The Teacher of Budding Villains Suffers Today, Too - Chapter 108

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 108
When weaving a trap, one must be meticulous. The scheme must be devised so that no one suspects it, and one must wait with patience until the prey falls into the snare.
The Emperor of Anareо understood this well.
Thus he began to construct his trap for kidnapping Rachel Swan with extraordinary precision.
A hidden trap that no one would ever detect.
* * *
“The Emperor of Anareо wishes to meet with Lucas?”
“Yes, that is what they say. It seems they intend to negotiate.”
At Henry’s words, Rachel’s brow furrowed. No matter how she considered it, no reasonable terms seemed likely to emerge.
“What could they possibly want?”
“They likely want the Tirnes forces to withdraw beyond the Dekision River.”
“That’s asking us to make a one-sided concession.”
Rachel let out a hollow laugh. This was hardly negotiation—it was capitulation. Henry nodded in agreement.
“What does Lucas say?”
“The Crown Prince is organizing proposals with his knights back in Tirnes.”
“If they refuse our proposals, war will break out again.”
“That would be the case.”
Rachel’s mind grew tangled. Even after wracking her brain further, their demands seemed utterly unreasonable.
“The Crown Prince wishes to minimize casualties among Tirnes forces. I suspect he may accept even an unfavorable negotiation.”
Henry exhaled heavily. Rachel found herself agreeing with him to some degree.
Lucas hated seeing his soldiers sacrificed. The Emperor of Anareо, by contrast, used his forces like chess pieces on a board.
The Emperor of Anareо surely knew this fact. Otherwise, how could he propose such a one-sided agreement?
“For now, we’ll have to wait. We can’t know what conclusion Lucas will reach.”
Rachel looked down at her fingertips. They were rougher than one would expect of a noblewoman’s hands. But that didn’t matter. They had become this way for Lucas, and for Tirnes.
“Swan.”
A voice called from outside the tent. Rachel turned at once. A soldier entered the pavilion.
“His Highness is looking for you.”
“Has the meeting ended? Henry, I’ll be back shortly.”
“Yes, miss.”
Rachel rose immediately and walked without hesitation toward Lucas’s tent.
She could not ease the tension in her chest the entire way. What had happened in that meeting? Rachel turned various possibilities over in her mind.
“Rachel.”
“Lucas.”
Rachel greeted him with a somewhat anxious expression. Lucas then stepped toward her.
“I called you here because I thought you would be worried. I imagined you would be curious about the results of the meeting.”
“…Thank you.”
Rachel offered her gratitude to Lucas with sincerity. Then she looked up at him. In her eyes, he shone more brightly than ever.
“In conclusion, we will proceed with negotiations.”
Lucas spoke with resolve.
“I understand their demands are quite substantial. Are you certain about this?”
“We also have points where we can stand firm.”
“Points where you can stand firm?”
Rachel’s eyes widened as she looked at him. He gently stroked her cheek and spoke.
“Tirnes intends to demand Magical Stones from Anareо.”
Caught off guard by his words, Rachel’s mind raced immediately.
Anareо’s Magical Stones.
They were of superior quality and greater quantity than those of Tirnes. One reason Anareо had so many Mages was that Magical Stones were relatively abundant there.
If they demanded a large quantity of Magical Stones from Anareо, they could strengthen the Mage Corps of Tirnes. It was a bargain that yielded no loss.
Rachel was somewhat surprised by Lucas’s wisdom.
“I hope the negotiations go well.”
Rachel spoke with genuine feeling. Lucas then opened his arms slightly.
“If you don’t mind.”
Rachel understood what his gesture meant. Without a word, she embraced him.
There were no ornate gowns, no beautiful accessories adorning her. She held him in her black robes, with her rough hands. It was hardly a romantic sight.
Yet Rachel thought there had never been a moment more romantic than this.
Lucas, who loved her, and herself, who loved him.
If their hearts were turned toward one place, wasn’t that enough?
* * *
The negotiation party, led by Lucas, mounted their horses. They waved their hands with confidence in their victory. The Tirnes soldiers remaining in camp waved back to them.
Lucas had assembled only a minimal force. He was concerned that Anareо’s soldiers might betray the negotiations and march on the Tirnes encampment.
Yet Rachel found herself worrying about Lucas instead. His forces seemed far too few for her liking.
“Don’t be concerned, miss. His Majesty is stronger than anyone.”
Henry reassured Rachel, and she managed a thin nod in response.
“Shall we go inside then?”
“Just a moment longer.”
Rachel couldn’t tear her eyes away until Lucas vanished into a mere speck on the horizon.
Henry made no further attempt to coax her inside. He simply watched her with gentle eyes.
Once Lucas had completely disappeared, Rachel turned back toward the barracks. She too had work to do in the Military Camp—sorting through Commoner Mages to evaluate Magical Stones.
“When the Crown Prince brings back the Magical Stones from Anareо, we must categorize them carefully. Select the ones with superior quality, and place any that fall short of standard into this box.”
Rachel produced a wooden crate.
‘Anareо will surely try something.’
No matter how many noble Mages accompanied the Crown Prince to verify the authenticity of each stone, it was impossible for them to inspect every single Magical Stone with adequate care. So the sorting had to be done here as well.
“Rachel.”
A soldier called out to her as she was instructing the Commoner Mages.
“Duke Sinclair wishes to see you.”
“Duke Sinclair wants to see me?”
It made no sense. She had surrendered the Sunlight Dagger to Lucas and then hidden herself deep within the barracks. Why would he seek her out now?
‘Has he only now come to his senses as the war winds down?’
Rachel clicked her tongue inwardly. Once he had been a knight, or so they said—now he was nothing but a coward. It was pitiful.
“Follow me.”
Rachel exchanged brief farewells with the Commoner Mages and fell into step behind the soldier.
“Here we are.”
Duke Sinclair had relocated his tent to the very center of the Tirnes encampment, claiming he feared the fighting. He was a simpleton of the highest order.
Rachel stepped into the duke’s tent, thinking to herself that she must never become like him.
“Mm.”
Duke Sinclair sipped his tea with leisurely composure. To indulge in tea amid a war—it was absurd. Rachel’s eyes narrowed.
“Rachel Swan. Do sit.”
Duke Sinclair gestured for her to take a seat. She carefully pulled out a chair and sat.
“Let us talk over some tea.”
Duke Sinclair offered her a cup, and a teacup was promptly placed before her.
A deep red liquid filled the cup, wisps of steam rising from its surface, carrying a sharp, pleasant aroma.
“Go on, drink. It’s quite rare tea.”
She had no real desire to drink it. In the midst of war, tea seemed frivolous.
Yet if she didn’t drink, it seemed the conversation would not begin. So Rachel lifted the cup to her lips, took a small sip, and swallowed quietly.
“Did you drink it?”
“Pardon?”
Who asks if someone drank their tea?
Unless…
Rachel lurched to her feet.
But she collapsed to the ground moments later. Soon her vision blurred completely.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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