The Teacher of Budding Villains Suffers Today, Too - Chapter 90

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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 90
‘The imperial seal of Analeo.’
Analeo—the very nation that had declared war on Tirnes, her homeland. Why would the imperial household of such a nation reach out to her now? A dozen possibilities spiraled through her mind.
‘I can guess well enough.’
They must have heard that she’d been pushed out of the Crown Prince’s Fiancée position. No doubt they’d want her to reveal weaknesses in the Crown Prince or the empire itself.
She tore open the letter and pulled out the page inside.
“……?”
The page contained nothing—no words, no message at all. So they wanted to meet in person. Katie let out a hollow laugh.
“Why not.”
Katie rose from her seat, arranged her hair with a bit of care, and opened the door. The servants waiting outside bowed their heads deeply, ready for her command.
“Bring him to the Reception Room.”
At Katie’s word, a servant hurried off. Katie moved toward the Reception Room with easy grace, wondering what this visitor would say to her.
She arrived at the Reception Room first and settled onto the sofa. Her dress was torn in places, but she paid no attention to it. What mattered was the person who would soon walk through that door.
Knock-knock.
“Come in.”
Katie spoke in a rough, worn voice. The door opened, and a tall man in Black Robes entered the Reception Room.
He approached Katie without making a sound. She watched him, not so much as blinking.
“Good evening.”
“Do I look well to you?”
Katie made no effort to hide her displeasure.
“Since you summoned me despite knowing where I come from, it seems clear that you are not.”
The man read her thoughts immediately. Katie crossed her legs and stared at him intently. The tension between them was perfectly balanced.
“Why did you show me the Analeo Imperial Household seal?”
“What do you think?”
“That I should betray my country and leak the Crown Prince’s secrets?”
Katie spoke with her brow deeply furrowed. The man’s lips curved into a faint smile.
“Not far from the truth.”
He admitted it at once.
“And the fact that you’ve called me here suggests you’re at least open to my cooperation.”
Katie said nothing. He was right. She saw nothing else before her eyes. She wanted revenge on Lucas so badly.
“Unfortunately, I don’t have much power at the moment. I lost my position as Crown Prince’s Fiancée long ago.”
Katie ran a hand roughly through her hair as she spoke.
“I don’t know what you want, but whether my information would even be useful is another question. And if it comes out that I’ve cooperated with Analeo, my life is forfeit.”
“Katie.”
The man called her name with firm resolve.
“You are already cooperating with us. The mere fact that you don’t turn me over to the Tirnes Imperial Household proves it.”
……
“So rather than worry about your cooperation being discovered, you should join forces for Analeo’s victory.”
His words carried undeniable weight. Katie folded her arms across her chest—as if to say, go ahead and try.
“Is your target the Crown Prince?”
“No.”
She’d expected them to aim for the Crown Prince, but his answer surprised her. She tilted her head in confusion.
“Surely not the Emperor himself…?”
“What use is there in targeting an emperor who is already nothing but a figurehead?”
“Then who is Analeo’s target?”
“Rachel Swan.”
“…Rachel Swan?”
“Yes. The very person you hate most deeply.”
The man let out a light laugh, sharp as thorns.
“I know very little about Rachel Swan.”
Katie sighed. As she said, she knew almost nothing about Rachel Swan—only that she came from a declining baronial house and somehow broke through all odds to become the Crown Prince’s Fiancée.
“You can learn more as time goes on.”
But the man continued as if unbothered.
Katie sensed it then. This moment would become the greatest turning point in her life.
* * *
“What? Katie came looking for me?”
“Yes, ma’am. I can hardly believe it myself.”
At the Governess’s words, Rachel’s eyes widened. Did Katie come to slap her? She felt genuinely afraid.
But refusing to see a visitor would be impolite. There was still time before her lessons with the commoner apprentices. She could spare an hour.
“Where is Katie now?”
“She’s in the Garden.”
Rachel checked her reflection in the mirror and smoothed her dress, then made her way outside.
Katie was already seated at the table in the center of the Garden. She looked somewhat thinner, though her elegant attire did much to conceal it.
‘What on earth is she doing here?’
Had she come bristling with anger, Rachel would have found it entirely in character. But instead, Katie smiled with the grace of a guest arriving for tea.
“Katie.”
Rachel approached and spoke first.
“Rachel.”
Katie rose from her seat to meet her.
“It’s been quite some time.”
Rachel’s words carried an unspoken question: why have you come?
“I was curious how you were faring. I’ve been cooped up at the estate, and it felt suffocating,” Katie said softly, with a gentle smile. It was an utterly innocuous remark, yet Rachel found herself more guarded than ever. She had never seen Katie behave this way—composed, without a trace of irritation, only grace.

“The journey has left me a bit parched. Might I trouble you for some tea?”
Katie’s request was made. The maidservant standing nearby glanced uncertainly at Rachel, waiting for her response.
“Of course, by all means.”
The maidservant departed at Rachel’s word. Rachel took the seat opposite Katie, studying her face intently—as if searching for what lay beneath her words.
“You stare so intently, it’s rather embarrassing,” Katie murmured, lifting a thin hand to partially cover her face.
Only then did Rachel realize how openly she had been watching her. She laughed awkwardly and spoke.
“My apologies.”
“Not at all, it’s quite all right.”
That was not what Rachel expected Katie to say. Her mind began to race. She kept her lips curved in a thin smile as she observed the woman across from her, resolved to act swiftly if anything seemed amiss.
“How has the Crown Prince been faring of late?”
“The Crown Prince…?”
Lucas was the most delicate subject between them. Rachel had assumed neither would dare speak his name, yet Katie had mentioned the Crown Prince as casually as if remarking on the weather.
“He must be terribly occupied with war preparations. A war against Analeo, after all.”
Katie released a long sigh, shaking her head as if in dismay—a response any citizen of Tirnes would have shown.
“I confess, I’m deeply concerned for His Highness’s safety. Though I know our parting was not a pleasant one.”
Katie had even mentioned the broken engagement. At that point, Rachel’s genuine curiosity about Katie’s true intentions deepened, yet she held her tongue.
“Truth be told, I was wrong.”
“…Pardon?”
“I acknowledge that my conduct was improper. I caused the Crown Prince great harm and troubled the Imperial Household.”
“I… see.”
Rachel had no idea what response was appropriate. So she simply observed Katie in silence.
“That is why I have resolved, from this day forward, to change. I will pray for the Crown Prince’s health and wish for the peace of the Imperial Household.”
Katie spoke with a gentle, beatific smile.
‘Can a person truly transform so suddenly?’
Rachel could not shake an ominous feeling.

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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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