episode_0101

Episode 101. Confession

****

“When are you coming?”

Mint tilted her head.

Should I go to the hospital…? … I didn’t really want to do that. I had to wait, I was used to waiting anyway. There was nothing else to do.

Although it was a bit off schedule.

‘Oh, it’s footsteps.’

Mint perked up her ears. Someone was walking into the lab. Was it the teacher? It seemed right. Mint looked at the lab door.

****

I opened the door to the lab.

Boom! With a loud noise, something leaped out like lightning and hugged me. I took a small step back while still being hugged.

I couldn’t see her face, but I could tell right away that it was Mint from the smell of her shampoo. Mint hugged me tightly and pushed me back.

“Hello.”

“Did it take long?”

“There were a lot of patients today.”

“Yeah… … . That could be possible.”

I pushed Mint away as much as I could. Mint linked arms with mine and walked out of the lab. I was dragged towards Mint.

“Why are you like that?”

“Huh? Just.”

Mint let go of me for a moment and stopped walking. I moved to sit next to Mint.

“Hehe… … .”

“Sometimes I worry.”

“What?”

“I’m saying this because I think the princess often acts a bit, how should I put it, a bit foolish… … ?”

The princess glanced at me and smiled as if it was nothing serious. As if it was a problem that I didn’t need to worry about.

“Is that okay for the child?”

“I think so too.”

“I didn’t harm anyone.”

“Okay.”

Mint isn’t hurting anyone. Probably. Mint motioned for me to follow her. I nodded.

“Let’s walk a bit.”

“Yes.”

Mint seemed to be in a really good mood today. Her usual anxiousness disappeared.

“There was something I wanted to show you at the Academy. There’s a herbal greenhouse in the basement?”

“Oh, my. Your respiratory system is not in good condition, so you shouldn’t be in a place like an underground garden.”

“No, it was fine.”

“Really?”

We soon arrived at the underground garden in question. It seemed like the door was locked, but it opened immediately with a snap of Mint’s fingers.

Squeak.

I went in first and held the door that had just opened, and we entered the underground garden. It was not so much a beautiful sight as it was simply a pretty sight. There were flowers and trees here and there, and things like fluorescent mushrooms growing.

“Isn’t it pretty?”

“That’s okay.”

Mint sat on a bench in the underground garden.

“But I’m prettier, right?”

“Yes.”

“Teacher, sit down too. Should I speak?”

“Ah. Yes.”

The princess seemed excited, and often rolled her feet while sitting, then suddenly leaned against me.

“I had something to say.”

“Yes.”

“Come closer.”

“Uh… ….”

I remained silent at this request. Mint raised her head and met my eyes.

“Who is the prettiest in the world?”

“The princess is the prettiest.”

Mint blinked slowly.

With both arms around me, I tried to move my posture to get away, but Mint showed no intention of letting me go this time.

I don’t think I’ll be able to push Mint away like I usually do. I think it’ll be difficult to even get my arm out.

“I have something to say.”

“Yes.”

“I like it.”

With those words, Mint held me tightly again and leaned against me, leaning her weight against me. She looked up at my face with eyes full of anticipation.

I opened my mouth, then closed it again. What should I say to Mint… … .

“Princess. I’m not going anywhere, so let’s put this aside for now and calm down before we talk.”

“Why, are you trying to refuse?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then… …. Should I answer first?”

“Why?”

“Huh?”

He had an expression that said, “What are you talking about?”

“Princess. I understand your feelings, but why me, why now? I wonder if it’s a choice you’ll regret. Or at least, if it’s not a hasty choice, think about it a little more. I won’t run away.”

The princess shook her head.

“You don’t like it?”

Mint smiled.

It was a slightly mocking laugh, a laugh that made me laugh because of your stupid words. It didn’t seem to be malicious, though.

“Your Highness. I-”

Mint covered my mouth with her finger.

“Hey, I’ll explain it so that even an idiot like you can understand. You’re a complicated person. This doesn’t work because of this, that doesn’t work because of that, and you probably have a head full of things you know and a yardstick to apply to everything in the world, right?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’m a simpler person than you. I like someone who’s there for me when I’m having a hard time, someone who spends time with me, someone who can tell me the truth, someone who listens to me. That’s what a teacher is.”

Mint was adamant.

“Your Highness. Please think about it.”

“Answer now.”

There are many times when things in life don’t go as planned.

I just helped her because she had a patient. I understand that she wanted me to stay in the palace, and I can understand that she wanted me to be nearby. But I never thought that Mint had romantic feelings for her.

“I like the princess too.”

“Right… … !”

Mint let out a final scream and rubbed her cheek against my face. She put one arm around my neck and pressed her body against mine.

After hearing my answer, Mint squeezed my hand so tightly that it hurt. I patted Mint’s back with one hand.

Mint often rolled her feet.

“I don’t know why the teacher looks surprised. I always thought the teacher was just pretending not to notice me to keep a tight rein?”

I shook my head. That’s not it.

“No way.”

“Then what?”

I had to think about it for a long time. I thought I might have said something wrong and hurt Mint’s feelings.

“I thought it was just the feeling of looking at a pet dog. I thought it was a temporary feeling that comes from having little life experience, and an action that is comfortable because you are not used to measuring distance.”

“Yeah, wrong!”

Yeah, I was completely wrong.

I sighed inwardly. Mint came closer again and blew air into my ear. I flinched unintentionally.

“You can’t run away?”

“Yes.”

The princess held me so tightly that it hurt.

“It’s so good, what should I do?”

“I’ll do well.”

I stroked Mint’s head.

He wrapped his other hand around Mint’s waist. When he placed his hand on Mint’s waist, the princess sat up straight and hugged him tightly.

“Please ask me one favor.”

“What is it?”

My hair was blocking my eyes. Mint was repeatedly pressing her lips to my cheek. There was no place to run, no way to escape.

“Kiss me.”

I ran my hand through Mint’s hair, grabbed the nape of her neck, and met the princess’s eyes again.

“What are you doing?”

I closed my eyes and slowly kissed Mint, who was waiting for me. As soon as I got closer, Mint’s tongue touched my lips.

I had my eyes closed, but the princess’s eyelashes tickled my face. Mint grabbed the back of my head and resumed her offensive.

Mint was really clumsy. She was flustered, as if she didn’t know what to do because she was so happy.

The princess let me go only after a long time.

Mint stepped back enough to make eye contact with me again, and I could see the silver salivary gland connecting her mouth to hers break.

“Ahh… … . Teacher. Stealing the princess’s first kiss. What a sin. I guess I should die, right?”

It was a playful expression.

“Please don’t kill me.”

“Hmm. If you work hard, they might let you.”

I nodded.

“Try that again, that.”

“What is that?”

I don’t know what she wanted me to do again, but Mint was still looking at me with her bright eyes. From a distance that wasn’t even a single Pepero.

“There is that.”

“Oh, the princess is the most beautiful in the world.”

Mint tilted her head.

“Oh, right. Teacher. Princess is too formal. Isn’t there another word?”

“Mint Yang is the cutest in the world.”

“Yeah… … . I guess so. It’s much better than calling me princess.”

Mint was quiet for a moment as she held me close. The princess in my arms was soft and warm. I could hear her breathing softly.

****

The princess seemed much more calm than before.

Still with his hand intertwined with mine, holding on tight, wiggling his fingers, still leaning against me with his weight.

“Teacher.”

“Yes.”

“Is it really that good? Isn’t it something the teacher is reluctantly or pitifully accepting?”

“You worry a lot too. No.”

“Can’t I pretend not to know next time? I wish you’d hug me and pat my head every day.”

“Yes.”

I was a bit curious about Mint’s thoughts.

“But. Are you planning to keep it a secret?”

“No? No way.”

“Aha.”

The princess’s answer was short. As if she was asking why I was saying that. As if I was strange for asking.

“There’s no need to put up posters. You should make it a point. Wouldn’t there be fewer thieving cats eyeing the teacher? Don’t you think so?”

“Is that something to worry about… … .”

“Yeah. There should be one or two.”

Well, that’s what happened. Besides, I had nothing to say to him. Mint’s thoughts seemed firm this time. I just nodded.

“Are we lovers from today?”