Chapter 93

Were Kaidel and Lucas the only problem?Probably not. After scolding the two of them thoroughly, Eleanor tiptoed toward the next room.

This was the room with Ismel and Siena. And just like the first room, this one was a disaster—though in a completely different way.

“Do you like Lucas better, or Damian?”Ismel asked with a mischievous grin. Siena answered without hesitation.“I like them both.”“Nope. You have to pick just one.”Ismel shook his head firmly, and Siena’s face grew serious.“Well… I guess I’m a little closer with Lucas. Just a tiny bit. Like a grain of sand.”Her answer sent Ismel into peals of laughter. Leaning forward, he threw out his next question.“Between me, Kaidel, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and your uncle, who’s the most handsome?”“All of you are handsome.”“I know.”Ismel nodded shamelessly.“But who’s number one?”Siena scrunched up her face, recalling each of their dazzling looks. Ismel waited, eyes brimming with anticipation.“Objectively speaking, the Duke is the most handsome.”But her reply didn’t please him in the least. He leaned back against the sofa, sulking in silence.

“But I personally like someone pretty, like Your Highness.”Siena soothed him with a gentle tone. Simple as he was, Ismel immediately perked up again with a faint smile.“Of course, the most popular type is more like my uncle.”“Why’s that?”“Ah, Your Highness really doesn’t understand women at all. It’s obvious.”“Then teach me, Siena. Why is it obvious?”Crossing her plump legs with a snap, Siena explained with a wise air.“Take the Duke for example. He’s flawless, but that makes him hard to approach. And his expression is…”“Ugly.”“I was going to say cold.” Siena arched her brows.“And Your Highness isn’t exactly approachable either.”“Why not? Unlike the Duke, I’m always smiling.”“Smiling isn’t everything.”Siena declared firmly. Ismel touched his lips self-consciously.“You look prettier than most ladies, Your Highness. That makes it intimidating to approach you.”“…That actually makes sense.”Ismel gestured for her to continue.“My uncle, though—he’s handsome without being intimidating, and he has a gentle expression. He’s not strikingly pretty like you, either. He’s just… easy.”Siena’s sharp analysis made even Ismel pause. He realized, grudgingly, that her words held weight.

Before long, Eleanor’s request to practice interviews had been forgotten entirely. Ismel was simply enjoying his chat with this sharp little girl.

He finally threw out his trump card:“Then who do you think suits Teacher the best?”Siena sniffed.“Obviously my uncle.”Not giving up, Ismel pressed again.“No, Siena. Think objectively. Weigh all the factors—”“It’s my uncle!”Siena smacked the sofa with her palm in frustration, her face creasing with annoyance.“What if your uncle wasn’t there? Just me and Kaidel, between the two of us?”Desperate, Ismel added conditions.“But my uncle is here.”“Just imagine he isn’t.”At that, Siena’s face hardened. Her lips quivered, and her large eyes began to brim with tears.

Realizing he had gone too far, Ismel flailed.“No, no! I don’t mean he’s really gone… it’s just a hypothetical!”“Why would you take my uncle away?!”Siena burst into tears.

The door flew open, and Eleanor stepped in. Seeing Siena crying her heart out, Eleanor looked aghast.What on earth did he do to her?!

Eleanor rushed to hug the sobbing girl. Her dress dampened with dark circles of tears.“Shh, it’s alright. What happened?”But she didn’t scold Ismel. After all, today’s exercise was about handling pressure, and this was… a kind of experience.

“Teacher, His Highness said ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he’d take my uncle away!”“…What?”Eleanor’s mind filled with a hundred question marks. She turned a razor gaze on Ismel, demanding an explanation. He scratched his neck awkwardly.“It’s… well… just a teensy misunderstanding. Not that I’m completely blameless.”Her eyes narrowed dangerously. Ismel wilted instantly, eyebrows drooping in surrender.“I truly repent. Sincerely.”

Eleanor sighed deeply.In one room, Lucas had nearly reduced Kaidel to tears. In another, Siena was bawling. Her plan had gone completely off the rails.

Only one room went as intended: the one with Adrian and Damian.

“All done?” Eleanor peeked her head through the door. Adrian and Damian looked up with bright smiles.Unlike the chaos in the other rooms, the air here was calm, steady. Relief washed over her.

“Yeah. Damian’s going to be fine,” Adrian said, grinning at the boy.“He stayed calm the whole time and said everything he wanted to.”“Really?”“If he does exactly what he just did, he’ll be great. Well done, Damian.”Adrian gave ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a thumbs-up, and Damian beamed shyly.

Eleanor ruffled Damian’s hair, then praised Adrian as well.“Lian, you did great too.”“I only followed your instructions.”“Plenty of people can’t even do that.”Eleanor let out another sigh.

“Can you look after Lucas and Siena again later?”“Of course. But why?”“Kaidel completely lost control with Lucas, and as for His Highness… I don’t even know anymore.”Adrian’s expression said he understood perfectly.

When they all returned to the parlor, the sight that greeted them was almost pitiful.Siena’s eyes were swollen like a goldfish’s. Kaidel slumped with half his soul gone. Ismel kept sneaking nervous glances at Siena and Eleanor. Lucas alone looked utterly cheerful.

Eleanor took them all in. They sat there like puppies waiting to be scolded, and her resolve softened again.“…I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.”

At once, their faces lit up.“Great! I was starving.”“Me too!”“I want steak! If I eat steak, I’ll grow taller!”“That’s not how height works—”The room erupted into cheerful chatter. The atmosphere was warm, like a big family meal. Eleanor could only shake her head with a wry smile.

How could she ever be strict with them? The strength drained right out of her.And soon, this will all be over.

The realization hit her suddenly. Once the children’s exams ended, there would be no reason to gather like this anymore.

The three men bickered constantly, but when it came to the children, they were endlessly tender. Together, they created a lively, refreshing energy.Once the kids leave for the Academy…Already, the thought felt unbearably lonely. She shouldn’t feel this way, but she did.

They caused trouble, clung to her until her body ached—but they were still the most beautiful children in the world. This must be what it feels like to be ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a parent—or at least, a true teacher.

“What’s with that face? What are you thinking so hard about?”Adrian’s voice cut in, gentle but concerned.“I was just… thinking what it’ll be like when they leave for the Academy.”“Ah.”He nodded, understanding at once. Eleanor’s eyes grew moist.

“It already feels so empty. This is why I avoided getting too attached. But somehow, I did anyway.”Adrian brushed her hair back, smiling as he always did when she was down.“But it was fun, wasn’t it?”“…Yeah.”“And it’s not like you’ll never see them again. They’ll come home for breaks.”Then you’ll probably be begging them to go back to the Academy, he teased.

Eleanor laughed softly. He might be right.“If you miss them, you can always write letters—or we could visit. I know a professor there; getting a guest pass wouldn’t be hard.”As always, Adrian soothed her worries in an instant. He tucked her hair gently behind her ear, grinning.“For now, let’s just enjoy this moment. When the day comes that it really hurts… I’ll be sad with you then too.”

After the meal, the children ran wild through the Crown Prince’s garden. Ismel and Eleanor sat in the shade, sipping tea as they watched.

A little apart from them stood Kaidel, alone. Adrian walked up beside him.“Your Grace.”“…Marquis.”Kaidel’s voice pitched slightly higher, caught off guard.

“May I have a word?” Adrian asked calmly. Kaidel nodded. The two strolled together.

“Do you know what Damian hopes to become after graduation?”“…No.”A pang of guilt colored Kaidel’s reply. He had grown closer to Damian lately, but there was still so much he didn’t know.

“I spoke with him today,” Adrian continued evenly. “He said he wants to be a physician.”Kaidel stopped in his tracks.“A physician?”“It’s admirable—but unusual for someone of high nobility, is it not?”

Adrian’s words were tactful, but the truth was plain: no noble had ever chosen such a path. Kaidel’s face grew grave.“Did he say why?”“Because of his mother. He said if he could give people more time with their loved ones, even a little, that would be enough.”

A low, painful sound escaped Kaidel. That wound—Damian’s loss—always hurt the most.

Adrian glanced at him and added quietly,“He also said it was because of you.”“…Me?”“He wants to protect you, just as you’ve protected him. When he’s grown, he wants to be the one standing guard at your side.”

Kaidel froze. The words burned like molten fire in his chest. His throat prickled as if tears were about to spill, though none came.

Adrian patted his shoulder lightly and walked ahead.“You have a remarkable little brother.”