The Teacher of Budding Villains Suffers Today, Too - Chapter 74

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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 74
‘It was a gift.’
The notes she’d written seemed a waste to lose. Yet what was truly irreplaceable was the Notebook and Pen themselves.
A gift from none other than the Crown Prince. And to commemorate her first lesson, no less.
‘I should have been more careful.’
She knew well enough that the mages harbored ill will toward her. And yet she’d left her writing tools on the desk and stepped away. She’d trusted these petty people far too much.
Some twenty mages. Not a single one of them had stopped it. Where on earth had they buried their consciences?
‘Not even worth it.’
Rachel let out a hollow laugh. At that, the mages who’d been quietly watching her snickered and pressed their hands to their mouths.
“Amusing, is it?”
Rachel slowly lifted her head and spoke. Her voice carried an anger she could not conceal.
“Seems like it was quite entertaining.”
“We don’t understand what you mean.”
A voice jabbed out from somewhere. Rachel let out another hollow laugh.
“I do.”
Rachel gathered the scattered scraps of paper and opened her mouth.
“I repay favors twofold.”
“Oh, is that so?”
“Quite the bluff.”
“So what will you do about it?”
Rachel’s single remark was answered with countless murmured comments. It was a declaration of her refusal to lose this battle of wills.
“Try something like that again. I’ll hang you from the chandelier.”
Her warning was delivered in a voice as cold as ice.
* * *
‘Should I have held back?’
As she left the lesson, Rachel found herself regretting her words somewhat.
Perhaps her threat about the chandelier had been shocking enough. After her warning, not a word of retaliation had followed.
‘Still, I had to say something before the harassment got worse.’
On the first day alone, they’d tripped her and torn her notebook. In such a situation, if she hadn’t come down hard, worse persecution would surely have followed.
‘But what about the Notebook and Pen? I can’t exactly find an identical replacement.’
At a glance, the writing tools looked valuable. Obtaining new ones without Lucas knowing would be nearly impossible.
‘Until he brings it up, I won’t mention it first.’
Lucas wouldn’t be pleased to hear his gift had been destroyed, so it was better to pretend ignorance and let it pass. Once she’d settled her thoughts that far, Rachel quickened her pace.
Unaware that Lucas was approaching her side.
“Rachel.”
Lucas’s gentle voice called out to her. She, who had been looking only at the ground as she walked, turned toward him with some surprise.
“You didn’t notice me until I came right beside you. What were you thinking so hard about?”
“Oh, well…”
She had been thinking—about the mages who displayed their hostility so openly and how she ought to handle them.
“You look like your head aches.”
“The lessons were a bit overwhelming, I suppose.”
Knowing such an excuse wouldn’t work, Rachel lied anyway. Then she closed her eyes nonchalantly and smiled.
“That’s not quite what I heard.”
‘Does he already know?’
She had hoped he would know nothing. But the story had already reached his ears. If that was the case, there was little point in hiding further. Rachel let everything go and looked up at Lucas.
“I had hoped you would tell me something.”
“What do you mean?”
“That someone is harassing you. That I should take proper action.”
I’m hardly a child. At Lucas’s words, Rachel could only laugh. Then Lucas spoke again, his tone distinctly serious.
“I’m concerned I might not be enough.”
“I’m worried you’ll do too good a job.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“If I let loose in anger and you take it too far, you might turn the Magic Tower to rubble.”
Either way, it was a place where I needed to adapt and learn Mana Operation. Rachel exhaled a soft sigh.
“Do I need to take action at all?”
“No. Just pretend you don’t know.”
Rachel forced a smile. Then, glancing around, she quietly took Lucas’s hand.
“Just five minutes.”
Rachel whispered to Lucas. Right now, to calm this anxious heart, she wanted nothing more than to hold his hand.
“Please let me stay like this for a moment.”
“I don’t mind at all if we stay like this for a long time.”
Lucas tightened his grip on Rachel’s hand, then lifted it gently and pressed his lips to the back of her hand.
“There are many people watching us.”
“Let them watch.”
Lucas replied as though it were of no consequence, and Rachel’s face flushed even deeper.
“Besides, there’s someone I want to show this to right now.”
“Someone?”
“Over there.”
Lucas’s eyes shifted to the left. Rachel cautiously followed his gaze in the same direction.
‘Ah, those people.’
Standing awkwardly in Lucas’s line of sight were none other than a cluster of mages.
“If they have any sense, they’ll change how they behave.”
Now Rachel understood Lucas’s intentions. If the mages saw how much he cherished her, they would think twice before bothering her. He was using this display to discourage their harassment, even if only somewhat.
“I can’t always be at your side, after all.”
“Please, at least refrain from that.”
Rachel answered Lucas’s muttered remark promptly, then let out a soft sigh. Because if he continued like this, it would only make things worse.
“I’ve prepared a gift for you—something better than what I gave you before. It’s at the Crown Prince’s Palace, so let’s go and see it together.”
Lucas raised his voice deliberately, as if speaking for the mages to hear, and regarded them with an icy gaze.
“I hope there won’t be any problems this time.”
It was a warning—one that left no room for compromise.
* * *
The moment they arrived at the Crown Prince’s Palace, Rachel was taken aback. She had assumed he’d merely prepared new writing supplies, but Lucas had arranged dresses as well.
“What are these dresses?”
Rachel, momentarily flustered, reached out to touch one gingerly. The fabric was astonishingly soft, and her eyes widened. She could have spent an entire day running her fingers across it if she’d had the time.
“I hope you like them.”
“I do. Very much.”
Rachel, who had been handling the dress in front for quite some time, shifted her gaze to another one hanging beside it.
‘But the color of these dresses…’
The color registered in Rachel’s eyes.
‘They’re all pink.’
She’d heard of a woman who regarded pink dresses as her exclusive domain—Katie, the Crown Prince’s betrothed. She was so confident in her claim that if anyone else wore pink, she would be furious.
‘He gave me pink dresses?’
Only one thought filled Rachel’s mind. The reason he would give her pink dresses was probably.
‘To show that I’m equal to his betrothed.’
Otherwise, there’d be no reason to obtain pink dresses for her. Rachel blinked slowly, meeting Lucas’s gaze as he took a step closer to her.
“You’re right. I’m building a defense for you in my own way.”
At his words, strength surged through Rachel. She couldn’t fathom how much courage it gave her to have someone supporting her so completely.
“And this one,”
Lucas picked up the most elaborate dress of all.
“would be perfect to wear at the banquet.”
“The banquet?”
“His Majesty will be returning from the Recovery Facility soon. There will be a banquet to welcome him, and I’d like you to wear this then.”
The dress Lucas held was studded with countless jewels. Rachel’s eyes were drawn away for a moment by the beauty of the gems glinting in the light.
“I’d like you to be my partner at that banquet.”
“Me?”
“So I can introduce you formally to His Majesty.”
That introduction likely wouldn’t be as his tutor. More than probably, he would present her as his most cherished person. The moment that thought struck her, Rachel’s cheeks flushed crimson.
“Rachel.”
“Yes, Lucas.”
“If you’re uncomfortable with this, we won’t do it.”
Lucas gave her the choice, concerned that she might find it burdensome.
“I don’t mind. Please don’t worry.”
Grateful, Rachel broke into a genuine smile, and Lucas returned it with one of his own.
“I only wish I could be an even greater source of strength for you.”
“You already are.”
He still seemed to carry regret about the harassment she’d endured—not that he couldn’t have anticipated it. Rachel shook her head, trying to appear unbothered.
So many more things would happen in the days ahead. There was no reason to let this trouble her now.

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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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