Chapter 69

What was she looking at that made her act like this?

When I glanced backwards, a swan I hadn’t known appeared was bowing very respectfully.

[How do you do, Duchess? I am Darren.]

“Ohh, then you must be our Haniel’s homeroom teacher!”

…and the source of Selene’s silliness.

It was a little weird to be saying this about a swan, but he had an appearance that was striking at first glance. His silver feathers that shone subtly spilled dignity and class, looking as if they had been weaved with moonlight itself.

He was the universally acceptable beautiful bird that would work on a lady with age, like Lady Melleo, and Selene, who only looked at faces.

“We are in your hands, teacher.”

[Not at all. It is I who should be saying that to such a beautiful Duchess.]

“Oh my.”

And he even had the manners to snipe the female heart of a widow with three children.

If it was any other animal from this lake. I may have asked how he had ended up here, but human or fowl, handsome folks had the advantage of being acceptable no matter what.

‘That’s right. I’m sure he had some kind of circumstances that called for it.’

Without a word said or heard, understanding just dawned on the heart.

I held in the urge to ask him if pardon, but may I stroke your feathers just once? to the very end.

Because I am the parent of a student!

“Tea-cher, my child is very shy and bashful. But she’s also very clever, so whatever you teach her, she will learn it very quickly. And when she fell into the water that day, that was…”

[No doubt because she is still a baby. Don’t worry. She looks quite pretty and intelligent, so she will surely master the skill speedily.]

“My, my, my.”

Silly me. Why were tears coming out of my eyes?

After standing off with Lady Melleo just a while ago, meeting this handsome teacher who understood the mother’s heart more than anyone made my chest swell up.

As I nodded, while fanning my face with my hands, more and more sharp eyes turned towards me.

“…..”

Over there, the one with that fierce look was Viscountess Lady Loen, and the one twisting her wings was Sir Enia’s wife. They were all parents of new students here, like me.

If this went on, I would be stamped as the public enemy before Haniel was in trouble, so I quickly said my goodbyes and retreated.

“Then, I will see you the next time.”

[Please do. I will always be waiting.]

Turning my back against Teacher Darren, who’d maintained his manners with overflowing dignity to the very last, I lowered my head to Haniel. As she spun around attempting to grab a part of her ribbon that was sticking out with her beak, she looked so innocent.

“Haniel, you’re going to follow the teacher’s directions well, right?”

[Mmhmm. What about mommy?]

“Mommy has to go somewhere. But nanny will be next to you instead.”

[B-but….]

“You have this pretty ribbon on and a cool teacher, so what are you worrying for? You know Mommy always keeps her promises, right?”

Only after I reminded her about our last promise and pinky-promised her with her last feather did I send Haniel into the lake. She still showed a lot of anxiety, but it wasn’t like I was going because I wanted to either.

“Selene, you’ll probably follow that homeroom teacher very well even if I don’t say anything, so I have no worries about you leaving, but look at the child from time to time, alright?”

[Madam, are you going to go somewhere again?]

“…..can you at least look at the person when they’re talking?”

[Eh, I always look at your face, so why should I now…]

Selene, who’d been looking dazedly at Teacher Darren out leisurely floating in the lake and leading the babies forward, finally turned her head.

Her frank gaze wanting me to just say whatever and go finally focused on my darkened complexion.

[I-if you don’t want to go that bad, then don’t go. You look like you’re about to be dragged into the slaughterhouse.]

“….who says I’m not?”

I raised my head to look at the palace far beyond the lake, which I could barely see.