17 - Another Grueling Day for the Aristocratic Kindergarten Teacher
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He, who had been smiling like a detestable playboy, tilted his head slightly.
"Hmm..."
After a short sigh, as if choosing his words, North finally spoke. There was no trace of laughter left in his voice.
"About two years ago, Maxion was almost assassinated around this time. Coincidentally, the carriage he was riding in was passing through Akilan Lake Park."
"...Pardon?"
Two years ago, Maxion was only three years old.
"I barely managed to resist filling in that pond. Ah, right—instead, I filled in the perpetrators' families and threw the corpses of their relatives to the eagles as food, so perhaps I didn't resist entirely...? Anyway. It was a good experience in experiencing the limits of my patience."
The muscles in his jaw, as he said 'good experience,' were bulging, contrary to his words. As if the thought of that time made him want to tear them apart and kill them again.
"So, how do you think I felt when I heard that the field trip location was there? I must have been in hysterics, wouldn't you say?"
"...Yes. Even I am this angry, so Your Majesty must have been even more so."
How could anyone try to kill a child who was only three years old?
She barely suppressed the rising anger. Before she knew it, the Emperor before her had returned to his usual sly demeanor.
"You can call me selfish for changing the location as if giving a notice. I'll even let you hit me. Come on, it's a rare opportunity."
He said, offering his cheek. Ephna, who had been narrowing her brow with a serious expression at the suddenly presented cheek, glanced at it.
A very timid voice escaped her lips.
"...With my palm, or with my fist? How many hits will you allow?"
Absolutely not because she resented the recent overtime and unscheduled home visits. Absolutely not.
North's face went blank at Ephna's words. As if he had been struck in the back of the head by an unexpected answer.
Soon, his well-shaped back bent over. A burst of laughter, both absurd and pleasant, erupted.
"Ha, haha!"
"I'm asking very seriously."
Heaving up and down. The back muscles rising and falling with his laughter were clearly visible. It was because the man was wearing a thin silk shirt.
Honestly. He probably can't even say how many hits I can do. Never mind.
Rather than staring longingly at the Emperor's cheek, which she couldn't even hit, she decided to talk about something more practical.
"...Thinking about it, hitting you is probably not a good idea. I'm a pacifist. But could I hear more about Maxion?"
"Umm, uh, sure."
Goodness. There were even tears in the corners of his eyes. How much fun must he have had laughing?
North swallowed the remaining laughter with difficulty and continued.
"There are many people who are not fond of Maxion. They find his position as a prince unsettling, or something like that."
His position as a prince is unsettling?
Come to think of it, Maxion couldn't be a prince. He shouldn't be a prince. It was obvious. Because he was the Emperor's brother, not the Emperor's son.
Yet, the reason Maxion remained a prince was...
'Because he was too young to receive a title as Grand Duke and leave.'
Ephna was quick-witted. She could easily understand why Maxion was being threatened with assassination.
She bit her lower lip and then spoke.
"So, his remaining as a prince is bothering them."
"I guess not just anyone can be a teacher at a top-notch kindergarten. You're exactly right."
Many families desire the Empress's seat. To those nobles, Maxion, remaining as a 'prince,' would be a thorn in their side.
Because he could be an obstacle to the succession of the 'Crown Prince' from their family.
A gloomy voice escaped her lips.
"It's not easy, is it? You must be tired. Both Your Majesty and Maxion must be having a hard time."
"What do you say, do you feel a little sympathy for me?"
"I only sympathize with the weak and cute... I'm sorry."
Your Majesty is too grand and radiant for me to sympathize with...
At her roundabout denial, he feigned disappointment and wrinkled the tip of his nose. Not disappointed at all, though.
Then, with a sly look again, he leaned his upper body towards Ephna.
"Why don't you take pity on me? Give the Emperor, who is troubled and tormented by the many rats eavesdropping day and night, a corner of the counseling room, or something."
"Pardon? A counseling room? What would you do there?"
"Worry about the future of the empire, the stability of the people, and peace on the continent? Ah, it would also be good to consider the well-being of the rats."
It sounded like there was a chilling word about life or something at the end.
But the wise Ephna decided to pretend she didn't hear it.
'It wouldn't be difficult if the headmistress allowed it, but I already have so much to do, I don't want to add to my burden.'
Ephna was a ruthlessly rational worker, unable to be moved by pity.
"I can offer you a cup of tea. Of course, I'll have to get permission from the headmistress first."
Still, tea should be fine, right? I can't just cut off the Emperor's words.
Ephna nodded lightly. Not even dreaming of what consequences it would bring later.
"Really? If you dare to lie to me, the price will not be small."
"Don't worry. I don't go back on my word."
She should have just gone back on her word then. But Ephna was only preparing to leave, as the consultation was coming to an end.
Not knowing that the Emperor was smiling, his eyes curved like he was looking at prey caught in a trap.
Twelve days had passed since the home visit, which was half forced.
"Oh my, Lord Gillet. Look over there. It's the children from Loendel Kindergarten!"
"Viscount Peline's child is also there. He vowed to send at least this child to Loendel Kindergarten."
"The rumor that the five-year-olds from this year's class were coming to the Imperial Palace for a picnic must have been true. Oh my, they're all so cute!"
The nobles who had come to the Imperial Palace for a walk on a fine day were whispering, looking at the children.
It was finally the day of the spring picnic that the children had been eagerly awaiting.
"Okay, line up in two rows and follow the teacher without running. We're going to go further inside."
Ephna widened her eyes more than usual and watched the children. Making sure no child was falling behind. Making sure no child had dropped anything.
Only after arriving at the first destination, the greenhouse, could she breathe a sigh of relief.
The children who stepped into the greenhouse each exclaimed in awe.
"Wow, wow. Look at that. Look at that!"
"So pwetty..."
The glass greenhouse sparkled in the sunlight. Tropical trees soaring to the ceiling, and flowers emitting unique colors of blue, purple, and green. Butterflies flying around the plants and an artificial waterfall area with trickling streams.
Among them, the most enchanting were the rare plants that emitted a sweet fragrance that seemed to captivate people.
'Fortunately, there are no dangerous flowers.'
She had checked so thoroughly that, to put it a bit exaggeratedly, she had memorized all the plants in the greenhouse.
She spoke to the children with a kind but firm face.
"There are many very interesting plants here. What should we do with the flowers?"
"We should only look at them and not hurt them!"
"That's right. Flowers don't like being hurt either."
Ephna took the children around the greenhouse, explaining each plant one by one.
By the time they reached the exit after quite a long exploration, the children's appearance was quite a sight.
"Maxiyun. Look at my head here. Is there dirt on it?"
Maylin, who had been playing with a friend, had rolled around in the mud area.
"Yeah. You're ugly."
Maxion. He got completely soaked after being hit by a small stream while bickering with Maylin.
"...Sniff."
Banteid. He just ate too much chocolate, so his mouth is all black.
Ephna wiped the children, who had become wonderfully battered, and unpacked the lunchboxes.
"We're going to eat lunch now. Let's not push each other and take them one by one."
"Yes!"
The children who received their lunchboxes quickly took their places. How long had it been since only the sound of munching could be heard in the Imperial Palace garden when Maxion carefully called out to Ephna.
"Um, Teacher."
"Yes? What is it, Maxion?"
"Maylin is gone. She said she was going to get water from her bag, but she hasn't come back yet."
"What?"
She looked up from watching the children.
A child lying on a mat, patting his stomach. A child rummaging through his bag after finishing his meal. A child sharing snacks with his friends.
"..."
She's not there. Maylin is not there.
Maylin, who had been diligently stealing Maxion and Banteid's sausage side dishes until just now, was really nowhere to be seen.
A faint voice escaped her lips.
"Maylin...?"
The sound mixed with the wind and scattered into the air. Terrifyingly fast.
There was no answer. Maylin had disappeared.
