The Teacher of Budding Villains Suffers Today, Too - Chapter 79

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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 79
The morning of the ball had arrived. Rachel dressed in her Pink Dress with genuine delight, adorning herself with a necklace, rings, and earrings that all caught the light beautifully. Every accessory served only to enhance the radiance of her gown.
‘It may provoke Katie, but I can’t avoid her forever.’
The reflection staring back at her from the mirror felt somehow strange, yet Rachel forced a bright smile to reassure her Governess, then gripped the hem of her dress—a defensive gesture born of instinct.
“I’ll head to the Ballroom now.”
Rachel spoke first, and the Governess led her in that direction.
The path to the Ballroom blazed with light—so bright it was hard to believe evening had fallen. Magic Stones glowed from every direction, and Rachel found herself utterly captivated by their beauty.
“Miss.”
Just as Rachel’s attention was drawn away, the Governess called to her.
“You must be careful, above all else.”
“You mean Katie?”
“Not just Katie—the Empress as well.”
The Governess released a faint sigh. To her eyes, Rachel still seemed a fragile thing.
Rachel wanted to show her Governess that she was stronger than she appeared. She smiled gently and squeezed the older woman’s hand.
“Don’t worry.”
“…It seems all one gains with age is worry.”
“Then I’ll ease that burden for you.”
Rachel spoke with quiet conviction, and the Governess offered a faint smile in return.
“I’m still anxious, but I’ll trust in you.”
Rachel herself was not without fear. When even the Governess—hardened by countless trials—spoke like this, Rachel could scarcely hide her own unease. Yet she chose to project composure instead. Anxiety spreads too easily.
At last, they reached the entrance of the Banquet Hall. Rachel drew a deep breath.
“Rachel.”
Just as she was about to step into the Ballroom alone, someone called her name. She turned sharply.
“…Your Highness.”
There stood Lucas.
He had never been ordinary to look at, but tonight he shone with an almost otherworldly radiance. No jewels adorned him—yet his entire face seemed to gleam.
Rachel stared at him for a long moment, transfixed.
“You look startled.”
……
He was not wrong. Rachel had been genuinely shocked at the sight of him—so much so that she’d frozen in place.
But she didn’t wish to show it. So she smiled as naturally as she could.
Lucas extended his hand to her. Rachel placed her own upon it, and at once she felt the weight of countless gazes turning toward them.
‘After all, Katie will be here.’
The Crown Prince’s betrothed was already decided—Katie Tayson. Yet Lucas seemed entirely indifferent to her.
‘It must be for political reasons.’
Perhaps she too was being used for political advantage. And yet Rachel found herself unbothered. If it served Lucas, she was prepared to accept far more than this.
“Every thought crosses your face so plainly.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re thinking I’m using you, aren’t you?”
Lucas spoke as if he’d read her very mind, his tone utterly unruffled.
“Am I wrong?”
“…To be honest, I’d be lying if I said the thought hadn’t crossed my mind.”
Rachel answered truthfully, then glanced away from his gaze.
“It would be a lie if political reasons weren’t involved.”
As expected.
Rachel hung her head. She felt foolish—caught up in the excitement of attending the ball with Lucas, blind to the calculations beneath.
“But.”
Lucas spoke again. Rachel stole a glance at him.
“If my desire to be with you runs deeper than those reasons, will you believe me?”
Lucas met her gaze directly. Rachel’s eyes widened as she took him in.
“Is that… truly what you mean?”
His words moved her beyond measure. Rachel stood with her lips parted slightly, turning his words over in her mind.
“I have no wish to speak hollow lies.”
Lucas leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. The eyes around them grew even more attentive. Yet Rachel scarcely noticed—his cool, clean scent enveloped her, leaving her serene.
“Whatever Katie may say, pay it no mind.”
“I won’t. I promise.”
Rachel nodded in agreement.
“The Crown Prince has arrived!”
An attendant announced Lucas’s entrance in a loud voice. Lucas strode calmly into the Ballroom, and Rachel, hand in his, followed likewise.
The moment Rachel made her entrance, Katie’s gaze snapped toward her. Rachel gripped the hem of her Pink Dress tightly. She had worn it precisely to stand against Katie, yet now that the moment had come, her courage wavered.
‘It’s fine.’
Rachel steadied herself. Then she turned to look at Katie with an unflinching gaze.
“I’ll step away to see the Emperor briefly. Make yourself comfortable while I’m gone.”
Lucas tucked a strand of Rachel’s hair behind her ear—a gesture so small it was enough to draw every eye in the room.
Once Lucas had left, Rachel stood alone. Katie approached as though she’d been waiting for exactly this moment.
“Miss Swan.”
Perhaps because so many eyes were upon them, Katie spoke to Rachel with formal respect—unusual for her.
“I didn’t know you were so fond of pink.”
Katie’s own dress was a striking shade of pink.
“Yes, I am. Colors don’t belong to anyone, do they? What’s wrong with liking what I like?”
Rachel had no intention of backing down. She met each of Katie’s barbs head-on.
“Is that so? I rather thought some things do have owners. At least in this ballroom, they do.”
“If the color of my dress offends you, then say so directly. Don’t dance around it.”
Rachel spoke boldly, making sure everyone heard. Katie let out a bitter laugh and crossed her arms.
“There are unspoken rules, you know. But you’re so shameless about ignoring them it’s almost impressive.”
“Your unspoken rules are too childish for words.”
Rachel cut through Katie’s remark without hesitation.
“You should be grateful a Baron’s daughter was invited here at all. How dare you be so disrespectful to the Tayson House heiress.”
Another young noblewoman stepped up beside Katie, her eyes narrowing as she raked Rachel up and down with her gaze. The contempt was unmistakable.
“That’s right. It’s making me uncomfortable too.”
Yet another heiress approached, her face half-hidden behind an open fan, her eyes sharp and cold.
Several of the young noblewomen in the ballroom had begun to gather around Katie. Their combined presence was decidedly ominous.
‘So they’re coming at me as a group to intimidate me, then?’
It made no difference. If she could be cowed by something like this, she would have quit school long ago.
Rachel met their eyes with a steady gleam that said, ‘Let’s see what you’ve got.’ Let them swarm together—what exactly did they think they could do?
“If you’re going to break the rules we’ve established like this, Rachel, we can’t include you.”
The red-haired heiress spoke as though she had ever intended to bring Rachel into their circle. Rachel was about to respond when—
“I heard there was quite a commotion over dress colors.”
If Lucas hadn’t returned when he did.
The appearance of Lucas set the heiresses whispering among themselves. He was clearly an unwelcome presence among them.
“Lucas, this is our matter. Please let us handle it ourselves.”
Katie spoke with a certain arrogance.
“I don’t know. When it comes to a conflict over dress colors, I think I’m entitled to weigh in.”
Lucas brought the subject of dress color into the open. Katie’s eyes widened slightly as she looked up at him.
Katie had caused problems over dress colors before—many times. It had become an unwritten law of the banquet that no one wore a pink dress. Yet this was the first time Lucas had mentioned it so directly.
“I am the Crown Prince’s intended bride. Surely someone in my position should have at least one privilege that sets me apart?”
“A privilege, you say…”
One corner of Lucas’s mouth began to curl upward slowly.
“Well, as of today, that distinction no longer exists.”
The words were weighted with meaning. That single sentence was enough to turn Katie’s expression to stone.

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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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