The Teacher of Budding Villains Suffers Today, Too - Chapter 54

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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 54
Lately, each day felt fresh to Lucas. And there was only one reason for it: Rachel Swan had entered the palace.
Since Rachel Swan’s arrival, Lucas’s attention had belonged entirely to her. Her every step captivated him.
When he heard she’d gone to the Imperial Library, he grew curious about what she might be doing there. He’d assumed she’d read, of course—that was the obvious choice—but something told him she’d attempt something else entirely, something that would surprise him.
So Lucas made his way to the Imperial Library without anyone knowing.
Night had long since fallen. Even as he wondered whether Rachel might have already returned to her own quarters, his feet carried him forward. He knew her well enough: once she started something, she saw it through to the end.
“L-Lucas, sir.”
An attendant startled at his arrival and bowed. Lucas hushed him quietly, then opened the library door without a sound.
‘As expected.’
Sure enough, Rachel was reading—and with complete concentration.
‘Just as I thought.’
He grew curious about what book she was reading, but only for a moment. Without making a sound, Lucas pulled a volume from the shelf. If she was going to read, he would too.
Time passed slowly. Lucas immersed himself in his book, breathing shallowly, reading for some time before he finally lifted his head to glance at Rachel.
She was writing intently on paper.
He wanted to move closer and see what she was composing, but he restrained that impulse.
Lucas returned to his book. This was her time alone. He didn’t want to disturb her concentration by revealing himself.
Time passed again. He finished two volumes while she continued writing with unwavering focus.
‘I’ll have to ask her about this later.’
He was intensely curious about what she was writing so earnestly. Lucas tried to guess what her notes might contain.
He did so for quite a while.
The hour had crept deep into the early morning.
Rachel’s movements began to slow. She was clearly growing drowsy. Yet despite this, she shook her head stubbornly, fighting sleep. She stood, sipping tea as she battled fatigue from various angles.
She walked to the window.
When she opened it wide, the cool, distinctive fragrance of dawn air rushed in. Her golden hair drifted slowly in the breeze.
He’d always thought her hair beautiful when it moved like that—especially the image of her chasing children with her hair tied back high, radiating such tremendous passion.
…Or perhaps, truth be told, it was from that very moment onward that he’d sensed beauty emanating from her as a whole. No matter what anyone said, she always seemed to shine.
‘I don’t understand it.’
Until now, he’d never harbored feelings for anyone. His life had been too demanding, too devoid of leisure for such luxuries.
But Rachel Swan was different. Despite his circumstances remaining unchanged—still crowded with burdens—Lucas found himself drawn to her again and again.
Rachel returned to her seat and resumed reading.
How much time had passed? Her head began to nod again.
Eventually her head dropped, resting against the open book. When she stilled completely, Lucas rose from his chair.
He approached her side. Carefully, he draped his cape around her shoulders.
When she woke, he wanted her to think of him.
* * *
‘Did I say something strange while I was asleep…?!’
Rachel, now alert, checked her reflection in the mirror with alarm. Thankfully, her face was fine. She released a relieved sigh and gazed blankly at her notes.
‘The empire has more than enough technology to produce Metal Movable Type. There’s no excuse for why it hasn’t been made yet.’
Without printing, creating Metal Movable Type as a substitute was the answer.
In Rachel’s estimation, the empire possessed sufficient technology to manufacture Metal Movable Type. The reason it hadn’t been commercialized was simply that the nobility had no desire to share books.
The nobility believed books represented the totality of knowledge. They feared that if such knowledge spread through the medium of books to the wider world, Commoners might threaten their position. For this reason, they went to great lengths to prevent Commoners from accessing books at all.
‘If I speak with Lucas about this, things might change.’
To build a school, textbooks were essential. Not just one or two—hundreds, thousands would need to be prepared.
For that to happen, the invention of type was absolutely imperative. No matter what anyone said, this was urgent. Rachel fell into deep thought.
“Teacher!”
The Nanny approached Rachel—though when she had arrived, Rachel couldn’t say.
“You should have breakfast.”
“Yes, thank you. Do you happen to know where Lucas is?”
“He’s at the Crown Prince’s Palace at the moment.”
“If Lucas hasn’t eaten breakfast yet, would it be possible for me to join him…?”
Rachel posed the question with great caution.
“Of course it’s possible. Let me ask him right away.”
The Nanny smiled warmly. Rachel bowed deeply in gratitude.
The Crown Prince’s Palace sent back a positive answer within a very short time. Rachel tidied herself and headed to the Crown Prince’s Palace, the cape held in her hands.
‘I need to thank him.’
Smiling brightly, she stood before the Crown Prince’s Palace. She felt the servants and attendants watching her, but she ignored their gazes and stepped inside.
She didn’t need to ask where breakfast would be served. A table laden with food sat in the middle of the Crown Prince’s Palace Garden.
As an attendant led her into the garden,
“Rachel.”
“Ah, Lucas.”
Rachel greeted Lucas with a broad smile, but it faded quickly as yesterday’s events came flooding back, and her head bowed of its own accord.
‘How embarrassing…’
The thought that he’d seen her while she was sleeping soundly filled her with mortification. Yet this was something she had to face. Rachel lifted her head.
“I came to return this to you.”
She handed the cape to Lucas, and he accepted it with a gentle smile.
“And… please forget everything you saw yesterday.”
Rachel laughed softly, flustered. Lucas then took his seat first.
“Come, sit.”
At his words, Rachel sat down, then carefully placed both hands on her lap. She hadn’t come here simply to share a meal.
“It seems you have something to tell me.”
He’d intuited it perfectly. Rachel clenched her hands, then smiled as naturally as she could while meeting his gaze.
“Actually, I have a proposal for Your Highness.”
“What might that be?”
Lucas rested his chin on his hand with apparent interest. The gesture drew her attention almost against her will, and Rachel found herself gazing at him blankly for a moment.
“Are you familiar with Metal Movable Type?”
“Metal movable type?”
“Yes. It’s a tool used in mass-producing books and the like. Since writing sentences one character at a time by hand takes an enormous amount of time, it was created as a solution. If we fashion Metal Movable Type and stamp books as though we were making prints, we could significantly reduce the time required for book production.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“I believe… it’s urgent that we make books widely available to children from the Commoners.”
“Books for children?”
“Yes. I think children should be able to encounter writing from an early age.”
In the empire, books were extraordinarily expensive. Yet those who purchased and read them were exclusively wealthy members of the Nobility, so it was of little concern. Lucas would have thought the same.
“Ultimately, we would need to build libraries in every village.”
“Rachel. I respect your opinion, for what it’s worth.”
Respect it, for now? He had never used such phrasing before. Unlike the word “respect” that came from Lucas, Rachel felt a creeping unease.
“I understand your heart well. However, you are being far too hasty at present.”
This was the first refusal Rachel had ever received from Lucas.

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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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