chapter 03

Marquis Dorgel welcomed my mother and me warmly.

But when I showed even the slightest sign of discomfort, he eventually gave up and backed off.

“Honestly, I don’t know what to do with you.”

Because of that, I had to listen to my mother’s nagging the entire ride back to the marquis’s estate.

At the imperial palace, I had to watch the mood of the little girl with the tyrant father, and at home, I had to watch my parents desperately searching for a future son-in-law.

At this point, I think it would’ve been better to possess a villainess destined to die.

After spending the afternoon carefully reading everyone’s moods, I headed to the imperial palace the next day for my lesson.

“Our princess is amazing. How can you draw so well too?”

Nora, the princess’s maid, beamed.

“As expected, there’s nothing Her Highness can’t do.”

She watched Shuni drawing with her tiny little hands, unable to contain how adorable she found it.

So… here’s what happened.

Originally, just like yesterday, the lessons were supposed to be held with only Shuni and me. It wasn’t good to have outsiders around during class.

But today, Shuni wanted to have the lesson outside. She said she’d been stuck inside the palace for several days and felt cooped up.

Since someone had to attend to her, it ended up becoming an open lesson with an observer.

I had a feeling Shuni suddenly wanted to study outside because Nora had persuaded her—she wanted to stay beside the princess.

“Nora, you’re distracting me.”

Actually, even Grace, her nanny, had wanted to observe the lesson.

But only Nora was allowed.

Shuni was secretly drawing a portrait of Grace because she wanted to give it to her as a surprise gift.

Though, judging by Grace’s expression, I was pretty sure she’d already figured it out.

“Yes. I’ll be quiet.”

Nora answered, but she still couldn’t suppress her quiet giggling.

However, there was another noise bothering Shuni.

“The mages are here again.”

Hearing murmuring from somewhere nearby, I turned my head.

Beyond the garden stood imperial knights and several mages.

“I guess something’s wrong with the barrier again.”

“Yeah, I think so.”

Shuni answered casually, but Nora immediately panicked.

“What if monsters really get inside? Ah! Princess, I’ll protect you no matter what!”

Shuni snorted.

I smiled to myself before looking back toward the mages.

Honestly, I had only been frightened at first.

Now, I didn’t think much of it anymore.

For the past several days, abnormalities had continued appearing in the barrier surrounding the imperial palace, so mages came and went frequently.

Apparently, the Magran Imperial Family and the Mage Tower had maintained a long-standing cooperative relationship.

The imperial palace needed someone to constantly reinforce the barrier that protected against magical beasts.

The Mage Tower needed a steady supply of magical minerals.

Since each possessed abilities the other lacked, they had continued working together for many years.

That was why someone like Millen visited the palace so often.

“Rena, look at this. I drew it well, didn’t I?”

Just then, Shuni tugged on my sleeve.

I had been looking toward the two men, so I answered a beat late.

“Yes, you drew it very well.”

Anyone listening would think my voice sounded completely indifferent.

But considering my student was the strongest person in the country, it was only natural that I could praise her drawing without even looking.

“…”

Seeing my lukewarm reaction, Shuni’s eyes narrowed dangerously.

I hurriedly forced a smile.

“Hmm… but I think it’d be better to erase a few of these accessories. The person here…”

I added some careful advice.

Immediately, Shuni’s expression softened.

“That’s Grace.”

“Yes. Lady Grace doesn’t stand out very much.”

I was carefully examining the painting and giving sincere advice when—

“…?”

Suddenly, chills ran down my spine.

I slowly turned my head.

There was Nora, biting her scarf with a face full of jealousy.

“…Sniff.”

Apparently, she didn’t like how close I was to Shuni.

What…? What did I even do?

Objectively speaking, Shuni really was adorable.

A lovable child who had inherited only the best features of both her parents.

But still…

Maybe it was because I knew she was a regressor.

Personally, I didn’t think she was so overwhelmingly charming that Nora had to become this competitive.

Besides, I hadn’t done anything special with Shuni to provoke anyone’s jealousy.

I was simply doing my job as her art teacher.

“Lady Nora, aren’t you curious about the drawing too?”

I tactfully tried to redirect Shuni’s attention toward Nora.

“…Yes.”

The embodiment of jealousy instantly calmed down and nodded obediently.

“Here. I’ll show you too, Nora.”

Fortunately, Shuni showed her the drawing as well.

Nora’s eyes sparkled as she admired it.

Then she glanced at me.

For some reason, she looked strangely touched by what I’d done.

“…Haha.”

Please.

An ordinary transmigrator doesn’t need the affection of an adorable princess.

I sincerely hoped everyone in the Princess Palace would treat me as though I were barely there.

On the way back to the marquis’s estate after class, I took a short nap.

Preparing lessons early in the morning was exhausting.

Before I knew it, the sound of the horses’ hooves gradually stopped, and the carriage came to a halt.

Still half asleep, I rubbed my eyes and stepped outside.

“M-Miss!”

Just then, Litsa spotted me from the front gate and ran over.

It looked like she’d been waiting quite a while for me to return.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen?”

“Um… A letter arrived for you, Miss. I think you should read it.”

“A letter?”

What kind of letter made her come all the way out here?

“Alright. I’ll check it in my room.”

Taking the three letters Litsa handed me, I slowly returned to my room.

After changing clothes, I sat on the sofa and began reading.

One letter was from my aunt asking how I was doing.

Another was from a friend inviting me to visit a salon together.

The last one…

“…Who sent this?”

There was no sender.

That alone made me uneasy.

Feeling nervous, I opened the envelope.

The moment I read it, I couldn’t hide my surprise.

That ribbon doesn’t suit you.

At first glance, the creepy sentence had been assembled entirely from letters cut out of newspapers.

This was obviously a stalker’s letter.

The conclusion was simple.

He’s insane.

I’d only been living as a transmigrator for a month, and I already had a stalker?

“Ignore it, Litsa. It’s only one letter.”

I tore the mysterious letter into pieces and threw it into the trash.

Watching Shuni’s mood at the Princess Palace is exhausting enough. I don’t have time for nonsense like this.

I calmly wrote replies to the other letters, trying not to think about it.

I really did try.

What kind of lunatic would become interested in an old maid who’s practically destined to become some elderly noble’s second wife?

Unfortunately, that mysterious letter wasn’t the end.

The diligent stalker faithfully sent one letter every single day.

Every one of them was filled with nonsense pretending to know me personally.

They were all made from newspaper clippings, making it impossible to identify the handwriting.

Why is something like this happening in a cheerful healing childcare novel?

The day I received the fifth letter…

I decided I would definitely catch this lunatic.

I had no idea when something even more dangerous might happen.

I didn’t tell my parents because I didn’t want them to worry.

It wasn’t that I distrusted Litsa, either.

She simply couldn’t keep a secret, so I even hid it from her.

First, I visited the address written in the sender’s section.

It turned out to be nothing more than an abandoned building scheduled for demolition.

I even bought every newspaper sold in the capital and compared the letters.

I found a few matching characters, but nothing that could serve as an actual clue.

“Lady Rena, have you still not caught that strange person?”

One day, when I arrived at the Princess Palace for class, Grace quietly asked me.

Apparently, my troubled expression had been showing.

I hadn’t wanted anyone here to notice.

“No, not yet.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to tell Her Highness?”

Grace glanced toward Shuni’s closed bedroom door.

“I’m sure Her Highness would gladly help. She’d probably catch the culprit in a single day.”

“No… I’d rather not trouble Her Highness. If it becomes more dangerous, then I’ll consider asking. Still, thank you for worrying about me.”

I answered politely, but Grace still looked concerned.

“Hello, Rena.”

Before Grace could ask anything else, Shuni appeared, and class began.

At Shuni’s order, Grace left the room, naturally ending the conversation.

“Princess, when you finish that drawing, you’ll draw me too, right?”

Nora asked with a bright smile.

As always, she attended today’s lesson as an observer.

“Mhm.”

Completely focused on her drawing, Shuni answered absentmindedly.

Even that was enough to make Nora grin happily.

However, Nora didn’t get to monopolize Shuni’s attention for long.

“Princess, that part…”

I was about to point out that the composition looked awkward.

The moment I spoke, Nora suddenly frowned deeply.

She looked like she’d just stepped in something disgusting.

“…Haha.”

Under her fierce glare, I could only laugh awkwardly.

Ever since she’d started observing the lessons, Nora had been fighting a one-sided battle to win Shuni’s affection.

Goodness… how scary.

To me, though, she was nothing more than a cute, immature girl.

Ignoring it, I turned back to continue helping Shuni with her drawing.

Then—

“I’d rather not let a situation happen where even the Princess gets hurt.”

…

Um…

This is supposed to be a healing childcare novel, right?

I’m pretty sure it is.

But every now and then…

I can’t help doubting it.