Novel Test - Chapter 6

귀족 유치원의 교사는 오늘도 고달프다 Episode 002

 

 

 

Counseling room.

Thin wisps of steam rose from the teacups set before the two men. In the suffocating air, the first to open her mouth was Efna.

“Parents.”

“Parents?”

“I’m Meilin’s older brother, Teacher. Please speak freely.”

At Efna’s single remark, two replies came back.

One was the Emperor, the other the Knight Commander.

‘How am I supposed to speak comfortably.’

On the other hand, look at our august His Majesty the Emperor. He sits unruffled on a cute little chair with chicks drawn on it.

The way he stirred his teacup was exceedingly leisurely.

“Since you called me all the way here, I hope what you have to say is worth the trouble.”

Already my spirit was being crushed. This wouldn’t do.

‘I can’t go in on the back foot here.’

As gently as possible, yet without looking easy to push around. Efna curled her lips into a slight smile.

“Yes. Then, to cut to the chase, I’ll speak plainly.”

“Plainly?”

“I requested to meet because your younger siblings have been quarreling often and I thought a consultation was in order.”

In short, it meant they’re troublemakers.

The hand leisurely lifting the teacup paused. The lips that had been smiling kindly fell open blankly.

‘What’s the matter with you two. You said to speak freely.’

Efna beamed.

To be precise, only Efna was smiling. Like sunshine, as befits the teacher of the Sunshine Class.

Tap. The sound of setting down the teacup was crisp. Maxion’s older brother, also known as Nos Gidhyde, Emperor of the Empire, asked with a fairly composed expression.

“Frequent quarrels? What do you mean?”

I mean, does being the Emperor make it fine? Why has he been casually speaking informally since earlier.

“…….”

Granted, being the Emperor does cover a lot.

Meeting his gaze, Efna flinched and turned her head. They say even the central nobles don’t dare squeak before the Emperor—so it’s true.

‘Get a grip. If you lose here, you’ll be dragged around until Maxion’s graduation, Efna.’

She clenched her fist hard beneath the desk. The voice that flowed out again was very gentle.

“Children at this age are very active. It’s a period when their gross motor skills are developing, so they naturally move around a lot.”

How to respond flexibly in a meeting with guardians.

First. Lay the groundwork.

Second. Lay more groundwork.

Third. Yet again, lay the groundwork.

There’s no major problem with your child. Reassuring the guardians like that was the first step.

Then they’ll ask.

“And what does that have to do with fighting?”

“Haha. Isn’t it good that they run and play well?”

Yes, that’s what they say. But the real point began now.

“However, because of that, they sometimes fail to control sudden bursts of strength and end up hurting other children.”

“…….”

“Verbal spats easily turn into scuffles. Children are, after all, unskilled at regulating their emotions, so their hands tend to fly first.”

In short, the two bicker and then come to blows.

The Emperor flicked his foot with a haughty look.

“Are you saying someone dared lay a hand on a member of the imperial family?”

They never think their child could have been at fault first. It seems even the Emperor is no exception.

At his opening jab, Meilin’s older brother, the Knight Commander of Daesinjeon, slowly swept back his hair.

“It seems His Highness the Prince is quite the prankster.”

“Prankster, is it……. If you were to die for the crime of insulting the imperial family, your lovely sister would be quite saddened.”

Tap, tap. The Emperor tapped the teacup, as if that were the Daesinjeon Knight Commander’s lifeline.

“If I die, the citizens of the Empire will be the most saddened. In protest of such an unjust measure, Daesinjeon would withdraw its friendly relations with the Empire and return to the Holy Neutral Nation.”

Meilin’s brother, expressionless, brought the teacup to his lips.

“So the ideal of Daesinjeon, which claims to serve the citizens of the Empire, was that pathetic? To the point of abandoning all imperial citizens over the death of one knight commander.”

“No one can disparage the death of a Daesinjeon Knight Commander as ‘mere’ or anything of the sort.”

“Nor is there any precedent of anyone insulting the imperial family and daring to live.”

“An imperial house that cannot humbly accept even the smallest criticism, how unfortunate.”

Between the two men brandishing fierce auras, only Efna was going cold with exasperation.

‘What kind of Emperor and knight commander in the world talk executions and severing diplomacy in a kindergarten counseling room.’

She quietly let out a small breath. Unable to hold back, a slightly firmer voice flowed from her plump lips.

“Both children have, once each, taken turns being the one who started it.”

In an instant the counseling room falls silent. At Efna’s words, the two men who had been growling viciously shut their mouths.

‘Yes, you’re surprised. That your own siblings also bear responsibility.’

Look at those faces. Faces as if confronted with an unbelievable truth, utterly shocked. It was almost pitiful.

“That can’t be……. Meilin is a child who cherishes even a passing insect, Teacher.”

I thought so too when I read the original, you know. She may not kill bugs, but she boldly yanks her friends’ hair.

“Maxion has been faithfully carrying out his imperial etiquette training.”

Yes, yes. I read the original too, so I know Maxion is a very diligent child, but that’s a different matter from this.

Slurp. Efna drained her teacup with neat composure. The two men looked at Efna with very tense gazes.

Thinking my sibling would never do that, and yet, a nagging anxiety.

The moment the guardians wavered, the initiative in the meeting had already shifted to her.

“As I said, it’s an age when it’s hard to suppress impulses. In fact, the biggest problem lies elsewhere.”

“…….”

“If this state continues, the kids in the class will also find it difficult to become friends with the two.”

No sooner had the gentle voice spread through the counseling room than the handsome faces went rigid.

‘My sibling is the Empire’s one and only prince whom no one would dare treat lightly.’

‘My sister is the youngest daughter of the High Prelate of Daesinjeon, who could make even a flying bird fall!’

And yet no one would approach such a sibling of mine? That was what was written across the foreheads of the two men.

“Of course I’ll do my best to guide the children, but I need your help at home as well.”

Efna smiled sweetly at them. What followed her smile was a suffocating silence.

‘Oh dear, parenting rookies.’

Compared to the countless guardians she’d dealt with until now, these two were, how to put it, gentle sheep, no, docile predators. Something like that.

Meilin’s brother quickly smoothed over his bewildered expression.

“I……. I suppose I’ll have to talk some sense into her.”

Next, Maxion’s older brother opened his mouth with a pained look.

“I’ll have the imperial education officer informed.”

“No, Brother. In person.”

“……What?”

“I know you’re a very busy man, but in person! I recommend you sit down and talk with Maxion.”

Those coolly uplifted eyes blinked as if in disbelief. He was flustered. The emperor. Or perhaps he simply found it absurd.

But what can I do. The first step to a peaceful home and a peaceful kindergarten life begins with family conversation.

“Do you not know who I am?”

“I do. You are the sky of the Empire.”

“Then you must also know how much time I have devoted to being here.”

“Yes. Since you are someone who makes time to come even to meetings like this, I have no doubt you will pay all the more attention to Maxion.”

Watching the two of you talk, I’ve learned a lot. How not to yield a single word.

Efna decided to risk her neck and become a little bolder.

“You…….”

The emperor, about to say something, shut his lips without continuing.

The sun above the snowy peaks. Those orange eyes the citizens of the Empire unanimously praised fixed quietly on Efna.

Yes. Her knees went weak.

‘Was I too bold? After dying once, have I become far too careless?’

Efna’s pale hands instinctively arranged themselves demurely. She neatly folded both hands and placed them on her lap.

However, making her attempt to be as respectful as possible seem pointless, Meilin’s brother chimed in with a slip of the tongue.

“The teacher is right. There’s nothing more pathetic than someone who makes excuses and neglects his family.”

With a gentle smile, he lands a jab at the emperor.

But what he seemed to forget was that he was in the same position as the emperor.

Efna forced a smile at Meilin’s brother.

“Um, this is something I’m saying to you as well, sir.”

“Hm?”

Because it felt like you were quietly assuming it wasn’t about you.

“It would be good if both of you talked with your children about their kindergarten life.”

It was an occupational disease.

The occupational habit of trembling and yet saying what had to be said. A struggle not to be tossed about during parent consultations.

It seemed her pathetic little tactic had worked. The two men closed their mouths with complicated expressions.

‘They must have a lot to think about.’

She took another sip from her cooling teacup.

Clink. As she set the teacup down, the counseling room door cautiously opened. A pair of tiny feet toddled in.

“Teacheeer…….”

“Meilin?”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward the source of the sound.

There stood Meilin, cute and lovable like a baby bird. Her brother, legs still crossed, stretched out a hand toward her.

“Meilin, were you bored? Come here.”

Meilin stretched out her short legs and started pattering as she ran.

One step toward her brother. Three steps. Five steps. And the moment she reached right under his nose!

“Meilin?”

She went right past him.

Lightly ignoring her beloved brother, she flung herself into Efna’s arms.