching me. I felt him very close to me and after a while he moved away.

"I see you are awake. You can get up now, Lady Alina," the familiar voice of the seemingly stoic professor said. It was coming from the general vicinity of the doorway, and was that..exasperation in his voice?  

Timidly, I opened my eyes and pretended to yawn and stretch.

"Sir Ovarin, when did you get here? I've been asleep this whole time and I didn't realize you came in." I laughed awkwardly and tried my best to be as convincing as possible.

Sir Ovarin looked at me with raised eyebrows and an expression that said he knew I was lying. Without a word, he sat down at his desk in front of the table I was sitting at and sifted through a few piles of paper and some books before speaking. 

"Shall we get on with the lessons?" He asked, still organizing papers. Presumably ordering them in what I was to learn first. 

"Sure," I replied and moved to sit down at the desk next to him.

The rest of the time I tried not to sleep or do anything that would make him mad. 

Even though he wasn't one I pegged as constantly angry, his serious expression and tone of voice told me I should be scared of him. If I ever managed to make this man angry I should be hiding somewhere. 

So I made sure to pay attention to what he said, ask questions and take notes. And to my utmost surprise, most of what I learned drew me to absorb more knowledge. Even the history lessons that were unbearably boring were of some interest to me.

Some time had passed when Mary entered the office with a kitchen trolley cart laden with food.

"Lady Alina, why don't you take a break? It's time for your lunch," she said and pulled the top cloth off the kitchen trolley cart.

Finally we're going to take a break! We've never spoken to Sir Ovarin outside of class. This is a good opportunity.

I drooled at seeing all the food she had brought. 

"Yes, we can take a break," Sir Ovarin said.

I immediately cleaned the desk from the books, notebooks and pens and Mary and I carried the plates of food. I had all my attention on the food that I didn't notice that Sir Ovarin had already arrived at the door and was about to leave.

"Where are you going, Sir Ovarin?" I managed to say before he left.

"I leave you to enjoy your break, Miss Lady Alina," he said, and again turned to leave.

Then I, reacting instinctively, rushed up to him, and to stop him I took his hand. He was startled and stopped. He looked at me with a look of wonder, waiting for an explanation.

Realizing what I had done, I let go of his hand in shame and lowered my gaze.

What should I do? In this world, physical contact between people is strictly forbidden. Let alone between a man and a woman. How can I be embarrassed like this! What if he gets angry? He'll punish me. Or worse, he'll make me study more.

"I- I wanted to tell you that you can sit here. I think Mary brought lunch for you too," I said nervously without looking up.

Mary nodded and continued to get the desk ready. I continued to stare at the floor anxiously.

Then I noticed a shadow pass in front of me and footsteps could be heard. I looked up and saw Sir. Ovarin approaching Mary.

"Thank you for thinking of me," he said to her, and then immediately turned to me, " Are you coming, Lady Alina?"

I was relieved.

"I thought..." I started to speak but stopped.

There was no need to continue, since Sir Ovarin was acting as if nothing had happened. I decided to seize this opportunity and find out more about him.

We both sat down at the desk and started to eat but neither of us spoke. And when I tried to make conversation with him he always answered in one word.

"Do you like this soup, Sir Ovarin?"

"Yes."

"Do you have something you like to do in your spare time?" I tried again. 

"I wouldn't say that."

It was very awkward. I turned my head down, knowing I was flushing a bright shade of pink. 

Am I approaching this the wrong way? What would Sir Ovarin be interested in discussing? Oh yes! How I hadn't thought of it before.

"Sir. Ovarin, do you have an interesting book you can recommend for me to read with my younger sister? We like to read stories together once in a while."

Sir. Ovarin's normally emotionless face came alive as he talked to me about something he was interested in. While we talked about books his eyes sparkled.

So he likes books. Got it.

"But, Lady Alina, I did not expect you to have such an interest in books," he said to me at the end.

I didn't know whether to be offended or not. He was right, but then again, what else could I do in a world without technology? No cell phones, no televisions, and not even a movie theater?

I laughed awkwardly.

"I told you, I like my little sister to read to me," I said and continued, "I recently became very ill and when I regained consciousness, I had lost my memory. Hearing Erin read books relaxed me."

Sir. Ovarin seemed thoughtful for a moment.

"Really? You lost your memory? Oh, then it makes perfect sense, yes."

"What?" I asked in pure wonderment.

What did he mean?