15 - Another Grueling Day for the Aristocratic Kindergarten Teacher
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Dry saliva trickled down the back of Ephna's throat. Sparrows chirped from atop the towering trees. The peaceful scene under the warm spring sunlight suddenly felt eerie.
Ephna unconsciously took a step back.
It wasn't because she feared Hardness. It was merely an instinctive reaction to suddenly confronting something unpleasant she thought she had escaped.
'Don't panic, Ephna.'
But no matter how calmly she tried to think, her hands trembled uncontrollably.
She closed her eyes briefly, as if to soothe herself, then opened them. The hand that wiped away the moisture on her hand regained its composure. A relatively calm voice flowed from her lips.
"It's been a while, Hardness."
"A while? Is that all you have to say? Ephna, really you..."
He couldn't finish his sentence, as if he couldn't believe it.
Looking closely, Hardness's cheeks were gaunt. He looked haggard and unkempt overall.
'I heard the Marquess's family isn't doing so well. It seems it's true.'
Ephna nodded indifferently.
"Yes, it's me. So you don't have to make such a dumbfounded face."
"Dumbfounded...! No, more importantly, where have you been all this time? Do you know how much I've been looking for you? For five years!"
His face, flushed red, looked more wronged than anyone else. Hardness strode towards Ephna without hesitation.
"Explanations can wait. Let's go with me first. The Count has been looking for you, Ephna, for five years!"
"I have no reason to go with you. Please don't come any closer."
"How can you be so calm? After causing such a mess!"
As Hardness raised his voice, Ephna glanced around.
No one was there. The fountain was located in a rather secluded spot.
'Count to three and run away.'
First, get out of here and then think.
Look at that man's eyes. Haggard and half-crazed, he looked like he was about to drag her away right then and there. It was ominous.
One.
Two.
Three...!
"Hardness. What are you doing here? I've been looking for you."
It was the moment Ephna turned to leave. Someone walked out from behind the bushes with a slightly annoyed voice.
Waving light pink hair and a delicate voice that could be felt even through the annoyance.
Her eyes met the woman's. It was.
"...Lilien."
Her half-sister, Lilien.
"Sister Ephna?"
Her slightly gaunt face stiffened in surprise.
Hardness and Lilien had finally disappeared, but instead of gaining weight, why did they both look thinner than before?
She couldn't understand it, but Lilien was still beautiful. Lilien, who had frowned fiercely for a moment, gave an awkward smile.
"Sister, it's been a while. How have you been?"
"Yes, it's been a while, Lil..."
"Hardness. How can you just leave while we're talking? Were you perhaps trying to meet Sister Ephna?"
Her attitude of turning her back, ignoring the greeting, was natural, as if she hadn't heard it.
There was something strange about Lilien's attitude. She was as calm as if they had met just five days ago, not five years. Except for the slight trembling of her hands.
Hardness pushed Lilien's shoulder.
"Lilien, move aside for a moment."
"Ah! Why would you push me suddenly? No, more importantly, what did you just say?"
They were fighting. Shamelessly and without hesitation. It seemed they no longer intended to hide their relationship.
Ephna quietly watched the two of them. Suddenly, Lilien's white dress caught her eye. More precisely, she saw the pattern embroidered on the dress.
It was a pattern that was both unfamiliar and familiar.
'That's...'
Where had she seen it before? She was sure she had seen it recently.
"Hardness. You've been acting strange lately. Do you know how I barely managed to get out of the temple to meet you?"
"I know. I know, Lilien. So just for a moment..."
Temple. Yes, it was the temple's emblem. It was also the same emblem as Maylin's brother, Yohan Deisat.
'Why is Lilien wearing the temple's emblem?'
As if to solve Ephna's curiosity, Lilien clenched her fists tightly and opened her mouth.
"Do you think it's easy to come out of the temple during the Saintess Purification Period?"
Saintess Purification Period.
That phrase struck Ephna's ears.
The Saintess Purification Period refers to the period when a new Saintess is educated to adapt to the temple.
It was common knowledge that even Ephna, who knew next to nothing about the temple, knew.
'In that case...'
Ephna looked at Lilien with feigned surprise. Suddenly, the conversation she and Yohan had in the carriage came to mind.
'Well, she's kind and smiles at everyone.'
'I think she's also dating someone.'
Was that all about Lilien? Was Lilien a Saintess?
Feeling her gaze, Lilien turned around. With a face that was 'kind and smiling at everyone,' just as Yohan had said.
"Oh, and Sister. I've become a Saintess this time. It's a great honor."
"...I see. Congratulations, Lilien."
"Come to the temple sometime. I haven't appeared before the citizens of the Empire yet, but I often give blessings to those close to me."
Giving blessings based on academic ties, regional ties, and blood ties. It was the first time she had heard of it.
'More importantly, if Lilien is really a Saintess...'
Was the original Ephna trying to kill her half-sister?
Everything was confusing. She wanted to escape these awkward faces and think calmly right away.
But Hardness, as if he would never allow it, grabbed Ephna's wrist tightly.
"Let's talk, Ephna."
"Let go."
"Do you know how much trouble I had after you disappeared like that? Even the business of our family that you were in charge of..."
He seemed to be getting angry as he spoke. Hardness's eyes turned red.
The man's hand tightened. Ephna bit her lip tightly, looking at her pale wrist. It was so tight that the blood wasn't flowing.
"You shouldn't be so irresponsible, should you?"
"Let go. Hardness. Unless you want to stand trial in a noble court for molestation."
"Molestation? Molestation because a fiancé grabbed her wrist?"
"No, Hardness. It's been five years since we got engaged. You must know that according to Imperial law, if you don't marry within five years of engagement, the engagement is broken."
Ephna tried hard to keep her expression calm. She didn't want to show them that she was flustered or in pain.
The more she did, the more Hardness just pulled on her wrist without any intention of letting go.
"Go and talk about it. Molestation or whatever."
Her body, exhausted from the arduous outdoor work, was helplessly dragged along. Goosebumps ran all over her body as if ants were crawling on her.
"Let go, Hardness!"
Why can't I shake off even one of these flimsy guys? If I have any talent, show up at times like this. Anything. Please!
"I said let go."
It was a low, sunken voice. Somewhat bored yet chilling.
It wasn't Hardness's. It wasn't Lilien's either. Ephna looked at the man who lightly removed Hardness's wrist.
"..."
"I said let go."
Her face went blank for a moment. The first thing she saw was the casually unbuttoned shirt.
The sun above the snow mountain. The Emperor, whom the citizens of the Empire revered and praised, swept back his orange hair and stood before her, as if protecting Ephna.
'Instead of talent, the Emperor came...'
His lips parted once more.
"Why are you holding on so desperately to something you can let go of so easily? You."
"Aah! Yo-Your Majesty!"
It's not that he let go easily, but that he was 'made' to let go. Hardness's wrist looks like it's going to be bruised.
But instead of saying these words, Ephna quietly hid behind the Emperor. After all, if she could get help, it was better to get it properly. Hmm.
To think it's not even a prince on a white horse, but an Emperor. How grateful she was.
Maxion's brother, Emperor North, continued to speak with a nonchalant face.
"Marquess Bilchen. You were sleeping soundly during the noble council, and now you seem to be completely refreshed. To think you're showing off your strength like this."
"Your Majesty, how did you..."!
"Isn't the Saintess supposed to be busy? You seem to be quite free. It seems the temple is doing a terrible job.Even in this situation, he had the composure to criticize the temple as well. North was spewing venom at the two with a bored face.
If it weren't for the veins on the back of his hand, he would have just looked bored. North's hand seemed full of the intention to break Hardness's wrist.
Lilien awkwardly smiled, barely hiding her pale face.
"I'm about to return to the temple now, Your Majesty. I was just so happy to see my sister after a long time..."
"Sister?"
"Yes. Your Majesty may not know Sister Ephna well, but she is a very precious family member to me. It's difficult to see her at the temple, after all."
Earlier, she said that if you just came to the temple, she would give you blessings based on academic ties, regional ties, and blood ties.
North replied with a nonchalant face to Lilien's words.
"I know her well."
"Yes?"
"I may know her better than you do. She is precious to me too. I can't do without her."
