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Chapter 03
Erne was just an extra character described in a single line of a trashy royal drama novel.
The hidden daughter of Queen Nesheld. Nothing more, nothing less.
She had lived her whole life thinking she was just a country bumpkin, so when she found out she was actually the queen’s secret daughter, the shock left her reeling.
But in the end, all that really changed was her status—from an extra commoner to an extra princess.
‘Erne was just a one-line extra meant to explain Queen Nesheld’s character, after all.’
The male lead was a noble from a bourgeois background who despised Queen Nesheld’s political system. He had bought his noble title by purchasing the surname “Valhard.”
The female lead was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Nesheld, and somehow, she and the male lead fell in love.
To help the male lead, the female lead became a spy who stayed close to Queen Nesheld.
‘But no matter how hard I looked, there wasn’t a single lady-in-waiting like that near Mother. Maybe it’s because the original story begins three years from now? Hm.’
The Queen had more attendants than ladies-in-waiting, and since there weren’t many of them, someone like that would’ve stood out.
There was no sign of the female lead, Belli.
‘I wanted to fangirl over the main character like everyone else, but…’
Erne left the royal palace without ever seeing her and counted that as a blessing, since who knows what kind of drama she might’ve been dragged into otherwise.
‘I thought only the leads got birth secrets.’
In the original, there was a shocking twist: “The two had the same mother.”
Thankfully, they didn’t share blood.
The male lead’s birth mother left when he was young and remarried Baron Duke-man. The Baron had a daughter from a previous marriage—none other than Belli, the female lead.
So the male lead’s biological mother was the female lead’s stepmother.
Erne shuddered with disgust.
Coming face-to-face with a cliché straight out of a Korean morning drama wasn’t exactly thrilling.
“Teacher!”
“Selene. Good morning.”
The bright voice brought a smile to Erne’s previously gloomy face.
It had already been a month since Erne established a small academy called Cheonghakdong.
She had purposely avoided the capital and come to a small eastern city called Vanessa.
Rumor had it that knights were still searching for the missing princess, but Erne didn’t believe such shallow gossip.
‘You think Mother doesn’t know I’m here?’
She snorted and tossed the newspaper aside. The Queen, who valued public opinion, was just putting on a show.
‘If she hasn’t come to fetch me by now, it probably means she’s given up.’
It was clear the Queen didn’t see her as a suitable heir.
‘Well, good for me. Now I can get away from that dysfunctional family.’
Erne had lived with the royal surname Nesheld as a princess for only three months.
But in that short time, she had amassed enough wealth from all the gifts people offered to win her favor to live comfortably for the rest of her life.
‘Unlike when I lived alone with Grandma in a hut.’
Back then, she had to forage herbs in the forest and sell them to herbalists just to afford food.
“What are we learning today?”
Selene raised her hand as she put her bag down and sat in her seat.
“Hmm. We’ll wait for Ash to arrive before starting. Today’s lesson is on basic table manners.”
“Okay! Yay, Teacher!”
Looking at cheerful and bright Selene brought Erne a sense of peace.
Selene was the youngest daughter of the Tehoran Viscount family, vassals of the Vanessa Count.
Her father had brought her here with hesitation, saying they couldn’t afford a private tutor.
Cheonghakdong didn’t differentiate between commoners and nobles, but once the academy was registered with the royal administration, commoners stopped paying attention altogether.
There was a long-standing belief that academies were only for the high-born or royals.
‘Well, nothing I can do.’
But Erne didn’t back down. She already had two students enrolled.
Ashclen, Selene’s childhood friend, was the first son of Count Vanessa—the lord of the city.
“Teacher.”
Just then, Ash arrived at the academy carrying an adorable bunny-shaped backpack.
“Ash. Good morning.”
“Yes. You too, Teacher.”
Ash was a timid and shy child.
He often blushed just from looking at Erne.
He quietly approached, set down his bag, and took his seat—only to be whacked on the back by Selene.
“You’ve been coming for two days already, and you’re still shy?”
“Go away, Selene…”
Selene was bold and energetic, while Ash was quiet and shy. They were an odd pair, but they strangely matched.
Erne smiled warmly as she watched the two.
Then she nodded to herself.
‘Yes. The future of this messed-up kingdom lies in these bright and adorable kids…!’
She believed teaching ethics and values to children like them was the only way to ensure a brighter future for the Kingdom of Nesheld.
That was the reason she founded Cheonghakdong.
Even if she immigrated to another country one day, she wanted to instill proper values in children suffering in Nesheld’s toxic society.
In her opinion, a proper future started with proper education.
‘Still… getting them to call me Master instead of Teacher might be too hard?’
She had wanted to be called Master, which suited the name Cheonghakdong, better than Teacher.
But when Selene first came, she couldn’t pronounce it and gave up trying.
Ash was the same.
‘Huna-nim?’
Not even Master, just Huna-nim…
Erne finally gave up on the title with a sigh.
“Okay, shall we learn about table manners today?”
She took out the lunchboxes she had prepared, and the children’s eyes sparkled.
She had sent a note home just for this class:
[Please do not feed your child lunch.
—Miss Ellen]
It was decorated with cute bunny and carrot doodles.
“Everyone hungry?”
“Yes!”
Selene shouted energetically.
Erne chuckled and handed out the lunchboxes.
She had packed them herself in the children’s favorite bunny-and-carrot-shaped containers.
Sandwiches, light meatballs, salad, and fresh milk.
“Before we eat, let’s review what I taught you last time.”
Before she even finished speaking, Selene’s hand shot up.
“Go ahead, Selene.”
“You said not to chew loudly! And not to walk around while eating!”
“Very good, Selene! That’s right. Chewing with sound can bother others, and eating while walking is bad manners.”
“M-Me too…”
Not wanting to be left out of the praise, Ash timidly raised his hand.
“Go ahead, Ash.”
“You said not to pick through the food on the plate…”
Erne made an exaggerated show of amazement.
“Excellent, Ash. That’s correct.”
Ash’s anxious face brightened instantly.
“So, what do we say before we eat? Ash, want to try?”
“Th-Thank you for the meal…”
Still very shy—but Erne praised him for remembering so well.
“Okay, everyone, let’s say it together!”
“Yes! Thank you for the meal!”
“T-Thank you… for the meal…”
Being kids, they were still clumsy with utensils.
Erne gently guided them, helping them adjust.
Noticing Selene eating too fast, she reminded her to chew thoroughly.
The kids ate every last bite of the lunch Erne had packed, patting their full stomachs.
Seeing that, Erne decided it was the perfect time for a little life lesson.
“This precious food—we’re only able to eat it thanks to someone’s hard work.”
“Hard work?”
“Yes. A farmer grew those fresh tomatoes. A baker made that bread. Thanks to them, we can eat delicious, safe food and stay healthy.”
“Wow…”
The kids listened, completely captivated.
“There are children in the world who go hungry even when they want to eat. That’s why we must always be grateful and treasure our daily meals.”
“Mm! Teacher, Selene is always grateful!”
“M-Me too, Teacher…”
Erne burst into laughter at their adorable responses.
After seeing nothing but the rotten souls of Nesheld’s high society, these innocent spirits were a blessing.
This was exactly the kind of bright future Erne dreamed of.
Well… until that child showed up.
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“So this is that… Cheong…hakdong place?”
“Yes. Can I help you?”
“Is Ellen the head of this academy?”
“It’s registered as one, but I’m just Teacher Ellen. If you need the royal title, then yes—I suppose I’m the headmaster.”
The sun was setting as Erne sent the kids home and gazed dreamily at the sunset—so much so that she forgot to lock the door.
That’s when an old man suspiciously peeked in.
He looked so shady Erne was ready to grab the bamboo rod—Cheonghakdong’s mascot—and whack him if she had to.
But after hearing her answer, the old man visibly relaxed and smiled brightly.
He grabbed both of Erne’s hands and teared up as he exclaimed:
“This is the place! The place that reformed that mischievous disaster, the youngest daughter of House Tehoran!”
“…Pardon? You mean Selene? She’s such a sweet child…”
“This is the place!”
“…?”
“The famous academy that cured the selective mutism of Count Vanessa’s eldest son!”
Count Vanessa’s eldest son was Ash, and the Tehoran family’s youngest daughter was Selene, sure…
But this old man’s words didn’t make sense.
Ash wasn’t mute—just shy. And Selene was bright and well-behaved, not some troublemaker.
Erne started to wonder if there were other kids she didn’t know about.
But the old man was adamant. He gripped Erne’s hands and cried again.
“Miss Ellen! Please take care of our young master too!”
Ah, a new student.
Erne’s eyes sparkled.
Cheonghakdong’s doors were always open!
She didn’t know what kind of child this one was, but education was essential for the future of the kingdom.
Avoiding the old man’s overwhelming gaze, Erne replied cautiously.
“Uh… tell him to come starting tomorrow.”
And future Erne… would want to go back in time and smack her past self just enough not to die.
