The Noble Kindergarten Teacher’s Daily Struggles
Episode 003
“Eppna Teacher!”
The body, hardened through knightly training, froze for a moment. Mayrin’s brother, Johan, stared blankly at his empty hand.
“Teacher, is my brother getting scolded because of me?”
Cling. Mayrin stuck herself to Efna’s right leg like a little rice cake. Her round eyes gazed up at her, nearly melting Efna on the spot.
Barely regaining her composure, Efna rose from her chair and crouched down to meet Mayrin’s eye level.
“That’s not it. I was just telling your brother how well you’re doing in kindergarten.”
“Really?”
Scold them? How could a mere kindergarten teacher possibly dare scold the very sky-like Emperor or the Captain of the Grand Temple’s Knights?
“Really.”
From behind her, she could feel the gaze of the two men. Sweat trickled down the back of her neck, which she struggled to hide.
Just then, the door creaked open a little wider, and another pair of small feet came pattering inside.
“Hey! You can’t just walk in—Y-Your Majesty!”
Maxion, who had entered with a trace of irritation, suddenly froze. His eyes locked directly on the figure of his older brother—the Emperor.
“Maxion. Is that the proper attitude toward a classmate?”
The rebuke fell cold and sharp. Maxion shuffled awkwardly forward toward Efna.
This time, he clung tightly to her left leg, as though it were a sturdy shield.
“I-I apologize, Your Majesty…”
“What? Maxion, are you getting scolded?”
Mayrin asked with such blinding innocence that the tense air in the consultation room melted in an instant. Continuing the meeting now would be difficult.
Efna stroked both children’s heads and said gently,
“That will be all for today’s consultation. It seems the children grew restless while waiting. Ah—Your Majesty, there was something I wished to tell you separately, if you might spare a moment?”
No sooner had she spoken than four pairs of eyes turned on her at once.
Had she ever been so scrutinized in her life? Forcing an awkward smile, she continued.
Mayrin’s brother was the first to rise, gathering the children.
“Then, I’ll take my leave for today, Teacher.”
“Goodbye, Teacher. C’mon, Maxion, let’s go.”
Folding herself in half with a bow, Mayrin tugged Maxion out the door with quick little steps.
With three gone, only Efna and the Emperor remained.
“You said you had something to tell me.”
His tall frame rose from the chair, every line of him radiating authority. Broad shoulders, solid muscles beneath—his very presence was enough to make most people cower.
Unfortunately, that included Efna herself.
“Ah, yes. Well…”
She hadn’t even finished when the man strode directly toward her. With his long legs, it took no time at all for him to stand before her.
“Wait, that’s… too close—”
This is way too close!
Right before her eyes loomed the chest of his suit, the subtle woody fragrance around him suddenly pressing thick in the air.
Before she realized it, her hand had braced against his chest.
“Gasp…!”
I—I just touched…the Emperor’s chest.
Her head jerked up like a rusty machine, squeaking stiffly.
“……”
“……”
Her shameless hand had dared press against the Emperor’s chest. His eyes dropped to it, then back to her own.
Nos arched a brow.
‘Ahhh, I’m doomed. This is it. In my second life, after mouthing off to the Emperor and now pawing at his chest—I’ll die for this.’
She swallowed hard and squeezed her eyes shut.
“Why are you closing your eyes?”
“Huh? Wh-what…?”
His voice was plain, almost curious. He looked down at her through half-lowered lids as though genuinely puzzled.
She cracked her eyes open again. Right above her, the Emperor loomed, one bronzed arm stretched high.
“The building doesn’t seem old, and yet…”
He was bracing an unsteady shelf with one hand.
A book slipped from above, brushing her cheek as it thudded to the floor.
“Eek!”
“Are you hurt?”
“N-no, not at all!”
“The shelf must have come loose.”
Ah. The shelf. Right. He’d only been preventing it from collapsing on her.
‘I thought he was about to take my head off…’
Feeling guilty for even thinking such, she watched him calmly reset the shelf before stepping back.
“You should have it repaired. If you’d like, I can send someone.”
“N-no! That won’t be necessary. I’ll see it fixed safely.”
“Very well. So—what was it you wished to say?”
He got straight to the point. Her heart was still pounding too fast from panic.
“Ahem.”
Clearing her throat, Efna spoke cautiously.
“Forgive me for the presumption, but…”
“Presumption?”
Ah—wrong tone. This wasn’t a historical drama.
“What I mean is, it’s about… your form of address.”
“My form of address?”
“Yes, between Your Majesty and myself…”
The words snagged in her throat.
How did one tell the Emperor to stop speaking down to a kindergarten teacher? She didn’t really know how to put it delicately.
“Well, um…”
Truthfully, it had bothered her all along. Of course it was natural for the Emperor to use informal speech.
But she couldn’t let this go. Not her dignity as a teacher. Not the principle of equality with guardians.
Her fists clenched tight beneath her skirt. With resolute eyes, she looked up at Nos.
“Your Majesty, would you repeat after me?”
“What…?”
“Say: Teacher.”
Go on. ‘Teacher.’ It’s not hard.
Her tone was sweeter than ever, coaxing gently. Yet no reply came.
He only stared down at her, brow faintly furrowed, as though weighing the situation.
‘Is he angry?’
Her knees trembled, but she couldn’t back down.
“Please. Call me Teacher.”
“…Tea…cher.”
Her firm insistence worked. Nos echoed the word, albeit with a face that said he couldn’t fathom why he was repeating her.
But once the words were spoken, it was too late. The balance had tipped.
‘Ahh, refreshing.’
Efna’s smile burst bright as she clapped her hands.
“Well done. From now on, please address me that way in kindergarten.”
Who’d have thought she’d one day be coaxing the Emperor like a five-year-old? Live long enough—or die once, apparently—and you’d see it all.
He still blinked at her, slow and uncertain. Now was the chance.
“And, though I know it’s dreadfully rude to ask this of His Most Exalted Majesty…”
Her eyes darted upward, cautious. He didn’t look ready to execute her—yet.
“…in kindergarten, mutual respect between guardians and teachers is our foundation. So here, I’d like to ask that we speak to each other respectfully.”
In other words: Stop using informal speech.
It had taken her a dozen careful words to wrap around the point, but she got it across.
“After all, the children are watching.”
“Mutual respect, is it.”
“Yes, sir.”
Now he understood perfectly.
His gaze slipped briefly out the window, then returned to hers. At last, his reply:
“Ha.”
Strange—that wasn’t a reply but a laugh.
The brow that had been smooth all along crumpled in an odd expression, and his teeth showed as the laugh broke out sharp.
‘I shouldn’t have said anything. I should’ve just let him talk down all he wanted!’
Her regret came too late. He lifted a hand, and Efna flinched violently, stepping back and instinctively covering her head—like someone who expected a blow.
“Mutual respect…”
Was he… about to strike her?
Peeking through one eye, she saw instead that the Emperor was pressing his fingers to his furrowed brow, lost in thought.
‘There’s no one left who would dare hit me, and yet…’
Would she always shrink back like that, at the sight of a raised hand? Efna wrapped her trembling arms around herself, forcing a smile.
“Yes, that’s right. Because the children are watching. You know the saying—children mirror the adults around them?”
Maybe she’d stressed the children too much. It must look transparent.
He fixed her with a steady look, then sighed softly.
“Underst…”
“Underst?”
“…ood.”
“Good.”
Hearing the word end crisply in polite speech—‘-ood’—satisfied her deeply.
“Is that all you wished to say to me?”
“Huh? Ah, yes!”
Efna nodded quickly, startled. His adjustment had been so fast.
She was the one caught off guard now, flustered at hearing him slip so smoothly into formal speech, as if he’d never spoken otherwise.
He brushed the wrinkles from his sleeve. Then, as she edged back, he stepped closer.
“Eek!”
So much for her confident posture—Efna curled up small again.
In an instant, he stood directly before her, mouth curved in a faint smirk.
“Then it’s my turn to speak.”
“Wh-what do you… mean…?”
“Don’t tremble. Don’t be afraid. In front of the children, Teacher.”
He echoed her own words back to her. His bronzed hand lifted slowly, nearing her ear.
