The Teacher of Budding Villains Suffers Today, Too - Chapter 8

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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 8
Rachel’s mind churned throughout the entire carriage ride.
When school violence had erupted in her class before, how had she handled it? Even familiar memories wouldn’t surface.
People backed into a corner become blank slates, she’d heard once. That was exactly what she was now.
“We’ve arrived, Headmaster.”
The coachman’s voice snapped her back to attention. The moment she’d been dreading had finally come. Part of her wanted to flee anywhere, just to escape what was about to unfold.
‘Get yourself together, Rachel.’
Thanks to the letter she’d sent ahead, Rachel was ushered directly into the Reception Room.
Duke Philip’s Residence was one of the Capital’s most imposing estates. The family was so influential and wealthy that even the servants’ attire looked refined.
Rachel hurried along carefully behind a maidservant whose clothing put her own to shame.
“Your Grace, the headmaster has arrived.”
“It’s been some time.”
Rachel entered the Reception Room and bowed respectfully. The Duke and Duchess received her greeting with practiced grace.
“Please, sit.”
As the Duke gestured to a seat, Rachel took the plush sofa while struggling to hide her anxiety.
“You’ve come with news about our Roca, I imagine.”
The Duchess picked up her teacup, broaching the subject delicately.
There was elegance in her manner, yet an unmistakable undercurrent of unease.
She seemed braced for what new disaster her son might have caused.
It would have been easier if Roca had been the one at fault. But this time, he was the injured party.
Rachel steadied her expression.
“As of yesterday, two new students enrolled at the school.”
“I’ve heard as much. The Second and Third Princes have enrolled, haven’t they?”
The news had already spread through High Society. Which meant they likely knew how impossible those princes could be.
Rachel pressed on carefully, hoping this context might offer some mitigation.
“There was an altercation between the Third Prince and Roca.”
“Our Roca fought with His Highness?!”
The Duke’s measured gaze sharpened instantly.
“What was that boy thinking, fighting a prince?!”
His tone made clear that no amount of parental affection could excuse quarreling with the Royal Family.
This was the crucial moment. Rachel forced a smile and opened her mouth.
“During the altercation, Roca was… injured.”
“I’m sorry—what?”
The Duchess’s face drained of color. She set down her teacup abruptly and spoke again.
“Our Roca was wounded? Where?!”
The Duke too had lost all composure. His anger at his son evaporated, consumed entirely by concern.
“He has a wound on his face.”
The temperature in the room plummeted. The attending servants exchanged glances, then quietly withdrew from the Reception Room.
Only the Duke, Duchess, and Rachel remained.
‘One mistake here and I’m finished.’
How a headmaster handled parents in such crises could determine the school’s very survival.
Rachel had been skilled at parent relations in her previous world. Now was the time to draw on that experience.
“There’s a saying that children grow through conflict. While disagreements are inevitable, I firmly believe that situations resulting in injury—as happened here—should never occur.”
“And if you truly believe that, stop spouting hollow words and tell me how you’ve been managing the school!”
The Duke’s fist came down on the desk with a bang.
Rachel suppressed the urge to bolt and continued in a measured tone.
“I bear great responsibility for failing to properly mediate the conflict between the students. I will ensure such mistakes never happen again….”
“Never mind. I’m withdrawing Roca from that school immediately.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“I won’t entrust our precious son to such a place any longer!”
The Duchess’s voice rose to a shout.
It was at that moment that Colo announced the Crown Prince’s arrival.
“Master. Forgive the intrusion, but His Highness the Crown Prince has come to call.”
“The Crown Prince has come?”
This was the situation surrounding the fight between the Third Prince Noah and Roca.
No matter how high the Duke’s rank, he stood below the Royal Family. If it were suggested that he—a mere duke—had dared to speak against royalty, there would be no defense.
That was why both the Duke and Duchess went rigid.
Before the announcement had finished, Crown Prince Lucas appeared in the Reception Room, an icy air radiating from his composed features.
‘Why on earth did the Crown Prince come too?!’
Her original plan had been to calm the Duke and Duchess first, then report the situation to the Crown Prince later.
Yet judging by his presence here, it seemed that Colo had grasped the gravity of the situation and moved first.
“I heard there was an incident among the children.”
Lucas asked without inflection.
Duke Philip forced a smile and opened his mouth.
“It appears our Roca, still lacking in maturity, committed a discourtesy toward Noah. I hardly know how to apologize sufficiently….”
“It seems the one who should apologize is me, not you.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
“Since Noah wounded Roca’s face, the one who committed the act should be the one to apologize.”
Lucas turned his gaze toward Rachel.
His eyes held a question: isn’t your presence here connected to that very matter? Rachel swallowed dryly.
“I’ve taught them that violence is never acceptable under any circumstances, yet my younger siblings don’t always obey my wishes.”
He released a long breath, placing his right hand over his heart.
“I am truly sorry for the wound inflicted upon your son’s face.”
The Duke and Duchess were rendered speechless by the Crown Prince’s sincere apology.
The heir to the throne itself, bowing his head over his younger brother’s transgression?
“And… I wish to offer my apologies to you as well.”
Lucas’s attention shifted to Rachel.
Rachel could only be astonished. She had naturally assumed he would hold her responsible.
“I should have explained more about Noah. My judgment was lacking.”
“No, Your Highness, that’s not—”
After all, the school itself had been founded on the premise of reforming troubled students. It was only natural that strong-willed pupils would enroll, and the responsibility lay with the headmaster.
“It is not a matter for Your Highness to apologize for. The fault lies entirely with my own failure to manage the students properly.”
The words were no mere courtesy. Rachel meant them sincerely.
‘Yet here he is, saying such things.’
A Crown Prince apologizing to his inferiors was no simple matter. And not even for his own wrongdoing, but for his brother’s.
Yet Lucas showed not the slightest hesitation.
“Your Highness, you needn’t worry yourself. Children grow through their conflicts, after all.”
Duke Philip, who moments before had looked as though he might devour Rachel, suddenly wore a warm expression.
The shock that his own son had touched a prince, mingled with concern that he was injured, must have overwhelmed him.
And he had vented it all upon Rachel, the easiest target.
But now the matter was as good as resolved. The Crown Prince had apologized with sincere heart first.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
The Duke and Duchess bowed respectfully, and Rachel hastily bent at the waist as well.
Yet as Lucas turned to exit the reception room, he glanced back at Rachel.
“Rachel, don’t we have more to discuss?”
“I’m sorry?”
“Come with me in my carriage.”
His tone was utterly matter-of-fact. In truth, she had no grounds to refuse.
Rachel quickly excused herself from the Duke and Duchess and followed him out of Duke Philip’s Residence.
Before the entrance stood a Royal Carriage, resplendent with the insignia of the Royal Family.
As the attendant opened the door, Lucas extended his hand.
He was offering his hand to help her in, clearly.
Hesitating for a moment, Rachel awkwardly took his hand and climbed into the carriage.
The interior was as dazzling as its ornate exterior, almost to the point of dizziness.
Still, she had to speak her mind. Rachel carefully opened her mouth.
“Your Highness, I’m truly grateful.”
“Grateful?”
“Without you, the school would have faced ruin because of today’s events.”
If Roca left the school, word would certainly spread through High Society.
If parents entrusted their children to an institution only to have them return with wounded faces, what parent would be satisfied?
Closure would be inevitable. And with it, repaying the debt would become impossible.
Lucas had prevented this entire catastrophe. Rachel felt she could scarcely contain her gratitude—she might have thrown herself at his feet in thanksgiving.
“It is I who should thank you.”
“…Me?”

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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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