Chapter 11
While Lucas continued staring at Rachel without even blinking,
Rachel felt more and more awkward.
Unable to bear the silence any longer,
she spoke first.
“Theo is slowly adjusting to the academy.”
“But Noah is taking a little longer.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Ever since the fight with his classmate that day, he barely talks to anyone.”
“He spends most of his time staring out the window.”
“Even when I ask him what’s wrong, he doesn’t answer.”
“Theo and Noah seem similar, but they’re actually quite different.”
Lucas, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke.
“As you know, Theo is one year older than Noah.”
“Theo at least had one year of his mother’s love.”
“But Noah never had that.”
Rachel already knew that from the reports.
The Empress had passed away not long after giving birth to Noah.
That was why Noah had been sent to live with his grandfather before he was even one hundred days old.
“When I look at Noah, I’m reminded of how important a child’s early years are.”
“Theo received his mother’s love for at least one year, so there’s still a strong part of him.”
“But Noah was sent to his grandfather immediately. He grew up differently.”
Rachel had also heard that Noah’s grandfather was an unusual man.
She knew Noah’s personality had been heavily influenced by him.
“To Noah, his grandfather was his entire world.”
“And when even his grandfather passed away, he had no one left to depend on.”
“The only person he could lean on was Theo.”
“Seeing Theo slowly adapt to this place may have made Noah feel even more anxious.”
“I think what Noah needs right now…”
“…is someone he can truly trust.”
“Someone other than Theo.”
Rachel had assumed Lucas was too busy to understand Noah so well.
But he knew Noah surprisingly well.
That made it much easier for her to speak honestly.
“I want to become someone Noah can rely on.”
“It may not happen right away…”
“But I’ll keep trying to help him build relationships with other people instead of depending only on Theo.”
Rachel carefully explained how she had been approaching Noah.
She also told Lucas that she was doing everything she could to slowly break down Noah’s hostility toward her.
“You truly care about these children.”
Lucas quietly spoke after listening to her.
Rachel carefully chose her words.
She didn’t want to sound arrogant.
But she also wanted him to know how sincere she was.
“They’re my students.”
“No matter what anyone says.”
They were ordinary words.
As soon as she said them,
she wondered if they sounded too simple.
But when she glanced at Lucas,
his expression was completely serious.
Perhaps…
He had understood how genuine she was.
“Hearing you say that puts my mind at ease.”
Just then,
Lucas suddenly leaned forward.
He slowly reached out his hand.
As if guided by instinct,
he gently brushed a loose strand of hair behind Rachel’s ear.
“…!”
The moment his fingers lightly touched her ear,
Rachel froze in surprise.
Physical contact…
With the Crown Prince…
She felt like she might faint.
Embarrassment quickly spread across her face,
turning her cheeks red.
Meanwhile,
Lucas calmly sat back as if nothing unusual had happened.
“I just hope Noah won’t be hurt anymore.”
“That’s all I wish for.”
Rachel looked into Lucas’s eyes.
They were incredibly clear.
He looked at the reflection of her in his dark eyes,
then smiled softly.
“Have a good rest tonight.”
“And I’ll be counting on you again tomorrow.”
A gentle smile formed on Lucas’s lips.
He probably only fixed my hair because it was messy…
Rachel quietly calmed her racing heart.
Then she smiled brightly back at him.
After returning to the Imperial Palace,
Lucas Maxim still couldn’t stop thinking about Rachel.
He couldn’t understand what kind of power she possessed.
He remembered her soft pink lips.
The way they moved gently as she spoke…
It was strangely adorable.
The image refused to leave his mind.
This is strange.
He had never experienced anything like this before.
To Lucas,
the most important things in life had always been protecting his younger brothers
and standing firmly as the Crown Prince.
He had believed nothing else truly mattered.
And yet…
Whenever he talked with Rachel,
those moments somehow felt the most precious.
The same thing had happened when Noah caused trouble.
There had been no reason for him to personally visit Duke Philip’s estate.
And yet,
the only thought in his mind had beenā
I need to help Rachel.
Even after entrusting his brothers to the academy,
he should have been able to stop worrying so much.
But somehow,
under the excuse of visiting Theo and Noah,
he kept wanting to see Rachel.
He couldn’t understand his own feelings.
I really don’t understand.
When he had brushed her hair aside,
his fingers had lightly touched her ear.
That tiny moment of contact
had made his heart tremble.
Perhaps…
She feels the same way.
Very slowly,
but unmistakably,
Lucas was beginning to realize something.
He had become interested in Rachel Swan.
Rachel’s favorite time of the day
was the evening.
Humming quietly to herself,
she organized the worksheets she would hand out to the students the next day.
As she worked,
she tucked her loose hair behind her ear.
…
That simple movement reminded her of someone.
I hope he didn’t notice how red my face became…
Perhaps the Crown Prince hadn’t thought anything of it.
She didn’t want to be the only one giving that moment special meaning.
Rachel let out a quiet sigh.
He’s definitely a good person.
He was a wonderful Crown Prince who truly cared about his younger brothers.
And he was kind and genuine as well.
It was only natural
to admire someone like himā
Officially, at least.
Who wouldn’t like someone like him?
How many members of the Imperial Family would treat the daughter of a baron as an equal,
just like he did?
Rachel bit her lip.
But…
I’m not sure what kind of feelings these are.
She was certain she liked Lucas Maxim.
But she couldn’t tell
whether she admired Crown Prince Lucas Maxim…
Or Lucas Maxim the person.
If it was the first,
there was no problem.
But if it was the second…
She knew it would only bring her pain.
“Liking the Crown Prince would only lead to a cold reality.”
Rachel forced herself to settle her heart.
She told herself
that what she admired
was the Crown Prince who cared deeply for his younger brothersā
Not Lucas Maxim as a man.
Just thenā
Hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway.
The door to the headmaster’s office burst open.
“Miss!”
Colo rushed inside.
“Noah has completely lost control!”
“He’s screaming!”
“Noah?”
Ever since her meeting with Lucas,
Noah had been unusually quiet.
So what had happened now?
Rachel immediately jumped to her feet
and ran toward Noah’s room with Colo.
“Noah!”
“Ahhh!! Aahhh!!”
The door to Noah’s room stood wide open.
His screams echoed through the hallway.
He was pulling at his own hair
while crying out in despair.
Rachel had no idea what was happening.
She hurried over
and tried to calm him down.
“Noah.”
“Calm down.”
“Look at me.”
She held his shoulders,
trying to meet his eyes.
But Noah violently shook his head,
struggling wildly.
“What’s wrong?!”
“W-Those… those crazy…”
“…bastards!”
As Noah finally removed his hands from his head,
a folded note slipped from his fingers
and fell onto the floor.
Rachel quickly picked it up.
Rachel was rarely shaken by anything.
But the moment she read the words,
she couldn’t say a single thing.
She froze.
Seeing her expression,
Colo stepped closer.
He read the note as well.
His face instantly turned serious.
“A parasite who was born after taking your mother’s life.”
The sentence had been scribbled in messy handwriting,
as if it had been written with the writer’s left hand to hide their identity.
