5

Connie was waiting for the parents who would soon come to the classroom after she sent the children home.

This was because they had decided to hold the briefing that they couldn’t have last week this afternoon.

Duke Wayne always came first, so wouldn’t he be the first to arrive today too?

Connie, who had been thinking of thanking him for waiting until she regained consciousness in the infirmary last time, was alternately looking at the front and back doors of the classroom.

However, the first person to enter the classroom was an unexpected figure.

“Hello, Your Highness.”

“Hello, teacher. My mother is busy preparing for tomorrow’s banquet, so I’m attending in her place today.”

“Ah… I see. Thank you for coming. There are name tags on the children’s seats. Please sit at your child’s seat.”

No sooner had she guided the prince to his seat than Duke Wayne entered the classroom.

She had originally intended to thank him, but with the prince present, it was difficult to bring up what had happened that day.

The prince probably didn’t know that she had collapsed, and there was no reason to let one more person know about it.

Duke Wayne greeted Connie and went to sit down, and soon other parents began entering the classroom one after another. When only three seats remained empty, Count Brightling appeared as well.

‘Hello.’

When their eyes met, the now almost familiar informal greeting came out again.

The food she had tried so hard to be grateful for now felt like it was giving her indigestion, even though several days had passed.

Anyway, thinking that he was a person she couldn’t adapt to or understand, Connie was about to turn her head away but ended up giving him a slight nod.

After all, he was the person who had sent her food and carried her to the infirmary.

It must have been kindness. It must have been kindness.

After the Count took his seat, Natalie’s mother arrived, and after waiting until the scheduled time, Sana’s parents never showed up.

She had expected as much, but it was still disheartening.

Ah! Could this be another opportunity to visit Sana’s home?

Suddenly energized by this new possibility, Connie enthusiastically began the briefing on class operation plans, and time flew by until it was time for the event to end.

“If anyone wishes to have an individual consultation, you may stay behind.”

Connie added this as she gave her final greeting, thinking that perhaps one or two people might stay.

However, that was something that should not have been casually added when dealing with first-grade parents who have immense interest in their newly enrolled children.

Of the eleven parents who attended, all but one person, Prince Ryan Stanton, remained—a total of ten parents.

⟨First-grade parents are like first-graders themselves. They have many questions and don’t know much. Parents follow their child’s grade level.⟩

Only then did she remember what Teacher Anna had said, but it was too late.

Some people will have to wait too long at this rate…

If she had known this would happen, it would have been better to set separate consultation dates, but it was too late to take back her words now.

Meanwhile, Prince Ryan Stanton left immediately, saying “You seem quite busy,” but she couldn’t tell if he meant busy because of the many consultations or just busy as a teacher in general.

It might have been nothing special, but his face looked colder than before, which left her feeling uneasy.

However, she soon forgot about him as she focused on consulting with the parents who were waiting for their turn one by one.

⁕⁕⁕

The parents who finished their consultations disappeared one by one until only two remained.

Duke Wayne and Count Brightling.

Why did it have to be those two people?

It was awkward enough that there had been conflicts between their children, but these were also the two people who happened to be there when she opened her eyes in the infirmary.

“Which of you would like to go first?”

Connie looked at Count Brightling, secretly hoping it would be him.

He was the more uncomfortable person.

She didn’t want to be left alone with that man if Duke Wayne finished his consultation and left.

“Let the Duke go first.”

The Count yielded, which didn’t match his usual personality.

He’s acting like his usual self. Rudely.

He’s such a contrary frog.

“Shall I then?”

The Duke accepted the Count’s concession without refusing.

Given his usual character, he might have yielded once…

“How are you feeling?”

The Duke asked about Connie’s health condition first, rather than talking about William.

Although it was awkward to talk about that day, she had to thank him anyway.

“Yes, I’m fine thanks to your concern. I actually wanted to thank you separately, and now you’re asking about my well-being again, so I’m grateful, but I’m also sorry that such an accident happened due to my carelessness.”

“Not at all. Sorry? William was very worried about you, so I was concerned too. That’s why, if it’s not too presumptuous, I would like to invite you to dinner sometime soon. The doctor’s words that day are still on my mind, and William has mentioned several times that he wants to invite you to our home.”

“Ah…!”

The Duke didn’t explicitly use the term “malnutrition,” but she felt embarrassed.

The dinner invitation was unexpected and confusing.

According to Teacher Anna, inviting teachers to dinner was quite common at Steen Elementary School.

The school didn’t specifically prohibit such invitations and even seemed to encourage them.

Originally, there was a mandatory home visit once per semester, but after that regulation disappeared, the atmosphere shifted to individual households inviting teachers when needed.

However, just as home visits were no longer mandatory, accepting invitations wasn’t obligatory either, so homeroom teachers could set their own standards and handle them appropriately.

In fact, Teacher Anna had added that invitations were quite common since the parents of Steen Elementary School were generally well-off.

But Connie had already decided to make it her principle to decline all invitations.

Invitations were burdensome unless there was a clear reason for the visit.

“When could you come?”

The Duke seemed determined to set a date.

“Invitation?”

But before Connie could even begin to decline, Count Brightling suddenly interrupted.

“It’s my consultation time now, so since you’ve already yielded, wouldn’t it be better to wait your turn?”

Duke Wayne looked at the Count and spoke in a tone completely different from when he was talking with Connie, as if pressing down.

For a moment, Connie felt goosebumps on the back of her neck.

‘That was really chilling…’

Come to think of it, William had shown a similar attitude when dealing with Callian. Polite, considerate, and thoughtful, but that wasn’t all there was to his personality…

The image of William then and the Duke now overlapped perfectly.

“Hmm… Very well. Then please continue. I’ll wait quietly back here.”

The Count stepped back one pace. He didn’t completely return to his place but stood ambiguously a few steps behind.

Doesn’t he know how impolite it is to stand so close that he can hear all the consultation details of another student?

Well… He probably doesn’t know.

Wondering what she had expected, Connie tried to ignore the Count’s presence and looked at the Duke.

When Duke Wayne gave Count Brightling a cold, disapproving look, the Count pretentiously looked elsewhere.

Eventually, the Duke turned his gaze back to Connie.

Like Connie, he seemed to have lowered his expectations regarding that man’s character.

“William often talks about you at home. I worry that he might be feeling lonely for the reasons I mentioned before, and since he seems to particularly follow and like you, I’m taking the liberty of asking despite the imposition.”

It was such a polite and earnest request that it was difficult to refuse.

Since he put it that way, should I visit just once?

But William is doing so well at school.

Could the Duke’s concern for his son be too premature?

It might be good to believe that the child can handle things well on his own.

“Father, I completely understand how you feel after hearing what you said. I’m also happy to hear that William talks about me at home. However, William is doing much better at school than your concerns suggest. So much so that he doesn’t seem to need someone else to fill his mother’s place right now. And even if he is feeling lonely due to his mother’s absence, the person to fill that place shouldn’t be me, but someone who can truly be by William’s side continuously, like a mother.”

How could she possibly fill the void left by a mother?

The magnitude of that existence couldn’t be diminished just because a homeroom teacher made a home visit once.

Unless the Duke remarried and William got a new mother who would love and care for him.

“……After hearing what you’ve said, I feel reassured, and I think perhaps I’ve been worrying too much about William. That may be true, but…… since it’s always just William and me at the dinner table, I thought if we could invite someone else William likes, even for just one day, it might create a good memory for him. Is it still difficult?”

Hmm…… a good memory, it seems like it would be hard to refuse after all…

“I want to invite her too!”

Just as she was about to accept the invitation, Count Brightling, who had seemed to be quietly standing behind, interrupted again.

What is he saying!

“Don’t you agree? Callian has neither a mother nor a father at home. I don’t usually eat with Callian either, so that boy always eats alone. Shouldn’t you come to our house too, to create good memories for Callian who eats alone every day?”

Really, why is he acting like this!

Connie couldn’t help but glare at him in disbelief.

The Duke wanted to invite her because William liked her.

It was obvious even to Connie that William showed particular interest in her and always wanted to help his teacher.

But Callian was completely different.

Far from wanting to invite her, he showed not the slightest interest in her.

If he wanted to invite Daniella, that would be a different story.

Each child had different circumstances and needs, and she couldn’t understand why he would eavesdrop on someone else’s consultation and then make such a forced argument.

“Going to one student’s home but not another’s…… Can a teacher do that? Isn’t that precisely ‘discrimination’?”

Why had his tone become so rude again?

And “discrimination,” of all things.

Hello, Count! Your nephew doesn’t want me!

But if she said, “Callian doesn’t want to invite me,” he would probably reply, “That’s not true? He likes you!” and there would be no way to counter that.

That man would definitely do something like that.

“You must be busy, and I think I’ve made an unreasonable request. If William asks me again later, may I ask you again then?”

Unexpectedly, the Duke withdrew his invitation.

It seemed he was appalled by the Count’s behavior.

“Yes, if William expresses a desire to invite me again, please let me know then. I’m not too busy to accept William’s invitation.”

“What about Callian?”

The Count interrupted again. He was truly an unstoppable person.

“Count, if Callian ‘truly’ wants to invite me, please let me know again.”

That will never happen.

“Father, William is truly a lovely child. Your devoted care and attention seem to be a great strength for William’s proper growth. Actually, I……”

Turning her gaze away from the Count who merely shrugged without answering, Connie was about to tell the Duke her story when she hesitated and looked back at Count Brightling.

I don’t want him to hear my story too…

“Count, it must be uncomfortable for you to stand. I think it would be better if you went to Callian’s seat and waited sitting down.”

Go far away.

“I’m fine, not uncomfortable at all.”

I’m the one who’s uncomfortable!

He must have understood what I meant, yet he’s so brazenly pretending not to.

Sigh…… what can I expect from that person?

Connie once again let go of her expectations.

“Actually, my mother also passed away when I was young. Although my mother died when I was even younger than William, I never felt that my father’s love was insufficient or felt sad because of my mother’s absence. I did think about missing my mother or how nice it would be if she were here, but that was a different emotion from feeling that my life was lacking because she wasn’t there. I think William is probably in the process of managing his sadness well and bravely enduring and overcoming it, thanks to your deep love. So please don’t worry too much. I’ll also pay more careful attention at school.”

Though not exactly the same, she shared a story she rarely told others to help William who had experienced a similar pain.

She wanted to tell him that a child could grow up well with just a father’s love, so please continue to love the child deeply and strongly as he was doing now.

It was unfortunate that the Count heard it too.

“This is…… troublesome.”

The Duke said with a smile.

“Pardon? What do you mean?”

“After hearing your encouraging and comforting words, I understand why William likes you, and now even I want to invite you.”

“Ah……”

“But I was quite a model student when I was in school, and my son seems to be that way too, so I should listen to what the teacher says. And since you have more consultations left, I’ll be going now. Thank you for conducting the briefing today, and please take care of your health. If the teacher who is so necessary for William collapses again, I might kidnap you to our formal dinner table every evening.”

“Ha, hahaha.”

Connie responded with laughter to the Duke’s skillfulness, who politely, respectfully, and even sweetly joked while indirectly demanding that she take care of her health to properly teach his son.

Though her laughter came out very awkwardly because she wasn’t as skillful as the Duke.

“Goodbye.”

The Duke either decided to ignore her awkward laughter or immediately greeted her and left the classroom without even glancing at the Count standing right behind.

Considering the Duke’s usual temperament, she could feel how displeased he was with Count Brightling right now.

Phew…

Finally, it’s that Count’s turn! I need to finish this quickly.

Connie tensed her lower abdomen.

“Count, is there anything specific you’re worried about regarding Callian? Or is there something you’d like to request of me? Is there anything I should know?”

She asked the Count as soon as the Duke left the classroom.

“Why are you asking everything at once? Are you trying to get me to ask quickly and leave?”

No manners, but very perceptive.

“Since you must be busy too, Count, and I think I’ve kept you waiting too long, I wanted to send you off as quickly as possible.”

“Ah…… it’s fine. I have plenty of time.”

But I’m not fine.

It was already approaching the end of the workday.

In fact, the parent consultations had lasted for over an hour, so the Count had indeed waited a long time, and Connie was tired too.

With ten parents, it was unavoidable even though she tried to finish quickly.

“Yes, then please take your time.”

Connie said, suppressing her desire to send the Count away quickly. Regardless of the Count’s character, he was a parent who had waited a long time for the consultation, so she should do her best.

“Did you drug Callian?”

“Excuse me?”

Her voice involuntarily went up in a squeak.

She had tried to do her best, but what nonsense was this?

“The child who was struggling and refusing to go to school suddenly wants to attend school very eagerly, that’s why I’m asking.”

“What a…… Are you making a joke? Drug him? Hahaha.”

I should laugh. Laugh, just laugh.

“You keep laughing like that. It’s obvious you’re forcing yourself to laugh.”

At the Count’s words, even her forced laughter faded away. Had he come for a confrontation rather than a consultation?

“I’m glad that Callian has come to like school.”

“Well, it wasn’t Callian who took medicine, but the teacher. You fainted after mixing various things.”

She felt uncomfortable and anxious about why the conversation was suddenly taking this turn.

Could it be that he was acting this way because she hadn’t thanked him in person for carrying her to the infirmary and sending food to the faculty residence?

“I forgot to thank you properly. I should have thanked you in person even though I sent a letter. Thank you for taking me to the infirmary and for the food you sent.”

Connie bowed her head as she thanked him.

“Hmm…… Shouldn’t you be apologizing rather than thanking me?”

“Ah…… about fainting……”

“I was really surprised that you ate up someone else’s food like that.”

“What do you mean……”

“That food was meant for an acquaintance who used to stay there, but I was told they had already left the faculty residence. So why did you eat it, Teacher Connie Clarence?”

“What? What are you talking about……”

“Ah…… you didn’t know. Right, you might not have known. Let’s say you couldn’t have known that an acquaintance of mine lived there. But how could you not know the basic principle that you shouldn’t eat food that isn’t yours? As a school teacher. That’s just common sense, isn’t it?”

What is he saying?

Food meant for someone else?

Does this make any sense?

He happened to have an acquaintance living there?

And he happened to send food that day?

Lies!

She was almost certain that the Count was making up excuses. But given his current attitude, she couldn’t just say, “Stop lying.”

“The person who brought the food confirmed with me whether I was a teacher at Steen Elementary School. I was the only teacher in the faculty residence. So I had no choice but to think the food was sent to me. But if I really made a mistake……”

“Look, Teacher Connie, how would I know you were staying there to send you food? How would I know you were living alone in the faculty residence?”

“……!”

She was completely at a loss for words.

Because the Count’s point was valid.

She had no rebuttal to his claim that he didn’t know she lived in the faculty residence.

This feels extremely unfair…

“Do you know how surprised I was when I saw the letter you sent? To hear you ate it all…… How could someone who was so malnourished that they collapsed possibly eat all that food alone?”

“I didn’t eat it all!”

“Ah…… so you didn’t eat it all, but you did eat it. Right?”

“But this is so absurd and unfair from my perspective. I was the only one in the faculty residence, and anyone in that situation would… Ah! There was a memo saying ‘Connie Clarence’ on the small basket there.”

Fortunately, she remembered the small basket that contained the ginger tea.

Why had she forgotten about it until now? She had recovered by drinking the ginger tea all weekend.

Perhaps it was because while she thought no one but Count Brightling could have sent it, she also considered that it might not have been him.

“A note with the name ‘Connie Clarence’? That’s impossible. I didn’t write anything like that. But wait… small basket? What’s that?”

“……?”

Connie stared at the Count’s face, trying to gauge his intentions.

She wondered if he had forgotten about sending the memo in the small basket, or if he had realized it belatedly and was now trying to deny it.

“Who…… sent something else to you, teacher?”

However, the Count narrowed his eyes and asked instead.

His tone was accusatory, as if asking what she had received from someone else.

Could it really not have been him?

Then who sent the ginger tea?

“Never mind, anyway, regarding the food you sent, I feel really wronged.”

If it wasn’t the Count, there was no need to bring up the ginger tea.

“That’s your problem. From my perspective, I’m equally bewildered and upset that a complete stranger ate the food I sent.”

“……!”

Connie bit her lower lip.

This terribly awful human being.

She clasped her hands tightly together to suppress the urge to slap the face of the man in front of her just once.

There was a high possibility that his claim about knowing someone who lived in the faculty residence was also a lie. But even if she exposed his lie, this man would likely respond with something like, “I thought they lived there,” turning the tables on her.

She had completely fallen into a trap set to torment her.

In fact, knowing this man’s character, she had felt uneasy even while eating the food. Nevertheless, she had tried to believe it was pure kindness.

And now he was making such a dirty and childish fuss. What on earth does this person want!

Sigh…… she needed to calm down first.

He must be doing this because he wants something.

“Count, um…… is there something you want from me because of this? How should I apologize?”

“You should pay me back.”

“The food?”

“That’s right!”

Her clenched fists trembled.

I want to hit him. I want to hit that lying mouth!

“How…… do I do that?”

“You should make the exact same food again and return it to me.”

This is the worst. They say rich people are scarier, and this was exactly that case.

Demanding food that had already been eaten. Does he not have money, does he not have food?

Even a flea should extract a liver with some conscience. Would anyone want to ask this of a penniless female teacher living alone in a faculty residence?

And to do so by creating a false accusation?

I don’t even have money to buy the ingredients for that food right now.

Her second paycheck wouldn’t come for another two weeks.

She had already sent her first paycheck to her uncle. Though it was only 70 gran, not the 100 gran he wanted.

Because of this, her uncle had threatened to come to the school if she sent less money next month too, but judging from the tone between the lines, it somehow seemed like he wouldn’t.

Anyway, Connie had 40 gran left, but after paying for food, three months of faculty residence maintenance fees, and the unplanned “Noble Channel” subscription fee, there was nothing left.

She couldn’t carry out her plans to send a small gift to Leonie to commemorate her first paycheck, or to buy Ethan a meal, so she really wanted to fulfill these plans with her second paycheck…

And even if she had money, that was an unreasonable demand.

How could she make those foods exactly the same? She didn’t know the recipes, and even if she did, there were fermented foods that couldn’t be made in the shared kitchen of the faculty residence!

“Count, even if I did eat someone else’s food, the food is already gone, and I can’t make it again, so how could I possibly make the exact same food to return to you?”

It was humiliating, but she had to somehow change this nonsensical man’s mind.

Let it go, please!

“Then what should we do?”

“……”

She had hoped the Count would suggest letting it go first… but he had no intention of doing so.

“If you can’t make it, pay me back with something else.”

“Pardon?”

Something else, what…

“Buy me a meal. Then I’ll let it go. Hmm…… since you say it was a mistake, how about three times? What I sent was probably enough for your body to eat for two nights and three days.”

I’ll have to give up buying Ethan a meal with next month’s paycheck too. Maybe even the author’s gift…

She couldn’t understand why he was demanding such things from her, but this man was officially a parent.

An awkward opponent to argue with over such matters.

She needed to maintain a good relationship without blushing too much.

“Would once be enough?”

It was so unfair that she had to make such a humiliating request, but it wasn’t good for issues with parents to escalate over such ambiguous problems, and quickly resolving this matter was the only answer now.

“That’s difficult.”

“Then twice……”

“Fine, twice. Once you pay, and once I pay, let’s do it that way!”

“Ah! Then I only need to pay once since I don’t have to eat the meal you’re paying for……”

“Ah, then you can pay for both times.”

What a nasty human being.

“I’ll pay once, and you’ll pay once! And please don’t call me ‘teacher.’ Please show respect by calling me ‘Ms. Teacher.'”

Don’t cross the line, you jerk!

“Then I’ll pay once, and ‘Ms. Teacher’ will pay once. Is that acceptable?”

“……Yes.”

“Then let’s end the consultation here. For the meal date, let the teacher decide and let me know within two weeks. We can’t postpone it indefinitely.”

“Was this a consultation?”

It wasn’t even a consultation.

“Yes, Teacher Connie.”

The Count answered with a smile.

He’s really annoying. What kind of consultation is this? It’s intimidation, blackmail, extortion!

“Please call me Ms. Clarence.”

“Choose between Ms. Clarence or Teacher Connie.”

“……”

I hate both.

“Let’s go to Tempi in Sheridan for the restaurant!”

“Tempi?”

“You know it, right? The food there isn’t bad. Just let me know which date works for you.”

“No, I……”

“I’ll make the reservation. It’s not an easy place to book.”

“That’s not what I……”

“Well, I’m busy, so I’ll be going now.”

The Count left the classroom without giving Connie a chance to express her different opinion, deciding the meeting place as he pleased.

He told her to pay for the meal, chose the place as he wished—he really did whatever he wanted.

By the way, Tempi? That was a restaurant she had seen on the “Noble Channel” food page for the first time a few days ago… Why was it in that magazine again?

Tempi…… Tempi…… Ah! Oh my goodness!

Connie’s lower lip dropped to her chin.

[‘Tempi’ is currently the most popular restaurant among Barfal nobles. With fresh ingredients, chefs with the highest skills, and an atmospheric and sensual interior decoration, it satisfies the picky expectations and tastes of nobles and has rapidly risen in popularity. The general price range for dinner courses is quite expensive, from 35 to 50 gran, but……]

“35 to 50 gran? That’s ridiculous……”

50 gran was nearly half of her monthly salary.

While reading about it, she had thought that it was amazing such an absurdly expensive place could thrive, and that the world was wide and people were diverse.

To buy a meal there?

Even if she postponed everything else, she still needed to send money to her uncle…

Could she suggest a different place when she told him the date?

But what if he insisted?

Judging by the Count’s usual behavior, he was quite capable of that.

Sigh…

She shouldn’t have fainted that day. She shouldn’t have eaten the food sent by that Count.

But most fundamentally, she shouldn’t have met that person as a parent.

But lamenting was useless, and she had to solve this somehow!

Connie began calculating how much more she could save on next month’s food expenses.

⁕⁕⁕

Ryan Stanton couldn’t concentrate on the pile of documents from the carriage ride back from Steen Elementary School to the palace and even after arriving at his office, due to a persistent thought.

No matter how busy her duties as queen were, his mother always made sure not to miss Daniella’s school events, clearing her schedule in advance for school event days. However, the class briefing that was postponed due to Connie’s fainting was an additional schedule that wasn’t planned. Since tomorrow happened to be the day of the coronation celebration banquet, his mother, who needed to do a final check on the banquet, couldn’t attend the briefing and asked him to attend as a brother.

If it had been last week, he would have gone willingly.

But now that he was aware of his feelings for Connie Clarence, seeing her wasn’t comfortable.

Because he shouldn’t let his emotions grow any further.

However, his mother, who had no way of knowing his feelings, earnestly asked him to go in person and check on the teacher’s condition.

⟨The moment the teacher fainted, my first worry was whether Daniella’s homeroom teacher would change. Seeing that makes me think I’m inevitably a selfish mother. But what can I do? That’s just how my heart works without me realizing it. It’s partly because Daniella likes her teacher so much. Looking back, I feel sorry for that moment, and I still need to check on Daniella’s homeroom teacher’s physical condition. If you go and see for yourself, I’ll feel at ease.⟩

When he suggested sending a palace servant, she objected that entrusting a parent’s duty to a palace servant wasn’t proper, so he had no grounds to refuse.

In the end, unable to refuse, he had to go to the school—and when he saw Connie in person, it was just as he had expected.

Watching her passionately explain her class operation principles, year-long plans, and small class rules until her face turned red made his heart ache.

Did his first reader need to be so pretty?

If she had been moderately pretty, moderately passionate, and moderately diligent, he wouldn’t have developed such feelings.

During the past three years when she had been sending him letters, he had thought several times, “How can there be a woman who lives so inflexibly and diligently?”

When he didn’t know she was such a delicate and young woman, he had even thought she might be older than him because she was so thoughtful and spirited.

That’s why he was very surprised when he learned her age through the letters.

Of course, not as surprised as when he actually saw her face at the Steen University graduation ceremony.

Connie Clarence.

A name that used to make him feel warm whenever he thought of it, but now it caused a dull pain in his chest.

He should have never gone to the Steen University graduation ceremony.

He noticed the familiar box while trying to avoid her eyes that occasionally met his during the explanation, randomly looking around the classroom.

The box in which he had sent his new book with the author’s signature.

Thanks to the pink ribbon knot tied by Eric, he could immediately recognize that the box on the front bookshelf was that box.

⟨Kya-ha! Have you ever seen such an aide? An aide who can make such special ribbons. Isn’t he an unprecedentedly capable aide in history?⟩

Looking at Eric tying the ribbon, he thought he was truly like a pervert.

He got goosebumps then, just as he did whenever Eric brought a vase, claiming he had arranged the flowers himself, despite having intelligence close to genius and work processing abilities so accurate and fast they were almost mechanical.

⟨It looks like it will all come undone during delivery, so should we just remove it?⟩

He was afraid of being misunderstood that he had tied the ribbon himself.

Connie already thought of him as an elderly woman.

⟨Your Highness tends to see my skills too sporadically. This is a perfect knot. Do you see this? If you pull this string, it unravels in one go, but otherwise, it will never come undone. A ribbon is essential for a gift box, and this ribbon is my pride as an aide, so please don’t touch it.⟩

He gave up because Eric was a complete pervert.

Even if he let him untie it, he would tie it again before sending it.

Anyway, his self-praise that it would absolutely not come undone during delivery seemed to be correct this time too, as the ribbon was still tied exactly as it had been when he last saw it.

⟨This ribbon shape is something only I can make. It’s called the ‘Gosling Ribbon.’ I’m considering whether to register a patent for this opportunity.⟩

If not restrained, Eric would continue until blood came out of one’s ears, but he also never said anything incorrect. The fact that the ribbon was still in that shape meant that Connie Clarence hadn’t even opened the box yet.

No wonder she hadn’t replied after receiving the package.

[At the news that you could send me a first edition with the author’s signature, I felt like I was walking on clouds all afternoon today.

I will be waiting with folded hands for the day your book arrives. And if that book really comes into my hands, I might kiss it every day.]

That’s what she wrote in her letter.

Her words about waiting with folded hands were complete lies.

When she was going to stuff it on the top shelf where it’s not even easily visible.

Well, Connie Clarence was always a liar.

But still, what was she so busy with that she didn’t even open it? Does she not need a first edition with a signature now that she already has a book given by that vice principal Ethan Schwab?

“Haa……”

Ryan, who had been feeling upset, suddenly sneered at himself.

Even feeling upset was a wrong emotion.

Why was he getting angry?

Sending it was his choice, but whether she opened it or shelved it was the recipient’s choice.

Anyway, he and that woman had never been in a special relationship until now, and there could be no progress in their relationship in the future.

Her status as an adopted daughter of a viscount family, with both biological parents deceased, was a big barrier between him and her.

But an even bigger and more formidable barrier than that was the initial connection between Connie Clarence and himself.

If he didn’t put the brakes on his feelings for Connie Clarence and continued on this path, his father and mother would thoroughly investigate everything about that woman, from her birth to the present, without missing anything.

No, his father and mother were rather like small mountains. The bigger problem was the press, or public opinion.

It was as clear as day that various newspapers and magazines would swarm to find out about the prince’s lover, that is, the woman who might become the next queen.

Then Connie’s personal information would be completely exposed, and it would also be revealed that she and he had started as an author and reader relationship.

And that wasn’t just difficult; it was dangerous.

His novels contained content that wasn’t suitable for someone who would become a prince or king of a country to write, and there would continue to be more in the future.

Not only expressions and materials but also themes that weren’t permitted for a ruler.

Was his feeling toward that woman worth giving up one of his identities as a prince or an author?

Did Connie Clarence mean that much to him?

No, that wasn’t it.

At least not yet.

So he had to give up now if he was going to.

Before his feelings grew stronger.

Before he wanted to have that woman even if it meant giving up something.

So there was no need to worry about unopened packages and such. He shouldn’t reply to her letters in the future either.

That was the right thing to do.

⁕⁕⁕

Connie’s eyes widened during the faculty meeting.

It was because of the announcement that the sports day, which was usually held in the second semester, would be specially held in the first semester this year. Moreover, in the very next month, considering the season.

It was because construction to replace the soil in the playground was scheduled for the second semester.

Since water that filled the playground when it rained didn’t drain well, creating puddles, they were replacing it with playground soil that drained well, and that schedule was set for the second semester.

In response to Teacher Anna’s question about whether the replacement work could be done in the first semester, Ethan Schwab replied that in the first semester, it was difficult to secure enough soil to replace the entire playground due to company circumstances.

Having to hold a sports day with children who had just entered first grade about a month ago. Would it be possible?

“A sports day next month already. They won’t even need to dig out the soil for replacement. The first graders will eat up all the playground soil on sports day.”

After the meeting, as they were returning to the classroom, Teacher Anna made a scary complaint next to Connie, who was lost in worry.

“Will they eat soil too?”

Connie asked, suddenly frightened.

“Would they eat it?”

“Ah…… Hahaha! Do they have running races and such things too?”

Connie immediately changed the subject, embarrassed that she had taken Teacher Anna’s joke seriously and answered as if it were true.

“Yes, and there’s even a school-wide relay race. Even in the second semester, first graders don’t know front from back and run in the opposite direction, but having to do it next month is like asking to bake bread as soon as the seeds are sown in the field.”

“A relay race? Don’t first graders just do straight running and nothing else?”

“They do both. The school-wide relay race is the highlight of the sports day, so it has never been omitted. The problem is that the Steen Elementary School playground is too massive. It must be huge if the company says it’s difficult to secure enough soil.”

“I see…… For the relay race, representatives are selected from each class, right?”

“Yes, one boy and one girl from each class.”

“Ah, hmm.”

For a relay race, she would have to teach them how to pass the baton first. Also, how not to run in the opposite direction and not to run outside the track.

“By the way, Teacher Connie, are you a good runner?”

“Pardon?”

Teacher Anna asked Connie an unexpected question while her mind was already busy thinking about what to teach and train the children.

“Steen Elementary School takes relay races so seriously that they even select teacher representatives and parent athletes.”

“Pardon?”

“We divide into three teams, with each grade’s Class 1 becoming the Blue Team, Class 2 the Red Team, and Class 3 the White Team. Each team has one teacher representative, and I think you’re definitely confirmed as the female teacher representative for the White Team?”

I can run fairly well, but…

“Why?”

“Because you’re the youngest blood. Everyone else’s joints are creaking, and women who have given birth might… well, never mind. An unmarried young lady doesn’t need to know about that yet. Anyway, Teacher Connie, prepare in advance. It would be a big problem if you collapsed again.”

“Ah, yes.”

She used to be good at running when she was young. After her father passed away, she had to rush to do housemaid work after school, which became a habit and made her even faster. But she had hardly run since entering university. Should she run around the playground every morning?

“By the way, although relay race training is a bigger issue, I’m also worried about the straight running. To prevent children from entering the track or stopping in the middle, we might need parent volunteers. I’ll have to discuss this with the vice principal again. Anyway, we’ll get through the sports day together with the same grade level, and I’ll help you, so don’t worry.”

“Yes! Teacher Anna!”

As expected, Teacher Anna encouraged Connie so reassuringly.

Perhaps Teacher Anna was the third umbrella her father had sent her, following Ms. Lisa and Leonie?

Hmm? Author Leonie…

Suddenly she remembered that the book gift the author had promised to send still hadn’t arrived.

It seems like it’s been quite a while since she said she would send it, which is strange.

“Ah!”

She suddenly remembered the package box that Ethan had brought.

“What’s wrong?”

“I just remembered something I’d forgotten. Please get home safely.”

“You too.”

As soon as Teacher Anna headed to her classroom, Connie ran into her own classroom and looked up at the very top of the bookshelf.

Sure enough, the box was there.

When did I receive that box? It seems like it was more than ten days ago.

She had been too sick that day, and afterward, she had been so busy with school event preparations, the fainting incident, and the aftermath that she had completely forgotten about it.

Connie pulled a chair close to the bookshelf, stood on it, and brought down the box.

“It really is!”

As expected, the box was from the author.

Is this pink ribbon the author’s taste?

After carefully dusting it off, she untied the pink ribbon that was tightly wrapped around the box.

It had been tightly tied, but when she pulled hard on one end that was unexpectedly long, it easily came undone.

“Wow……”

There really was a book inside, and when she turned the first page, there was not only the author’s signature but also a letter. She was so happy she wanted to shout.

Suppressing her joyful exclamation, Connie quickly tidied up the classroom and headed to the faculty residence.

Her footsteps were getting faster with the eager desire to read the letter and send a reply immediately.

⁕⁕⁕

A letter arrived from Connie Clarence.

Why send a letter when she had shelved the book?

It would be better if no more letters came.

But he couldn’t throw away the letter without reading it. Even if she hadn’t opened his book, the fact that Connie Clarence was a precious reader remained unchanged.

[Hello, Author Leonie.

This is Connie Clarence.

I received the book you sent well. To think you would really send a first edition with your signature…!]

“Ah!”

It seemed she had finally opened the box and checked the book.

He should be indifferent either way, but why did he feel somewhat more generous?

Ryan chuckled at his own childishness and continued reading the letter.

[I nearly screamed with joy when I opened the package in the classroom, but I barely restrained myself and came to the residence.

Actually, I didn’t even know the package had arrived last week because of school events and feeling unwell. If I had known about your gift a little earlier, I would have had the strength to not get sick and successfully complete the events.

But I’m happy in a way that I saved the happiness for later. If I had seen the package when I was busy and sick, I might not have been able to fully enjoy the happiness as much as I am now.

Thank you so much for giving me such great happiness.

However, looking at your book, I actually feel a bit bad in one way.

The truth is, just as you gave me a gift, I also wanted to send you a gift.

I was planning to send you a gift when I received my salary next week…

But unexpected expenses came up, so it seems difficult this time too, sob sob.

Actually, I’m really upset about it, but I have nowhere to vent, so can I complain to you?]

What could have upset her so much? His brow furrowed involuntarily.

[One of our class parents sent food to the faculty residence last weekend.

They didn’t bring it directly, but the person who brought the food confirmed with me whether I was a teacher at the school, saying it was food sent to the teacher.

Since I was the only one in the residence and I was a teacher at that school, wouldn’t I naturally think the food was for me?

Still, I tried to decline. Receiving food from parents is somewhat burdensome and doesn’t feel comfortable.

But the person doing the errand said they would throw the food away right in front of me if I refused. So what could I do? I had no choice but to eat it, right? If I didn’t eat it, it would have to be thrown away, and the person doing the errand would be in trouble too.

But later, the parent who sent the food claimed they hadn’t sent it to me. Really! Does that make any sense? I was the only one in the residence?

Moreover, there was clearly a note saying ‘To Teacher Connie Clarence’ on the ginger tea basket that I thought came together!

They claim they didn’t send that either, but I don’t know if it’s true or not.

Of course, it’s hard to believe that such a parent would send ginger tea that warmed my heart, but there’s no one else who would send me ginger tea.

Even thinking about it again as I write this letter, I feel wronged and furious.

This person already doesn’t get along with me in various ways (by the way, he’s the student’s uncle), and now they’re telling me to compensate for eating someone else’s food.

If it were me, even if someone mistakenly ate food I sent, I would never ask for compensation!

But that person was different from me, and this time I clearly understood what it means to ‘extract a flea’s liver.’

Can you believe it? Instead of asking me to return the food, they told me to buy them a meal.

A person with so much money asking a poor female teacher with a small salary and debt (of course, they don’t know about my debt) to buy them a meal.

Moreover, if you don’t live in Barfal, you might not know, but there’s a street called ‘Sheridan’ lined with high-end restaurants.

And they want me to buy a meal at a restaurant called ‘Tempi,’ which is said to be the most famous and expensive in Sheridan.

Writing this makes me feel dizzy again.

This will be the first time in my life I’m buying someone a meal, and it’s for that parent.

I don’t want to complain if I can help it… but why has such misfortune befallen me?]

Ryan’s hands were trembling as he read the letter.

A meal with the student’s uncle?

Among the parents who came to the class briefing, only Andrew Brightling came as a student’s uncle.

That rabid dog sent food to Connie and used it as an excuse to make her buy him a meal?

What a filthy scheme!

And the ginger tea I sent…!

There’s no way that mad dog would have sent ginger tea.

Eric, you bastard, how did you handle things that made her misunderstand that Count Brightling sent it?

He wanted to immediately call back Eric, who had left right after delivering the letter, and interrogate him, but finishing the letter was more urgent.

[Anyway, because of this, everything I planned to do with my first salary… well, not the first, but this month’s salary has become difficult.

I mentioned before that the vice principal gave me your new book as a gift.

I was thinking of buying him a meal in return, but I’ll have to postpone that too.

I thought life would get a little warmer when I became an employee and received a salary, but I didn’t know the world could be so harsh…

Well, come to think of it, it’s not completely harsh.

Another parent wanted to invite me to their home.

There’s a child who lost their mother early. That child’s father seemed to want to fill the mother’s void and said he wanted to arrange a meal with me.

I had been feeling a bit unwell, and he said that was also on his mind.

He’s a father who truly cherishes and loves his son, and he seemed to be genuinely considerate of me, so I wanted to accept the invitation…

Anyway, he threatened that if I don’t take care of my health, he would continue to invite me. Sweet yet fierce.

I can clearly see that deep affection for his son underlies his consideration.

Perhaps because I also lived alone with my father for years, I feel particularly drawn to that father.

Thinking about it now, I should probably accept if he invites me again.

Writing this letter makes me realize that there are more warm and kind people in the world after all.

There’s that father, and there’s you, the author who listens to all my complaints. (Though I complained on my own…)

Actually, until I was in university, I lived without forming human relationships.

But now that I’ve become a teacher, I think this profession might be one where human relationships are most important.

My relationship with students, my relationship with parents, my relationship with fellow teachers and administrators…

Each has its own difficulties, but I felt that relationships with parents were more challenging than relationships with children during this parent consultation.

There are parents who seem to be overly concerned about their child, and there are parents who I wish would show a bit more interest. Since all children and parents are different, I worry whether I’m handling situations and people appropriately.

Since I’ve never been a parent myself, I’m not confident that I fully understand parents’ feelings.

For example, there’s a parent who is a student’s older brother whom I’ve met a few times. When I met him before, he seemed cooperative and receptive, but this time, it felt like there was something he didn’t like.

But I can’t grab the parent and ask, ‘What’s wrong? What part of my class management policy don’t you like?’

Maybe I’m being too sensitive, but a face I previously thought had a good impression suddenly looked cold and uncomfortable.

His younger sister is as pretty as an angel…

Perhaps he had a bad day?

Or was there really something about me as his sister’s teacher that he didn’t like?

If he had stayed for a consultation, I could have asked him to candidly express what he wanted, but he was the only one who just left, so I couldn’t know what was on his mind.

Well, it’s unsettling, but I guess all I can do is give my sincere best.

Oh my! I’ve gone on complaining again!

I started this letter to thank you for the book, but I’ve shared too many of my recent worries in detail. The content is also jumping around and jumbled. I’m sorry.

Since everything I experience as a teacher is a first, I have many concerns, and thoughts about school matters and children always swirl in my head, so I guess I wanted to talk to someone about these things.

Somehow I feel like you, as the author, will accept everything about me like a ‘mother,’ and I want to be indulged.

Does a teacher also need a guardian to indulge them? Hehe.

I’m sorry for indulging myself as I please.

Next time, I’ll send a letter full of only happy and joyful things!

Author, thank you for reading my long letter and thank you so much for the book.

This book is so precious that I don’t think I can even read it.

I’ll keep this one safe and only read the book the vice principal gave me as a gift.

Author, I hope you take good care of your health until my next letter.

With love, Connie Clarence.

P.S. I have meal appointments with the parent who asked me to buy them a meal twice, a home visit for a student, and the sports day is approaching. So my next letter might be a bit delayed. I’m still the new teacher Connie Clarence, slow and clumsy at everything. Sob sob.]

Ryan almost crumpled the letter paper several times while reading it.

His intention to understand why she hadn’t opened the package was momentary; everything that followed scraped at his insides.

Moreover, Duke Wayne invited Connie to his house?

She feels particularly drawn to that guy?

Connie Clarence!

Is this what you call a letter?

Isn’t this deliberately written to scrape my insides?

Of course, rationally, he knew well.

Connie wrote the letter without knowing at all that he was the student’s older brother.

But still!

What about my face? A face that’s “uncomfortable”?

I have an uncomfortable face, and you’re going to eat with that ill-mannered person, and you want to eat with the widowed duke?

This woman is really heading for trouble?

Ah, she also said she needs to buy Ethan Schwab a meal.

“Ha, ha, ha.”

Though he tried to restrain himself, the letter paper was already half-crumpled.

“Phew……”

Ryan, who had been making strange forced laughing sounds, let out a long breath at some point.

It shouldn’t matter. Whether Connie Clarence eats with that Count Brightling or not, whether she accepts Duke Wayne’s invitation or not!

Whether she buys Ethan Schwab a meal or not!

After all, she’s a woman who has nothing to do with him.

If there’s any relationship, she’s only his passionate reader and Daniella’s homeroom teacher.

In fact, she was a woman beyond reproach not only as a reader but also as his sister’s homeroom teacher.

Even if a parent sits with an uncomfortable expression, she still loves that parent’s younger sister—a kind and unbiased homeroom teacher.

She’s also a teacher who tries to accept and accommodate parents’ requests without prejudice.

So there’s no reason for him to tremble while holding the letter paper.

Eventually, thinking rationally, he reached a logical conclusion.

There was absolutely no reason to crumple this letter.

Though the half-crumpled letter was now completely wrinkled.

⁕⁕⁕

She sent a short letter to Sana’s house asking if she could make a home visit instead of them coming to the briefing, but the response was a sharp rejection.

She couldn’t force her way in when they told her not to come…

After pondering for a while, Connie pulled out Sana’s family environment survey.

Count Kenneth Lancelot, Kingdom High Court Judge.

High Court…

After being lost in thought for a while, Connie began writing a letter to send to the High Court.

The content was that she had never met Sana’s father, wanted to meet him in person to talk about Sana’s school life, and if it was alright, if she could visit the High Court herself.

Still, Sana’s father was her biological father.

Though not certain, there might be hope.

After finishing the letter, Connie left work early, stopped by the post office to mail the letter, and went straight to the bank with her salary envelope.

It was to open an account in her own name for the first time in her life.

She would need to continue sending money to her uncle, so she didn’t know when it would be possible, but she needed an account to save money whenever she had extra.

The bank Connie chose was the Barfal Central Bank. This was because her father had mainly done business with that bank.

Even if it was meaningless, she wanted to go somewhere that had some remaining memories of her father. She also had a memory of coming to this bank holding her father’s hand about a year before he passed away.

While waiting in line at the bank, that day’s memory vaguely came back to her.

⟨When you have money, you can save it in this account. In your first account.⟩

When her father was creating Connie’s account… Ah!

Come to think of it, the account she was about to create today wasn’t her first account in life.

On that day when they visited the bank, her father had created an account for her here.

He had brought her after hearing the news that accounts could now be created in a child’s name.

She had forgotten about that.

Of course, she hadn’t come to the bank to save money many times after that.

Had she come about twice with the allowance her dad gave her?

Even so, it wasn’t a large amount.

“Is this your first transaction with our bank? I’m asking because if you’re a first-time customer, you can open an account with a product that offers a slightly higher interest rate.”

The bank clerk asked when it was Connie’s turn.

“Yes. It’s the first time under the name Connie Clarence. But I do have an account that I created when I was young under a different name. I don’t know if there’s still money left in the account since I haven’t used it for so long. It’s been more than 10 years since I last came to this bank.”

“Ah! So your name has changed?”

The bank clerk asked with slightly widened eyes, as if puzzled.

“Yes! My surname changed when I was adopted.”

“Ah, then please write your previous name here. Normally, unless you, or… in the case of a minor, your guardian, withdraw the money yourself, the money you’ve deposited in our bank won’t disappear no matter how much time passes.”

“Ah, I see.”

Connie nodded at the bank clerk’s proud explanation and wrote her former name on the document.

[Connie Pleasure]

The bank clerk took the document, went around here and there, and returned to the counter after quite some time.

“Customer, I found the account under Connie Pleasure. But it’s not an account that hasn’t been used for 10 years? The last transaction was 4 years ago. There was quite a lot of money going in and out?”

“Pardon?”

What did all this mean?

After her father passed away and her name changed to Connie Clarence, she had never once come to this bank. It had been so long since she came that she had even forgotten that she had created an account and saved money.

“That can’t be right. I truly haven’t been to this bank in 10 years?”

“Ah! That could be the case. Your guardian might have conducted transactions on your behalf. Since you were a minor until 4 years ago.”

“…!”

Connie felt as if someone had hit her head with a stone, making her feel dazed.

Her guardian conducted transactions on her behalf?

If it was her guardian…!

“By any chance, was that guardian Francis Clarence?”

Could it be her uncle…

“Ah, I’m sorry. At the time of the transaction, documents would have been required, and we would have known the name of the customer who made the transaction, but since the last transaction was already 4 years ago, it’s possible to find out the name of the guardian who made the transaction, but it’s a bit difficult in reality.”

“…Then, can I check the transaction history?”

“Of course! That’s definitely possible. It’s your account, and you’re no longer a minor. If you give me your ID, I can show it to you right away.”

The bank clerk verified Connie’s ID and immediately showed her the transaction history.

After checking the transaction history, Connie felt as if she was sinking deep into an unknown abyss.

What is this?

Why and how such large amounts…

“Mr. Clark Pleasure had enrolled in a trust fund for his daughter.”

Perhaps noticing the question on her face, the bank clerk added an explanation.

“My father… did?”

“Yes, it was basically a product where the child could retrieve it themselves when they became an adult, but early withdrawal was also possible if desired. The trust funds at that time were only released with the option for early withdrawal.”

The bank clerk continued to explain kindly.

But the more she listened to the explanation, the more devastating her feelings became.

“As you can see, in your case, all the money was already withdrawn early before you became an adult. However, since withdrawing all at once would result in a loss due to early termination, the withdrawals were divided each year up to the amount that wouldn’t incur a loss. Still, since it was withdrawn earlier than the maturity agreement, the interest was a bit less.”

“So you’re saying that before I became an adult, a guardian came on my behalf and withdrew everything… this large amount.”

“Yes… to be precise, it was 260,000 gran. Hmm… 50,000 gran was withdrawn each year over 6 years, and in the last year, about 10,000 gran that had accumulated as interest was withdrawn.”

“250,000 gran, 10,000 gran…”

Even 10,000 gran alone… was a large amount that would take over 8 years to save if she saved her entire current salary.

And that was just the interest.

And to think that such a large amount, that large sum of money that Dad had left for her, had been secretly withdrawn by her uncle…!

⟨You vermin, feeding you, clothing you, giving you a place to sleep, you just eat money, and what? You want to go to college? You must be desperately wanting to die. I used up all my assets to handle the debts your father left behind, and you ungrateful beast, worse than an animal, what are you going to do? Where are you going? Someone like you deserves to be beaten to death.⟩

The verbal abuse she heard while being beaten almost to death on the day she fled to Ms. Lisa’s house was still vivid.

The memory was so terrible and frightening that no matter how much she wanted to forget it, it would appear in her dreams whenever she thought she had forgotten, so it never faded.

And now, what? 260,000 gran?

260,000…

It was a large amount she had never even imagined holding in her lifetime, let alone actually touching.

But her uncle had never once mentioned such money. Far from mentioning it, he had claimed that he was in a pile of debt because he had to repay the money her father had received as investments.

Money received as investments… pile of debt…

Could it be…

Was that a lie too?

In reality, her father did conduct business by receiving advance investments to import products.

Because of that, it was difficult to doubt her uncle’s words, even while denying that her father would have conducted business so recklessly as to lose all his assets and fall into a pile of debt from just one accident.

But… if he had really been in a pile of debt, wouldn’t it make no sense not to pay off the debt first when there was such a large sum of money?

Because the interest that would be lost couldn’t have been larger than the interest that had to be paid to creditors.

The same applied even if the debt was so large that it couldn’t be paid off with this money. All the more reason to withdraw this money all at once. Not divided over 5 years!

And if the debt was less than the trust inheritance… then her uncle had lied to her. By inflating a debt that didn’t exist, or wasn’t that large.

But her uncle hadn’t immediately withdrawn the trust inheritance, and even until she left that house, he had claimed that he was suffering because of the debt.

The house… Even that house.

The five-story house she had lived in, the largest in that street, had not been taken by creditors, and her uncle was still living there brazenly.

This doesn’t add up!

She felt dizzy from the shocking new fact she had learned and the chain of suspicions and doubts that followed.

“By any chance… is there a record of my money, that is, the amount withdrawn each year, being transferred somewhere?”

If it had been used to pay off debt, it would have been transferred directly there. It wouldn’t have been just a small amount.

“Hmm… it was deposited into Francis Clarence’s account. But did you really… not know?”

It didn’t go to creditors. It went to her uncle’s account.

“No.”

Her voice trembled.

She hadn’t thought her uncle would be this evil.

She had still thought he was human. An evil person, but still human.

But he wasn’t. He wasn’t human, but rather the very “worse than a beast” human he so often mentioned.

“He seems to have been your new guardian, but even now…”

“Even now? Is there any way for me to recover my money now?”

She asked, swallowing hard to prevent tears from bursting out.

“…I’m sorry, customer. There were no procedural or documentary issues in the process of withdrawing the money. Since your legal guardian submitted the necessary documents and withdrew according to procedure, there’s nothing we can do for you. Given the substantial amount, if you didn’t know, the only option might be to directly ask your adoptive father? for your money that he might still have. Since it’s such a large amount, he might still have it…”

“Ha! Hahaha!”

Connie couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Ask for the money back? From that demon?

From the person who intercepted the money her father left, made her work as a housemaid for 6 years while claiming she needed to pay off debt, and on top of that, beat her every few days?

From that beast who still demands most of her salary, claiming there’s still debt left?

“Customer?”

The bank clerk’s expression darkened.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I’m sorry… sob sob.”

She burst into tears.

She had never cried like this in a public place, in front of other people.

She used to cry alone in her room, secretly from everyone, but she had never cried in front of others. Now, she couldn’t even swallow her tears.

She felt so foolish for believing until just before entering the bank that she had to pay off the debt.

She felt sorry to her father who left without knowing anything, and resentful for the time she spent being abused instead of receiving what her father had left for her.

“Sob sob sob. Sob sob.”

How long had she been crying?

‘Natalie…!’

Suddenly, like a bolt of lightning, the words she had heard during last week’s parent-teacher conference struck Connie’s head, causing even her tears to stop.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

Since not only the bank clerk assisting her but also many customers were looking at her, she first apologized while swallowing her tears down her throat.

I need to pull myself together.

Crying won’t help me find out anything.

“Not at all, customer. Is there anything I can help you with?”

“…Yes, there’s one thing I’d like to ask.”

She needed to figure out all the evil deeds that the demon disguised as her uncle had committed against her.

There might not have been any debt from the beginning.

“Yes, I’ll help you as much as I can.”

The bank clerk spoke with eyes that pitied her.

“My father was in the business of importing and selling foreign products. He passed away when a ship sank, and the imported goods he was bringing in were also submerged. About 10 years ago, was there an insurance product that people in the import business would join?”

“Ah!”

Only now did she seem to understand clearly.

That her uncle was definitely not the kind of person who would have paid off her father’s debts on his behalf.

If there had been such a large debt that couldn’t be paid off even with the trust inheritance, he would never have barged into the house where she lived with her father and made her his legal adopted daughter to become her guardian.

She had always wondered why he adopted her despite always despising and hating her, and now she seemed to know the answer.

There was no debt at all, and her uncle, who had learned of the existence of the trust fund, had adopted her to steal that money.

Not just the money. He also took the house.

During last week’s parent-teacher conference, she had learned that Natalie’s father, who was only listed as a “businessman,” was specifically in the “insurance business.”

Unlike Natalie, who needed to be asked about everything, Natalie’s mother was the type of person who would tell even the smallest details without being asked.

⟨My husband has an insurance product that he sells to businesspeople. You wouldn’t know how much profit it generated. It’s all about money and numbers. It doesn’t make sense that Natalie, with such a father, is weak in math. The fact that she still can’t count numbers properly is probably because, influenced by her father who handles such large sums, small numbers like 1, 2, 3 don’t even look like numbers to her.⟩

While listening to her mother, Connie had thought, ‘Not only is her manner of speaking peculiar, but her way of thinking is beyond peculiar to the point of being bizarre.’

She had let the mother’s words about an insurance product sold to businesspeople slip by.

But now, those words she had let slip by were engraved in her mind, word by word.

That’s right. Her father would never have conducted business without any preparation.

The investment money at that time would have been repaid not by her uncle, but by the insurance her father had prepared.

In her childhood, she didn’t know about insurance products, and even as she grew up, it was such an old matter that she hadn’t thought of insurance.

Yet, she had been in such complete ignorance.

“Ah, for import business and a ship accident… if your father chose the most reliable insurance company, it would be ‘Maison.’ They were the first to release such a product and are the most solid company.”

“Ah…!”

Natalie Maison.

It was Natalie’s full name.

So that was the very product Natalie’s mother had been boasting about!

She was almost 99% certain, but she still needed to confirm whether her father had actually joined that insurance.

“Is there anything else I can help you with?”

“Yes, I need to open an account.”

Connie, who had become as cold as if her heart had frozen in an instant, stated the purpose for which she had originally visited the bank.

Opening an account to save her salary.

Unlike her initial thought that it would take a long time to save, she could start saving right from this month.

Because there was no debt to repay to her uncle.

Far from repaying, she should be getting it back.

“Ah, yes!”

The bank clerk tilted his head slightly while looking at the now cold Connie, then handed her several documents.

While filling out the documents, Connie checked if she had time to stop by Maison.

There was plenty of time.

⁕⁕⁕

Unexpectedly, verifying her father’s insurance enrollment at Maison was not easy.

This was because he had already passed away, and her previous father-daughter relationship wasn’t reflected in her family relationship documents.

She was told to bring documents proving that she and her father had previously been family, but it was already too late to get those documents.

As Connie was leaving Maison with heavy, dispirited steps, she looked up at the sound of “Teacher?” and saw a tall, sturdy, handsome man looking down at her.

He seemed familiar… who was he?

“Ah! You’re Natalie’s father. Hello?”

To think she would meet Natalie Maison’s father.

She had come all the way to Maison’s Barfal headquarters, but she hadn’t expected to actually meet Natalie’s father, the president of this insurance company.

Despite having seen him at the entrance ceremony, it took her a moment to recall him due to how different he looked from his chubby daughter Natalie.

“Yes, hello, teacher. But what brings you here? Are you here about Natalie?”

“No! I visited Maison for personal business.”

“You did? Business here? Our company doesn’t do business with individuals, so what brings you here?”

“I had something to look into.”

“At our company?”

Mr. Maison tilted his head.

“Yes, just… personal matters.”

She couldn’t bring up her dad.

That would mean revealing her personal history, which would lead to talking about her uncle.

She couldn’t discuss such things with a parent.

“Is there anything I can help you with? Actually, I’m the president here.”

“Ah! Yes. I know. Your wife told me.”

“Ah! My wife again… I hope she wasn’t rude to you.”

“Not at all! Not in the slightest.”

The feeling is quite different.

While Natalie and her mother were similar not only in appearance but also in personality, though difficult to pinpoint exactly how, her father was completely different from Natalie in both appearance and the impression he gave.

How to put it, he seemed more humble and down-to-earth?

To be honest, despite their very brief conversation, he was the most likable of the three family members.

“That’s good to hear, but if there’s anything I can help you with, please feel free to tell me. If you have business at our company, I should help you.”

“No. It’s something I can handle myself, so thank you for offering, but I’m fine. Still, I really appreciate your offer.”

“Yes, I understand. Then please let me know if there’s ever anything I can help with. And… Natalie…”

Mr. Maison hesitated, as if trying to choose the right expression rather than speaking immediately.

What could he be trying to say that made him so cautious?

“Yes, Father. Please say anything.”

“Yes, well, my daughter… even if she gives you a bit of trouble at school, please take good care of her.”

“…!”

Connie suddenly felt a stinging sensation at the bridge of her nose and forcefully closed and opened her eyes.

“…Of course. Don’t worry.”

Why was she suddenly feeling this way? Why did looking at Mr. Maison remind her of her father?

For all his careful choosing of words, Mr. Maison’s statement was nothing special, almost bland. He didn’t resemble her father at all.

Yet strangely, as Mr. Maison carefully bowed his head and entrusted his daughter to her, she saw an overlap with her father’s image.

Was it because she saw an ordinary father who loved his child?

An ordinary father.

Whether talented or not, a father who unconditionally loves his child simply because they are his.

My father…

“Teacher?”

Mr. Maison called to her, tilting his head slightly.

Though she had held back her tears, her expression must have changed.

“Natalie is doing well at school. She has a lot of curiosity, and I think her attitude of asking questions without hesitation when she’s curious is really admirable. When I’m busy, there are times I can’t explain things fully, but Natalie is adapting more and more to school life, and at those times, she waits for me or asks her friends to solve problems. So please don’t worry about your daughter. I’ll work harder to guide her as well.”

If it were my father, wouldn’t he have wanted to hear such words from his daughter’s homeroom teacher before leaving her behind? Wouldn’t that have given him peace of mind?

“…Thank you!”

Mr. Maison bowed again, bending at the waist to an extent that was almost excessive.

“Father, I should be going now. There’s a sports day next month with events for fathers to participate in, so it would be nice to see you at school then.”

“Ah, I hope I don’t have any urgent business at the company that day. If I can’t make it for some reason, I’ll definitely send someone in my place.”

“No, please come if your schedule allows. Don’t push yourself though. Well, I really must be going now.”

In response to Connie’s farewell, Mr. Maison followed behind her, bowing several more times.

He was truly a good person.

That’s why tears kept threatening to fall.

⁕⁕⁕

Standing in front of the restaurant “Tempi,” looking up at the sign, Connie let out a long sigh.

She was finally meeting the Count at this place.

When setting today’s date, she had expressed her desire to go to a different restaurant, but Count Brightling had flatly refused.

Saying he “doesn’t eat just anywhere.”

In the end, she could only plan to order the cheapest single item on the menu, at least for herself.

Even if she paid up to 50 gran for the Count’s meal, she had decided not to send any more money to her uncle, so this month should be manageable.

“What are you doing?”

As she was clenching her fist to strengthen her resolve, a familiar voice suddenly came from beside her.

“Count?”

“You’re standing here not even noticing a carriage stopping behind you or a person coming to your side? Aren’t we going in?”

“Ah, yes. Let’s go in!”

Only then did she hear the clatter of a carriage disappearing behind her.

She had been so gravely focused on today’s expenses that she hadn’t noticed the carriage arriving, stopping, and the Count getting out.

The Count entered the restaurant first, and Connie followed behind him.

The restaurant staff, upon seeing the Count, guided them to their seats without even checking for a reservation.

They seemed to already know the Count’s face.

It was newly amusing that the Count kept taking the lead when she would be the one paying for the meal.

The seat the staff guided them to was already perfectly set.

“Prepare it right away.”

The Count immediately instructed the staff as he sat down.

Connie was confused about what he was asking to be prepared, but only after seeing the staff disappear did she suddenly feel anxious.

The table was already perfectly set with napkins, utensils, and water, so the only thing left to prepare was food!

“What did you ask them to prepare?”

Surely what he asked to be prepared wasn’t food?

He hadn’t pre-ordered the menu, had he?

If that was the case, it would be a real problem.

The Count might eat whatever he wanted, but she couldn’t.

She was planning to order the cheapest single item on the menu!

“What else? Since we came to eat, I told them to bring out what we’ll eat. I always have the same course meal at this place.”

“Wait a minute! Even if you always eat the same dish, I don’t. This is my first time here, how can I order without even looking at the menu? I’m going to order what I want to eat.”

“…?”

The Count slightly frowned.

“Please cancel my order. I’ll order again myself.”

“Hmm… this place doesn’t have a variety of menus. The course I ordered includes a little bit of everything. When the different types come out, can’t you just eat what you want?”

“This is absurd…”

If the course included a little bit of everything from this restaurant’s menu, then that was it.

The restaurant’s signature menu, “Tempi Signature.”

And if that was what he had ordered, it was truly, truly a disaster!

Because it far exceeded even the 50 gran she had budgeted as the maximum!

It was a course that offered small portions of all menu items plus the day’s special dish, priced at 75 gran per person.

A price that far exceeded half of her monthly salary.

She had found it amazing that people would eat a meal at such a price.

This course had to be reserved several days in advance and wasn’t always available for ordering, so even though it was featured in magazines, it was rarely ordered according to the articles. She never thought he would order that. And not just for himself but for her too!

This… self-centered human!

She had brought her entire salary envelope, but that was only 110 gran in total.

“What’s absurd?”

The Count’s informal speech was no longer an issue.

She needed to stop that menu order immediately.

Connie shook the small bell on the table frantically, not caring if the Count thought she was acting strangely.

“What are you doing?”

The Count asked, but Connie was too busy watching for the staff to come to their table to have time to answer him.

“Yes, customer. Is there something you need?”

Fortunately, the staff came to their table quickly.

“Yes! I want to change my order. I’m going to order a different menu from this gentleman in front of me. Could you bring me a menu?”

“Ah… that’s…”

“Miss Connie? What are you doing? Why are you changing the order?”

Once again, he had switched from “Teacher” to just “Miss.”¹T/N: can’t perfectly translate the nuance, but he basically just dropped the -님 or 선생님, which is a polite marker

That ruffian of a person.

Anger boiled up inside her.

But now was not the time to point out his form of address or manner of speech.

“I don’t want to eat all of Tempi’s menu items like that. I’m going to order just one thing that I want to eat.”

“Hmm…”

The Count sighed.

“Customer, when you made the reservation, you reserved the Signature, so we’ve already prepared the food. The Signature requires advance reservation and takes a long time to prepare, so same-day cancellations are not possible.”

The staff crushed Connie’s hopes with a gentle yet polite voice and manner.

“How can that be? I never intended to order that menu in the first place.”

With the price of 150 gran floating around in her head, she couldn’t easily give up.

“I apologize. The Count already made the reservation that way, so we prepared accordingly.”

The staff said, bending their waist at a 90-degree angle.

Though the words were a firm rejection, the attitude was so polite and respectful that Connie was ultimately left speechless.

She also remembered the description of the signature menu from “Noble Channel.”

A menu that needed to be reserved at least three days in advance, with same-day cancellations being difficult due to the preparation time and hard-to-obtain ingredients.

Coincidentally, she had contacted the Count to set today’s date exactly three days ago.

If she had known this would happen, she would have informed him two days before.

She had thought it would be impolite to notify him on short notice, so she had let him know as soon as possible, not expecting it would lead to this result.

“Is there anything else you need?”

The staff asked, examining Connie’s complexion.

“No. Nothing.”

Connie replied, feeling like crying.

All I need is money.

My total assets are 110 gran, but the meal costs 150 gran. To think I’d be in a situation where I have to borrow money from a parent!

Life is so hard.

And all of this hardship was because of the person sitting in front of her.

The person who made an unreasonable demand that she buy him a meal.

The person who arbitrarily chose the restaurant.

And on top of that, the person who just went ahead and ordered the menu as he pleased.

That ill-mannered human!

“What’s wrong with you? Why are you making such a fuss about canceling the order? If you don’t want to eat it, leave it. Just eat what you want.”

You might not have any problems.

Because it’s not you, with all your money, who’s paying for this expensive meal today—it’s me!

But there was no point in just inwardly resenting that person.

As much as she hated it, it was time to resolve this situation.

“Count, let me be honest with you. It’s really embarrassing and upsetting that I have to say this, but I have no choice.”

“What are you talking about?”

“A new teacher at Steen Elementary School receives a first monthly salary of 110 gran. I am that new teacher. So even though I brought my entire monthly salary envelope to this restaurant, I can’t afford to pay for the menu you ordered. Since I agreed to buy you a meal, I’m really sorry, but could you lend me the difference, and I’ll repay it with next month’s salary?”

“110… is that all the money you have?”

The Count, who had crossed his arms at some point, tilted his head to one side and asked.

He wasn’t exactly mocking or teasing Connie.

His expression showed that he was genuinely curious.

But his attitude made her even angrier.

Not everyone in the world was rich like him.

Was the fact that a new teacher’s salary was 110 gran something to find so interesting?

Was it appropriate to so openly say “is that all”?

“Yes! For now, this is all I have. I plan to save diligently in the future. But this isn’t particularly surprising for someone who just graduated from university and received their first salary.”

“Hmm… why are you getting so worked up over every little thing? I was just asking.”

“I know. It’s strange how I keep getting upset. Perhaps it’s the anger of a common citizen who has to spend their entire salary on a single meal?”

The fact that the Count was a parent wasn’t enough to calm her anger.

This man had an innate talent for evaporating her patience.

From the beginning, choosing such a restaurant as the meeting place showed a complete lack of consideration for the person who agreed to pay for the meal.

“When you put it that way, you make me feel sorry. I just didn’t know teachers’ salaries were in such a state.”

“In such a state? If one doesn’t live eating food that costs 75 gran per person at fancy restaurants like this, it’s not an insufficient amount for living alone, and I’ll even be able to save some in the future!”

“Ah, I really didn’t know you could save money with that amount.”

“Count!”

“Whoa, whoa, don’t get excited. Miss Connie, when I look at you, you get excited very easily, don’t you?”

“That’s only with you!”

He was truly hopeless!

“Ah, only with me? Hmm… that’s not so bad?”

“Huh!”

Connie tightly clasped her trembling hands together under the table.

She needed to calm her excitement.

This crazy man is a parent. A parent, a parent. So get a grip.

“Count, I apologize if I got excited. Since we’re going to eat anyway, please enjoy your meal, and I would appreciate it if you could lend me some money for the food, since you must have plenty to spare.”

“Sure. Let’s enjoy the meal. I’ll pay for the food.”

“…?”

“It seems we agreed to have two meals? I’ll pay for this one. Since I ordered without knowing your salary was at that level, I’ll pay. Next time, let’s eat at a restaurant Miss Connie wants to go to, with the menu you want to eat, since you also need to save for the future.”

“…Thank you.”

What was there to be thankful for?

She wasn’t thankful at all.

This whole situation wasn’t something to be thankful for; it was unpleasant and infuriating.

But there was nothing else she could say in this situation.

After all, the meal appointment was for two times, and now that she was about to eat food she couldn’t afford at this restaurant, she could only think about how the Count’s proposal had saved her from today’s difficulty.

Just then, the first appetizer arrived.

It was a very small and pretty dish that looked expensive at first glance.

“Eat.”

The Count, who had already picked up food with his fork, only then encouraged Connie to eat.

His manners…

That Count was definitely lacking in everything except money.

“Is that why you collapsed… Why are you eating so daintily?”

The Count picked another fight.

It would be nice if he stopped talking about the fainting incident.

The food was clearly delicious, but why did it taste bad?

The food tasted good to her mind but bad to her heart.

It must be because of the awkward situation from earlier and the person she was dining with.

“I usually eat well.”

“Ah, you’re eating like that because I make you nervous. That can happen.”

What? What is he saying?

“Eat comfortably.”

“I’m already comfortable since I don’t have to pay for the meal. I just don’t have an appetite.”

Connie finally answered honestly because the Count kept saying strange things.

“Did the food I sent suit your taste?”

“……”

What does he mean by food he sent? He insisted it wasn’t sent to her, and that’s why they came all the way here.

“Regardless of who it was sent to, I did send it. So, was it delicious?”

“…Yes.”

At least it was more delicious than now. Back then, she ate alone, without this man.

“Shall I send you more? This time, really addressed to you, Miss Connie.”

“No!”

“Or… would you like to come to my house to eat food made by that chef? It seems Tempi’s food doesn’t suit your taste.”

“No!”

“Why is everything ‘no’?”

“Count, why are you doing this to me? Both sending me food and inviting me to your home make me uncomfortable. If you don’t have anything to discuss as a parent, I don’t think we need to have these meal meetings. I’ll keep the promise to have one more meal because I misunderstood and made a mistake, but I decline any further kindness or meetings.”

“Is it because you don’t know why I’m doing this? Do you really not know? I, to Miss Connie Clarence…”

It was at that moment.

Suddenly, the restaurant became noisy.

As the staff hurriedly moved toward the restaurant entrance, Connie’s gaze also turned to the entrance, and the Count, who had been speaking, looked at the entrance with an extremely annoyed face.

“…!”

Connie was so surprised to see the person who entered that she just blinked for a moment, then after a few seconds, their eyes met, and only then did she come to her senses and stand up.

Other seated guests were also standing up.

The person who entered the restaurant was Ryan Stanton, the prince of the Kingdom of Greet.

At school, even members of the royal family, including Her Majesty the Queen, could be treated as students or parents, but when meeting outside of school, not in the capacity of a teacher, one had to thoroughly maintain the proper respect for the royal family as a citizen of the kingdom.

“What’s this, why is the prince here?”

Connie heard the muttering of Count Brightling, who was slowly standing up beside her, but she didn’t even turn her gaze to him and greeted the prince politely, bending her knees.

Of course, inwardly she wondered, like the Count, “Why has the prince come to this restaurant?” but that wasn’t a question to be expressed complainingly like the Count did. The prince could also come to a famous restaurant to eat.

It was just surprising that it happened to be today, at this time.

The prince came with one adult man, and it was obvious that the restaurant staff were flustered, anxiously considering which table to guide them to, as if they hadn’t made a reservation.

This was because there wasn’t a single empty table in the restaurant.

From the beginning, this restaurant was said to often be fully booked with reservations alone, and today seemed to be one of those days. The window tables were especially said to require reservations at least a month in advance… Come to think of it, this was a window table, wasn’t it? She had informed the Count of the appointment date three days ago, so how did he manage to reserve this table in just a few days?

The question crossed her mind, but it wasn’t a particularly important issue.

The serious problem was that the prince was standing without finding a seat, and since he wasn’t leaving either, all the guests in the restaurant were standing in this situation.

Even from Connie’s seat, she could feel the manager’s distress.

But when the prince said something to the manager, he nodded while looking at where Connie was, then immediately began approaching their table.

Why, why is he coming here?

“Customer, are you perhaps acquainted with His Highness the Prince? His Highness says you are acquaintances and asks if sharing a table would be possible.”

The manager who had come to the table asked.

“…Sharing a table.”

Connie was dumbfounded and looked at the prince again.

The prince nodded slightly.

It was as if he was saying, “We are acquaintances, aren’t we?”

They were indeed acquaintances, but they had not met as teacher and parent at school, so it was an honor for him to acknowledge her as an acquaintance in such a private place.

Naturally, as much as it was an honor, she couldn’t ignore the prince’s request, so Connie looked at the Count.

“I hate that idea.”

Unexpectedly, before Connie could even open her mouth, the Count flatly refused.

Connie’s eyes widened, and the manager’s face turned bright red, perhaps not expecting a refusal.

“Ah… if it’s really very uncomfortable for you, we can’t help it… but would you reconsider once more?”

The manager asked the Count again, literally bowing his head.

“I hate it.”

But the Count refused again. Without even asking for Connie’s opinion.

Of course, Connie wasn’t comfortable with suddenly sharing a table with the prince either, but wasn’t it too rude to refuse so bluntly?

“Count, still…”

“I hate it.”

The Count stubbornly refused to yield.

“What do you mean?”

And at that moment, the prince’s voice was heard from behind Connie.

“I greet Your Highness the Prince.”

Connie reflexively bent her knees again and greeted the prince as a citizen of the kingdom.

Since they weren’t meeting at school or as Daniella’s teacher.

“Hello, Teacher Connie Clarence.”

However, the prince treated Connie not as just a citizen, but as Daniella’s homeroom teacher. With a smile all over his face, nodding once more with extremely polite speech.

Unlike when she saw him at the last parent-teacher meeting, he seemed to have returned to the kind and polite demeanor that Connie originally knew him for.

Perhaps he just had a bad day that time.

“Hello, Your Highness.”

The Count also greeted the prince.

“Hello, Count Brightling. What a coincidence to see you in a place like this. I happened to stop by here, but they said there were no empty tables, so I asked if we could share a table since we’re acquainted. Surely you’re not saying you hate the idea of sharing a table?”

The Count’s refusal was surprising, but Connie also found it strange that the prince would ask so directly.

“Yes, I had a prior appointment with Teacher Connie, and since we were in the middle of our meal, sharing a table would be uncomfortable.”

Wow! What courage!

Connie couldn’t help but admire the Count’s steadfast refusal.

This person’s behavior is indeed consistent regardless of the other person’s status.

Connie’s gaze quickly returned to the prince.

She was both anxious and curious about how the prince would respond.

“Miss… Connie?”

“…?”

Surprisingly, the prince focused not on the impudent refusal to share a table, but on what the Count called Connie.

Connie herself had missed the form of address due to the tense atmosphere.

Perhaps she had already adapted to the Count’s arbitrary way of addressing her.

This wasn’t something she should have adapted to.

“That’s right, Your Highness. This Count is just like that.”

Connie confessed the Count’s misdeeds to the prince as if he were her teacher or parent. Of course, only in her mind.

“Yes, because Miss Connie wanted me to call her that.”

At the Count’s shameless answer, Connie was so flabbergasted that she glared at him.

When did I ever want that!

He had asked her to choose between “Miss Connie” and “Miss Clarence,” and she hadn’t answered, yet he was making such arbitrary claims!

In any case, he was a person whose character had hit rock bottom.

“Count, I would prefer you to call me Miss Clarence.”

Connie quickly corrected the Count’s statement.

“Your mind changed so quickly…”

The Count responded to her words with nonsense.

“Teacher, would you also find sharing a table with me uncomfortable?”

The prince cut into the conversation between the Count and Connie and asked Connie.

It is uncomfortable, but…

“No, I’m not uncomfortable at all. Wouldn’t it be better to have more people dining together?”

It would be better than eating alone with the Count, and since the Count seemed to hate the idea, she wanted to share the table even more.

And in truth, how could a mere citizen dare to tell His Highness the Prince that they hate sitting with him? Such a thing was only possible for someone with a strong heart bordering on insensitivity, like that Count.

“She says it’s fine, Count?”

The prince looked at the Count.

“Hmm?”

Connie was a bit perplexed by the prince’s expression.

Of course, she had said she was fine with sharing the table, but… why did he look so triumphant? Like a boy who had just won a fight.

The prince’s expression and tone seemed very similar to the reaction of first-grade boys when they won a fight.

A face that seemed to say, “I won, didn’t I?”

If they were children, she would give them a lesson about “yielding and consideration.”

Both the Count who refused and the prince who insisted, why were these grown adults acting this way?

She was particularly used to Count Brightling acting this way, but the prince’s attitude was very puzzling.

Even Daniella wouldn’t act like this, let alone Callian.

In fact, no matter how much of a prince he was, suddenly appearing and asking to share a table couldn’t be considered proper etiquette. And persisting despite being refused was even more improper.

She felt that she should also diligently teach “etiquette” to the children. It didn’t seem like they could learn enough of it at home.

However, whether it only appeared childish to Connie’s eyes or not, the manager standing between the Count and the prince was sweating profusely.

“You show up at a restaurant without a reservation and try to join a table where people are properly reserved and in the middle of their meal. Am I the only one who finds this situation strange?”

But the Count’s retort that followed made not only the manager’s but also Connie’s mouth drop open.

The prince’s behavior was excessive, and even though he was a rich man who didn’t seem to care about social hierarchy, still. Count Brightling was a count, and the prince was a prince.

How many people in this kingdom could speak to the prince like that?

Seeing such an arrogant attitude, she instantly understood all the unreasonable things he had done to her.

Connie’s eyes immediately turned to the prince’s face again, almost as a reflex.

As expected, the prince’s face had completely hardened. But when their eyes met, his expression softened instantly.

“……?”

Connie felt increasingly strange.

Why did it seem like the prince was watching for her reaction? Was it extreme politeness toward a homeroom teacher?

“Ah! Hmm…… It seems I’ve committed a rudeness after hearing the Count’s words.”

The prince even went so far as to admit his rudeness.

Wow…… Is the prince remarkable, or is the Count remarkable?

What was certain was that His Highness the Prince was indeed a different person from the Count, who seemed to have no concept of manners or respect installed in his brain.

“I apologize for being rude to you as well, Teacher. I was so happy to see you by chance that I wanted to dine with you and committed an impropriety.”

The prince even slightly bowed his head to Connie as he apologized.

“Not at all! I should be the one apologizing. I’m honored that Your Highness would say such things.”

Connie apologized to the prince on behalf of the Count.

She was truly so honored that she didn’t know where to put herself.

“Honored…… Ah! Then perhaps you would like to dine with me? If so, I’m available anytime.”

“Pardon?”

How did he reach that conclusion?

That wasn’t her intention at all. She had simply shown the conventional courtesy that any citizen would show to His Highness the Prince.

But she couldn’t say “No, I don’t want to” to the prince who had interpreted it that way.

After all, she wasn’t someone like the Count, whose self had a perfect blend of shamelessness and strong-heartedness.

“When would be good for you? Since you must be very busy, I should adjust to your schedule, Teacher.”

“Pardon?”

Repeatedly asking “pardon” like this made her feel foolish even to herself, but she didn’t know how else to respond.

His Highness the Prince would adjust to her schedule?

The prince must be at least ten times busier than herself, a mere elementary school teacher.

It was only natural that she became increasingly unable to refuse the dinner invitation due to embarrassment and honor.

If the prince had requested dinner as a parent, she might have been able to refuse. But in this situation, he was requesting an appointment with her as the prince of the nation.

Making refusal absolutely impossible.

How strange. Why did situations like this seem to happen so frequently these days?

She kept feeling like she was being driven into a corner until reaching the conclusion of a “meal appointment”…

Maybe it was just… her imagination?

“Daniella mentioned there’s a sports day next month, and since you must be busy with school matters, shall we meet after the sports day is over?”

Daniella said that? She didn’t think she had announced the sports day to the children yet. Or had she?

Suddenly her mind was in disarray.

“Just join us now. Why make a separate appointment to meet, Your Highness, when you’re so busy?”

The Count suddenly interjected.

Why was this person so moody?

Connie unknowingly frowned as she looked at the Count.

Just a moment ago, he had absolutely refused. He could make soup with his mood swings.

“That’s a separate appointment from the one already made. So, may I join you today as well, Count?”

The prince smiled gently as he moved toward the empty seat.

“No! Your Highness! I’ve changed my mind. Just go eat somewhere else.”

The Count acted like a madman again.

He couldn’t possibly act like this unless he was insane.

“Your Highness, let’s just go.”

The bespectacled man who had been standing silently behind the prince until now approached him closely and spoke.

It was polite speech, but it sounded like an irritated scolding.

Who could he be, someone who could speak to the prince like that?

“Then I’ll see you next time, Teacher Connie Clarence. Count, I’ll see you on another occasion as well. Ah! I almost forgot. As an apology for the impropriety I committed at your meal, I’ll pay for both of your meals today.”

“Ah……”

Connie was so surprised that she tried to say something, but ultimately couldn’t find the words.

It would be inappropriate to say “No, please don’t do that” since the Count had already agreed to pay for this meal, and even if she still had to pay herself, she might have kept her mouth shut anyway.

The prince looked at her hesitation for a moment, then finally gave a slight bow and headed for the restaurant entrance.

The prince probably didn’t know that today’s meal cost 150 gran.

Connie was both dumbfounded and amazed at how the burden of the expensive meal had shifted from herself to the Count, and then to the prince, so she stared blankly at the prince’s retreating figure.

It was then that the bespectacled man, following behind the prince, turned his head and looked at Connie.

“……?”

Strangely, his expression seemed to be examining her.

Who is he? Why is he looking at me like that?

“Eric Gosling, the second son of the Gosling ducal family and the prince’s aide. He’s as stuffy as those stuffy glasses he wears.”

Count Brightling, who must have been watching her make eye contact with that man, suddenly recited the man’s personal information without being asked.

So he was an aide.

His glasses were particularly noticeable, but he didn’t look stuffy at all.

The Count who spoke like that seemed more lacking in manners.

It would have been better to dine with the prince rather than this man.

“Count, how could you be so rude to His Highness the Prince? I was embarrassed just watching. In a way, it was almost impressive.”

Connie immediately asked the Count after confirming that the prince had paid and left.

“Did you want to have dinner with the prince?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“That’s not what you meant…… This is funny. Why are there so many men asking Teacher Connie Clarence to eat with them? It’s strange. Did someone smear honey on your body?”

“What! What did you say?”

The Count’s words made her blood boil.

Men asking her to eat with them? Honey on her body?

Was he suggesting that she was trying to seduce the parents to get them to dine with her?

It was truly absurd.

“What exactly are you saying? And why did you make a dinner appointment with me in the first place, Count? Did I beg you to have dinner with me? No, I didn’t! The food basket incident was something I could only misunderstand, as you would know if you thought about it even a little, and this meeting today wasn’t arranged because I wanted it either. Your words are very offensive. I’m trying my best to be respectful because you’re a parent, but please maintain boundaries.”

“……There’s that boundary again.”

“I don’t know what you mean, but if you continue to be rude to me, I will leave.”

“Isn’t it rude to leave in the middle of a meal?”

Just then, the next course arrived.

Connie really wanted to get up and leave, but she restrained herself.

No matter how low the other person stooped, there was no need for her to stoop to that level too. She just needed to do her part.

Finally, with the intention of eating quickly and leaving, she bowed her head and began to eat.

“But you know, I don’t understand why the prince insisted on paying for the meal……”

But after just a few seconds, she heard the Count muttering to himself from across the table.

“……!”

She wanted to ignore him as she didn’t want to engage in conversation, but suddenly an unsettling possibility occurred to her.

“Regardless of who paid, this counts as one of the two meals that you and I agreed to have!”

It would be troublesome if the Count said otherwise later. She needed to be clear about this.

“……You’re not personally acquainted with the prince, are you?”

But the Count said something completely unrelated to what she had said.

“Why wouldn’t we be acquainted? He’s the older brother of the princess who is a student in my class. Anyway, today’s meal appointment……”

“No, not that kind of relationship. I mean something a bit more special, like between you and me……”

What is he saying!

“You mean a specially uncomfortable relationship?”

The word “special” was so offensive and absurd that she finally couldn’t hold back and retorted sharply to the Count, when suddenly the memory of encountering the prince on the Steen University campus flashed through her mind.

It was indeed a specially uncomfortable first meeting.

By the way, when would this memory ever disappear? Seeing how it surfaced even during conversations like this, it didn’t seem like a memory that would fade easily.

“Uncomfortable? Well, I suppose that’s how women usually start……”

“What are you really saying…… sir?”

The thought in her head came out almost raw.

When she was with this Count, it was too difficult to maintain the principles of behavior she wanted to uphold, such as politeness and propriety.

Values like respect, listening, consideration, and understanding were even more difficult to maintain.

“Eat.”

The Count pointed at Connie’s plate with his fork.

“This counts as completing one meal appointment.”

She had to make this absolutely clear.

“I understand, so eat.”

Finally, Connie bowed her head deeply and started eating again, looking only at the food on her plate.

The sooner she finished this uncomfortable meal, the sooner this time would end.

She didn’t know if it was possible to hate him more than she already did.

Amazingly, this was a man she grew to hate more dramatically every time they met.