The Teacher of Budding Villains Suffers Today, Too - Chapter 39

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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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Chapter 39
“I have no intention of abandoning you, nor of relinquishing my place as crown prince.”
“Then why are you acting like a commoner?”
“Is there something wrong with how commoners live?”
Lucas asked quietly.
“I’m asking whether their way of life is inherently flawed.”
“Commoners are just commoners! They’re different from us!”
Noah shouted at the top of his lungs.
“I hate seeing you live like a commoner!”
“It seems I need to clear up your misunderstanding first.”
Lucas responded with composure.
“As a member of the Imperial Family, I cherish that position. Which is precisely why I must take an interest in how commoners live.”
“What?”
“The vast majority of the Empire’s people are commoners. How could I claim the crown prince’s seat while knowing nothing of their lives?”
“But that’s—”
“As crown prince, and one day as emperor, how could I possibly govern the Empire without understanding the lives of commoners? How could such a person rule properly?”
Lucas explained calmly.
“It’s true that as a member of the Imperial Family, I take considerable interest in commoners’ lives. But that interest stems from my position as part of the Imperial Family—it does not mean I’m casting aside the crown prince’s seat.”
“I don’t care! I don’t believe you!”
Noah cried out, refusing to listen to Lucas’s words.
“I have no allies! You’re a liar too!”
Tears began to well in Noah’s eyes. Lucas exhaled softly and made another attempt to persuade him.
“I’m not listening! I won’t listen to you!”
But Noah shrieked and covered his ears. Convincing him, so firmly trapped in his own world, seemed nearly impossible.
Knock, knock.
It was then that Rachel knocked on the door.
“May I come in for a moment?”
“Of course.”
Lucas replied gently. As Rachel entered and observed Noah, she spoke carefully.
“Noah. Would you like to talk with me for a bit?”
……
Noah gave no answer.
“It would only take a moment.”
Rachel tried various approaches, but Noah only wept, refusing to respond.
“Noah, I understand how much you care for your oldest brother. But losing yourself in your own thoughts and troubling others—that’s not the right path.”
As Rachel spoke quietly, Noah lowered the hand covering his ear, tears streaming down his face.
“Would you come with me to the Headmaster’s Office for a while?”
Staying here with Lucas would only inflame his emotions further. Rachel decided to separate the two of them. Fortunately, Noah complied.
In the silent Headmaster’s Office, only the sound of Noah’s weeping echoed intermittently.
Noah exhaled roughly after wiping his tears with the handkerchief Rachel had given him.
“Were you that worried about your brother?”
“…Yes.”
“You wish he would return to the Imperial Palace?”
“That’s right….”
Noah made no attempt to hide his true feelings. Rachel fell silent for a moment, lost in thought.
‘A child this sensitive could easily go astray if we’re not careful.’
Whether in the Republic of Korea or here, adolescence seemed to arrive earlier with each generation. Noah too had entered his early puberty.
‘This really is a critical time.’
Press down on one part of a balloon and another will burst. Children who are suppressed too harshly often rebel or veer off course in unexpected ways.
‘I think stepping back this time is the right move.’
At Swan Knights Academy, children are not simply suppressed. Rather, strength and flexibility are adjusted to suit each individual’s temperament.
‘I should discuss this with Lucas.’
Rachel continued to turn over these thoughts as she watched Noah, whose tears had not yet stopped.
* * *
“Lucas, may I come in?”
Rachel knocked and asked cautiously. Lucas opened the door for her.
“How is Noah?”
“His mind still seems quite troubled.”
Rachel spoke plainly about Noah’s state—how upset he was, how distressed.
“I see.”
When Lucas heard Noah’s response, he too furrowed his brow. It seemed he was equally troubled.
“So here’s the thing.”
Rachel rarely asked Lucas for anything. But today was different. It concerned Noah, a child precious to them all.
“What if you stayed at the Imperial Palace until Noah’s misunderstanding is cleared up?”
Rachel spoke carefully.
“So Noah still doesn’t trust me, it seems.”
“That’s the situation.”
“Noah can be stubborn. Once he believes something is right, he’ll push through to the bitter end.”
Lucas understood Noah with perfect clarity.
“In a situation like this, there’s no reason to complicate his mind further.”
Fortunately, he agreed with Rachel’s words at once.
“Very well. I’ll do as you suggest.”
Lucas loved his younger brother deeply. His concern for Noah’s state was plain enough that he decided to return to the Imperial Palace.
“Thank you, Lucas.”
“It’s nothing. Still, you’ve done much. I’m always sorry for it.”
Lucas spoke quietly to Rachel. She quickly waved her hand.
“That’s not true. This is my duty, and my reward.”
“Rachel.”
Lucas called her name with deliberate weight.
“I haven’t changed my hope that you would learn the Mana Driving Method at the Imperial Palace.”
……
“If you change your mind, contact me anytime. I will always be waiting.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Lucas seemed unable to let go of this matter. But Rachel found it difficult to give him a bright affirmation. There were still children here who needed her care.
“Thank you for everything.”
Lucas extended his hand. Rachel, hesitating a moment, extended hers and clasped it with his.
As she felt the warmth of Lucas’s hand in hers, Rachel smiled faintly.
* * *
News of the Crown Prince’s departure for the Imperial Palace spread through the school quickly. The six children, Noah excluded, made no effort to hide their disappointment.
“Ah, the Crown Prince is really wonderful.”
“I wish he wouldn’t go.”
The children pouted and voiced their complaints in their own way. Rachel too found Lucas’s departure difficult to accept in her heart.
“Children, the Crown Prince must attend to matters of state. You all understand that. He cannot stay here forever.”
“But still…”
“He could work here, couldn’t he?”
Unaware of what lay beneath the surface, the children seemed merely sorrowful at parting with Lucas.
“But he’ll visit the school sometimes, won’t he? I’d love to see him spar with Master Henry again.”
Roca smiled widely at the memory.
“Hey, next time they spar, Master Henry might win.”
“No way, the Crown Prince will win again, I’m sure.”
The children voiced their opinions against each other. At some point, the conversation drifted away from Lucas’s departure. The children grew louder discussing a next sparring match that might never happen.
“Noah, should we go say goodbye to the Crown Prince?”
In that gap, Rachel quietly asked Noah. Noah thought for a moment, then nodded.
Rachel gently patted Noah’s shoulder and then led the way toward Lucas’s room.
Knock, knock.
As Rachel knocked, the firmly closed door opened and Lucas appeared.
“Lucas, Noah said he has something to tell you, so I’ve brought him.”
“Come in.”
Lucas opened the door a bit wider. Noah entered carefully.
“What did you want to say?”
Lucas asked. Noah lowered his gaze and fidgeted with his fingertips.
“If you have something to say, say it. I’m leaving this place now.”
……
“Are you not ready yet?”
……
“Then send it by letter. There isn’t much time left.”
Whether his words about time were truthful or not, a few guard knights entered the room.
Noah quickly looked at them, then slowly began to speak.
“…Brother.”

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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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