The Teacher of Budding Villains Suffers Today, Too - Chapter 56

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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 56
“Today is a special meeting with the Crown Prince in attendance, so we must maintain the strictest security.”
“A meeting with His Highness the Crown Prince…?”
Rachel had heard nothing of Lucas’s participation in this meeting. Her dismay was difficult to conceal.
‘Lucas would recognize me easily.’
But there was no time to dwell on that thought.
“I’ve received no word from the Imperial Consort’s Palace that a maidservant was being sent. Where exactly did you come from?”
The attendant had begun questioning Rachel directly.
“You haven’t heard from the Imperial Consort’s Palace? I came here on the orders of Her Majesty the Imperial Consort.”
If she gave ground now, her identity would be exposed. She didn’t want to imagine what would follow.
“No. I’ve heard nothing whatsoever. Tell me precisely where you came from.”
The pressure mounted. It seemed her identity would be discovered outright. Cold sweat broke across Rachel’s back.
“If you don’t speak quickly, I’ll call for someone.”
His voice was firm, edged with resolve. Rachel bit down on her lip.
To have snuck into the Nobility Council Chamber of all places, yet planned so carelessly—she could almost reprimand her past self for it.
“I’d best go and fetch someone.”
The attendant turned at once to leave.
And it was in that moment—
“She’s a maidservant I sent.”
Lucas had appeared.
His sudden presence left Rachel breathless. The voice from behind her was so vivid, so immediate, she could never have believed it a dream. Her fingers clenched the hem of her skirt.
“A maidservant from the Imperial Consort’s Palace—she must have been nervous and given the wrong affiliation,”
Lucas smoothed over the situation with ease. Then he walked forward without so much as a whisper of footfall.
Rachel exhaled in shallow, stuttering breaths. Reality still felt beyond belief.
‘…Lucas helped me.’
She doubted he could have said such a thing without recognizing her. He must have known she was here and come deliberately.
‘Whatever the situation…’
She couldn’t know how much of her plan Lucas understood. But one thing was certain: she couldn’t afford to miss this chance.
“Then I’ll go in now.”
Rachel bowed respectfully to the attendant, who returned a shallow bow of his own.
The Council Chamber doors were enormous. So large that two sturdy men would be needed to push them, they stood firmly closed, and Rachel positioned herself carefully before them.
Other attendants and maidservants were likewise preparing to enter.
Click—
Not long after, the doors swung open. Rachel entered the Council Chamber alongside the other servants, a water pitcher held in her hand.
The chamber itself was still empty. It was plain that the nobles had not yet arrived.
Rachel took her place, gauging the positioning of the other maidservants.
“The Crown Prince is supposed to be coming today.”
“I know. That wasn’t part of the original plan.”
“I wonder what serious matter they’re discussing? Makes you curious.”
The maidservants murmured in very low voices. Rachel listened intently.
“They say the Crown Prince brought an urgent matter to discuss?”
“Really?”
An urgent matter from Lucas?
From her time in the palace, Rachel had some grasp of Lucas’s schedule.
According to what her old nurse had told her, Lucas had no urgent business requiring immediate attention—information she’d received only yesterday.
‘What could have come up in just one day?’
She couldn’t help but wonder. Her brow furrowed as she tried to think what urgent matter could have arisen for him.
‘It’s not that something’s wrong with him, is it?’
Whatever else happened, she didn’t want troublesome circumstances to befall him. Rachel waited for the meeting to begin, hoping against hope that nothing was amiss.
The nobles began to arrive one by one. They settled into their seats with exaggerated hauteur. From those demanding the finest tea to those conducting themselves shamefully, there was no shortage of them.
Honestly, she could find nothing to like about them. But since she couldn’t let her displeasure show on her face, Rachel attended to them as quietly as possible, keeping her head lowered.
“It seems we’re all assembled. Let us begin the meeting.”
Reus, who sat in the chair of the presiding officer, raised his voice. At his words, all who had gathered turned their gaze toward him.
“Today’s meeting is especially attended by Crown Prince Lucas. He will be sitting in on our proceedings.”
Lucas emerged slowly into view. Perhaps the news had spread. The nobles showed little surprise at the Crown Prince’s appearance.
“Beyond today’s principal agenda, there is also a matter proposed by Lucas.”
Rachel kept her head bowed, straining to listen. She was genuinely eager to know what proposal Lucas had brought.
“I will now speak to the matter proposed by His Highness the Crown Prince. His Highness has raised the question of the legalization of metal type use.”
Legalization of metal type use…?
The phrase “metal type use” paired with “legalization”—Rachel found herself utterly bewildered.
‘So it’s been illegal all this time?!’
The more she understood the situation, the more absurd it seemed. They had actually criminalized Metal Type just to prevent the sharing of knowledge.
Rachel’s hands clenched into fists, trembling with fury.
“Does anyone wish to offer their thoughts on this matter?” Reus asked, reopening the discussion.
At his prompt, the nobles began to murmur amongst themselves, gathering their arguments.
“Your Highness. If this proposal is indeed for the sake of the Commoner Schools, I must respectfully oppose the Crown Prince’s position.”
Patel spoke with barely contained anger, though his displeasure was scarcely concealed at all.
The other nobles were no different. They exchanged weighted glances, sighed softly, and made their discomfort evident.
“I do not doubt your loyalty to the Empire. Yet separate from that, the education of commoners is indeed necessary. And for that, books would surely be required.”
“This has been strictly forbidden by law since the reign of the first Emperor.”
“Then laws that no longer suit the age must be revised.”
It was a clash of immovable objects. Lucas would not yield an inch to the nobility.
‘So this is what nobles are like….’
Standing quietly to the side, Rachel grew increasingly appalled. Their selfishness was beyond words.
‘Now I understand why Lucas spoke of gradual change.’
This was an empire where noble power ran deep. The nobility decided matters great and small, and in the distant past, they had even deposed emperors.
For men such as these, a council with the Crown Prince was no trivial affair. Though Lucas Maxim himself was no easy adversary.
“Your Highness. On this continent, the nations that have legalized Metal Type can be counted on one hand.”
“And among those few, Anareo is one of them.”
Lucas narrowed his gaze.
“Everyone knows that Anareo prepares for war. They craft books themselves and instruct their soldiers in knowledge to cultivate a quality military force.”
“They are mistaken. If books are produced and distributed, those who would challenge the authority of the nobility will surely emerge.”
“Challenge the authority of the nobility?” Lucas leaned forward. “Be specific. What authority, exactly?”
Taylor fell silent at the question.
Taylor’s son had reached fifteen years and still could not read. Should a literate commoner exist, the boy would certainly be outpaced.
Unable to voice such an embarrassing truth, Taylor turned his gaze away.
“If you all maintain your positions as you do now, no such problem will arise,” Lucas said firmly, drawing a line.
His tone allowed no further argument.
“Your Highness,” Guelph ventured, breaking the tension.
Lucas turned to regard him directly.
“I hear you have been spending time with one who is scarcely different from a commoner.”
All eyes shifted at this remark. Lucas’s gaze fixed on Guelph with unmistakable intensity.
“Rachel Swan. Has she been influencing Your Highness?”
At the mention of her own name, Rachel startled—and without thinking, let the water bottle slip from her hands.

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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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