Chapter 9

"Another day has ended."

I stretched out in the chair in the laboratory assigned to me.

It has been a year since I started this job, and I feel the difficulty of teaching people every day. Still, I find it fulfilling, and I can see that I have grown more than ever before. I can't help but enjoy each day.

"Hehe, I was really lucky."

"What were you lucky about?"

"Ah! W-What are you doing! Don't just barge in like that!"

"No, I did knock?"

He suddenly appeared in the room, and it was Mr. Shane, the guest from that time. To be precise, he is Prince Shane Ares, the third prince of the Ares Kingdom.

"Do you have business with me, Your Highness?"

"Can't I come if I don't have business? Besides, we're both teachers here, so call me by my name."

I've been involved with Mr. Shane more often than I'd like since then. Even though we're both teachers, he's a prince and I'm a commoner. I still don't know what the right way to respond is. Yet, Mr. Shane always cares about me. But as a commoner, I have nothing to offer in return, and I get flustered around him, which I find annoying.

"Ha... Mr. Shane."

"Good."

"What's wrong?"

"Hm? Nothing, really."

"? If that's the case, that's fine... So, do you really have some business?"

"No, I'm done with work for today. I was thinking, would you like to have dinner?"

"Eh? With me?"

"Of course. If not, I wouldn't be here, would I?"

"...That's true."

I didn't expect to be invited to dinner, so I asked back without thinking. Although he has cared for me before, this is the first time he has invited me to dinner. However, if we have dinner together, my flustered feelings might get even worse.

Thinking I should decline, I opened my mouth.

"It's a great honor, but I have plans today..."

"There's a place where the meat is really delicious."

"I'll go! ...Ah!"

"Hehe. Alright, it's settled! No backing out now, okay?"

(Darn! I was going to decline, but I got hooked by the meat...)

I think my attachment to food has become very strong, either because of past meals or because of my memories. I especially have a weakness for meat and sweets. This time, I was completely hooked by the delicious meat.

This is a complete loss for me.

"...Alright."

"Great, I'll come back later, so be ready, okay?"

With that, Mr. Shane left the room, and I, left alone, let out a deep breath.

"Ha... Well, it's settled, but I need to make sure I don't get flustered any more."

Even as I said this, I found myself worrying about my hair. I currently have my platinum blonde hair tied up in a single ponytail, and I was considering changing my hairstyle.

Incidentally, my real hair color is platinum blonde. I had changed it to brown with a potion, and my previous hair was a dull blonde, which I had dyed. My natural hair color is platinum blonde.

I decided to return my hair to its natural color when I came here as a teacher, thinking that with brown hair, my abilities might be doubted. Also, the teacher's dormitory was well-equipped, so I felt safe and decided to change my hair color.

(By the way, Mr. Shane was really surprised when I changed my hair color back.)

Thinking about this, I ended up changing my hairstyle.

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