✩ Chapter 7 ✩
“Noah, your teacher is coming in.”
There was no reply.
Even so, Rachel opened the door and walked inside.
Noah was sitting on the windowsill, looking down at the garden.
“Shall we talk for a while?”
Rachel walked over to him and looked where he was staring.
The students had gathered in small groups on the lawn below.
The children who had enrolled around the same time had already become good friends.
They laughed together while waiting for Henry.
Only Theo, who still hadn’t adjusted to the academy, stood a little away from everyone else, lightly tapping the ground with the tip of his shoe.
Just then,
Henry appeared in the garden with Roka.
Making a V-sign with his fingers, Roka walked toward the others with a playful grin.
Then he suddenly looked up toward the window.
Seeing Noah,
he shouted,
“Look at him. He’s locked up.”
“What are you, Rapunzel?”
“Someone save the poor princess, Prince~!”
The mocking words drifted through the open window.
Noah immediately threw the window open.
“So what?”
“You can’t even jump down.”
“Coward.”
“So that’s all an Imperial Prince can do? All you know is how to ta—”
He never finished his sentence.
Noah had already thrown his pen.
“No!”
Rachel shouted.
But she was too late.
Everything happened in an instant.
Henry reacted immediately.
He shoved Roka aside.
The pen flew past,
its sharp tip grazing Roka’s cheek before falling to the ground.
“Oh no…”
No matter what happened…
A student could never be allowed to get hurt.
That was the academy’s absolute rule.
It was also the most basic way to honor the trust parents placed in them.
“Roka!”
“Are you alright?!”
Rachel leaned out the window and barely managed to call out.
Roka simply sat frozen on the ground,
his mouth opening and closing without a sound.
The entire garden fell silent.
No one could even speak.
“You…!”
A moment later,
Roka finally realized what had happened.
He jumped to his feet in fury.
Looking completely out of control,
he charged forward.
Henry immediately grabbed all four of his limbs.
“You!”
“I’m not letting this go!”
“Henry!”
“Take Roka to the infirmary!”
“Yes, Teacher!”
Henry carried the struggling Roka into the academy.
Rachel finally let out a shaky sigh of relief.
Then she looked back at Noah.
“Noah.”
No answer.
Even though he had just thrown a pen at someone,
Noah’s hands were still trembling uncontrollably.
“Let’s talk.”
“Why should I?”
It was obvious Noah had no intention of talking.
Stay calm…
Stay calm…
Rachel had dealt with countless students before.
But Noah needed to be approached carefully.
The first priority was calming him down.
“How about we go for a walk?”
Very slowly,
Rachel reached out and lightly touched his fingertips.
Noah flinched.
That alone told her something.
He was just as shocked by what he had done.
Rachel gave him a gentle smile.
Then she softly held his cold hand.
“Getting some fresh air in the garden might help you feel better.”
“Don’t make me laugh.”
“We’re only taking a walk.”
“A walk?”
“You’ll just lecture me in the end!”
Arguing with a child who had such strong pride and rebelliousness would only make things worse.
The best choice was to comfort him first,
then slowly begin talking.
“Please?”
“For your teacher.”
Rachel smiled warmly.
She wanted Noah to feel that he was granting her request,
not obeying an order.
After a long battle of silent stares,
Rachel took the first step.
One step.
Then another.
A few moments later…
She heard quiet footsteps following behind her.
Good…
Noah had followed her.
That alone meant she had already succeeded halfway.
Rachel opened the front door.
The cool morning breeze flowed inside.
She simply hoped it would calm Noah’s heart as well.
After walking slowly through the garden,
Rachel finally turned around.
Noah had been following her with his head lowered.
Startled,
he quickly looked up.
“Noah.”
She knew his emotions were complicated.
He had thrown the pen in anger…
But hurting someone must be bothering him.
If I can help him face that feeling…
I might be able to reach him.
“You were really frightened, weren’t you?”
Noah only frowned silently.
“You don’t have to tell me.”
“I can see your hands are still shaking.”
Noah quickly hid his hands behind his back.
But his body continued trembling.
I wish I had some calming medicine…
But something like that probably doesn’t exist in this world.
The only thing Rachel could think of…
Was gently holding his hand.
She didn’t know how much it would help.
But she wanted to try.
“When I was scared…”
“My grandmother always held my hand.”
“I’m not your grandmother…”
“But…”
“If it’s alright with you…”
“May I hold your hand?”
At first,
Noah ignored her,
keeping both hands hidden behind his back.
Rachel simply waited.
Without saying another word.
After a while,
Noah quietly held out one hand.
Rachel gently took it.
She slowly stroked the back of his hand.
At first,
Noah tried to pull away.
But once he gradually calmed down,
he stopped resisting.
“You weren’t the only one who was frightened.”
“The others were scared too.”
“…”
“You’ll keep seeing your classmates every day.”
“If things stay like this…”
“It’ll only become more uncomfortable.”
Rachel spoke as calmly as possible.
She didn’t want to make Noah angry again.
Her efforts seemed to work.
The rebellion in Noah’s eyes slowly softened.
Rachel gently squeezed his hand.
“It’s difficult to admit you’ve made a mistake.”
“But…”
I believe you can do it.
Those weren’t empty words.
Admitting your own mistakes was never easy.
Apologizing afterward…
Was even harder.
“Be brave.”
“And apologize to Roka.”
“…I don’t want to.”
Rachel had thought she was finally making progress.
But Noah still refused.
Even so…
She didn’t give up.
She couldn’t let a student give up on school before he had even properly started.
“I think you just need a little more time.”
“Go back to your room.”
“Take some time to think.”
“I’ll give you until noon.”
Rachel gently patted Noah’s back.
Reluctantly,
he began walking back.
Watching his drooping figure disappear,
Rachel’s thoughts became even more complicated.
Noah isn’t the only problem…
Roka is the only son of the fourth generation of the Duke Philip family…
Roka,
the only heir of Duke Philip’s prestigious family,
now had a wound on his face.
This was a serious matter.
His parents had to be informed.
Rachel immediately went to find Henry.
“Henry.”
“How’s Roka?”
“I’ve stopped the bleeding…”
“But…”
“He may be left with a scar.”
“A scar?”
Rachel held her forehead.
The injury alone was already terrible.
Now there might even be permanent scarring.
If there really is a god…
Why are you giving me trials like this?
“Did he return to his room?”
“Yes.”
“He was shouting earlier.”
“But after taking a sedative, he went back to rest.”
Rachel immediately hurried upstairs.
She knocked on Roka’s bedroom door.
“Roka.”
“Your teacher is coming in.”
There was no reply.
Rachel quietly opened the door.
A frustrated sigh came from inside.
“How’s your face?”
“Does this look alright to you, Teacher?”
Roka had never been polite to begin with.
So his attitude wasn’t surprising.
If he was still acting like this after taking a sedative…
Rachel couldn’t even imagine how angry he had been before.
“Let me take a look.”
Back in twenty-first-century Korea,
she would simply have taken a picture with her phone.
Unfortunately,
that wasn’t possible here.
She needed to examine the wound carefully
so she could accurately explain everything to Roka’s parents.
“You know you have two hours of etiquette class today, right?”
“My face looks like this.”
“What class am I supposed to attend?”
“You may skip today’s lesson.”
“You’ve had a frightening day.”
“Get plenty of rest.”
“If you need anything, just let me know.”
Roka hated etiquette lessons more than anything.
To him,
being allowed to skip class felt like receiving a precious gift.
The irritation on his face disappeared for a moment.
A small smile escaped him.
He’s still just a child.
“Is there anything else you want to say?”
“Yeah.”
“Please leave.”
Rachel smiled slightly.
Compared to everything she had heard from countless troublesome students over the years…
This was nothing.
“Next time…”
“Try saying, ‘Teacher, please leave.'”
Instead of answering,
Roka pulled the blanket over his head.
Rachel quietly left the room.
Outside,
Colo was waiting.
“Please prepare a carriage.”
“I think I need to speak with Roka’s parents in person.”
“You’re going to Duke Philip’s residence?”
“Yes.”
“I need to explain everything that happened.”
Just thinking about meeting the parents made Rachel nervous.
Still…
There was one small comfort.
Duke Philip and his wife were both known for being kind and reasonable people.
No matter how difficult it was… Rachel knew she had to face Roka’s parents herself.
