ITHTJ 25

Chapter : 25

Somehow Suspicious People (10)

There was something oddly sincere in Ash’s voice and tone—too much for it to be a joke.

I teased back, trying to probe his true intentions.

“Come on, that’s way too much lip service, don’t you think?”

“No, you really will become that kind of person. I may not look it, but I have good instincts.”

The man with the upright impression smiled an upright smile with upright eyes fixed on me.

For some reason, I felt as if even my mind was being straightened out.

What is this? A smile radiating one hundred percent pure trust?

Just looking at his bright smile made my heart feel at ease.

It wasn’t easy to feel this much trust from someone I’d just met.

If this man tried to sell me a miracle mattress, I’d probably buy ten.

How was I supposed to resist when he was saying such pleasant things with that sunny smile?

Huh? Wait a second.

This was an oddly familiar pattern. Déjà vu hit me.

Saying only what the other person wants to hear, buttering them up… No way. Don’t tell me he’s the same type as me?

Come to think of it, Ash’s behavior wasn’t so different from my own carefully crafted flattery.

No wonder he felt familiar. Judging from how smooth his tongue is—he’s a far bigger player than I imagined.

So there was another sycophant like me in this ducal estate.

I never imagined I’d run into a business partner here.

Well, it is the Reddair Ducal House. There must be dozens—hundreds—of people lurking around hoping to catch even the crumbs.

I was also someone who planned to butter up the Reddair siblings and fill my stomach with the benefits.

Ash might be one of the same.

Eclipse and Lynette do treat me very kindly. He must be trying to get close to me because of that.

Maybe everything Ash did was groundwork to secure his livelihood here.

Ah… So this is what social survival looks like.

Half hiding my face behind my lesson materials, I pretended to fall for the flattery and smiled.

“Do you really think so?”

“Of course.”

Ash nodded lightly.

No matter how many times I saw it, that smile still radiated trust.

No doubt that smile is part of the job. The life of a working adult truly is full of silent tears.

It felt polite to fall for his effort—at least on the surface.

When I reacted favorably, Ash’s smile brightened even more.

“So you don’t need to be formal with me. Please speak comfortably.”

Don’t be formal? Isn’t that a strange thing for an etiquette tutor to say?

Well, even if it’s flattery, it feels nice.

Pretending otherwise, I answered,

“Oh, I couldn’t possibly. Please don’t put me on a pedestal like that.”

“I’m not saying it lightly. I truly mean it.”

His face was full of sincerity.

For a moment, I nearly let myself get swept away, despite knowing better.

“Mr. Hart, shouldn’t you switch from etiquette to public speaking? I swear it suits you.”

“Perhaps I should consider it.”

I laughed and played along—until the atmosphere had grown warm and friendly.

“Elsssieeee!”

“Oh, Lady Saint!”

Lynette burst in like a shooting star, landing precisely between Ash and me.

Her sharp gaze flicked between us and stopped on him.

“What are you doing here, Ash? Your class finished this morning.”

“I came back for something I left in the classroom, and I happened to run into Miss Bloomhire here, so we were chatting for a moment.”

I found myself hiding behind Lynette without even realizing it.

Her shoulders twitched—almost flinched—where she stood between us.

“Miss Bloomhire? That’s what you call her?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“…No, not really. That’s correct, so… okay.”

Why did her voice sound slightly sharp, as though she was interrogating him…?

Nah, must be in my head.

I tilted my head and listened again.

“You two seemed awfully chummy. What were you talking about, leaving me out like that?”

“Miss Bloomhire mentioned she had dinner with His Grace, so that’s what we were discussing.”

“Oh, I heard about that. But really, that’s all? You two looked like you were having a lot of fun—I wanted to join.”

“Yes. There wasn’t anything else.”

“…Really?”

Somehow, I’d been pushed right out of the conversation.

With my head poking out from behind Lynette’s shoulder, I felt like an invisible spectator.

“I see.”

After a brief silence, Lynette suddenly grabbed my hand.

“Then we’ll get going. We have a lesson to attend. See you later, Ash.”

“Oh dear, I must have taken up your precious time. Please, go on ahead.”

“Then we’ll be off…”

I let Lynette drag me back into the classroom.

But just before the door fully closed, Ash’s earlier words floated into my mind.

“I left something behind, so came to get it.”

Right. That’s why he said he was here.

I called out through the narrowing crack of the door:

“Mr. Hart, I’ll bring you the item later!”

“I’d appreciate that.”

“See you later then!”

Ash smiled with his eyes and waved lightly.

Once the door shut, Lynette—strangely sulky—asked me,

“Teacher, are you close with Ash?”

It was hard to say someone I’d met twice was a friend.

I answered honestly.

“Huh? No, not really. This is only the second time we’ve met. I wouldn’t say we’re close.”

“Really?”

Lynette visibly relaxed and sat quietly on the sofa.

I left her and walked toward the lectern.

A ring sat atop it—decorated with a tiny ruby.

So this is what Ash left behind.

I picked it up to return it later.

Then—

“…!”

The moment the ring touched my hand, I felt an enormous surge of power.

Not just magic.

Something foreign wrapped around my entire body.

I knew exactly what it was.

This… is holy power?

Yes. Holy power.

The same aura I sensed from Lynette was pulsing out of this ring.

“Why would Mr. Hart have something like this…?”

I whispered, then shoved the ring into my pocket.

I could feel Lynette behind me.

“What are you doing, Teacher?”

I spun around quickly.

“Huh? Oh, nothing. Just thinking about something.”

“What kind of thought had you so lost?”

Lynette tilted her head, tapping her chin with her finger.

Her playful eyes found mine.

“Thinking about my brother, maybe?”

“Huh?! Lady Saint, you’re such a joker.”

I waved it off, giggling awkwardly.

“All right, that’s enough teasing. Let’s start the lesson. Please take your seat.”

“Really? It wasn’t the right answer? I was sure it was!”

Pouting, Lynette returned to her desk.

I checked my materials at the lectern when—

“Teacher Elsi, I have a question!”

Lynette called out again, voice sparkling with mischief.

Without looking up, I answered,

“Yes, Lady Saint?”

“Do you have a boyfriend?”

“…Pardon?”

Did I hear that right? Boyfriend?

I stared at her, dumbfounded.

“Or someone you like? I’m really curious.”

She rested her chin on her desk, grinning slyly.

And I suddenly understood.

So this is how teachers feel when students ask about their first loves…

My mind went blank from the surprise.

After scrambling for a response, I finally said,

“I’ll answer you later. Let’s begin class first.”

“Aww, that’s so stingy.”

Thankfully, Lynette didn’t press further.

Three unusually long hours later, class ended, and as I cleaned up, I made up my mind.

I’ll go straight to Ash.

He was staying in the same annex.

I’d just drop by with the ring on my way back.

I don’t know why he has something like this…

But with that overwhelming holy power, the ring must be a sacred relic.

Though for a holy relic, the magic inside is weirdly suspicious… Ugh, whatever. Better return it fast.

With suspicion lingering, I turned toward Lynette.

She sat silently, lost in thought.

“Good work today, Lady Saint. I’ll see you next Thursday.”

As I stepped out—

“Teacher, wait.”

Lynette, who had been quiet, suddenly called after me.