Chapter 84

Marive's classes have been progressing smoothly lately.

The social studies teacher entered the study room in high spirits today.

Seeing the students engaged and following the lessons, he felt the joy of teaching. There is no greater pleasure for a teacher.

—He thought to himself.

Marive always sat with her desk pushed up against Alro's. The way they smiled at each other affectionately was so cute that he had even calculated the economic benefits if it were painted and sold.

Today, however, they were sitting in separate chairs arranged normally.

"Good afternoon, teacher."

"Nice to see you."

The greetings were as usual. While responding as usual, he put down his things and glanced at the two of them.

They didn't seem to be fighting as usual. It was hard to imagine that the always clingy Marive and the ever-obedient Alro would fight.

"Did you do the homework?"

He asked about the assignment he had given two days ago, which was about reading and drawing maps.

"Yes, I used the map of Hyutran and looked it up. Teacher, there was a symbol I didn't understand."

"Oh, that's unusual."

Alro usually solved any problems with the homework, so it was rare for him to be asked questions.

Was there a symbol that even Alro didn't understand?

"Which one?"

"This one."

"Oh, that's a sluice gate. Hyutran was once hit by a serious flood—Alro, have you heard about it?"

His employer, Cynthia, had asked him to determine Alro's areas of expertise.

So, the teacher had been teaching Alro alongside Marive and observing his level of knowledge and interest.

"The Kinner Great Flood 40 years ago. The previous Duke of Pensylvania carried out large-scale flood control measures."

As expected, he knew.

"Didn't you ask Alro this time?"

He asked casually, but Alro seemed embarrassed.

"I'm sorry, Princess, I didn't notice..."

"No, no! It's not that! I just thought of it now."

Marive said, looking at the teacher.

"Just looking at your face made me wonder what that symbol was..."

"Looking at my face made you wonder about that symbol...?"

He was wondering how to take that when Marive gave him a stern look.

"Just get on with it, teacher. Time isn't infinite, you know."

She tapped the desk, a phrase the teacher often used.

Feeling uneasy, the teacher resumed the lesson.

"—Alright, that's all for today."

The teacher closed the book with a thud.

"Yes, thank you."

Marive's voice sounded exhausted, but she had been able to concentrate throughout the lesson. In terms of progress, she was a bit behind her peers, but it was still a significant improvement.

The teacher left looking satisfied.

After seeing him off, Marive sat back down in her original chair.

"Good job."

Alro, showing concern, started to tidy up. He put away the tools and materials the teacher had used.

Marive stacked the books.

Their desks were close, and their fingertips touched for a moment.

Marive pulled her hand away as if startled.

"......"

Alro looked at Marive for a moment. She could feel his gaze but didn't have the courage to look back. She didn't know what expression he had.

After a brief silence, Marive quickly stood up after finishing tidying up.

She smiled at Alro, holding the books. Was she smiling as usual?

"—Well, let's take a break until the next lesson."

"I'll accompany you."

Alro always carried her things and escorted her to her room, opening the door for her.

When Alro tried to take the things, Marive waved her hand frantically.

"No, it's okay. It's just a short distance."

"Is that so...?"

Alro's worried expression. Just seeing it made Marive's chest hurt.

She quickly walked to the room across the hall.

Alro watched her go, deep in thought.

Marive had been acting strange since yesterday.

---

And in the afternoon.

The children's club members gathered in the entrance hall and, after discussion, decided to play a game called "Princess and Knight," similar to tag.

The knight protects the princess and wins by taking the scarf of the opposing team's princess.

"Alright, how should we divide up?"

"Sophie, I want to be the princess."

"Of course. If you were the knight, we'd definitely lose."

"Marie, don't say it like that. It's not certain. The princess just needs to escape."

"Does that mean... my brother will be the princess? Ugh."

Marive made a face as if she found it disgusting.

"Don't make such a dirty face."

"Ha? That's rude!!"

Today's Marive was in a bad mood all day. Even Eidan was taken aback.

"What's wrong, being so snappy today?"

"It's because you said my face is dirty."

"Princess, you are beautiful."

Alro quickly came to her defense.

Marive usually smiled at this, and the atmosphere would lighten.

Today, however, Marive fell unnaturally silent. She lowered her head, and her expression was unreadable.

"Princess...?"

"Marie, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Sophia looked up at her, tilting her head.

"Wow, big sister, your face is all red—"

Marive quickly covered Sophia's mouth.

Sophia mumbled in protest.

"Let's get started! Sophia and I will be the princesses! We have dresses."

"Alright, alright. Then, let's flip a coin."

Eidan took a coin out of his vest pocket.

"If it's heads, my partner is Sophia; if it's tails, it's Marie."

He flipped the coin, which landed in Eidan's hand. Sophia watched it with wide eyes.

"Heads. Eidan and Sophia."

"—Then, let's start when the next bell rings, okay?"

The 2 o'clock bell would ring in about 10 minutes.

Everyone nodded at Alro's suggestion, who was in charge of the clock. They were in perfect sync.

"Alright, let's go, Sophia!"

Eidan took Sophia's hand and ran to the back of the first floor.

He would either carry Sophia or hide her and come after them. One of the two.

"—What should we do?"

"Let's hide first."

"Sounds good."

Marive and Alro headed upstairs.

Marive had no confidence in escaping if Eidan chased them.

Last time, she couldn't escape and was almost caught, and Alro started a fistfight with Eidan to protect her. Eidan was clearly stronger, but Alro fought back quickly, and Eidan seemed to find it interesting.

They got so engrossed in the fight that the game turned into a wrestling match between Alro and Eidan, and it ended without a proper conclusion.

Sophia and Marive complained about boys for a long time afterward.

They went upstairs and entered a room at the end of the hall.

It was a storage room for towels and curtains, which was also spotlessly clean.

"—I'll hide around here."

Thinking that Alro would find Sophia, she said this, but Alro followed her into the storage room and closed the door behind him with a soft thud.

Marive looked up at Alro in surprise.

Alro looked at her seriously, with a determined expression.

"Princess, did I... do something wrong?"

"Eh?" Marive was flustered.

Not only because they were alone in a small, enclosed space, but also because of Alro's hesitant tone.

But she soon realized it was her fault.