Chapter : 04
Why Are You Here?**
Lucien hadn’t known.
“Please come. Noctua really needs you.”
She never imagined those words actually meant Noctua needs a slave we can work to death…!
“The basic department is begging me to send them teachers to the advanced department, so why on earth do you keep refusing a good position when we offer one?”
“The basic kids aren’t trying to kill each other! Do you know how hard that class was two years ago?! I wasn’t even their homeroom teacher to begin with!”
“This year will be fine. You know how much I trust and care for you, right?”
“I don’t. And don’t trust me.”
Two years ago, Lucien had signed a contract to teach only Barrier Magic. But due to a shortage of personnel, she was dragged into being a homeroom teacher as well.
Tutors abusing students, adultery scandals, identity fraud, illegal hiring—one notorious incident after another.
And the cause?
The enormous number of students born from the bloodlines, hometown ties, and academic ties among the upper ranks of Noctua graduates, who dominated all high-ranking positions.
Above all, Noctua’s evaluation system was brutally fair, its grades fully transparent.
A clear and objective indicator proving that my child was superior to that household’s child!
Proof from the Empire’s top educational institution that the glorious heirs of prestigious families were just as excellent as their ancestors!
A brilliant report card that allowed parents—regardless of status—to proudly puff out their chests!
Before anyone realized it, Noctua Academy had become the obvious place everyone attended to build honor, reputation, and networks before stepping into society.
Lucien might pray for the academy’s downfall every day, but realistically, it wouldn’t happen for the next hundred years.
“It’s strange. Why would a talented person like you insist on acting as a nanny for children?”
“The basic department is the most important educational stage, teaching foundational knowledge and essential culture. A nanny? That’s an insult to basic department teachers.”
“Are you insulting the nation’s nannies now?”
“Of course not. I’m saying I could never accomplish such a noble job.”
“Exactly—so go to the advanced department.”
“Ugh…!”
She fell right into the trap again!
The smooth flow of the conversation, and the conclusion was once again her defeat.
Lucien clenched her fists. Those fists were filled with the burning desire to punch the dean right in the face.
Just once… can’t I just hit him once?
Even though his outward appearance was that of a pretty young boy, which poked at her conscience a little, Dean Aten was older than her… older than her father… no, several times older than her grandfather.
If the wretched employer weren’t the very benefactor who had changed her life, she would have already punched that plump eyelid until it matched his emerald-green eye.
“Fine, then at least remove me from being homeroom teacher. The contract clearly—”
“Now, now, how can you say something so hurtful? You’ve always done wonderfully, and I believe you’ll do great this year as well.”
“No, there are many teachers more qualified than I—”
“You underestimate yourself too much. How many people these days major in barrier magic, which doesn’t even make much money anymore? I haven’t seen anyone in the past two hundred years with your ability and character and refinement.”
“There are teachers who genuinely love and care for the students—”
“Oh, the Grand Duke Ignis mentioned that. Said that his house owes you a great debt. Said he’d never seen a teacher who cares for their students as sincerely as you do! I never knew he was capable of such praise!”
The mere mention of Ignis made her grind her teeth, so what nonsense was this old man spouting?
Lucien narrowed her eyes sharply, but Aten simply smiled and snapped his fingers theatrically.
“Thanks to that, everything clicked! Aha!”
…Clicked? What clicked…?
Goosebumps climbed her entire body.
Somewhere, a faceless ancestor seemed to be flashing a warning sign: Run.
Lucien immediately stepped back in alarm.
“I absolutely refuse—”
“That class simply has to be assigned to you! You haven’t checked the class assignment list yet, have you? Hahaha, no need to thank me. A brilliant person deserves a matching position!”
Have you ever taken a step forward and realized it was empty air? Have you ever signed a contract only to later notice you missed an extra zero?
That was exactly how Lucien felt in this moment.
“You’re still unmarried, right? Use this opportunity to expand your network and maybe find a good husband. I’ve always wondered why a smart, beautiful woman like you didn’t have a match—turns out, there just weren’t any decent young men around you! Such a shame. Someone like you should swim in bigger waters. Back when I was your age—”
In the pretty, youthful face of a boy dwelled the cunning serpent who had lived hundreds of years—a detestable old dean reminiscing about his brilliant youth.
But Lucien no longer had the mental strength to politely applaud the hundredth retelling of his heroic tales.
That class? What class? What monstrosity did you assign me to?!
Just as she was about to grab Aten by the collar and put an end to his 300-year-old bragging, a polite knock sounded at the door.
Knock, knock.
The rhythm was unusual—mechanically consistent, identical in strength and timing.
“Come in, come in!”
Seeing the dean’s delighted reaction, the visitor had to be one of three types:
A royal offering a donation,
A noble offering a donation,
Or a commoner offering a donation.
“Did I interrupt something?”
A deep, heavy yet gentle baritone voice filled the room.
Lucien recognized it.
She slowly lowered her raised hands, turned around—
“No, no, you two needed to meet at some point anyway, so I called him early!”
Aten hopped off his chair and planted himself between Lucien and the approaching man.
“Introduce yourselves. This is… wait, you two already know each other?”
Despite the dean’s childlike appearance, the man towering over him—and certainly taller than Lucien—radiated an overwhelming presence.
His tie was perfectly straight, every button aligned flawlessly, not a wrinkle to be found.
His outfit alone revealed his personality.
Even though it was a bright, warm spring day, a shadow seemed to enter the room with him.
Cold air lingered around him, like the depths of the ocean—just like his deep, dark eyes.
She knew this man.
Even the strand of dark hair falling across his forehead looked sculpted intentionally, as he spoke:
“It has been a while, Lady Philonia.”
“…Duke Rosanaht?”
Lucien’s eyes trembled violently.
Chester Rosanaht.
Ten years ago, he earned military merit as a child soldier in the war, receiving the youngest-ever medal of honor and reclaiming his noble title, which had been nationalized.
Prophecies, curses, ominous rumors—every misfortune clung to him, earning him the title of hero and calamity.
…And he was the man who had witnessed her darkest, most embarrassing moment—
and been directly involved in it.
Why are YOU here…?
Lucien shot a frantic look at Dean Aten, but as expected of someone oblivious to anything outside Noctua, he had no idea of their history.
“He’ll be assisting with combat training this semester as a special instructor. Since you two will be teaching together quite often, I thought you should get acquainted.”
“Someone as busy as the Duke participating in academy classes…?”
She didn’t know many Dukes personally, but surely he was busier than she was?
“Oh, not regular classes. Just the practical combat sessions. No one knows real battle better than someone with experience. Don’t you think so, Duke?”
The dean, casually saying You’ve killed lots of monsters, right?, grinned proudly.
“I heard you worked at Noctua, but I never imagined we’d meet like this.”
Chester ignored the dean’s words entirely and spoke to her.
For some reason, his expression even seemed slightly pleased, as if meeting an old acquaintance.
“I also didn’t expect to see you here.”
His friendly tone gave Lucien a bit of relief—
maybe he had generously forgotten her embarrassing past.
Her hopeful thoughts were immediately set on fire by his next line:
“Seeing you clench your fists again… was that always a habit?”
Lucien realized she was still clenching her fists—the ones she had raised to grab the dean’s collar.
She quietly lowered them and forced a smile.
“Ha… ha…”
Should she just quit for real…?
