The Teacher of Budding Villains Suffers Today, Too - Chapter 69

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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 69
The bakery offered an impressive selection of cakes. There was the strawberry cake Rachel favored, along with the Chocolate Cake that Theo and Noah adored.
Rachel found her eyes drawn irresistibly to the gleaming showcase, and before she knew it, her mouth had begun to water. More than that, her spirits lifted of their own accord.
“They’re beautiful to look at, but they taste wonderful too, I assure you.”
The shop owner explained kindly to Rachel. She nodded repeatedly, admiring the cakes laid before her.
From the perspective of dental health and other such concerns, it wasn’t precisely a wise choice. Yet occasionally, wasn’t it good to venture beyond the Imperial Palace’s walls for a meal and shed a little stress? Having reasoned thus far, Rachel selected her cakes with care.
“I’m so glad we can buy them one slice at a time. This way Theo and Noah will be able to taste everything the shop has to offer.”
Rachel spoke to Lucas with a bright, genuine smile. The boys already loved chocolate, after all. Once they tasted cake with chocolate and fresh cream together, she was certain they’d beam from ear to ear.
What expression would Theo show? What about Noah? The image of it played so vividly in her mind that Rachel found herself giddy with anticipation.
“Rachel. I’m always grateful that you keep my brothers in your thoughts like that.”
“Anyone would do the same for children as kind as Theo and Noah.”
Bringing them cake was nothing at all. She was prepared to do far more for them than that. She smiled brightly and picked up the cake box.
Lucas offered to carry it for her, but she politely declined and took the box herself.
The walk back to the Imperial Palace was rather cold. Perhaps it was the hour before dawn—she couldn’t shake the chill from her bones. The presence of the Cemetery nearby made it worse.
A tremor of apprehension ran through Rachel, and Lucas immediately draped his Robe around her shoulders.
“I’m fine, really!”
Rachel’s eyes widened in protest, insisting she was all right. But Lucas remained unmoved.
“How can I not care when you’re shaking like that?”
Lucas offered a faint smile. Rachel felt an unexpected flush of embarrassment and turned her head slightly away. Being with Lucas seemed to bring such moments far too often.
Meanwhile, the Imperial Palace drew steadily closer. Rachel walked carefully along the narrow passage.
“Thinking about how the children will finally taste food from outside the Palace makes me so happy.”
Standing before the final door, Rachel smiled softly. The Chocolate Cake in her hands had been held securely enough to remain undisturbed.
How much had the children loved sweets back at the Swan Knights Academy? The memory surfaced, and her mood brightened further.
“We should give this to them before it spoils, don’t you think? After breakfast is finished, I’ll treat them to it as a snack.”
Rachel spoke while mentally calculating the timing. Lucas nodded in response, his smile suffused with tenderness.
Rachel and Lucas finished a light breakfast together. Though she hadn’t slept a moment all night, her mind remained strangely clear.
Rachel smoothed her hair as she looked in the mirror. She had no wish to appear disheveled when meeting the children. Besides, today was the day she’d present them with a small gift.
“The children will be starting their lessons soon, so we should go now.”
Rachel checked the time before speaking. Lucas rose from his seat at once, extending his hand naturally, and Rachel accepted it with equal ease.
Then Rachel linked her arm through his. She even glanced up at him briefly—almost shyly.
As they walked toward the Crown Prince’s Palace, quite a few people passed them along the way. None of them failed to notice Rachel and Lucas.
They bore the air of people uncertain where to direct their gaze. Rachel felt a touch of embarrassment herself, but fortunately, the path to the Crown Prince’s Palace was short.
The Crown Prince’s Palace was lively as always, its energy brimming from the young princes. The air inside thrummed with bustling activity, and Rachel welcomed it gladly. It meant the children were thriving.
“Teacher!”
Theo’s voice rang out from a distance. His face broke into a wide smile as he called to Rachel.
“Theo, you’re outside this early in the morning?”
“Noah’s with me too. Would you like to see?”
Before Rachel could respond, Noah came running over. And trailing behind Noah was an extraordinarily large dog—practically a young colt in size.
“Teacher, this is the first time you’re seeing Oz, right? He’s our puppy!”
“Puppy? But he’s fully grown, isn’t he?”
“Yes! Oz isn’t even a year old yet!”
The two boys laughed brightly, embracing the dog. Oz, a gentle-looking white dog, hung his massive tongue out and showed his contentment plainly.
“Um? Teacher, what’s that in your hand?”
Theo peered at what Rachel was holding. Rachel lifted her hand with a radiant smile.
“I brought Chocolate Cake. Especially the kind you two love.”
“Really? Wow! I’ve been wanting Chocolate Cake!”
“Only you would do this for us, teacher.”
Theo and Noah’s faces lit up as they approached the cake.
And then it happened.
Oz bolted toward the Chocolate Cake box.
Oz crashed into Rachel’s body like a charging ram. The cake went flying, tracing a perfect arc through the air before landing on the ground.
Chocolate and a dog.
Before her possession, Rachel had kept dogs at her family home. She knew all too well—this was a combination that could never end well.
“Don’t! Don’t eat it! It’s dangerous!”
Rachel cried out sharply. At her piercing voice, Lucas quickly snatched up the ruined cake box. Thanks to his swift action, Oz fortunately managed to avoid eating any of the cake.
“Wait!”
Rachel gave Oz a command. The dog wagged his tail and sat obediently where he was.
“Teacher, are you all right?”
“Are you hurt?”
The children immediately fretted over Rachel. She forced a smile and assured them she was fine.
“What on earth is all this commotion?”
In the moment when she had chocolate mousse smeared across one hand, someone’s voice cut through the air.
“Oh? Aunt Marianthe…?”
“Why are you here….”
Theo and Noah both flinched visibly. In that instant, Rachel recognized the speaker’s voice.
Princess Marianthe, the Empress’s younger sister by two years. She was every bit as hostile to Lucas as the Empress herself.
“I happened to be passing by and heard the disturbance, so I stopped in briefly.”
In her blue dress and matching jewels, her face bearing an uncanny resemblance to the Empress, she spoke with crisp, clipped diction.
“It seems you’ve been preparing food for my dear nephew.”
The words spoke of affection, but her expression betrayed nothing of the kind as the princess continued.
“Animals mustn’t eat what children do, I presume?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“If children can eat something without harm, surely animals ought to be able to as well. Yet the young lady’s reaction suggests that if a dog were to eat that cake, some calamity would befall it. Most suspicious indeed.”
“Dogs cannot eat chocolate.”
“What did you say? In all my years, I have never once heard such a thing.”
That it was common knowledge a dog shouldn’t eat chocolate—Rachel was at a loss for words.
“When determining whether ordinary people can eat something, we customarily let dogs eat it first. Yet chocolate is something dogs cannot eat? Naturally, then, it would harm people too. Could there be poison in the chocolate cake, perhaps?”
“How can you say that! Why would I ever harm Theo and Noah—”
“There could be any number of reasons. Truth be told, I’ve been displeased with the Empress’s decision to bring someone of unknown provenance into the Imperial Palace from the very start.”
It was impossibly frustrating. She couldn’t very well ask the princess to test whether chocolate truly was lethal to dogs, and Rachel’s face drained of color.
“I cannot simply stand idle. I intend to explain the entire situation to Her Imperial Majesty the Empress and His Imperial Majesty the Emperor.”
If the Empress heard this account twisted from the source, she would surely jump to the worst conclusions. Rachel’s jaw clenched.
“We shall meet again before the Court. I cannot say what judgment will be rendered, but I have not the slightest doubt that my thoughts and those of others will align.”
“Princess Marianthe.”
And then—Lucas spoke.

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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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