Chapter 73
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Secret Actions Are Bound to Be Discovered. (4)
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From the following, select all reasons why the Academy's swordsmanship professor Shabel is angry. (100 points)
A. Because his one and only direct disciple is spending impure time with a girl.
B. Because his direct disciple is holding the hand of none other than the Imperial Princess.
C. Because he's not working at the teahouse and just playing around.
D. Because his direct disciple is an idiot and a moron.
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Shabel was plastered to the window with a terrifyingly scary expression on her face.
I carefully released Princess Erze's hand that I'd been holding.
"Your Highness, if it's not too much trouble, could you read Professor Shabel's thoughts for me?"
"That's not hard at all, but... you really want me to?"
"Yes, please."
"Why the hell is this guy, my one and only direct disciple, spending impure time with a girl—no, with Princess Erze of all people? And holding hands? He's completely lost his mind. Is this teahouse actually a date spot? How much of an idiot and moron do you have to be..."
The harsh words spilling from Erze's mouth made my heart stop for a moment. I could feel Shabel's rage all too clearly.
More surprising than that, though—this woman, who never seemed to change her expression no matter what happened, was this furious. It hit me anew.
"...What the hell should I do? Should I tie him up all day or something? Or maybe..."
"Your Highness, that's enough now."
"Is it really okay...?"
"Yes, it's fine."
No, actually, it's not fine at all. Someone save me.
Even as I thought that, I had no choice but to stand up. I needed to calm that beast's fury first.
Of course, if Erze stepped in, we might scrape by for today, but that wouldn't be positive. The backlash would come after the festival ended.
In short, if I was going to get the rod, better to take it early.
Click.
I approached the window and cautiously unlatched it.
The moment I opened it, I immediately bowed my head.
"Good to see you, Professor Shabel."
"Oh, it's great to see you too, student Luke."
The chill in her voice made my body tremble involuntarily. Even the Northern winter would feel warmer than this.
As I lifted my head, Shabel reached out, grabbed my tie, and yanked me hard.
Unable to resist, I was pulled forward until my upper body was leaning toward her from less than a foot away.
Her red eyes reflected me completely.
"What exactly were you doing just now, my disciple?"
"I-I was just helping Her Highness with a little experiment."
"Her Highness's experiment, you say..."
Shabel's gaze shifted behind me and back. She must have looked at Erze.
"In that case, I won't ask for details."
"Thank you..."
I never imagined Erze's name alone could shut Shabel up. Selling her name had a huge effect...
"But don't you think that could cause misunderstandings? Good thing it was me who saw it—if other nobles had?"
"On that point, I have nothing to say even if I had ten mouths. I'm sorry..."
"Since it wasn't indecent behavior, I won't say more."
Come to think of it, wasn't Erze pulling gold coins out of her cleavage pretty indecent...?
Of course, saying that would only lead to trouble, so I just gave an awkward smile.
Was she done with me? Shabel's gaze turned to Erze.
"Your Highness, I apologize for the intrusion."
"I should be the one apologizing. I acted in a way that could cause misunderstandings with your direct disciple, Professor."
"It's fine. After all, it's my disciple's fault."
Shabel smiled and patted my head. The motion was so forceful it felt like my brain was rattling.
"Then I'll take my leave."
Shabel gave Erze a light bow and turned away.
I stared at her retreating back for a moment before closing the window and returning to my seat.
Perhaps because the situation had resolved safely, a sigh escaped my lips naturally.
"I really thought we were in big trouble."
"Really? I wasn't worried at all."
That's because you weren't facing her directly. Staring into those eyes up close makes you feel like she'll devour you.
As I grumbled inwardly, Erze pouted her lips.
"Why on earth are you so popular?"
"I feel like I just got scolded the whole time. Is there a reason you think that?"
"I'm not telling you."
"Understood."
What could I do if the princess didn't want to say? I just smiled awkwardly and accepted it.
If you're not going to tell me, don't bring it up in the first place...
Time passed, and it was the next day.
"See you at the banquet hall tonight, then."
"You too."
Evi, who had come for lunch, and Erze, who had worked all morning, left.
No, thinking again, calling it "work" was a contradiction. Just like yesterday morning, there hadn't been a single customer today either.
Anyway, left in the clubroom were Elena, who would work the afternoon, and me, who had worked all three days. Just the two of us.
'She didn't see what happened yesterday, did she...?'
Yesterday afternoon, I'd held hands with Erze, and there had been some rather indecent stuff too. If Elena had seen that, she'd grab me by the collar as a given and yank both my cheeks while openly venting her anger.
"Luke, did you do something wrong to me? Your face looks like a guilty puppy."
"No way. I haven't done anything the Grand Duchess would need to worry about."
Judging by her reaction, she hadn't seen yesterday's incident. A huge relief inwardly.
Unfortunately, I was getting punished for something else instead.
"And you know that full well, yet you danced with Miss Evi?!"
"I-I'mthorry..."
With my cheeks grabbed on both sides by Elena, I apologized repeatedly.
Dragging up something that had already ended once to scold me—there was no injustice like this.
Still, it was undeniable that no one but Elena would do this.
Elena forever, forever, forever and ever.
"Luke, you're all prepared for afternoon work, right?"
"Yes, I checked just before, so it should be fine."
"Then let's brace ourselves. If I'm right, a ton of customers are about to swarm us."
"Yes, I'll brace myself."
I answered like that, but inwardly I wondered. On the festival's last day, would there really be that many customers—?
Twenty minutes later. That was how long it took for me to realize I was wrong.
"Luke, three sandwiches and two plates of pastries. Table three needs a tea refill too."
"Three sandwiches, two plates of pastries, table three tea refill. Got it."
It was insanely busy—way beyond anything before. Even more so, it was like the nobles had made a pact; one table would fill up, and they'd leave in under ten minutes.
'How the hell do they down two cups of hot tea in ten minutes? Did they cool it with magic?'
Grumbling inwardly like that, I kept my hands moving nonstop. Stacking bread and ingredients to make sandwiches, plating pastries, checking tea temperature and brew time to prepare it.
This was the moment when my ten years of servant experience shone.
How much time had passed in that frenzy?
"Luke...!"
"An order?!"
"No. The customers are all gone. Good work."
"Huuuuaaaah—."
Hearing the customers were gone, I melted into a puddle. To the point I wondered if I'd merge with the floor.
Amused by my state, Elena smiled, came over, and squatted beside me.
Her slender finger poked my cheek—poke poke.
"Is it okay for a servant of the Frozenheart Ducal Family to be lying around like that?"
"Just for today, please..."
"I'll let it slide since I was exhausted today too."
"Thank you..."
As I relaxed and closed my eyes, a sudden heavy sensation on my arm made me turn my head. Elena's face was right there.
'What the...?'
My brain, which had stalled for a second, slowly started processing the situation.
First, Elena was lying on the floor.
Second, Elena was using my arm as a pillow.
Third, I couldn't just let this happen.
"Grand Duchess, you can't do this. How could a noblewoman choose to lie on the floor...?"
"You were exhausted and lay down too. And I said I was exhausted."
"Then you should at least sit in a chair..."
"Argh, seriously. I turned a blind eye to you lying down, so you turn a blind eye too."
"I can ignore you lying on the floor, but using my arm as a pillow..."
"You did it fine when we were kids, and now you won't? Did your secret friend scam me?"
Elena poured out rebuttals without letting me finish.
They say if you sin, it comes back around. That was exactly my situation now. I'd done wrong for a moment's sweet rest, and now a bigger problem arose.
The silver lining was that we were in the kitchen, not the hall. It was a remodeled storage room with no windows, so no risk of being seen.
'No, wait. The fact that I'm even worrying about being seen is the problem.'
Apparently, all the sneaking around lately had blurred my sense of right and wrong.
And what scam? I had no intention of scamming anyone.
"That said, Grand Duchess, may I say one thing?"
"What?"
"If you're attending the banquet, you should change and do your makeup soon..."
"Wh-what? Why didn't you say so sooner?!"
Elena shot up and bolted out of the clubroom.
In the spot she'd left, her brown apron fluttered down lightly.
I picked it up, folded it neatly, and let out a sigh.
It wasn't that late. Business ended less than five minutes ago...