4

Fatigued from the busy past few weeks, and likely triggered by the mental and physical exhaustion after work the previous day, Connie had to drag her sluggish body to work the next morning.

Fortunately, coming in despite her heavy body was worth it. Callian apologized to William and didn’t threaten or hit him throughout the class. Connie felt so proud and grateful for Callian that she wanted to hug and kiss him multiple times.

However, while her body managed to hold up while the children were present, it began to sink further once they left for home, and by late afternoon, she was hit with a headache and chills. She seemed to have come down with a proper cold.

Eventually, Connie collapsed onto her desk and was just waiting for the end of the workday.

“Connie Clarence. It’s time to go home……”

Hearing a voice behind her head, Connie raised her heavy body and looked toward the front door of the classroom.

It was Ethan Schwab.

“Ah, Vice Principal.”

“It’s past closing time. I came by because some mail arrived, but…… are you sick?”

Ethan, who had already approached right in front of her desk, looked at Connie’s face as if examining it carefully.

“Yes, I’m not feeling well. I should go home quickly and rest. Thanks for the mail.”

Connie subtly moved her body backward, uncomfortable with Ethan’s face being too close.

“You seem to have a fever? Your face……”

“I think so, since I feel cold. I’ll be fine if I go home and rest. You should head home too.”

She thought her appearance must look terrible. She didn’t want to show this side of herself to Ethan.

“Should I call a doctor?”

“What doctor? I need to go home.”

“Where should I put this?”

Ethan asked, holding up a box.

“Ah, so the mail was a package. That……”

As Connie reached out her hand, Ethan didn’t give it to her but instead placed the box on the top shelf of the bookcase behind her desk. What’s that pink color? There seemed to be something pink on the box……

“You don’t even look like you have the strength to carry this now. Just go home and rest.”

That was a shelf she had left empty because it was out of reach……

For a very brief moment, she felt like there was something she had been waiting for. But her mind, hazy with fever, couldn’t recall that memory, and she suppressed the thought of bringing down the box that was already placed high up and taking it to her quarters.

I’ll look at it later.

Connie dragged her body, which felt like it might collapse at any moment, toward her quarters. She needed to sleep first.

By the time she arrived at her room, hastily removed her outdoor clothes, got into bed, and immediately fell asleep, the package box that had been placed on the highest shelf of the bookcase had completely disappeared from her mind.

⁕⁕⁕

For several days, she repeated the pattern of enduring during work hours and collapsing after returning home. Every day at closing time, Ethan would come to her classroom to check if she was okay, which made her try even harder to recover, but by the end of the workday, her energy would still hit rock bottom.

Moreover, there was a parent participation class on Friday, and since this was Connie’s first such event, she had to prepare thoroughly, leaving no time to rest her mind or body comfortably.

By the morning of the event, her condition was at its worst. To make matters worse, the fever reducer and painkillers she usually took when sick had run out the night before, so she took an unfamiliar medicine given to her by Teacher Anna before leaving work yesterday. However, the medicine didn’t seem to be working; instead, her headache was getting worse, making her dizzy.

Still, Connie moved her heavy body busily, thinking that if she could just get through today, the weekend would provide relief.

After checking that the activity sheets, colored pencils, scissors, and glue were all in the baskets for the children to do activities with their parents, and after placing the class introduction booklets for the parents on the shelf under the podium, it happened.

“Is everything ready?”

Teacher Anna leaned against the front door of Connie’s classroom and asked. Knowing that Connie had been unwell since last week, she had been helping and taking care of her in various ways, and was still concerned on the day of the event.

“Yes, I think…… everything’s ready. It was easier thanks to your help. Thank you so much.”

It would have been much harder without Teacher Anna’s help.

“What did I help with? You prepared everything yourself, Connie. Anyway, hang in there. Oh! After the event ends, shall we have some tea together?”

“Ah, that would be nice, but I’m still not feeling well today. I think I’ll have to leave early after the event and go to a pharmacy.”

“Oh my! Really?”

Teacher Anna walked quickly into the classroom and immediately placed her hand on Connie’s forehead.

“Oh my! You really are. Your fever is burning hot. You’ve been unwell for a while, and now it’s come to this. You need to take medicine right away. Go to the staff room. There should be emergency medicine there. I’d like to bring it to you myself, but it’s time for the children to arrive. No, your students will be coming too, right? Hmm…… this won’t do. I’ll run and get it for you.”

Unlike her usual self, Teacher Anna was flustered and didn’t know what to do.

“It’s okay. I can bear it. After the event……”

That’s when it happened.

“What’s the matter? Is Connie Clarence very ill?”

Ethan entered the classroom.

“Ah, Vice Principal! Connie seems to be very unwell. Her fever is burning hot.”

“Ah! You’re still…… like this?”

Following Teacher Anna’s words, Ethan’s response made Connie’s face flush with heat.

‘Still like this’?

It was a statement that clearly revealed Ethan already knew she was sick.

And he almost slipped into informal speech for a moment.

Connie could feel Teacher Anna’s eyes widening as she looked back and forth between Ethan and herself.

“Ah, no! I just couldn’t take my medicine this morning, so I’m a bit under the weather. I’ll be fine after taking medicine when class ends.”

Connie made up an excuse to send the two away quickly. She had taken the medicine Teacher Anna gave her, but it wasn’t her usual medicine.

“What do you mean fine! I’ll bring you medicine first, so take it.”

Ethan spoke as if angry and then left the classroom.

Connie was a bit bewildered as she watched Ethan leave, then awkwardly smiled at Teacher Anna.

“I met the Vice Principal on my way home yesterday. He knew I wasn’t feeling well yesterday either.”

“Ah, I see. But you know……”

That’s when William and his father, Duke Wayne, entered through the back door.

The first student had already arrived.

“Oh my, it’s already this time.”

Teacher Anna, who had exchanged eye greetings with Duke Wayne along with Connie, checked the time and looked flustered.

“You should go.”

“Yes, I’ll go. Hang in there.”

Connie pushed Teacher Anna’s back, moving her heavy legs that felt like they were carrying sandbags. Children and parents would be arriving at Teacher Anna’s classroom too, and she couldn’t leave it empty.

“Father, please sit wherever you’re comfortable.”

As soon as Teacher Anna left, Connie smiled with effort and guided Duke Wayne.

Though she had prepared seats for parents at the back of the classroom, Duke Wayne remained standing.

The Duke nodded and sat in the seat closest to William’s desk. Almost simultaneously, several children and parents began entering the classroom.

Connie’s heart started pounding at the sudden influx of parents. When even Her Majesty the Queen arrived, her legs began to tremble.

No matter how equal all parents were supposed to be, meeting Her Majesty the Queen, whom one might struggle to see once in a lifetime, was indeed a heart-pounding experience.

‘I can do this. I can do it!’

After giving herself an internal pep talk, Connie instructed the children, who were slightly excited from coming to school with their mothers or fathers, to take their seats.

“Teacher, did you put on makeup today?”

She was about to answer Natalie, who had approached her with this unexpected question as soon as she entered the now noisy classroom.

“Teacher.”

An adult woman’s voice came from behind her.

It was Countess Lancelot, Sana’s mother.

“Hello, Sana’s mother.”

Connie reflexively looked at Sana’s seat, but Sana was already sitting there, looking toward the front of the classroom.

“Yes, hello, teacher. I came to school today for the participation class, but what should I do? I think I need to go to Scott’s classroom. Since Scott is younger than Sana, I have more things to attend to. The Count is not someone who can leave his position for school matters.”

“Ah…… I see. It can’t be helped.”

What could she say?

“Yes, then I’ll ask you to keep an eye on Sana. I’ll be going now.”

The Countess greeted Connie very formally, somewhat differently than during the home visit, then went to Sana and whispered something.

When Sana nodded, the Countess stroked Sana’s head and said, “Sana, Mommy will try to come back if possible,” loud enough for Connie to hear from a distance, then left the classroom.

The Countess’s voice must have been audible to others as well, as several parents’ gazes turned to the Countess who kept looking back at Sana.

Connie looked at Sana’s face.

Unlike the Countess who looked back several times, Sana was looking down at her desk with her head bowed.

Strange.

As Connie was thinking how awkward the Countess’s affectionate attitude, different from before, and Sana’s expressionless face looked……

“Don’t follow me!”

Suddenly, a sharp shout came from the back door.

‘That’s Callian’s voice.’

Sure enough, a deeply frowning Callian and a smiling Count Brightling appeared.

It seemed the uncle had come instead of the parents again.

What kind of people are those parents?

As Connie was clicking her tongue inwardly, her eyes met Count Brightling’s at that moment.

“……!”

Connie blinked momentarily.

Did I see things because my fever is too high?

It seemed like Count Brightling had just mouthed ‘hello’ when their eyes met.

A few days ago, they had been discussing whether Callian could keep attending school, and the meeting hadn’t even been at the school. Yet now they were clearly at school, in the nephew’s classroom, meeting as teacher and guardian—and he just said ‘hello’?

However, seeing the Count smirk with one corner of his mouth raised, she could be certain that she hadn’t imagined it or seen things—he had really just said ‘hello.’

How rude!

Connie turned her head abruptly and walked to the podium.

Where does this rudeness end?

She could feel the Count staring at her, which irritated her so much that her face flushed with heat.

Her face must have turned red, and thinking that the Count could see it all made her even angrier.

‘Don’t let that person get to you, calm down, Connie Clarence.’

Connie took a deep breath.

It was time to start the class.

‘Good thoughts. Positive thinking.’

Like a self-affirmation, Connie realized that thanks to the Count’s rude and seemingly crazy greeting, she had forgotten not only the tension about the participation class but also her headache.

Yes, all people are precious and have their own value for existing.

Connie tried hard to recall the significance of Count Brightling’s existence. The significance that his absurdity had made her tension disappear.

Of course, at the same time, she also vowed never to make eye contact with that Count again.

⁕⁕⁕

How strong the human mind can be.

The participation class continued for two hours, but there was a break in the middle.

Until the break came, Connie was so focused on the class that she forgot about her headache, cold, and fever.

But perhaps because the tension had eased, her legs began to tremble when the break time arrived.

During the break, the children showed and explained their displayed works to their parents. Then, in the next hour, they planned to cut triangles, squares, and circles from colored paper, and use them for an activity where parents and children decorated their houses together.

After that, the children would briefly move to the auditorium to watch a play, and the teachers would have time to introduce their classroom management policies to the parents.

As a result, there was one hour left in the participation class, but Connie had to spend two more hours with the parents.

Connie had originally planned to check on Sana during the break, but to endure the remaining time, she had no choice but to sit in the chair behind the teacher’s desk to rest.

“……!”

Suddenly, a small face thrust itself in front of Connie, who had been exhaling only thin breaths.

“William?”

William had somehow come right next to Connie.

“What’s wrong?”

“Teacher, are you sick? Your face is red.”

“Ah……!”

Looking again, Daniella was standing behind William, and behind her, Callian was standing in line like a train.

It seemed William had come out, followed by Daniella, and then Callian had followed Daniella.

And that wasn’t all. Behind the children stood Duke Wayne and Her Majesty the Queen. The only positive aspect that could be found at this moment was that Callian’s guardian, Count Brightling, was nowhere to be seen.

“I’ll check if you have a fever.”

“Huh?”

Before Connie could stop him, William placed his hand on her forehead.

Connie froze in surprise and then immediately looked at Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke.

Both were looking at William and her. Such embarrassment.

“You have a fever. You have a fever, teacher, you’re sick.”

William said with a deeply worried expression.

“No, I’m fine. Williaam.”

Connie unconsciously put force into her voice when calling William’s name.

Although William was considerate and attentive, it was quite embarrassing that he displayed these qualities even at such a moment.

“Teacher is fine, so go back to your seat now, we need to start the next class.”

That’s when it happened.

“Connie Clarence.”

Ethan Schwab was entering through the front door of the classroom.

Connie lifted her heavy bottom from the chair.

“Come out for a moment. There are still about two minutes before the next class starts.”

Connie didn’t even have the strength to take a single step right now. But she couldn’t refuse when the Vice Principal asked her to come out.

“Our teacher is sick.”

William’s voice clung to Connie’s back, and she could feel the parents’ gazes following as well.

Being sick wasn’t shameful, but it was embarrassing that she hadn’t managed her condition well enough to prevent the children from worrying about her.

“Take this medicine. I ran into some parents on my way to the staff room and had to greet them, so I’m only coming now.”

Once out in the corridor, Ethan held out medicine to Connie.

“This is a fever reducer you can just chew.”

Connie lacked the strength to point out Ethan’s informal speech, so she silently took the medicine.

In truth, she also feared that if she opened her mouth to respond, tears might well up.

When someone takes care of you while you’re sick, doesn’t it naturally make your heart soften? If you’re this nice to me…… you’re just like my umbrella.

Feeling that Ethan was like an umbrella had now become a habit for her.

“Let’s go back in now. The parents and children will be waiting.”

Ethan corrected his speech to a formal tone and lightly tapped one of Connie’s arms.

“Informal one moment, formal the next. This is quite amusing.”

However, just as Connie was about to return to the classroom, Count Brightling’s voice suddenly froze her legs.

What the hell, where had he been hiding!

“Hello, Count Brightling.”

Ethan greeted the Count.

“Hello.”

The Count kept his eyes fixed on Connie while giving Ethan a perfunctory response.

“I see you’ve come for the participation class. Then……”

“No, not for class participation. I came to see someone, and it’s quite amusing.”

The Count cut off Ethan’s words with a strange remark.

What is he saying? Who did he come to see that’s so amusing! He came to see his nephew.

As Connie looked at the Count’s face wondering what his incomprehensible words meant, she suddenly frowned.

‘You.’

The Count had mouthed the word when their eyes met.

This…… this crazy bastard!

“My, how frightening. You seem sick, but your eyes are still fierce.”

Connie, who hadn’t even realized she was glaring at the Count, barely managed to relax her eyes.

“Vice Principal, Count Brightling is a parent in our class, so he seems to have come to observe. I’ll go in now to teach.”

Connie hurriedly spoke to Ethan and then entered the classroom.

Crazy, crazy! He’s a completely crazy Count.

It was deplorable that such a person was a parent in her class.

⁕⁕⁕

“Let’s go back to the classroom now.”

As soon as the teacher stormed into the classroom, the man who was the Vice Principal said to Andrew.

During that boring parent education session or whatever it was last time, this guy had introduced himself as the Vice Principal.

Ethan Schwab. Andrew had thought the name sounded familiar—he was the son of the current chairman of the Steen Foundation.

Andrew had thought he seemed ill-suited to be a Vice Principal……

“I suppose I should. What I want to see is in there anyway.”

Do you understand?

“……I suppose so. I know your nephew is in that class.”

Talking about nephews, are we?

You understood, didn’t you? I said I’m going in to see that woman, Connie.

Why are you pretending not to understand, you Vice Principal bastard?

“My nephew is there too, but……”

Andrew answered with a smirk, and Ethan Schwab’s face visibly hardened.

It seemed he could no longer pretend not to understand with a smile.

Just then, the sound of the teacher explaining something to the children came from inside the classroom.

“Connie…… The teacher seems to have already started the class, you should go in now.”

Ethan Schwab urged him to enter once more.

The problem was “Connie……”.

Is it a new trend for a school Vice Principal to call a teacher by their first name?

Or did this bastard deliberately call her that way for me to hear?

Are they really something to each other?

The scene he had witnessed earlier flashed through his mind.

Just before, he had stepped out to clear his head after growing irritated with a girl named “Natalie,” who couldn’t understand and had spent an entire hour asking pointless questions.

That was when he saw the Vice Principal bastard giving medicine to the teacher, switching between informal and formal speech.

And now, “Connie, pause, teacher”?

This definitely seems like he’s making a move, doesn’t it?

But this bastard is set to inherit the Steen Foundation. In other words, the employer.

An employer making moves on an employee he hired……

What a despicable, filthy bastard?

“Then I’ll be……”

Just as Andrew had gone through his own unique yet firm thought process to instantly define the Vice Principal before him as a “despicable, filthy bastard,” that despicable, filthy bastard nodded his head and was about to go elsewhere.

“Hey…… Vice Principal Schwab.”

“……What is it, Count Brightling?”

The man’s face was contorted.

“You’re the son of this foundation’s chairman, aren’t you? Right?”

“Count Brightling, it’s true that I am the chairman’s son, but that doesn’t give you the right to speak informally to me. Please show proper respect to the teachers first.”

This despicable, filthy bastard is talking about respect.

“I’m saying you’re the employer, and an employer shouldn’t casually make moves on an employee, should they?”

“Count Brightling, what on earth are you talking about? Making moves! Don’t speak so carelessly. I am merely managing our school’s teachers as the Vice Principal. And I’ll say it again, please show proper respect toward me.”

“Whether you make moves or have a romance, it’s none of my business. But when the subject is my nephew’s homeroom teacher, it becomes my business. As a workplace superior, flirting like that……”

“Count!”

“Ooh…… now you’re getting angry? Did I hit too close to home?”

“I don’t want to exchange any more words with the Count. Since you came to our school as a parent today, I’ll let it go.”

“You don’t have to let it go. If you want to hit me, go ahead and try.”

“Unlike you, Count, I don’t like violence.”

“Really? I like……”

Andrew suddenly stopped speaking.

⟨Women generally like men who apologize well and never hit others. Remember this, women really hate men who hit them.⟩

Why was he suddenly remembering Connie Clarence’s words at this moment?

Ah…… damn!

Could it be that Connie Clarence, that teacher, likes this bastard too?

Haa!

In an instant, an irritation worse than when he had witnessed the Vice Principal making moves on the teacher earlier washed over him.

He felt like punching the guy who was saying he didn’t like violence, just to see how long he would keep saying such things.

Just as Andrew’s foot took one step toward Ethan Schwab—

“Count Brightling, please come in and help Callian. He says there’s a lot to cut with scissors.”

Connie Clarence suddenly poked her head into the corridor and spoke.

Why should I! You and this bastard……

“Vice Principal, why are you still here? Please go!”

Andrew, who was about to ignore the teacher who was busy flirting with the Vice Principal during work hours, momentarily paused and looked at the woman after hearing her cold words directed at the Vice Principal.

Her face looked incredibly red.

In fact, her face had been red throughout the entire class.

He had only thought it looked nice, like a ripe strawberry, and hadn’t realized at all that she was sick.

If you’re sick, you should go home and lie down, why pretend to be fine?

“Connie…… are you really okay? Your face is so……”

The Vice Principal bastard must have thought the woman’s face looked serious too, as he spoke with concern.

That may be true, but “Connie, are you really okay?”

What kind of relationship do you two have?

Now he’s really crossing the line.

That mouth of his really needs a good punch……

“Vice! Principal! I’m fine! Please stop worrying and go attend to your business!”

But at that moment, Connie Clarence, whose face had turned even redder as if she was more irritated than Andrew, fixed her eyes firmly and almost shouted at the Vice Principal.

What’s this?

Andrew’s narrowed eyes now turned to Ethan Schwab, who had just received what was close to a scolding and an order to leave from Connie Clarence.

“Connie, I……”

“Count, Callian is waiting for his uncle right now!”

But Ethan Schwab couldn’t say anything more to the teacher.

Connie Clarence ignored him as if she couldn’t even hear his words, and urged Andrew once more.

While stubbornly avoiding Ethan Schwab’s gaze.

Looking into Connie Clarence’s eyes, which were staring intently at him with an extremely angry expression, Andrew realized.

Whatever might happen in the future, at least for now, those two were not in a romantic relationship.

The woman, who had always been good at conveying messages with just her eyes, was clearly communicating with her gaze.

Don’t cross the line.

The woman was telling him with her eyes, as clearly as if spoken aloud, not to cross the line she had drawn.

The lines that shouldn’t be crossed seemed to include not only a parent speaking informally to her, but also a workplace superior who wasn’t even her lover calling her by just her “name” in front of an outsider, or speaking informally to her.

I like that line.

“Then I suppose I will? Since ‘Connie’ is begging me so desperately.”

Andrew, whose displeasure had melted away like snow in an instant, took cheerful steps toward the back door of the classroom as he spoke.

When such a passionate teacher pleads with him like that, as a parent, he should fulfill his duty.

He could feel Ethan Schwab’s piercing gaze on the back of his head, and he thought he heard the woman’s angry voice muttering “crazy.”

This sick woman is quite good at cursing.

Yes, that’s it.

The line.

That woman trembles with indignation when someone crosses the line she has drawn.

And that applies not just to him, but to that Vice Principal as well.

That fact couldn’t be more delightful.

To the point where the woman’s rough words felt as cute as baby babbling.

Entering the classroom, Andrew saw the children busily cutting something with scissors.

Connie Clarence was walking around the classroom, watching what the children were doing.

Is she okay? Does the medicine work right away?

Andrew tilted his head as he looked at the woman’s still-red cheeks.

She probably couldn’t just disappear in the middle of class, but it seemed foolish to pretend to be fine like that.

Take it easy, tsk tsk.

“Parents, please go to your children’s sides to watch what they’re making, or help them if you’d like.”

Connie Clarence, who had circled the classroom once, spoke loudly to the parents standing at the back of the classroom.

Her face had grown even redder in the meantime.

‘Just take it easy and sit down to rest, you foolish woman.’

Andrew clicked his tongue.

But the woman stood firmly in front of the podium.

“Teacher, my scissors are gone!”

And as if on cue, a child whined to her.

Andrew looked to see which dim-witted child couldn’t keep track of their belongings.

It was a boy who seemed to have mischief plastered all over his face. Glaring at the name tag on his chest, Andrew saw the name “Nathan” written on it.

“Look around again. Check your desk drawer, and if you still can’t find them, I’ll give you new ones.”

At Connie Clarence’s words, the child answered that he had found them right away.

If you could find them so quickly, why did you ask?

Andrew glared at Nathan once more.

But soon his gaze shifted as the girl who had been asking irritating questions since the previous class period made her appearance.

“Is it okay if the circle looks all scrunched up like this?”

Natalie.

Ah, this little thing. I should just shut her mouth.

“That’s fine.”

Connie Clarence kindly answered.

“But teacher, our house is white, is it okay if I make it blue?”

Natalie seemed to have no intention of letting the teacher go.

‘Do whatever you want! You brat!’

Andrew was barely restraining himself from wanting to smack Natalie on the head as she started another question festival.

“She keeps copying me. Her house should be different from mine.”

This time it was the princess who voiced a complaint.

And the child the princess pointed to was, damn it! Callian, who wasn’t even sitting next to the princess but two seats away.

Wait, why is that kid copying the palace where the princess lives?

Looking around, Andrew noticed that all the parents had moved next to their children. Except for himself, who had come as Callian’s guardian.

He was still sitting in the parent’s chair at the back of the classroom, just watching Connie Clarence.

He smirked.

The moment he realized this, Connie Clarence’s axe-like eyes, which had been looking at Callian due to the princess’s complaint, were also glaring at him.

Though unintentional, it was the first time since returning to the classroom that the woman had made eye contact with him.

Strangely, those axe-like eyes looked cute.

‘Alright. I’ll go.’

Andrew mouthed these words to the woman as he moved to Callian’s seat.

He grabbed the arm of the boy who was still lingering near the princess and sat him down.

“Hey! Why are you copying the princess’s house? The palace is different from our house.”

“I didn’t copy it. I was just looking.”

Callian huffed.

Andrew confirmed that Callian’s words were true as he looked at the blank white paper with nothing drawn on it.

He didn’t copy. He just didn’t do anything at all.

“Get to work.”

“Uncle, go back. You’re noisy.”

“Hey! You, this……”

Just as he was about to raise his voice at the impertinent Callian.

“First grade!”

Suddenly Connie Clarence shouted loudly.

What is she doing?

“Class 3!”

But as if they had been waiting, the children who had been doing their own things answered in chorus.

Even Callian joined in.

“Conversations!”

“Whisper whisper!”

Following Connie Clarence’s lead and the unified voices of the children, Andrew realized this was a classroom rule, and at that moment his eyes met with Connie’s again.

Ha!

So she’s telling me to be quiet now?

Looking at Connie Clarence’s sharp eyes, he could tell that the chant-like response was meant to tell him to shut up and help Callian.

This sick woman may be unwell, but her glares and temper are quite alive.

Connie Clarence glared at him for about one second before turning her head away abruptly and going to the seat of a girl who was making something alone.

He couldn’t understand why she was alone without a mother or father, but it seemed she was trying to help that child.

So there were parents like his brother and sister-in-law here too.

If they paid tuition to send their child to school, shouldn’t they be here on days like this?

As Andrew watched the visibly weak Connie Clarence saying something beside the child, he looked around the classroom wondering if the child really had no parents, and his eyes met with Duke Wayne.

Andrew stared blankly at the Duke, recalling Connie Clarence’s reason for visiting his house.

The Duke’s face was expressionless, but he nodded slightly, greeting him first.

Though Andrew didn’t particularly want to respond to the greeting, he slightly lowered his chin.

The Duke barely acknowledged his greeting before lowering his head and beginning to say something to his son.

Ah, so that small boy is the one who was hit by Callian.

No wonder he got hit. He’s so small and frail.

As he was looking at the Duke’s son, Callian tapped his sleeve.

“What.”

“Uncle, cut this for me.”

“Why should I?”

“I need to work on this. If you won’t help with this, just go back!”

“Your own work……”

He was about to tell him to do it himself, but he closed his mouth and picked up the scissors. He didn’t want to hear the whole class chanting “Conversations, whisper whisper” again.

However, his hand stopped cutting almost immediately.

He saw Duke Wayne approaching the teacher. And he could hear everything the Duke said to the teacher, in a voice that wasn’t particularly quiet.

“Teacher, William says he doesn’t need help and that you should help Sana. You don’t seem well, why don’t you sit down while the children are working?”

Ah, damn it!

Andrew’s mood soured once again.

What is this now?

Are they some kind of father-son duke team?

Why are the child and father stepping up to worry about the teacher?

Suddenly, cutting Callian’s circles seemed ridiculous.

“No, Father. I’m fine. Thank you for your concern, but I’ve taken medicine and I’m feeling better.”

Connie Clarence refused, even waving both hands.

She said she’s fine. Why are you interfering!

“No. Don’t you also have to give a class briefing to the parents? You really don’t look well.”

Briefing? Was there such a thing?

Andrew didn’t even know there was something else scheduled today besides the class.

And that Duke bastard was even concerned about that.

Ah, first the Vice Principal was annoying, and now even a parent is irritating.

Andrew’s gaze fixed on Connie’s mouth.

What will she answer?

Surely that line she draws so well this time too……

“Sana, this is William’s father. Would you like to ask him for help if you need it?”

‘……!’

Surprisingly, Connie Clarence was telling the girl to accept the Duke’s help.

When the girl named Sana nodded very slightly, the woman said ‘Then I’ll ask for your help. Thank you, Father’ with a red face and even smiled before returning to her seat.

What is that?

He felt a surge of heat.

He was irritated by Duke Wayne’s unnecessary concern about the teacher’s condition, and even more irritated by Connie Clarence’s actions in gratefully accepting that concern.

Where’s the line? No line? Not drawing a line?

However, when he saw Connie Clarence’s face as she sat in the teacher’s chair looking at the classroom, Andrew had to put aside his irritation.

The woman’s face was too red.

So red that if he touched her cheeks now, they would surely be hot.

That woman is in no condition to maintain lines or anything else.

She looked serious.

⁕⁕⁕

Connie sighed as she sat in her chair, checking the clock.

Even to herself, it seemed absurd to be sitting in the teacher’s seat just watching during a parent participation class, but she had no choice as it was too difficult to even stand right now.

Despite feeling embarrassed and honored by Duke Wayne’s consideration, she couldn’t refuse because…

If she had tried to endure a little longer, she felt like she might have thrown up.

When does the medicine start working?

The headache should have subsided by now……

About 15 minutes had passed since taking the medicine, so the effects should be kicking in, but her head was still throbbing and felt like it might explode. Moreover, it seemed her brain had lost its regulatory function due to the headache, causing her stomach to feel queasy. She might have to rush out to vomit at any moment.

Meanwhile, Count Brightling was glaring at her while helping Callian.

Really, she couldn’t understand why that person had come.

Was he criticizing her with his eyes for sitting and resting during class?

It felt uncomfortable that he had witnessed her taking the medicine Ethan gave her.

Ah!

That’s right.

Why did Ethan act so strangely again?

Calling her by just her name in front of parents, speaking informally.

As if that wasn’t enough, with a parent who would love to find fault with her.

Connie deliberately ignored the stinging gaze of that rogue, directing her attention to other parts of the classroom.

The children were chattering and giggling with their parents, actively engaged in their activities.

Making houses would take about 20 minutes.

After that, she would have some children present their work, and the class would be wrapped up appropriately……

The thought of having to conduct an explanation session for the parents afterward seemed overwhelmingly distant.

The one fortunate thing was that for the rest of the day, the children would watch a play and then go straight home.

If she had to teach more classes after that, she didn’t think she could endure.

Yes, so I can hang on until the explanation session!

I can do it!

She needed to somehow complete today’s schedule successfully.

Connie unconsciously held her head, which felt like it might crack, and forced her closing eyes to stay open.

However, 30 minutes later….

After taking the children to the auditorium and just as she was about to start the briefing for the parents, Connie’s head spun as she stood at the podium.

‘What’s happening…… This can’t be happening……’

With the absolute thought that this shouldn’t be happening, she lost consciousness.

⁕⁕⁕

“Oh!”

“Aah!”

With several people’s exclamations, there was a thud, and the teacher collapsed onto the floor at the front of the classroom.

Graham Wayne, the Duke, jumped up from his seat. The fallen teacher appeared to be completely unconscious.

She had looked unwell since the break after the first period, but……

Someone ran to call for help.

It seemed she should be moved to the infirmary first.

Graham approached the fallen teacher and was about to lift her up. However, at that very moment, someone pushed him aside and picked up the teacher first.

Andrew Brightling, the Count?

“Does anyone know where the infirmary is?”

The Count asked the parents who were worriedly watching the teacher in his arms.

When someone stepped forward saying they knew, the Count followed them toward the infirmary. Graham frowned as he watched the Count’s retreating back.

The uncle of the child who had hit someone else’s child multiple times had not approached him to apologize for the incidents despite several opportunities today, nor had he even properly greeted him.

It was already well-known that his character was not good, but it was quite unsettling to see such a person carrying away the teacher whom William liked.

To the extent that he wondered if the Count might just throw her onto the infirmary bed.

It was even more incomprehensible that he had pushed aside Graham, who was closer, to carry the teacher.

He had heard rumors about the Count hitting others, but he was a human type far removed from good deeds, such as helping fallen people.

A few minutes after the teacher disappeared, Vice Principal Ethan Schwab rushed into the chaotic classroom and asked the parents for understanding, saying that he would notify them later about the class briefing.

After briefly considering whether to leave the school as instructed by the Vice Principal, Graham began to follow the Vice Principal who was heading to the infirmary.

Fortunately, she hadn’t collapsed in front of William, but if William found out that his teacher had collapsed, Graham wanted to be able to reassure him by checking on her condition.

On the day when William’s mother first collapsed, William had unfortunately witnessed the scene.

At that time, Graham had been so shocked himself that he couldn’t properly comfort William.

Of course, a homeroom teacher isn’t the same as a mother, but that homeroom teacher was one of only two people William had been mentioning lately. This meant the collapsed homeroom teacher was important to William.

Was she a woman with a naturally weak constitution?

He hoped that wasn’t the case……

While he was concerned about the teacher’s health, his primary hope was that William wouldn’t be shocked by the fact that his homeroom teacher had collapsed.

Another experience of losing someone important shouldn’t happen to young William in succession.

⁕⁕⁕

Ethan Schwab, Count Andrew Brightling, Duke Graham Wayne, and an unfamiliar adult man.

Connie blinked at the four adult men who came into her view.

What on earth is this…… Ah!

Only then did she remember that she had collapsed in front of the parents.

She also realized that she was now lying in the school’s infirmary bed.

She wanted to close her eyes again from shame, embarrassment, bewilderment, and apologetic feelings, but she had already made eye contact with all four people looking down at her.

“Are you conscious now?”

Ethan asked, moving closer.

“Ah, yes…… I……”

Connie tried to sit up, but just then the door opened and Teacher Anna rushed in.

“Teacher Connie, are you alright?”

“Ah, Teacher Anna.”

As Connie tried to sit up again, Teacher Anna, who had already reached the bedside, pressed down on her shoulders.

“Just lie down a bit longer. You might get dizzy if you get up suddenly. The briefing is over anyway, and the parents have all gone home…… except for the parents here.”

Teacher Anna said, glancing at Count Brightling and Duke Wayne.

“No, I’m fine.”

Connie forced herself to sit up.

So the parent briefing is already over.

I ruined everything.

I wonder why those two parents are still here?

Connie blinked as she looked at the Duke and the Count.

“Do people still get malnutrition these days? A teacher of all people……”

When the Count’s eyes met hers, he immediately launched into what seemed like nagging or criticism.

Malnutrition? Me?

Along with learning that she was malnourished from the Count’s scathing words, a wave of embarrassment washed over her.

The fact of being malnourished was embarrassing enough, but she hated that this rude and arrogant man was the one who exposed it.

However, she didn’t know what had happened while she was unconscious, so she felt cautious about asking people why they were gathered here.

Losing consciousness is this dangerous.

“I heard you’re suffering from malnutrition and severe physical weakness, Connie…… Ms. Clarence, what exactly have you been eating?”

Just then, Ethan glanced briefly at the Count and turned his gaze to Connie, asking as if on her behalf.

“……”

Connie felt even more embarrassed as she recalled her poor diet.

It wasn’t surprising that she had malnutrition given her diet.

But could that really be why she collapsed? Her diet had been a mess for several years now.

“The collapse wasn’t because of that. Did you take any other medication before taking the medicine I gave you earlier? The doctor here says you might have taken two incompatible medications together……”

As if answering her unspoken question, Ethan continued with his explanation.

So that unfamiliar man is a doctor.

“Well…… I did take some medicine before coming to work……”

“What kind of medicine was it?”

The doctor asked.

“Lori……”

She thought that was roughly what it said on the label, but she didn’t know the exact name. Since it was for headaches, she had just assumed it was appropriate and hurriedly swallowed it before work.

“It must have been Lorientum. It seems that medicine conflicted with what the Vice Principal gave you, causing nausea and dizziness. If you had vomited, you might not have collapsed, but it appears you forced yourself to hold it in.”

“Ah……”

“You fainted due to taking the wrong medication while already suffering from malnutrition and overwork. You should be fine if you eat well and rest properly.”

“Yes……”

Her voice shrank with embarrassment. She wasn’t a child, yet she had ruined such an important school event through her own mistake.

“Oh my, could that have been the medicine I gave you? I’m so sorry.”

Teacher Anna murmured.

“No, please don’t say that. The problem was that I took different medications without knowing better. You were just concerned about me and even provided medicine! Please don’t say such things.”

Connie hurriedly responded to Teacher Anna, who was blaming herself.

“That medicine had such warnings written on it, but I never thought you would happen to take it together with something else……”

“No, Teacher Anna! It’s my fault!”

As Connie and Teacher Anna were exchanging words…

“By the way, it seems the employer at this school overworks their employees.”

Count Brightling suddenly interrupted their conversation.

Making a strange comment.

What is this person saying now?

Not only Connie, who felt uneasy, but everyone’s attention turned to him.

“You mentioned overwork. How much work must they be assigning for a teacher to collapse in the middle of class?”

Connie’s mouth fell open.

Seriously, what is wrong with this person?

Is picking fights with anyone his hobby?

Why is he even here, and why hasn’t he left yet?

“That’s not true! How could you say such a thing…… I’m sorry. I made a mistake in front of the parents.”

Connie almost snapped but carefully moderated her words as she turned her body to get off the bed.

She felt she needed to send the Duke and Count away quickly.

“Please stay as you are, teacher. You should still rest. Now that I’ve seen you’re awake, I’ll take my leave.”

The Duke, who had been quietly standing by, restrained Connie and spoke.

“No!”

“Lie down. Collapsing after gathering all the parents, yet still being stubborn.”

However, with the Count’s additional remark that seemed to express contempt, Connie’s body froze.

How could he make the same message sound so unpleasant? If that was a talent, it was truly an exceptional one.

But she had no defense against such criticism, so she could only close her mouth.

“Ms. Clarence seems to be fine now, so you both can leave.”

Ethan said, looking back and forth between the Duke and the Count.

The Duke nodded, looked at Connie once more with a slight bow, and headed for the exit.

Connie stared at the Count, who strangely remained motionless.

With a message clearly conveyed: ‘Please leave too!’

“An adult woman’s body as light as paper. As light as Callian’s. Take better care of yourself…… please.”

The Count glanced at Teacher Anna, who was staring intently at him, forcibly changing just the end of his sentence to formal speech, then finally turned abruptly and walked out.

Ethan also followed, presumably to see the parents off.

She somewhat appreciated that he finally left, but that speech pattern, barely formal…… What on earth was he talking about? Light as paper? What…!

Suddenly, a realization hit her, and her face flushed hot.

Could it be…

“Earlier, I heard a commotion in the hallway and Class 3, so I stepped out into the corridor for a moment while conducting our class briefing. That Count was carrying you to the infirmary, Teacher Connie?”

Perhaps her face clearly showed her question and realization, as Teacher Anna explained as if confirming, ‘Yes, that realization is correct.’

“……”

So it’s true.

Connie wanted to faint again. Just briefly, to wake up having forgotten only that fact.

To think she was carried to the infirmary by a parent. And of all people, that Count Brightling!

It was not only embarrassing but also unsettling.

Why did I have to faint then!

“I’ll be going now too. I’ll leave some vitamins and medication, so please take them diligently for the next few days.”

The doctor who had remained said this while packing his medical bag.

“Yes. About…… the medical fee……”

“I was told to bill the Steen Foundation. Don’t worry about it.”

“Yes, thank you.”

The doctor barely acknowledged her thanks before leaving, and with only Teacher Anna remaining, Connie finally felt her tension release.

The headache had subsided, but her body felt limp.

“Now lie back down.”

Teacher Anna urged, but staying in the infirmary any longer would make her feel uncomfortable and possibly worsen her condition.

“No, Teacher Anna, I need to go back to the classroom and tidy up……”

“Oh, come on! Forget it. I’ll clean up roughly, so take the rest of the day off. Why are you so stubborn? If you felt like you were going to collapse, you should have told someone beforehand. We’re lucky it wasn’t worse—what if you had hit something when you fell!”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, I’m not asking for an apology, I mean…… Never mind. Just go and rest. Tomorrow is Saturday, so rest well over the weekend and recover. Do you have proper food at the faculty residence? I wonder if I should prepare something for you.”

“No, I can manage…… I mean, I can take good care of myself. Thank you so much.”

Connie forced herself to get off the bed.

Sorry as she was to Teacher Anna, she felt she really needed to leave early and get into bed at her residence.

In her current state, she didn’t think she could do anything at all.

She could make plans for dealing with the aftermath after resting. She could come back on the weekend to tidy up the classroom.

Though she was so embarrassed about fainting in front of the parents that she wanted to sink into the ground, she had to console herself with the fact that at least she hadn’t collapsed in front of the children.

She went to the staff room, filled out the early leave form, and waited for Ethan’s approval.

“Just go. I’ll explain on your behalf. Are you in any condition to wait in your current state? The Vice Principal will only return after seeing off all the parents from the other grades, so hurry and go.”

Teacher Anna, who had been constantly by her side out of concern, snatched the form and said this.

“Yes, but…… if Count Brightling carried me to the infirmary, why was Duke Wayne also there?”

A curiosity she had forgotten suddenly came to mind.

“Ah! That’s right? Why was he there?”

“Ah…… It’s so embarrassing. Can we reschedule the class briefing for next week?”

The worry she had been trying to put aside resurfaced.

“Just rest for now. Think about it later.”

Pushed along by Teacher Anna, Connie arrived at her residence and crawled into bed, newly grateful that her home was attached to the school.

As always, sleep is the best medicine when you’re sick.

⁕⁕⁕

Ryan had just finished meeting with the Princess of the Temparan Kingdom, who had arrived to attend his father’s upcoming coronation celebration next week.

The delegation, which had arrived much earlier, had been coordinating for quite some time to arrange a royal marriage between the Princess and Ryan, and since his father was positive about this marriage, there was no way to avoid meeting the Princess.

He had never liked such strategic marriages, and after meeting the Princess in person, his enthusiasm diminished even further.

The Princess had a decent personality, decent appearance, and decent qualifications, but that was all.

Did he really have to go through with this kind of marriage, based solely on the interests of both countries and conditions befitting his status?

According to the kingdom’s tradition, where the heir to the throne typically married between the ages of twenty and twenty-five at the latest, he was supposed to marry this year, but……

“Huu…… I really hate this.”

He sighed deeply in front of his mother’s office, where she had clearly summoned him to ask about his impression of the Princess. He entered the room, contemplating how to convince her that he wasn’t ready for marriage yet.

“You called for me?”

“Yes, you already know why I called you, don’t you? How was it?”

“Since you wanted me to, I met her.”

“……?”

His mother’s eyes narrowed.

“I met her, and I felt nothing special. Surely you didn’t expect me to say I wanted to marry her right after meeting her?”

“……Perhaps, and this is just your mother’s concern, but let me ask you something.”

What are you trying to say?

“You’re not disinterested in women, are you?”

“Pardon?”

What does that mean?

“I mean, um…… perhaps, um…… you, as a man, might prefer men……”

“……!”

Ryan almost blurted out ‘What are you talking about?’ but managed to swallow his words.

Liking men.

Eric had occasionally made such nonsensical remarks, but to hear such words from his mother.

Does he have to hear such things just because he hadn’t met any women by the age of twenty-five?

“The Temparan Princess is quite beautiful and matches well with you in many ways, yet you still say no. That’s why your mother has to say such things.”

His mother averted her gaze as she spoke, perhaps noticing his grim expression.

“Mother, wouldn’t it be stranger if I liked someone just because they’re beautiful? In fact, she didn’t even appear that beautiful to my eyes. I simply have no interest in marriage yet.”

“Ryan, does that make sense? Though your father is still in good health, as a prince who will inherit the kingdom, you’re at an age where you could have already had children by now.”

He truly hated this culture that demanded marriage at such a young age.

The standard for ‘young’ might differ, but he had no desire to meet women, let alone have children.

“If not the Temparan Princess, is there perhaps another woman you have in mind?”

His only interests right now were balancing his role as a prince and his work as a writer. A woman in mind……!

Suddenly, he couldn’t understand why Connie Clarence’s face flashed through his mind.

She was definitely not someone he had in mind.

In fact, Connie’s face had appeared in his thoughts from the moment the word ‘beautiful’ left his mother’s lips.

It must just be his preference.

Small, cute, and lovable……

Ah, seriously, Ryan Stanton, are you crazy?

Why would you think she’s lovable? This is absurd. How many times have you even seen her?

“Ryan?”

“Ah, no. A woman in mind? How could I possibly have such a woman? The only women in my life so far have been you and Daniella. Oh! How was Daniella’s parent participation class?”

Come to think of it, his mother had mentioned going to Daniella’s parent participation class today.

No matter how busy her duties as queen were, she never neglected her children’s upbringing. She had rarely missed any school events when he attended Steen School.

Of course, she was attending every event for Daniella, her precious daughter who also had a weak constitution.

But if she wanted the Temparan Princess as a daughter-in-law so badly, perhaps I should have gone to the school while she met the Princess.

Then I could have seen Connie instead of an awkward foreign princess……

Ah, Ryan Stanton, what’s wrong with you?

Why do my thoughts keep going in strange directions?

“Ah! That’s right! Ryan, Daniella’s homeroom teacher collapsed!”

Ryan’s wandering consciousness was suddenly cut off by his mother’s words.

“What, she collapsed? Connie…… Ms. Clarence?”

“Connie……? Yes, the homeroom teacher. You even know her first name? Well, I suppose you’ve been listening to all of Daniella’s school stories.”

His mother didn’t provide a detailed explanation, instead changing the subject.

“Mother! The teacher collapsed? Why did she collapse? Did she really collapse?”

“I don’t know the details either. She suddenly fainted during the third period while trying to conduct the class briefing. I was so shocked. The Vice Principal came running later, but no! I just met Count Brightling for the first time. That Count carried the teacher to the infirmary. I thought he had a rogue personality, but it seems that’s not entirely true. Anyway, the briefing was canceled because the homeroom teacher collapsed, so I came back early. I wonder how the teacher is doing. I hope nothing serious happened.”

“……Are you referring to Andrew Brightling when you mention Count Brightling?”

Connie collapsed.

And Count Brightling carried her when she collapsed? What is this……

“Yes, that man. I saw the Vice Principal sending the parents home and going to the infirmary. I hope it’s nothing serious.”

“Vice Principal…… You mean Ethan Schwab?”

“Yes, probably the son of the Steen Foundation’s chairman?”

“……”

“Oh, come to think of it, Duke Wayne also seemed to be heading to the infirmary. Actually, I wanted to go see too, but I thought it wouldn’t be good for too many parents to crowd in, and I felt she might be more uncomfortable if I went, so I held back. Now that I think about it, I should probably send someone to the school to find out what happened. She is the princess’s teacher after all……”

His mother wasn’t concerned about Connie’s well-being. She wanted to know the status of ‘the princess’s homeroom teacher.’ For the princess’s sake.

But he couldn’t care less about that.

It wasn’t just anyone, but Connie who had collapsed.

“……I’ll find out.”

“You?”

“Since it concerns Daniella’s homeroom teacher, wouldn’t it be good to know?”

His mother’s official concern aligned with his personal interest.

“That’s true. I hope it’s nothing serious, but if her health is very poor, the homeroom teacher might be replaced……”

“Mother! Let’s find out first before discussing that.”

Ryan suppressed his displeasure as he cut off his mother’s words.

“Yes…… I suppose we should.”

He ignored his mother’s slightly widened eyes.

Connie Clarence had fainted.

And Count Brightling carried her, Ethan Schwab followed, and what? Duke Wayne?

Ethan Schwab following made sense since he was the Vice Principal, but why did Duke Wayne, that widower, go along?

His thoughts were tangled with worry, questions, unease, and displeasure.

Fortunately, he still had enough reason to suppress his desire to rush to Steen Elementary School immediately, recognizing that it would be better to call Eric, who could gather information more quickly.

First, he needed to know if Connie was alright.

⁕⁕⁕

Two hours later.

“The teacher, who was already in poor health due to accumulated fatigue from malnutrition and overwork, took medications with incompatible ingredients together, and fainted while trying to suppress the vomiting caused by the side effects.”

As expected, Eric was reporting the exact situation.

“How is she now?”

“She woke up about 30 minutes later and took early leave to return to the faculty residence.”

“Will she be alright?”

“The fainting itself was due to medication side effects, so it doesn’t seem serious, but they say she has chronic malnutrition. I don’t understand why Teacher Connie Clarence is in such a state. She has a proper family…… Oh, they’re not her biological parents, but legally she’s not an orphan.”

Ryan knew from Eric’s reports that she was the adopted daughter of the Clarence family. However, Connie often wrote in her letters that she had no family, so he also knew that she considered herself an orphan.

Perhaps she didn’t have a good relationship with the Clarence family.

If an adopted daughter reached the point of chronic malnutrition, the relationship must be nonexistent, almost like strangers. That’s why she thought of herself as an orphan.

“Anyway, this fainting episode doesn’t seem to be due to a serious illness.”

“Why did Count Brightling and Duke Wayne follow her to the infirmary?”

“The school couldn’t tell me why they followed, but since they are parents of students in her class, wouldn’t they be concerned about the homeroom teacher? It doesn’t seem like a particularly unusual situation.”

Yes, if Connie weren’t the homeroom teacher, he would have thought the same.

But it’s Connie. That makes it concerning.

“……Does any other teacher live in that faculty residence?”

“No. Teacher Connie Clarence is the only teacher using the faculty residence.”

“So there’s no one to take care of her?”

“I suppose not.”

“Could we…… send someone?”

“Who do you mean?”

“Anyone from the palace staff.”

“Pardon?”

“She’s Daniella’s homeroom teacher. Wouldn’t it be appropriate for the royal family to look after the princess’s teacher as parents?”

He was concerned that there was no one to care for her, and moreover, it bothered him that the residence was within the Steen Foundation school grounds, under Ethan Schwab’s jurisdiction.

“……Your Highness.”

Eric’s eyes had narrowed.

What is he going to say now?

His chest tightened at the thought that Eric, who was always perceptive, might have seen through his true feelings.

“Don’t you think that’s overstepping? If the royal family sends someone to the faculty residence, would Teacher Connie Clarence appreciate it or find it uncomfortable? It’s good that you care for the princess, but you should also consider the position of an ordinary citizen who would have to accept the royal family’s goodwill.”

“……”

Fortunately, Eric’s sharp intuition wasn’t working properly. But regardless, his point seemed valid.

Someone might be needed, but a person sent from the royal family would probably not make her comfortable.

So how should we take care of that small, delicate woman……

Ah……! What was it?

Suddenly, he remembered a letter he had received from Connie in the past.

Ryan pulled out a bundle of letters from about two years ago from a drawer where he kept only Connie’s letters.

“Find the ones sent during seasonal changes.”

“Pardon?”

“Quickly look for them. It would have been early winter or early spring.”

“What are you talking about?”

“It’s a letter sent during seasonal changes, with content about being sick.”

“What is this about?”

Eric asked with an undisguised look that questioned what nonsensical act this was.

“Just find it, find where Connie Clarence wrote about being sick and what to do!”

Ryan commanded while already checking through the letters.

He could feel Eric shooting a disrespectful glare at the side of his face.

“I believe I asked you to search, Sir Gosling.”

“……Yes.”

Finally averting his gaze, Eric also began to sift through the letters.

“Found it.”

After checking several letters, Ryan finally found the one he wanted.

[Dear Author, I was sick last weekend, so this letter is late. I often get throat colds during seasonal changes. When I was young and my father was alive, he would brew ginger tea whenever my throat hurt, but I would stubbornly refuse to drink it because it tasted bad. Now I often miss that ginger tea my father used to make. I wish I had pretended to enjoy it and drunk more. It would have made Dad happy, and I would have recovered quickly. Now whenever I’m sick, even if it’s not my throat, I want that ginger tea, but living in a dormitory makes it difficult to make ginger tea. I don’t have honey either. Instead, I try to follow my father’s saying that ‘sleep is the best medicine when you’re sick,’ so I always crawl into bed.]

“So it was ginger tea.”

“Were you looking for what she eats when she’s sick? You could have just asked me. Isn’t ginger tea basic for colds? Thinly slice ginger, add honey……”

Eric was dampening his joy at finding Connie’s letter by rambling on. At this rate, he seemed ready to write a ginger tea recipe book.

“How would I know without having been sick myself! You don’t know either.”

“Didn’t you know that despite my good health, I have weak bronchial tubes and have lived on honey-sweetened ginger tea? You’re really too much……”

“Do I need to know such things about you? Be quiet and make honey-sweetened ginger tea and take it to Connie’s dormitory.”

“You’re really too much……”

“That’s enough!”

“Yes!”

“Since she’s sick, bringing it loudly might prevent her from resting, so very quietly, just leave it in front of the dormitory and come back.”

“Instead of sending a caretaker, I think it wouldn’t be too burdensome to personally deliver ginger tea to the princess’s homeroom teacher.”

“Haah…… Eric.”

“Yes?”

You lack human compassion.

“When Connie is sick, she’s like a baby who must crawl into bed. If she was that sick, wouldn’t she be sleeping now? Don’t you think? Absolutely do not wake her up, just quietly leave it at the door and come back. When she wakes up, she’ll check the door. And don’t forget the honey, plenty of it.”

“……”

Eric, who should have rushed out after receiving the order, was blinking and staring at him.

“What are you doing? Not leaving.”

“……Yes, I’m going. But did you just say ‘like a baby’?”

“What are you……!”

Did I say that?

Did I really say such a thing?

‘……!’

I did!

Like a baby……

She’s Daniella’s homeroom teacher and a proper adult who graduated from university.

His face flushed hot.

“When a grown woman looks like a baby to you, that’s the end of the story……”

As if his face and head weren’t hot enough already, Eric threw more fuel on the fire with his muttering.

“……”

“It’s fortunate that Your Highness wouldn’t look at a woman, especially someone like Connie Clarence, that way…… If someone else had heard, they would certainly have misunderstood.”

Eric continued muttering while nodding to himself.

He had a face of someone who had understood and accepted something on his own.

A woman like Connie Clarence……

What kind of woman is that?

Why wouldn’t I look at her that way?

“I just…… said it because she always sleeps when she’s sick.”

Eric’s reaction irritated him and was displeasing. Even the casual use of her name as ‘Connie Clarence’ bothered him. It bothered him so much that he couldn’t even show his irritation.

Because……

It wasn’t a misunderstanding.

But if it wasn’t a misunderstanding, then what was it?

Do I, do I really……

‘Do I…… like Connie Clarence?’

He finally faced the truth he had buried.

It was ridiculous that he felt this way after seeing her only a few times, but his feelings for her were definitely unusual.

From the very moment he first saw her on the Steen University campus.

Perhaps he had his heart stolen by her at that first meeting.

Really…… is that…… the case……

Yes, it seems so.

Because it was the first time he thought a woman was beautiful.

The moment he confirmed that Connie Clarence, who had sent him countless letters full of goodwill and sincerity, was the small, pretty woman who had come up to the graduation ceremony stage and was hard to take his eyes off, his heart had plummeted at a frightening speed.

At that moment, his heart was already stolen, and he experienced that plummet because he detected it as dangerous.

Even when he didn’t know her gender or exact age, he often thought, ‘It’s like I’m dating this reader,’ feeling attracted and constantly curious about her news. Now that he knew she was a woman as pretty and wonderful as Connie, it must have been an irresistible feeling.

Hmm……

It was a troublesome realization.

“Your Highness?”

Eric called to him as if knocking on his consciousness immersed in thought.

“It’s nothing.”

“What do you mean?”

Yes, what is nothing?

No, whatever it was, it had to be nothing.

His father and mother were pressing hard on the marriage issue, and the most suitable marriage partner was currently in the palace.

In this situation, to have feelings for a woman with the ambiguous status of being a Viscount’s adopted daughter, whom he had met as a reader.

“It’s nothing, so you can go now.”

“But what is……”

“Go. Don’t forget the honey-sweetened ginger tea.”

Eric tilted his head but eventually left the room.

It wouldn’t work. So it had to be nothing, no emotion at all.

Because it couldn’t happen.

Connie Clarence should just remain his avid reader and Daniella’s homeroom teacher.

Beautiful, cute, and lovable, but that’s all.

His heart couldn’t go any further.

⁕⁕⁕

Andrew Brightling was thinking about Connie Clarence.

Malnutrition? Overwork? Really. How much does that school exploit its teachers?

Irritation welled up.

The woman’s body, too light and hot, and the presence of Ethan Schwab who had rushed to the infirmary to look down at her.

And to top it all off, Duke Wayne’s appearance, strangely coming along and examining the woman.

He jumped up and headed to Callian’s room. Callian was playing alone, making something.

“Hey, Callian.”

“……”

Callian glanced briefly at his uncle Andrew, then without answering, turned his attention back to the blocks he was playing with.

“You’re not even answering me. You have no manners. No manners at all.”

“Neither do you, Uncle.”

This time Callian retorted without even turning his gaze from the wooden blocks.

This little brat, I just want to grab him and give him a good smack!

He wanted to hit him, but he held back because there was something he needed to ask. In truth, though he often wanted to hit him, he never actually had. If only because the sight of him playing alone every day was pitiful.

“About your homeroom teacher, is she often sick like that?”

“Don’t know.”

“Hey! Look at my face and answer properly.”

“I don’t know.”

“Don’t you care about your teacher at all?”

“Huh?”

Only then did Callian look up at Andrew as if to ask what he was talking about.

“She’s your homeroom teacher, so I’m asking if you know whether she’s usually sick or not.”

“No, I don’t know. Why? Is the teacher sick?”

He knows nothing.

“……She was sick yesterday. Didn’t you see her face turning red?”

“Her face turns red all the time. It turned red every time I hit William.”

This little…!

“You, are you still hitting Duke Wayne’s son these days?”

Could it be that this brat was causing so much trouble that it made her sick?

Andrew had no awareness that Connie Clarence had nearly collapsed grabbing the back of her neck more times because of Andrew Brightling than because of Callian Brightling.

“Duke Wayne? Oh! William Wayne?”

“Yes, did you hit him again?”

“No.”

“Good, don’t hit him. Ah……”

Suddenly he remembered the doctor’s diagnosis that the teacher was overworked.

With more than ten kids like this, no wonder the teacher collapsed. Plus that irritating, talkative girl.

“You, listen well to your teacher!”

“What are you suddenly saying?”

Callian frowned as if he had heard something strange.

That, that. He’s really infuriating.

Looking at Callian’s indifferent face, he also recalled the various questions and noise that erupted from all over the classroom throughout the scissor-cutting time, as if lava was boiling.

“Hmm……”

Come to think of it, wouldn’t it be much easier and better for a teacher to teach just one child rather than more than ten little ones?

“……?”

Unusually, Callian had put down his blocks and was looking at him. His expression seemed curious about what Andrew wanted to say, since he was just standing there silently.

“Callian.”

“Yes?”

“Do you like your homeroom teacher?”

“No?”

Who on earth does this kid take after? Surely not his father who can’t resist a pretty woman?

Thinking of his brother’s womanizing, he almost sighed.

He didn’t think he could meet women like that himself, if only because it was too troublesome. But his brother was passionately engaged in even adulterous affairs. Abandoning his son, too.

“……You don’t hate her, right?”

“Hmm……”

So he does like her.

Andrew interpreted Callian’s response in his own way.

“Then how about having lessons with just you and your homeroom teacher at home?”

What if I hired her as a private tutor? I could pay whatever salary she asks for, and feed her well too.

“I hate that!”

However, Callian’s reaction came back immediately like a spring, as soon as the question was asked, and his new idea hit a wall.

“You hate it?”

“I want to go to school.”

“But you said you hated school!”

“I like school.”

What’s with this kid? Is he a contrary frog? When told to go, he says he hates it, but when told to quit, he says he wants to go.

Callian’s sudden declaration that he liked school was incredibly annoying.

“Fine. Then just listen well to your teacher.”

“You said that earlier too.”

“That’s why I’m telling you to listen well. It’s emphasis, don’t you know what emphasis is?”

“I will listen well.”

Andrew stared blankly at Callian for a moment, surprised by his suddenly compliant attitude, but Callian had already turned his attention back to the blocks and continued playing.

Did that woman Connie Clarence feed Callian some medicine to make him like school?

As long as he wanted to attend school, there was no justification for scouting the woman and bringing her home.

As Andrew left Callian’s room, he remembered again how the red-faced woman’s body had been as light as a feather.

“She’s not a child…… How could I possibly cross any lines with her……”

He called for his butler.

To feed her properly, and to try crossing the lines she had drawn.

⁕⁕⁕

After taking early leave yesterday, Connie had been lying down the entire time and only staggered out of bed after noon.

Perhaps because she had slept for almost a full day, the headache had completely subsided, but she was terribly hungry.

She thought that if she continued sleeping like this, she might collapse again, this time from hunger.

Come to think of it, she hadn’t eaten anything except water since having a light dinner the day before yesterday, so it made sense.

She needed to eat properly to function well at work.

However, the communal kitchen attached to the faculty residence had predictable ingredients.

The only ingredients she had bought were eggs and milk.

I’ll have to eat that at least.

“Is anyone there?”

On her way to the communal kitchen, she stopped abruptly at the sound of a man’s voice knocking on the front door.

It was a voice she had never heard before.

“Who is it?”

She cautiously asked the man beyond the door.

“I’m from the Brightling household. Please open the door.”

“……?”

Connie put the chain on the door and then opened it.

She was cautious because someone had come to the faculty residence where she was alone on a holiday.

Through the slightly opened door, she could see a man dressed in a footman’s uniform.

“Hello. Are you a teacher at Steen Elementary School?”

He was holding a large basket.

“Yes, I am, but you said you’re from the Brightling household?”

“Yes! I’ve brought food to deliver to you, teacher.”

“Pardon?”

Food?

If it was sent from the Brightling household, does that mean Callian’s parents sent food?

But they wouldn’t be the type of parents to send food to a homeroom teacher.

They had never once come to school, showing not the slightest interest in their child.

Then, was it sent by Count Brightling, Callian’s uncle?

But why would he?

“I’ll leave this here and go.”

“No, wait! Why did you bring food? I appreciate the thought, but it’s difficult for me to accept food without a reason. If you could take it back……”

“This food was prepared with care for hours for you to eat, teacher. If you tell me to take it back, it will be very troublesome for me who was ordered to deliver it. If you really want to return it, could I just throw it in the trash can here? I’m really in a difficult position……”

The man trailed off with an expression suggesting he might cry at any moment.

If I don’t accept it, this man will be in trouble……

Considering the Count’s personality, he probably wouldn’t hesitate to mistreat his servants.

It feels uncomfortable and awkward, but I have no choice.

“Alright. Then please convey my thanks.”

Rather than causing trouble for the servant, it would be better if she felt uncomfortable.

As soon as Connie finished speaking, the man put down the basket and, seemingly worried she might change her mind, quickly turned around and began to hurry away, almost running.

Watching the man leave as if escaping made her feel even more uneasy.

This won’t do. I should tell him to take it back, whether he throws it away or not!

“Excuse me, wait a moment!”

Connie changed her mind and was about to tell him to take the basket back no matter what.

Clank! Clank!

But as luck would have it, the chain she had put on seemed to be rusty and was stuck in the hole, refusing to come out. To make matters worse, though the man must have heard her voice, he didn’t even look back and eventually started running.

By the time she finally freed the chain and opened the door wide, the man had already disappeared.

“Haah……”

Looking at the food basket left behind, she felt somewhat dejected.

That mocking expression, arrogant attitude, haughty tone, and rude words.

Such a person sent food to his nephew’s homeroom teacher? Why?

⟨An adult woman’s body as light as paper. As light as Callian’s. Take better care of yourself…… please.⟩

Suddenly, the Count’s biting voice came to mind.

⟨That Count was carrying Teacher Connie to the infirmary?⟩

And Teacher Anna’s testimony that he had carried her to the infirmary.

Did that person really send food for me to eat?

Because he found it terribly unsightly that I collapsed after gathering all the parents?

Anyway, the person from the Marquis household had already left, and only the food basket remained.

“Haah……”

She couldn’t just leave it at the entrance of the faculty residence.

Connie bent down to pick up the basket, her body still weak from continued fasting, but then paused.

Next to the basket was another smaller basket that she hadn’t noticed until now.

‘What’s this?’

When she opened the cloth covering the basket, there were several small bottles.

“This is……!”

Connie blinked several times.

It was ginger tea.

The very same ginger tea her father used to make whenever she was sick as a child.

How on earth……

Next to the three bottles of ginger tea were also three bottles of honey.

Did the person from the Brightling household leave this too?

But the man from earlier was holding the large food basket with both hands, so he didn’t seem capable of carrying this small basket as well……

Or did he bring this small basket first, then fetch the large basket from the carriage?

But if it wasn’t sent from the Brightling household but left by someone else, it might not be food meant for her.

Should I leave it as is?

“Ah!”

Looking again, there was a note between the ginger tea bottles and honey bottles.

Written in handwriting that looked as clumsy as an elementary school student’s: ‘To Teacher Connie Clarence.’

It was definitely delivered to her.

Hmm……

It must have been sent together from the Brightling household?

Connie finally came to the most plausible conclusion and moved both baskets to the kitchen one by one.

The large basket contained so much food, both in variety and quantity, that she doubted she could eat it all by herself.

“Am I supposed to eat all this alone?”

It was enough to host a party. It seemed like there would be leftovers even if she ate five meals until Sunday evening……

While taking out all the food from the large basket, she looked for a note like the one in the small basket with the ginger tea, but there was nothing.

It would have been nice if they had written down the reason for sending the food.

“Phew……”

Collapsing in front of parents, and now receiving food sent by a parent. And from Count Brightling, of all people.

However, at this point, if she didn’t eat the food that had already been delivered, she would have to throw it away.

I have to eat it anyway.

Connie finally started eating the soup that was still warm.

As the soup went down into her empty stomach, her foggy mind began to work gradually, and all sorts of worries and thoughts floated through her head.

Is this meant as “eat well and teach Callian well”?

Or is it “eat well and don’t collapse in such an unsightly way again”?

I can return the basket and dishes with Callian’s school carriage on Monday, right?

After eating, I should probably write a thank-you letter as a matter of courtesy?

Wait… is it really okay for me to eat this?

For how hungry she had been, she didn’t actually eat that much.

In truth, she ate the soup first because it seemed like it would get cold, but the only thing she really wanted to eat when she saw everything was the ginger tea.

Seeing the ginger tea that reminded her of what her father used to make brought tears of joy to her eyes.

Now I can drink the ginger tea.

‘It’s been so long since I’ve had this tea I’ve missed so much. It feels just like a gift sent from Dad.’

She even felt a bit more generous toward Count Brightling who had sent the tea.

Returning to her room with a cup of ginger tea filled with plenty of honey, Connie began writing a letter to someone other than Leonie for the first time in a very long time.

[To Count Brightling……]

⁕⁕⁕

After consulting with Vice Principal Ethan Schwab, they decided to reschedule the parent briefing that they couldn’t hold last time for this Wednesday, and she put notices in the children’s bags before they went home.

Some children asked, “Did the teacher really faint?” and William gave her chocolate saying the teacher shouldn’t be sick, but Callian from the Brightling family, who had delivered a whole basket of food, didn’t say anything special and seemed to have no interest in Connie whatsoever.

Well, from the beginning, the only “person” Callian saw in this classroom was Daniella.

How could he be so consistently blind like that?

If Daniella were to collapse, Callian would probably be the first to carry her to the infirmary.

And then he would bring all sorts of delicious things like chocolates and candies…!

Watching Callian following Daniella around, Connie suddenly got goosebumps at the thought that crossed her mind.

What am I thinking right now?

Carrying a collapsed woman to the infirmary and bringing her food.

Isn’t that exactly what Count Brightling did for her?

Connie rubbed her goosebump-covered arms and looked at the empty basket she had placed in a corner of the classroom.

I need to return that uncomfortable basket quickly.

The basket somehow felt like it was binding her tightly.

⁕⁕⁕

“A letter?”

As soon as Andrew saw the name “Connie Clarence” written on the envelope handed to him by the butler, he began climbing the stairs two at a time.

In an instant, he reached his room on the third floor and hastily read the letter he had already taken out of the envelope he tore open on his way up.

[To Count Brightling.

Hello, Count.

This is Callian’s homeroom teacher, Connie Clarence.

First, I would like to apologize for showing you an unpleasant sight and causing trouble during the recent parent participation class.

I heard that you were the one who took me to the infirmary that day. Thank you very much.

And thank you also for the food you sent to the faculty residence.

Everything was delicious and so full of care that I worried whether it was really okay for me to eat it.

The quantity was also substantial, so I think I’ll be able to eat it for a long time.

There was no special memo left in the basket, but I take it as encouragement to eat well and teach more diligently, and I will continue to guide Callian and the children with all my heart.

Once again, thank you for your kindness and encouragement.

Sincerely, Connie Clarence.

P.S. Callian seems to have adapted more to school life. I deeply appreciate the cooperation from your household.]

Andrew turned the letter over.

The other side was blank paper with nothing on it.

“Is this all?”

It was a letter without any fault to find. As far as letters that a homeroom teacher would send to a parent.

However, if that parent was Andrew Brightling himself, it was a different story.

For him, it was quite an unusual letter to receive from someone of the opposite sex.

He had received countless letters from various women filled with predictable phrases like “looking forward to our next meeting” or “it was an unforgettable encounter,” but this was the first time he had received such a dry and uninteresting letter that only said “sorry,” “thank you,” and “thank you” again.

Far from the perfume scent that women often sprayed on their letters, this woman’s letter written on plain paper without even a single drawing was so proper and bland that it was almost ridiculous.

In fact, letters reeking of perfume only irritated him and went straight to the trash without being read.

Earlier, when the butler handed him the letter, he reported that the class operation briefing that couldn’t be held last time would be held again the day after tomorrow in the afternoon.

To think he would be visiting an elementary school so frequently.

It seemed like he had already visited that school more times than during his own brief elementary school days at Steen School, but it looked like he would have to go once more.

The letter paper was folded inward along the lines the woman had creased.

Even the lines left on the letter were too distinct.

As distinct as the clear lines the woman had drawn for him and the vice principal.

But…

If she were to suffer from malnutrition, or be plagued by overwork, or collapse again. Wouldn’t those lines become a little blurred for the vice principal beside her or for dukes who appear out of nowhere?

Just like that day.

That shouldn’t happen.

The lines should remain clear.

Because only if he enters inside the lines she has drawn, he would become a special person different from all the other humans outside the line.

A special person who would want to hold her when she cries and become an “umbrella” when she gets caught in the rain, just as he did for Callian when he cried.

He would know if he crossed the line.