The director stepped back in response to my sincere apology.

I took a seat beside the girl who had been Viscount Douglas Yeongae’s student.

“I’m sorry, Anna. You must have been really surprised.”
Anna, who I had expected to be in tears, surprisingly raised her head calmly.

“No.”

I smiled faintly at the rather resolute answer and then burst into laughter.

“You’re quite brave. That word ‘disgusting.'”

The smile faded from her face.

I bit my lip for a moment, then struggled to speak.

“Well, this is a secret…”

I lowered my voice, pretending to glance around.

“That teacher, truth be told, hasn’t bathed in several months to be saying that.”
Anna raised an eyebrow.

“Was I surprised because I’m dirty, or because the teacher is dirty?”

She was a quick-witted child who understood my intention.

I nodded, speaking earnestly.
“It’s because of the perfume to mask it. If you get too close, the smell is unbearable. I was afraid a student might catch a whiff of it, so I pushed you away.”

Anna seemed to buy into my serious act, her expression relaxed.

“Ah, I didn’t know there was such a reason. But why doesn’t that teacher bathe?”

I quickly came up with a random reason.

“They once had a bad experience with water and are terrified of it. It’s as if they can’t even touch it.”
The innocent child nodded sympathetically.

“Poor teacher.”

If Viscount Douglas Yeongae found out that he was being pitied by a daycare center child, he would undoubtedly be embarrassed.

I took a deep breath and continued the act.

“That’s right. He’s really a pitiable person. Our teacher is in a lot of pain, so let’s try to understand him a little.”

The way back to the academy was much livelier than the way there. Only Viscount Douglas Yeongae’s face remained contorted.

“Teaching is more fun than I thought.”

Another Yeongae sighed.

“I got scolded because the students didn’t listen to me.”

“Still, it was quite impressive how Viscount handled it.”

Laughter burst out.

“Children have their charming sides, more than we think.”
Viscount Douglas Yeongae snorted at one of the Yeongae’s words.

“What’s cute about dirty children?”

I briefly considered leaving Viscount Douglas Yeongae on the side of the road and departing. But holding onto reason, I ignored him and clapped my hands.

“Young ones, you’ve worked really hard today.”

I began to distribute the boxes I had taken from the carriage one by one. Of course, I set aside the box that belonged to Viscount Douglas Yeongae.
The Yeongaes who received the luxurious boxes widened their eyes.

“Lady, what is this?”

“Open it. It’s my small token of appreciation.”

As the Yeongaes opened the boxes, exclamations of admiration erupted from all around. Even Viscount Douglas Yeongae, who had been sporting a sullen expression all along, widened his eyes.

“Oh my! I’ve never seen such a beautiful brooch.”

“Could this be real diamonds?”
I looked with satisfaction at the Yeongaes who were enchanted by the taste of capitalism. The Duchess had sent various things, urging me to make many friends.

When I received them, I was quite perplexed about how to give them to non-existent friends, but they turned out to be quite useful.

Even Viscount Douglas Yeongae secretly envied them and gazed at the brooches over the shoulders of the other Yeongaes.

I smiled brightly.

“Well then, I’ll ask for your help again next week.”
The pure joy on the Yeongaes’ faces, who were delighted to hear that we would be visiting the orphanage again next week, froze for a moment, but soon they all began nodding.

“Of course.”

“The carriage trip was truly thrilling.”

“The children were quite cute, weren’t they?”

“It’s not a bad idea to teach them while reviewing.”

One by one, the Yeongaes began rationalizing in the face of the power of money.
Only Douglas Yeongae had a heavily creased face as he clenched his fist. But I didn’t doubt for a moment that Douglas Yeongae would reappear.

“Well, let’s meet again in front of the academy’s main gate next week.”

When we arrived at the academy, most of the Yeongaes turned their steps toward the dormitory. Only Douglas Yeongae headed in the direction of the sponsor.

“Is it okay if I don’t follow him?” Esmeralda asked worriedly.
“They must be planning something with Lamira Yeongae,” I nodded.

“Let it be. Even if they’re planning something, what can they achieve?” I said lightly.
I said lightly to Esmeralda, but I kept watching until Douglas Youngae’s figure disappeared.

“A daycare center?” Lamira Youngae burst into laughter at Douglas Youngae’s report.

“What kind of party planning is happening at a daycare center! Or maybe it’s just something that suits her perfectly.”

For a while, Lamira Youngae laughed heartily, wiping away tears that had gathered in the corners of her eyes before she lowered her head.
“I don’t know what foolishness she’s planning, but we can’t make it go as she wishes.”

Lamira Youngae’s eyes narrowed.

“You said the headmistress is quite a stubborn person, right?”

Douglas Youngae nodded with a troubled expression. While offering minimal responses to Lamira Youngae’s words, her gaze was fixated on the necklace that glimmered around Lamira Youngae’s chest area.
For a while, when the house was in turmoil, she diligently repurposed several pieces of jewelry, but after the engagement, they seemed to have found their place as seldom-worn accessories.

Lamira Youngae, seemingly oblivious to such glances, continued to chatter.

“Next time, make a real scene at the orphanage so that they never let you in again.”

“A scene?”

“Yes, didn’t you say today a commoner child tried to touch Youngae? If something like that happens again, just overturn a desk or something.”
“Ah… a desk…”

“Then that fake noblewoman’s scheming will all go to waste, and Douglas Youngae will feel relieved. How nice is that?”

In response to Lamira Youngae’s refreshing conclusion, Douglas Youngae shrugged her shoulders. Seeing Douglas Youngae’s unimpressed reaction, Lamira Youngae narrowed her eyes.
“No, isn’t Youngae angry? For no reason, that girl with skin problems and all sorts of issues tried to touch Youngae. If it were me, I’d have slapped her right there. It’s a matter of nobility and pride.”

“…You’re right.”

Lamira Youngae patted Douglas Youngae’s shoulder.

“I knew Youngae would think that way. Well then, I’ll look forward to good news next time?”