Chapter 4
After making up her mind, Celine asked Felix,
“But how did you recognize me so easily? Was it because of my application?”
“That’s right.”
“You look exactly like the description.”
“Long black hair and purple eyes.”
“Haha.”
Felix folded up the colorful sign and tucked it under his arm before smiling as brightly as the summer sky.
It was hard to believe he had looked so frightened just moments ago because of Celine.
…Once we reach the village, I’d better avoid getting involved with this man.
Celine quickly held out her hand.
It seemed best to greet him properly and then keep her distance.
“Allow me to introduce myself.”
“I’m Celine Ravens.”
“Nice to meet you, Miss Ravens.”
“I look forward to working with you.”
“I’ll see you in the village.”
She glanced at the crowd gathering around them and started to leave.
But the young village chief immediately stopped her.
“No, no.”
“You’ve traveled a long way, so I borrowed a carriage.”
“Let’s ride together.”
“…Pardon?”
Together?
Why?
“It’s your first time here.”
“I can’t let you travel alone through the mountains.”
“Elderwick is still quite far from here.”
“…That’s very thoughtful.”
“Thank you.”
“I hear that quite often.”
“Thank you for the compliment, Miss Ravens.”
Felix shrugged with an easy smile.
That wasn’t a compliment.
I was being sarcastic…
“…Not at all. Haha…”
Celine forced a smile, the corners of her mouth twitching.
She swore this had never been part of the plan.
Who would have expected the village chief himself to come and personally pick her up with a carriage?
Even Shad probably hadn’t predicted this.
Don’t tell me…
I’m really going to spend the entire carriage ride alone with this man?
Fortunately, she hadn’t coughed since arriving.
Still…
There was no guarantee it would stay that way.
As Celine desperately searched for a solution—
“Ah!”
Felix suddenly picked up a small brown flowerpot from the basket beside his feet.
Inside it grew an ornamental plant.
Green outer leaves surrounded a cluster of purple leaves in the center.
Flowering cabbage?
Black Agents learned about herbs and plants from childhood.
If they were poisoned, they had to know how to treat themselves.
They also had to recognize dangerous plants before falling victim to them.
It’s edible…
But it’s so bitter that nobody bothers eating it.
So why is this man carrying something so pointless…?
“A welcome gift, Teacher.”
…Oh.
It’s for me.
“Oh my.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
She accepted the flowerpot without hesitation.
Agent No. 412 had once told her that showing disappointment over a gift made a person seem cold and lacking empathy.
“It’s flowering cabbage.”
“The children in the village helped grow it while thinking about their new teacher.”
I know it’s flowering cabbage.
The problem is… I know exactly what it is.
Looking at Felix’s proud expression, Celine steeled herself.
It’s a gift.
Her first impression had already been bad enough.
She couldn’t afford to make it worse.
Holding the flowerpot with both hands, she smiled as brightly as she could.
Showing every one of her neat white teeth.
“I love it.”
She put every ounce of effort into that smile.
Felix smiled just as brightly in return.
Feeling awkward, Celine lowered her smile and looked at the cabbage.
“Though…”
“This cabbage is unusual.”
“It’s purple.”
“Hm?”
Felix suddenly stared closely at her pale face.
Then he grinned.
“…It looks like you.”
“…Me?”
Without answering, he looked at the purple cabbage…
Then at Celine’s violet eyes.
His smile grew even wider.
“I picked the right one.”
“The cabbage?”
Celine blinked in confusion.
“…Who knows?”
“Shall we go?”
Felix placed the flowerpot back into the basket on the ground and handed the basket to Celine.
Then he casually picked up her suitcase and started walking.
…Did his cabbage harvest fail or something?
She stared at his back for a moment.
Then she hurried after him, struggling to keep up with his long strides.
“Wait!”
“Village Chief!”
“That’s my suitcase!”
Honestly…
The cabbage basket in her arms was incredibly inconvenient.
* * *
“Oh…”
“…Ah…”
Unfortunately…
Celine wasn’t the only passenger in the carriage.
Someone was already inside.
It was the same mother and son she had met on the train.
“H-Hello…”
I really do have terrible luck.
The woman greeted her awkwardly while holding her son close.
“Hello.”
Keeping a stiff expression, Celine climbed into the carriage.
She sat facing the mother and child, with her back toward the coachman.
Now she was sitting there holding a basket with a flowering cabbage…
While the woman sat opposite her with her child in her arms.
The mother spoke first.
“The world is surprisingly small.”
“Are you going to our village too?”
“Yes.”
Feeling awkward, Celine glanced toward Felix, who was still talking with the coachman.
More specifically…
She was looking at the suitcase he had stolen from her.
The woman also stole a glance at Felix.
Before he returned, Celine needed to explain what had happened on the train.
No one would like a teacher who drank straight from a wine bottle during a train ride.
“About earlier—”
She suddenly stopped.
The blond boy was staring at her with fresh green eyes.
More precisely…
He was staring at her red lips.
…Thank goodness the air here is so clean.
At least I’m not coughing.
Straightening her expression, Celine spoke.
“I frightened you earlier, didn’t I?”
“A little.”
“But I understand.”
“Nothing comforts heartbreak better than wine, right?”
The woman nodded enthusiastically.
Her bright green eyes looked completely convinced.
“Actually, that’s not—”
Just then, Felix finished talking with the coachman.
Holding the suitcase in one hand and grabbing the carriage with the other, he climbed aboard in one smooth movement.
Celine glanced at him in disbelief.
The mother and son, however, didn’t seem particularly interested in him.
Felix smiled.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Shall we go?”
He sat down beside Celine.
He was so broad-shouldered that the seat immediately became cramped.
Like a bird folding its wings, Celine quietly drew her shoulders inward.
Across from them, the mother kept signaling to Felix with her eyes.
Village Chief… who is this lady?
The little boy copied his mother, blinking curiously at Felix.
“I told you before.”
“This is the teacher I mentioned.”
“Miss Celine Ravens.”
“Oh my!”
“Wooow!”
The mother and son covered their mouths with exactly the same surprised expression.
Celine smiled awkwardly.
Just my luck…
Of course they’re one of the students’ parents.
Winning over the people of Elderwick was going to be much harder than she’d expected.
Still…
When had any mission ever been easy?
It’s fine.
This is still better than getting caught behind enemy lines.
While she silently encouraged herself, the mother blushed and spoke.
“I suspected it when I saw the flowerpot!”
“Teacher, New Mabel wine is wonderful…”
“But Elderwick’s homemade wine is delicious too.”
“If you’d like, I’ll bring you some.”
“…Pardon?”
How did the conversation end up here?
“My mom makes really good wine!”
the cheerful little boy interrupted.
The woman smiled warmly.
“My name is Lillian.”
“And this little one is my eldest son…”
Go on.
Lillian smiled sweetly while ruthlessly pinching the boy’s side.
“Ow!”
“O-Okay!”
The blond boy glared at his mother before nervously speaking.
“H-Hello.”
“M-My name is Ellen.”
“I live in Elderwick.”
“I’m seven years old.”
“And…”
“I’m a boy.”
Looking at the nervous child staring up at her, Celine thought,
There probably aren’t even ten children in a remote village like this.
Even so, children over six were legally required to attend school.
That’s probably why Felix was looking for a teacher.
“Ellen.”
“Who told you to introduce yourself like that?”
“And everyone can already see you’re a boy!”
“…Ah.”
“Right.”
After his mother’s scolding, Ellen froze like a wooden doll.
His mouth hung open.
Lillian’s face turned even redder than it had on the train.
She firmly pushed the back of his head down in apology.
“I’m sorry.”
“I should have properly apologized on the train.”
“Everything happened so suddenly.”
“It’s alright.”
“I was partly responsible too.”
“Hmm?”
“What happened?”
As expected, Felix looked at Celine with obvious curiosity.
Please… don’t ask.
Celine desperately looked at Lillian, silently begging her not to say anything.
It didn’t work.
Lillian smiled brightly.
“Oh.”
“It turns out Teacher enjoys drinking as much as I do.”
I’m doomed.
Celine rubbed her forehead.
Now she had somehow become known as a heavy drinker.
At least…
It sounded better than,
“She got dumped and drank straight from the bottle on the train.”
“I see…”
Felix nodded thoughtfully.
“…Yes.”
“I especially like wine.”
“Wine is wonderful.”
There wasn’t much point correcting them anymore.
Nor could she think of another explanation.
So Celine simply smiled.
New Information Acquired:
Lillian — Enjoys drinking wine.
She quietly stored the information away.
Then, without warning, Lillian grabbed Celine’s hand.
“Teacher Ravens!”
“From now until the day you die…”
“Leave all your wine and snacks to me!”
“…Excuse me?”
“Until the day I die?”
Celine blinked in complete surprise.
“Mom!”
“Lisa’s house has lots of cheese!”
“We can use that as snacks!”
Another piece of information was added.
New Information Acquired:
Ellen knows which foods go well with wine.
“That’s right.”
“And Leona’s milk is the best.”
Lillian makes wine…
Leona produces milk?
Does she raise dairy cows?
While Celine sorted through the new information she had learned about the village—
Clatter.
The carriage finally began moving.
Lillian laughed cheerfully.
“Welcome to Elderwick, Teacher!”
“This is actually the first time our village has ever had a real teacher.”
“So…”
“I’ve been incredibly excited about your arrival!”
