12. Changing Teachers (2)
12. Changing Teachers (2)
"I cannot accept this!"
"I am not asking for your understanding. How many times must I tell you that this is a decision made by the Royal Court?"
The Marchioness-nim's shouting helped me snap out of my daze. The issue of the First Queen's suicide was so mind-boggling that I wanted to grill Ainsel about it right then and there, but...
Right now, the matter in front of me took priority.
The Marchioness-nim was still making a fuss to the Chancellor, Vin Chaud, insisting she couldn't accept being replaced. Well, I had expected that someone with her personality wouldn't accept it easily.
Ahem.
I put down the coffee cup in my hand, making the Marchioness-nim focus on me. The moment I looked at her with Vivian's signature nasty, condescending eyes.
'Ugh.'
She looked at me with bloodshot eyes, growling like a beast, and I almost looked away without realizing it. Is that the face of someone who values etiquette?
"Marchioness-nim, do you know why I said I would take over the Princess-nim's education?"
"...Did you dislike me that much, Your Majesty? Education isn't as easy as you think...!"
It seemed my words were no longer reaching the Marchioness-nim's ears. It felt like she was just spewing words to somehow smooth over the situation.
I stood up from the sofa and approached her. When I got within a step of her, I could hear her heavy breathing as she suppressed her anger.
"Yes, as you said, I do not like you, Marchioness-nim."
"Ha..! Is that the only reason you've taken over the Princess-nim's education? Just because you hate me?"
If it were just that, I would have used a different method.
I sighed at the Marchioness-nim's expression, acting as if she were the victim. Seeing that face reminded me of that 'ending' from the game, which annoyed me.
Honestly, I worried a lot about whether I was doing the right thing with this. This isn't a world that flows like a game script; it's reality.
So, I wondered if the Marchioness-nim might be different from the game.
But...
I hadn't just been lazing around since I got here. I collected rumors that had spread through the Royal Castle via the maids I'd become close with, and I even confirmed the rumor that the Marchioness-nim seemed obsessed with the Princess-nim.
"If you didn't see the Princess-nim as a substitute for the First Queen, I wouldn't have had to step in as her 'education supervisor'."
"...What..?"
The Marchioness-nim's bloodshot eyes widened. Like she'd been hit in the bullseye. Vin Chaud, hearing this from the side, also widened his eyes, wondering if he'd heard right.
"When the First Queen married His Majesty, the late King and the Queen Dowager praised you endlessly. They said you raised such a beautiful young lady worthy of His Majesty."
At my words, the Marchioness-nim's shoulders shook violently.
I continued speaking, looking at the Marchioness-nim.
"The rumor that you were praised by the late King spread quickly through high society. Everyone must have praised you. Calling you a wonderful 'educator,' offering to pay any amount of money to have you educate their own children."
"......That is not true."
"And so, you were recognized for your track record of raising the First Queen, allowing you to remain in the Royal Castle and assist the Queen. Even with the title of the First Queen's 'godmother'."
"...That is not true."
"It's a life in the Royal Castle that every noble envies, isn't it? Congratulations. Back then, you were truly a successful noble that everyone envied."
When I patted the Marchioness-nim's shoulder, she glared at me as if she wanted to tear me apart. But even with that glare, there was nothing she could do.
The real story starts now.
"But what a shame."
"Your Majesty..!"
The Marchioness-nim called out to me as if to block the next part of the story, but I smiled at her and continued.
"The First Queen you raised is dead."
Padeudeuk-
As soon as I finished speaking, I heard the sound of teeth grinding from between the Marchioness-nim's teeth. I could see her clenched fists trembling, as if she were barely holding back.
"...After the First Queen died, your position in the Royal Castle became very precarious. The position of the First Queen's 'godmother' vanished in an instant."
"......"
"Rumors even spread that you were involved in the First Queen's death. Petty nobles started nitpicking at you, asking if it was a problem with your educational methods."
I was surprised to hear the First Queen had committed suicide, but in the game, she was already treated as dead. Though in the game, it was illness, not suicide.
So, not knowing the First Queen had died, I couldn't understand why the Marchioness-nim was so obsessed with the Princess-nim. I just guessed something had happened to the First Queen.
But the moment I heard the First Queen had died today, I knew exactly why the Marchioness-nim was obsessed with the Princess-nim.
In the end, no matter how the First Queen died, the Marchioness-nim had no choice but to be obsessed with the Princess-nim.
Just to regain her lost honor.
"Did you want to restore your prestige through the Princess-nim?"
"That is not true..! I really did it for the Princess-nim..!"
"Did you really think raising the Princess-nim like the First Queen was for her sake? You intended to raise the Princess-nim exactly like the First Queen, just to have her follow in her footsteps."
"What is wrong with that! My educational method is practically proven! I raised the First Queen with my education, so what is wrong with that method!"
"Because of that pathetic educational method, the Princess-nim..!!"
Will end up taking her own life later.
The words were stuck in my throat.
In the game, the Princess-nim receives an education from the Marchioness-nim that is no different from 'brainwashing.' From her tastes to her way of speaking, she must act like the First Queen.
The Marchioness-nim's 'education' was nothing short of erasing the Princess-nim's personality. Everything like the First Queen, in the manner of the First Queen. That was the Marchioness-nim's 'education.'
When I first saw this ending, I was disgusted and got goosebumps.
I had high hopes that the high stats from the Marchioness-nim would lead to a happy ending, but this damn game showed me the illustration of the Princess-nim found hanging, without any warning. Just suddenly.
Before I could even recover from the shock of the Princess-nim I'd raised with such care committing suicide, this damn game kindly explained in detail why she did it.
The Marchioness-nim, who lost her honor due to the First Queen's death.
The obsession to make the Princess-nim identical to the First Queen to regain that honor.
The Princess-nim who eventually took her own life, unable to bear that obsession.
'Terrible woman.'
I thought that, looking at the Marchioness-nim arguing with me. She couldn't forget the honor of the past, and trying to make her daughter the same felt so terrible.
"...Anyway, I have no intention of understanding your educational policy. Your reputation was so vicious that even the Royal Court chose me over you, despite the rumors that I am a witch."
"Ha..."
"Accept it quietly and retire. Vin Chaud will take care of your severance pay."
I held out the crumpled 'Exclusive Appointment Notice' on the table to the Marchioness-nim again. She tried to take it with trembling hands, but then suddenly giggled.
"Your Majesty, you told me last time, didn't you..? That the Princess-nim's opinion is important."
"...I did."
Hearing my answer, the Marchioness-nim turned on her heel and stomped out of the room. Vin Chaud and I were left stunned by the sudden situation.
I sighed and looked at Vin Chaud. He seemed as baffled as I was. Even if she didn't think of me as royalty...
Vin Chaud sighed, looking at the door the Marchioness-nim had left wide open.
"Your Majesty seems very merciful today."
"The Marchioness-nim is an old woman like you, isn't she? Every time I see her face, I keep thinking of you, so I'm holding back quite a bit."
"Haha!"
Vin Chaud laughed at my joke. If it were Vivian's original personality, she would have cut off the Marchioness-nim's head right then and there. Vivian had no mercy for those who climbed over her.
As we were joking, I heard stomping footsteps in the hallway again. Vin Chaud sighed, and I sighed in sync with him.
It would have been better if it ended with the Marchioness-nim's stomping footsteps.
But along with the footsteps echoing in the hallway, I heard a child's voice.
"W, wait..! Ah... it hurts..! Slowly..!"
The Marchioness-nim stormed back in, holding the Princess-nim by the arm. Seeing the Marchioness-nim, who had brought the Princess-nim as if dragging her, I almost stopped breathing.
Vin Chaud and I couldn't say anything. The Marchioness-nim, with a near-maniacal expression, grabbed the Princess-nim's shoulder and shouted.
"Princess-nim..! The Queen is trying to kick me out! She says I am of no help to you! Princess-nim..! Say one word... just say one word. Yes? Tell her that I am more helpful to you than the Queen!"
"Ah, ugh..!"
I looked down at the Princess-nim in this absurd situation. Through the sleeves pulled up by the Marchioness-nim's rough grip, I saw bruises all over her arms and bright red marks on her wrists.
It was as if someone had grabbed her roughly and twisted hard.
"Wait..! Loren-"
Vin Chaud turned pale seeing the wounds on the Princess-nim's arm and tried to stop the Marchioness-nim, but I was faster.
I grabbed the shoulder of the crouching Marchioness-nim, shoved her back to separate her from the Princess-nim, and then raised my hand high and slapped her across the cheek.
Jjaak-!
Silence fell over the room instantly due to the sound of the slap. The Marchioness-nim, clutching her cheek with her hair disheveled from the pain, looked up at me with disbelief.
I ignored my stinging palm and glared hard at the Marchioness-nim.
"Are you truly insane? Marchioness-nim?"
"Th, this..."
As I slapped her, Vin Chaud quickly took the Princess-nim and moved her far away from the Marchioness-nim. I crouched in front of the Marchioness-nim sitting on the floor and met her eyes.
"Marchioness-nim. I dislike you, but I didn't think of doing anything to you."
"Yo, Your Majesty..."
"I endured a lot, thinking it was just the grumbling of an old woman. Even when you acted without showing me the 'etiquette' you are so proud of."
I held out the crumpled 'Exclusive Appointment Notice' in my hand to the Marchioness-nim again. She tried to take it with trembling hands, but.
"But, do I need to endure it anymore?"
I tore the notice in half. As the paper tore, the Marchioness-nim's face turned deathly pale. As if foreshadowing her future.
You should have taken the chance when I gave it to you.
I scattered the torn pieces of the notice on the floor, stood up, and ordered Vin Chaud. He would handle this appropriately.
"Vin Chaud, I trust you will handle this well without me having to say anything."
"...Yes, Your Majesty."
Leaving Vin Chaud, who bowed his head, behind, I lifted the wrist of the Princess-nim, who was at a loss. Seeing the bright red handprint, I felt unnecessarily sorry.
I gently stroked the Princess-nim's hair, smiled, and said.
"From today, you can come to my room during the Marchioness-nim's class time."
"Yes...?"
"Because from now on, I am your teacher."