TPTR 28

Chapter 28

15. Something Is Strange About This House (2)

“The consultation can wait until the young ladies wake—”

“It’s fine. The children should know what they need to know.”

I’m not fine with it, though.

Lucien picked up her water glass and wetted her lips.

And what on earth was Cosette doing here? She wasn’t even her assigned student.

Keeping herself composed with great effort, Lucien returned the duchess’s question.

“May I ask what exactly you’re worried about, Madam?”

If she bluntly said tell me the problem, most parents would respond with, what would you know?

Normally, she asked questions like this expecting to hear, Oh dear, what do you mean? Our daughter is so perfect—there can’t possibly be any problems, but the ducal couple in front of her felt different.

This elegant lady genuinely seemed to be asking about the problem.

“I heard my eldest daughter pushed Cosette in front of a demonic beast. Were you unaware of this, Teacher?”

“Madam, that is—”

“When Noctua contacted us, we had our guesses. Ah, it’s happened again, we thought.”

Again?

Archduke Arce answered the doubt forming in Lucien’s mind.

A faint contempt flickered in his violet eyes as he looked toward his eldest daughter.

“I’m sure you already know, Teacher. Shameful rumors about our family have already spread all over the capital.”

Lucien glanced at Cordelia.

She couldn’t bring herself to say yes, but it was true.

“It pains me to say this in front of her teacher, but most of it is true. That child has tormented her younger sister terribly.”

Even the polite words couldn’t hide the emotions bubbling beneath.

Contempt, disgust, shame—every negative emotion imaginable.

Even Lucien, an outsider, felt her fingers go cold.

“I’ll be blunt. What punishment is Noctua planning to give the culprit? Don’t hold back just because she’s my child. Speak freely.”

…Something felt wrong.

Lucien tightened her fist beneath the table.

They’ve already decided the culprit is Cordelia. And why aren’t they asking who pushed Cordelia afterward?

She had made sure to report every known fact of the incident:

Cosette had fallen behind for some reason; Cordelia had tried to catch her but they lost their grip; immediately after, someone pushed Cordelia as well, putting her in danger too.

Of course, she hadn’t reported it exactly as she’d seen it.

To her eyes, Cosette had intentionally shaken off Cordelia’s hand, but since no one else had seen it, she couldn’t prove it.

Still, she had expected the usual How could you let our children get hurt?! sort of lecture—never this.

And in front of the child herself, no less.

She’s sitting right here, and they’re acting like she doesn’t exist.

The entire atmosphere of the room was wrong.

She hadn’t expected a comfortable family meal, but this wasn’t a parent-teacher meeting—it felt like a tribunal arranged to accuse and condemn a single person.

Was she supposed to be a juror voting in favor of the prosecution?

Lucien noticed that Cordelia hadn’t touched anything except her salad. Even that salad wasn’t decreasing in volume—she was only stirring it around while Cosette ate her steak.

Lucien felt suffocated.

“As I mentioned before, unfortunately Noctua cannot determine the culprit. If clear evidence appears, and if the culprit is truly one of our students, the disciplinary committee will decide the appropriate measure.”

“Hm. You must be quite cautious, Teacher.”

No one would take that as a compliment.

Lucien simply gave a strained smile.

The duchess nodded kindly at her.

“There’s no need to shield her just because you’re her homeroom teacher. We truly are very worried. As parents, if our child is going down the wrong path, we must correct her—but it isn’t easy.”

Now Lucien was seriously wondering why she had been summoned here at all.

Cosette stepped in to comfort her parents.

“Father, Mother, please don’t worry. If I do even better, my sister will understand my sincerity someday.”

Isn’t she egging them on?

But the ducal couple seemed relieved, as if that statement alone brightened their mood.

The duchess scolded her gently—How can you be so naïve—but her voice was full of affection.

The duke clicked his tongue loudly at Cordelia, as if telling her to learn from Cosette’s example.

Cosette Arce knows at least this much: what kind of mana affinity she has—and how it affects people.

Lucien’s suspicion solidified.

Just like the first time they met, she could sense a faint, nearly undetectable flow of mana leaking from Cosette—something only a mage could perceive.

It was subtly influencing those around her.

Most likely a mental-type affinity—something that evokes trust or fondness.

Perfect for a girl destined to shine in high society.

Still…

Even if Cordelia really is a bad kid who bullies her sister, is this something they should put on public display in front of me?

Regardless of their family issues, there was no universe in which it made sense to deliberately call in a third party just to dissect their child on the table like this.

Especially not in front of the child herself.

Even Lucien—who disliked children—knew that much.

And on top of that, don’t most families hide their private problems from outsiders?

The problem was that talking sense probably wouldn’t work.

Lucien took another sip of water and spoke.

“In that case, may I offer a suggestion?”

“Speak.”

This should be fine. Lucien clenched her fist.

Whether Cordelia is actually bullying Cosette, or she’s simply being misunderstood—this situation isn’t right.

She recalled Cordelia’s recently denied dormitory application form, which she had skimmed before rejecting it for lack of guardian consent.

Special notes: Nut allergy

Cordelia’s salad contained a generous amount of almonds—even Lucien could see that at a glance.

Her stomach dropped.

Even I, who am basically a stranger, asked her about allergies!

She didn’t care about their family drama, and she did not want to know.

Not at all.

Not even a little.

But I also don’t want to hear the ridiculous news that a student died at home from a nut allergy!

Lucien let her eyes droop and suddenly mustered a few tears.

A delicate beauty’s tears had a way of seeming sincere and persuasive.

“Setting this incident aside for now, thinking of how much you must have suffered until now—it pains me deeply.”

She smoothly avoided claiming responsibility for this incident.

“Especially a kind and gentle child like Miss Cosette—the angel of the Arce family—what hardships must she have endured?”

“That’s exactly why we’re so worried.”

“Which is why I would like to propose sending Miss Cordelia to the dormitory.”

Villainess or angel—none of that mattered, but one thing was certain:

At least in the dormitory, she’ll eat properly.

She shouldn’t remain in this house.

“The dormitory?”

“Punishment is difficult without clear grounds, and if word spreads, even Miss Cosette may become the subject of student gossip.”

Lucien wiped her tears and forced her calmest expression.

“For Miss Cosette’s safety, she should be protected from Miss Cordelia.”

“W-wait! Isn’t that too sudden?”

Cosette, looking startled, tried to soften the situation—but Lucien didn’t give her the chance.

“Fortunately, Miss Cordelia can stay in the dormitory until Miss Cosette’s debutante at age sixteen. She’ll return home only during vacations.”

The debutante.

The most important event in a noble young lady’s life. The ducal couple nodded.

“At the very least, she won’t be able to cause trouble in the estate.”

“And it won’t be as flashy as a formal punishment.”

As expected, they didn’t ask Cordelia for her opinion.

“Of course, as you know, our eldest daughter is lacking in many ways. We worry how she’ll fare without our supervision.”

In other words: You, the teacher, must take responsibility and manage her.

“If you ever need to discuss Miss Cordelia’s life in Noctua, feel free to tell us anytime.”

Lucien, knowing they wouldn’t care much anyway, gave them all the empty reassurances she pleased.