TMKWPL CH 17

Chapter 17

• ────── ✦ ────── •

The Rookie Teacher

Inside the Great Hall of the Imperial Palace. For a newly founded Empire, whenever the ministers gathered, the hall—despite the palace’s solemn grandeur, was filled with arguments like a marketplace.

What’s more, it had been especially noisy over the same agenda for several days now.

“Your Majesty. If the child is five years old, doesn’t that mean at least a full year of pregnancy? That alone constitutes dereliction of duty. This matter cannot simply be overlooked.”

The issue at hand was disciplinary action regarding Lucia’s parental leave.

“That’s right. If we’re going to gloss over this, then we must do the same for the official who neglected his duties recently!”

“Exactly! Five whole years has passed, how can she still be on parental leave?!”

Once Count Rendor opened the floodgates, the officials who’d been waiting for their chance began shouting one after another.

“Good grief. Do you truly believe Lucia’s case is the same as that one?”

Emperor Caius, who had been listening to their complaints, picked at his ear as if bored. It was a completely different attitude from how he treated his cherished Lucia.

“Your Majesty, no matter how much of a Sword Master she is, according to imperial law—”

“Yes. That Sword Master. You all know better than anyone how beneficial she is to the national interest, don’t you?”

He flicked away the earwax on his finger and replied indifferently. The emperor hadn’t told anyone that Lucia was approaching the level of a Grand Sword Master. If they knew, those already jealous of her would surely use their authority to pile even more burdens onto her.

Tch… This is why she should’ve just quietly accepted the title when it was offered. What’s so troublesome about managing a mere fief? Honestly, she’s so stubborn.

The emperor liked Lucia's lack of ambition, yet it was also a great source of frustration for him.

“That’s enough. I fully understand how much hostility you all harbour toward Commander Lucia. So stop the pointless talk and tell me the real issue. For example, why is it that the same tiresome faces keep showing up in this chamber?”

The emperor was clearly irritated.

“Your Majesty, it seems they are not yet well-versed in the current political situation and need more preparation.”

As if rehearsed, many ministers spoke in unison. It was the same opinion, and strong resolve that conservative nobles had voiced for the past five years to check the rising new powers. This time, the emperor had no intention of indulging them.

Bang!

“It’s already been five years! If that were truly the problem, you should have allowed them to observe this hall without speaking so that there wouldn't be any petitions! Pick your battles wisely. All of you. Tsk.”

Slamming the wide table, the emperor stood up, signalled the scribe to end the meeting, and walked out. After the doors closed with a loud echo, silence fell over the hall.

“…Are we really just going to watch this happen?”

Count Rendor spoke, looking at the nobles he had painstakingly persuaded to join his side. They avoided his gaze, their eyes darting about as if to say,

What do you expect us to do when the emperor himself has left?

“Listen here! Are we really going to let a mere knight return to her post without any punishment just because His Majesty dotes on her?!”

His flushed face showed that even after arguing with the emperor, his anger hadn’t subsided.

“Then what do you suggest we do, Count Rendor?”

A low voice cut through the brief silence, as if perfectly timed. It was Leon’s father, the Chancellor, Pederin Lewins.

“Oh, Your Excellency. As I’ve said, we should use this opportunity to impose a severe punishment to make her come to her senses.”

“That’s right! Strip her of the commander position!”

“Exactly! We need to knock her arrogance down a peg!”

Seeing the empire’s most powerful figure show interest, the nobles who’d kept quiet eagerly joined in. The chancellor nodded once.

“Very well. Then let us impose punishment—on your inferiority complex.”

His tone was flat, far too calm for a rebuke.

“Inferiority—! How could you say such a thing—!”

“And if she becomes enraged by such treatment and defects to another kingdom, then, Count, you may bring in a Sword Master equal to her.”

“…Th-That’s impossible!”

As the count tried to protest again, the chancellor, clearly annoyed, set down the stack of documents he’d been organizing.

“Count Rendor. Have you ever stopped to think why, in the Empire’s current state, she’s able to act so high-handedly?”

“Because she’s a woman who flaunts one petty talent and looks down on those who’ve built real achievements! That’s the only reason, Your Excellency!”

Unlike the agitated count, the chancellor merely let out a quiet scoff and shook his head.

“You’re mistaken. She does so because she can.”

“…!”

It was an answer that explained everything, carrying far more meaning than its brevity suggested. Silenced by the sharp remark, Count Rendor could say no more as the chancellor stood up.

“Then let us discuss participation of all nobles at the next meeting. It's about time, don't you think?

With that, the chancellor left the hall.

Once he was gone, the murmuring nobles cautiously rose from their seats.

“….”

Watching them so easily swayed despite the lavish treatment he’d given, Count Rendor clenched his fist, swallowing his rage.

“I hear your son has long coveted the commander’s position.”

Someone who had remained silent throughout the meeting spoke to him, almost consolingly. It was Duke Anton Kilgis.

“Let bygones be bygones. The Empire cannot do without talent. Thanks to her, don’t we all live a little more at ease?”

A chill ran down Count Rendor’s spine at those words. Perhaps because of the cold climate of the Kilgis Duchy where he’d grown up, there was an unsettling temperature to the duke’s presence.

“…Your Grace. Do you truly believe it makes sense for the Empire’s representative to be a woman? Even if my son had been given the same training period—!”

Count Rendor was wealthy, and even during the war he hadn’t hesitated to supply vast amounts of military provisions in hopes of securing a knight commander position for his son. But when Lucia took that seat, his anger turned toward her instead.

“Let the past rest. As you said, she’s a knight—sharp and dangerous. But isn’t she ultimately just a weapon that someone must wield?”

Duke Anton spoke coldly, referring to a person with merciless words, and patted the count’s shoulder, which had tensed under his oppressive presence.

• ───────── ☽༓☾ ───────── •

In the Kindergarten Attached to Eldarion Academy, someone flung open the door to the staff room.

“I’m Emily Tangst! I look forward to working with you!”

She greeted them with a bright smile, her fluffy blonde hair resting on her shoulders, a plain, unadorned blouse and skirt, and a neatly designed but slightly worn bag in hand. The staff, who had simply nodded at her cheerful greeting, soon began to whisper.

“She’s the teacher who was supposed to join us this time, right?”

“Yes, that’s her. They say she’s a young lady from Count Tangst’s family…”

“A count’s daughter? More like from a ruined estate drowning in debt, they even lost their territory and she got kicked out.”

“…Hehe. Um, where is my desk?”

Despite clearly hearing the whispers, she smiled innocently as if unaware. The teachers awkwardly pointed her to a desk near the edge and went back to their work.

Today was Emily Tangst’s first day, a rookie kindergarten teacher. Born into a noble family, well educated, with a gentle and soft smile. Looking at her, no one would doubt that being a kindergarten teacher was her calling.

But.

You wretches! Just wait until we meet in high society. I’ll make sure those loose tongues of yours are put to use grovelling at my feet!

That’s right. Her personality was terrible. Or rather, she was a pure-bred ambitious schemer.

Emily Tangst. She was the daughter of a fallen count’s family, and back at the academy she’d mingled with ladies of similar status, accustomed to looking down on others, a fairly typical noble young lady. But when her family fortunes collapsed and her companions drifted away, she lost even the prospect of a good marriage, becoming pitifully stranded.

Still, she refused to give up. The way to find a good marriage, even with her family's status reduced to that of commoners, was to become a teacher at the empire's only kindergarten. It was a job most popular with men these days because it implied a bright, kind woman who was good with children and would be a wise supporter.

Hehe, just you wait. I’ll climb as high as I—

“Teacher. Ms. Emily?”

“Y-Yes?! Yes! How far should I climb—!?”

She was dreaming of revenge with a scary face when she was startled by a voice calling her, blurting out nonsense.

“T-To the headmistress’ office. The headmistress is calling for you.”

The teacher, more startled by Emily’s reaction than anything else, quickly retreated. Watching the middle-aged teacher’s back, Emily nearly bowed in relief, too lacking to be called vicious.

Once she closed the staff room door, the gossip about her grew even louder from the other side.

…Tch. As if they’re anything more than the daughters of barons’ or viscounts’. In the old days, they’d have been grovelling at my feet.

Was it an illusion, or did that gentle, rabbit-like face now radiate an aura sharp enough to spit venom? She was unable to forget her days as the academy’s queen bee.

“Tsk…”

She naturally leaned toward the hallway window, stretching her philtrum as if loosening her facial muscles.

She smacked her lips as though something were stuck in her teeth, then firmly wiped the lipstick-smeared corner of her mouth with her finger.

When someone closed the window, the sunlight reflected on the glass vanished, revealing the classroom clearly.

And there, her eyes met the children inside.

“…Monkeeey!”

“…!!!”

They pointed at her as they called out. The children soon burst into cheerful laughter.

Startled, she quickly fixed her expression and checked the classroom, but luckily it was break time, and there were no adults.

Good.

It was okay for children to tease people. It was normal.

It’s fine…

Already drained of much of her energy, she staggered toward the headmistress' office amidst the children’s laughter.

“Welcome.”

The headmistress’ office was a cozy place, filled with warm sunlight.

Norcia Ponte Lewins. Unlike what one might expect of the wife of the empire’s most powerful man, the room held only a few modest pieces of furniture and a small bookshelf.

With the same silver hair as her angelic son and small glasses perched on her nose, she welcomed Emily with a kind smile.

“I-It’s an honour. Marchioness—oh, no. Headmistress. I officially started work today.”

Emily deliberately stammered, acting the part of a pure, innocent young lady before the headmistress.

Behind the ambition that might seem aimed only at securing a good marriage lay her true desire. The greatest revenge she could enact against those who had mocked and avoided her was to get an engagement with the son of the woman before her, Leon Lewins, the empire’s most eligible bachelor

Of course, catching a mythical unicorn was no easy feat. Leon hadn’t even enrolled in the academy, and since first appearing like a shooting star at his coming-of-age ceremony, he had never shown his face in high society again. In other words, he appeared to have the widest connections but had no interaction with people at all.

It was surprising, but the real problem was something else entirely. The black monster. The woman he had in his heart was none other than the fearsome woman, Lucia.

When that rumour spread, competitors quickly gave up, assuming that if Leon had chosen her, he belonged to Lucia alone. Emily, too, was afraid. But what terrified her more was the fact that back in her queen-bee days, she had tormented Lucia.

Back then, I at least had my family’s power. If I met her now, I’d be…

Emily ran a hand across her neck, shivering. As dangerous an obstacle as Lucia was, the ambitious Emily still had a way to get past her. The only way was to aim for Leon’s mother. It sounded simple, but in reality, no woman as young as twenty-five had ever been accepted to work at this kindergarten.

Though age wasn’t listed in the criteria, acceptance letters usually went to women in their thirties or forties with childcare experience. But someone who throws herself in with her life on the line will do anything. As the daughter of a Count in name only, she had gone for interviews and exams for five years straight, and her desperation had left its mark on their faces, so they couldn't help but give her an acceptance letter.

“Indeed. Congratulations. I’ve seen you every year and wondered when we’d finally work together.”

“O-Oh my. I’m so moved! You remember me…!”

“Hoho. I’m looking forward to it. And it’s perfect timing. Today we have many visitors, so would you help me?”

“Of course! I, Emily Tangst, will do my best to help!”

Before her prey’s mother, she looked like nothing more than a warm, passionate rookie teacher.

Knock. Knock.

At the same moment as her fervent resolve, a visitor knocked on the door. The headmistress smiled faintly and said softly,

“It seems they’ve arrived. Shall we go welcome them?”

How fortunate. Working directly with the marchioness from day one. Emily, a rookie teacher who wouldn’t even be assigned her own class for a year. For her, making such an impression on the headmistress meant she was already one step closer to securing her future as a teacher.

But, was that really the case?

When the door opened, what appeared was a mother and daughter with long, ebony-black hair. The very path she had taken to avoid the greatest obstacle in her life. But now, she, who was no longer a girl but a woman, was walking in holding the hand of a child who looked just like her.

“…Eeeeek…!”

Thus, the grand ambitions of the rookie teacher were crushed in an instant, ending in a shriek of terror the moment the curtain rose.

Chapter 16

Chapter List

Chapter 18