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The Protagonists’ Teacher Wants to Quit – Chapter 22
13. Parent–Teacher Conference, Now With a Side of the Imperial Family (1)
Once the remaining beasts were dealt with and the teachers finished cleaning up the scene, the students started getting noisy again.
“Wow… isn’t that insane?”
“So the rumors weren’t exaggerated.”
From the shade of the tree where Calix had set her down, Cozette opened her eyes briefly, then closed them again at the sound of the murmuring.
She had fainted for a moment and needed time to figure out what had happened.
“I saw it with my own eyes, and I still can’t believe it.”
“How can a person even do something like that?”
It was the same atmosphere as when Cordelia had pushed her younger sibling—accusations flying everywhere.
As expected—
“As expected of His Grace the Duke of Rosanacht…! Starting today, I’m going to take good care of my practice rapier.”
“Hey. You still couldn’t do that.”
“But was His Grace a spearman?”
“No, he uses a sword. There were even rumors he’s a Swordmaster.”
“Then what was that?”
“I mean, throwing a sword is still using a sword…?”
“Since when were swords throwing weapons?”
Something’s weird…
Cozette opened her eyes again. The mood wasn’t confused—more like excited.
“Teacher, didn’t you say that if a beast is dealt with improperly, its remains can contaminate the surroundings?”
“That’s when remains are left behind. Look around—what’s left? Even if a top-grade beast appears, if you neatly stab only the heart like skewering fruit with a fork, it’s over.”
“Have you ever done that?”
“If I had, I’d have a medal and be enjoying my retirement, not teaching brats like you.”
No one cared about the affairs of the Arche duchy’s young ladies.
Cozette’s pupils trembled.
This isn’t how it was supposed to go…?
A few days had passed since rumors spread through the Academy that Chester Rosanacht had killed a beast instantly by throwing his rapier.
Lucien, who had reported the matter to House Arche, received a response saying they wished to discuss it in more detail during the upcoming parent consultation.
For days she racked her brain over that single short reply—yet every possible conclusion she came up with was a tragedy.
“Seriously, what did I do wrong?!”
It was their daughter who barged into the advanced class’s dangerous combat exercise.
There had been nothing wrong with the barrier under her control.
Moreover, she and the other instructors on site had handled the situation well, and aside from Cozette scraping her knee, no one was injured.
“So why am I scared? It’s fine!”
It was not fine.
The opponent was none other than the Arche duchy.
Resignation Letter
Goodbye, Headmaster. I cast away all shackles of this world and go in search of my happiness…
Lucien wrote yet another dramatic resignation letter, then crumpled it up and threw it aside.
Her eyes fell on another crumpled-up letter in the corner:
To my dear Lusi,
The elegant handwriting named her as the addressee. Only three people called her “Lusi”: her father, her mother, and her older brother.
The letter was from her brother—containing things she absolutely could not ignore.
“How the hell does Lucius know what’s going on at my workplace?”
How could her brother—who was stuck far away back home—know what had happened at Noctua, even the parts the students didn’t see?
Even Lucas, who lived with her, didn’t know!
“Young Lady, will you be returning to the main estate this holiday?”
“I don’t want to.”
“Why do you dislike it so much? The Lady of the House cares about you dearly.”
While the maid poured warm tea, Lucien stared at the clear reddish liquid… and accidentally knocked over the cup.
“Oh—!”
“Young Lady! Are you hurt?!”
“No, I’m fine.”
The spilled tea spread across the floor, soaking the letter.
I’m sorry. I’m not good at drinking beverages other people give me.
I used to be like that too. My younger brother still is.
As the letter slowly absorbed the red liquid, Lucien asked:
“Daisy, did anything ever happen when I was young—like me getting sick from tea?”
“No, Young Lady. You were sick often, but never because of tea or drinks.”
“Right?”
“Though now that I think of it, there was a time you really hated being served tea. You wouldn’t say why.”
“I was wondering about that myself.”
There had been a time when she could only swallow medicine or tea if she prepared it herself—but she no longer remembered why.
Well, Lucas is a clean freak, so that explains him, but me…?
—To Lusi
Lucien stared at the letter until the first characters had soaked so much they were unreadable.
She shook her head, pushing the thoughts away.
It was time to get a grip.
“Send a reply saying I’ll adjust my schedule as best I can. Is the carriage ready?”
“Yes, Young Lady. You are going to see His Imperial Majesty, after all—everything has been prepared perfectly.”
“That wasn’t necessary…”
Despite her words, Lucien was dressed impeccably.
Normally, all parent-teacher consultations were held at Noctua.
Just last year, even Duke Ignis had worn out the Academy’s doors with constant visits.
But His Imperial Majesty—too busy and too exalted to travel to the Academy—had summoned Lucien, Estelle’s homeroom teacher, to the Imperial Palace.
She had hoped that something unavoidable, like a carriage accident, might occur on the way, but the “perfectly prepared” carriage arrived precisely on time.
I really didn’t want to come.
“Teacher Lucien Philonia, we have been expecting you.”
Guided by the elderly chief steward, Lucien entered—her face growing paler with every step.
If she could have escaped, she would have.
She recalled the advice she’d received from Estelle’s former teacher:
‘Just praise!’
‘…Pardon?’
‘Just praise her. No—adore her. You’re a noble, right? You can say those things well.’
It wasn’t hard. Estelle only had praiseworthy qualities.
The youngest in class, yet the most mature.
She smacked Noel whenever he acted stupid, shut Klein’s complaints right back into his mouth, and kept the classroom atmosphere stable just by being herself.
If she could, Lucien would have given her A+ in every subject.
Though… sometimes she seems almost too mature.
“Please wait here for a moment.”
“Thank you.”
Lucien sat in the offered chair and stared blankly at the tapestry on the far wall.
The demon being crushed under the goddess’s chariot felt like a metaphor for her own life.
I want to run away. I should’ve resigned. Should I resign now? No—if I collapse here, can they carry me out?
She trembled, despite having done nothing wrong.
Worse, the Imperial Palace had a barrier that sealed all magic and mana manipulation.
For someone like Lucien, who needed to constantly expend mana due to her constitution, it was the worst possible environment.
Even breathing drained her stamina, and she soon drifted into increasingly unhelpful thoughts.
How do I faint on purpose? Maybe someone could just smack the back of my head…
“You really look like you want to run away.”
“…!”
A voice—light, amused, as if holding back laughter—sounded from behind her.
Lucien jerked her head up.
She was literally dazzled.
Hair like melted gold, eyes like perfectly cut rubies.
Nothing in his refined appearance failed to shine.
Lucien scrambled to her feet and bowed.
“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“It’s been a while, Lucien Philonia. I suppose this is the first time we’ve spoken privately since graduation.”
Illyos dan Ludbier—Estelle’s older brother and the Crown Prince of the Empire.
He was also her senior from the Academy, though they had only shared a few classes.
“Will Your Highness be the one participating in today’s consultation regarding Her Highness Estelle?”
Please say yes.
“I wish I were, but His Majesty takes great interest in our youngest. I’m only stopping by briefly. Sit comfortably.”
Damn it. That means I have to do this twice.
The dazzling aura vanished instantly.
Lucien forced her best polite social smile.
“What would you like to know, Your Highness?”
“His Majesty will be the one asking questions. As I said, I’m truly only passing by.”
Then what do you want?
“Well, our Estelle has always been lovely, smart, capable, and gifted ever since she was little, so I’m not very worried.”
Apparently bragging was a hereditary trait of the imperial family.
On the other hand, it was widely known throughout the Empire that both the Emperor and Crown Prince doted obsessively on Princess Estelle.
“What I am worried about… is you, Lucien Philonia.”
