episode_0011

[Episode 11] – Teacher Replacement (1)

The Lady Lorenzo, who held onto the princess’s arm, began to smear her sticky, mud-like obsession all over the princess’s body. Like molding clay into a swampy, slimy, repulsive form, she started shaping the princess as she desired.

“Your mother, the Queen, was truly a beautiful person, Your Highness.”

The princess quietly began to listen to the story. She had heard this tale dozens, maybe hundreds of times already, yet she didn’t rebel; instead, she quietly raised her head and met Lady Lorenzo’s eyes.

Surely, Lady Lorenzo’s eyes were a deep orange color.

‘…It’s like an endless swamp.’

Right now, they only appeared as a muddy, deep brown.

“The Queen, from a young age, was remarkably intelligent. If she learned one thing, she knew ten, and if she learned ten, she’d create another ten. She was truly heaven-sent.”

Lady Lorenzo’s voice trembled. As if recalling a deeply revered figure while praying, she reminisced about the past with an ecstatic voice.

“I always tell this story, but even such a Queen used to be just an ordinary noblewoman, considered a ‘flawed product’ of the family until she met me.”

Always the same story. The princess could do nothing but look at Lady Lorenzo with weary eyes. She knew what would happen if she interrupted this story.

“I made her into a Queen with my own hands. I, with my own hands, sculpted her into a beautiful Queen. So, if you just follow my words, I will make you into a Queen, just like the Queen.”

The hand that had held her arm now moved towards the princess’s face. Like shaping a sculpture, the rough, aged hand grasped the princess’s face.

“You just need to obey me, Your Highness. I will make you into a Queen, just like the Queen.”

“…Yes, thank you as always, Lady Lorenzo.”

With that, the princess forced a smile. Seeing her satisfied smile and hearing her response, Lady Lorenzo happily stroked the princess’s head.

“This time, I won’t make any mistakes.”

Feeling as if she had mud smeared in her hair, the princess couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. With the unpleasant sensation of sand mingling through her hair, she somehow recalled the image of the second queen.

“When the queen used to stroke my hair… it didn’t feel like this…”

*

The day after hearing that Eincelle had no knowledge of the princess’s name.

Tap, tap, tap.

In a room so silent it could pass for deserted, Nay and Bangsho sat facing each other. With my arms crossed, I watched Bangsho fidget with her coffee, tapping her forearm with her fingers.

Seemingly unable to endure the silence any longer, Bangsho lowered her coffee cup to look at me, but quickly averted her gaze. Vivian’s stare is quite intimidating.

I turned my head slightly and asked Bangsho, “Do you know why I called you here today?”

“Unfortunately… I don’t really know…”

Bangsho seemed genuinely clueless, her eyes darting around as if she were frantically pondering why she had been summoned here without being told the reason.

I glanced at Bangsho and brought up the reason for calling her.

“I called you about the ‘educational supervisor’ for the princess.”

“The… educational supervisor for the princess?”

For a moment, Bangsho blinked as if questioning whether she had misheard. I took a sip of my coffee, placed the cup back down, and continued speaking. Bangsho would need some time to think.

“I’m not pleased with the current ‘educational supervisor,’ Lady Lorenzo Hoojak. From what I remember, she tends to be overly fixated.”

“…Have you investigated Lady Lorenzo Hoojak?”

“I wouldn’t go as far as to call it an investigation… but something along those lines.”

Since I couldn’t mention seeing it in the game… this was the only way to put it. Bangsho looked troubled, stroking her chin beard.

“Indeed, Lady Lorenzo Hoojak doesn’t seem to have such tendencies. However, given her experience as the former queen’s governess, Her Majesty has appointed her as the princess’s ‘educational supervisor.’”

“Go on.”

“Even if Her Majesty the Queen does not favor the Marchioness of Lorenzo, it wouldn’t be too difficult to pull her out from her role as the educator under His Majesty’s command, would it?” Bangsho spoke with conviction.

Yeah, thanks to the damn decree of the idle king, my options are drastically limited. Until yesterday, like Bangsho, I had also been stuck in this train of thought, but…

Last night, a sleepless night.

A brilliant idea struck my mind.

Upon hearing my idea, Ainsel urged, “Get some sleep and think again,” but I believed that this idea was the only way to rescue the princess from the hands of the Marchioness.

“Hahaha…”

– Sigh…

“…? Your Majesty?”

Unintentionally, I chuckled at my clever idea. I could hear Ainsel’s sigh beside me, but at this moment, it wasn’t my sigh that was subdued by Ainsel’s.

Setting down the coffee cup in my hand, crossing my legs, I looked at Bangsho.

“Yeah, I can’t just disobey His Majesty’s order because she doesn’t sit well with me.”

“Then…”

“But, we can change her to another ‘educator.’ It’s quite common for the ‘teacher’ of a class to be replaced by a better ‘teacher,’ isn’t it, Bangsho?”

“Yes, yes…? Um… Well, that’s true but…?”

“In the first place, His Majesty would also want a better teacher for the princess. At that time, Lady Lorenzo was chosen as the ‘educator’ for the princess as the best choice. Am I wrong?”

“Uh, uh? Yes, um? That’s right, isn’t it?”

Seeing Bangsho’s reaction, I became certain.

‘This will definitely work.’

I grinned, thinking that I should tell Bangsho about the amazing idea that came to me last night. This will definitely work. I nodded vigorously as if making a declaration.

“In that case, I’ll become the princess’s ‘educator’!!”

“..? What?”

“Have you gone deaf in your old age, Bangsho? Isn’t there a more excellent ‘educator’ for the princess right in front of your eyes than the Marchioness of Lorenzo?”

“…What are you talking about?”

I raised my palm as if to strike Bangso’s head. In response, Bangso flinched and raised his hands to block mine.

“Let me ask you again. Who is in front of you?”

“It’s Her Majesty, the most beautiful in this country…! The Queen!”

“That’s right. Are you trying to tell me that I, the Queen, am less than Lady Lorenzo? That I cannot be in charge of the Princess’s ‘education’?”

“Realistically, it’s impossible…!”

Truly a loyal subject.

Despite being prepared for this, Bangso’s realistic responses made me feel utterly dejected. I tapped his vacant forehead with my palm and then sat back, gazing at him.

“Why do you think it’s unrealistic? As you know, I surpassed numerous noble ladies and overcame many trials to become the Queen. Are you suggesting that I should be overshadowed by Lady Lorenzo?”

“N-no, that’s not what I meant… But considering the tests you faced when ascending to the throne, it seems you are more than capable of being in charge of the Princess’s ‘education’ as well…”

“If that’s the case, what’s the problem?”

“But… even throughout history, there’s no record of the Queen being in charge of the Princess’s ‘education’…!”

“What does that have to do with anything?”

I chuckled softly, leaned back on the sofa, and placed my hands on my crossed knees. Bangso looked at me dumbfounded, his mouth agape.

“Isn’t history what the recorders make of it? Then I shall create a new history.”

*

Having declared so to Bangso, a week later…

Thud, thud, thud.

As we elegantly enjoyed coffee in Bangso’s study, we heard what sounded like a wild boar charging down the hallway. Bangso sighed deeply, saying someone had arrived.

Bam!

Lady Lorenzo burst into the room with such force that she seemed ready to break down the wooden door. She glared at Bangso and then at me with a murderous look. Bangso swallowed hard as our eyes met.

Her face was again flushed, as if urging an immediate explanation of the situation. After taking a deep breath, Lady Husak quietly extended a crumpled piece of paper to us.

“Please explain. What is the meaning of this?” she requested calmly.

The heavily creased paper resembled the ‘exclusive notice’ Bangsyo and I had sent her last night. It came from the Princess’s ‘educator,’ assigning me a supporting role. That was the content.

“Well, given Lady Husak’s temperament, she might as well have quit before assisting me,” I thought to myself.

Bangsyo, looking down at the heavily creased paper, sighed deeply and then turned to Lady Husak. With a composed demeanor, he continued to explain as if soothing a greatly agitated child.

“Lady, you must understand that Her Majesty the Queen has decided to entrust you with the responsibility of the Princess’s ‘education.’”

“What does that…?”

“It’s a result based on the comparison of Her Majesty’s achievements with yours. A meeting was held in the palace, and ultimately, it was judged that Her Majesty’s achievements were superior. Hence, a document was sent for you to step down from your role as ‘educator.’”

The Palace Administration was one of the kingdom’s administrative departments. It handled matters related to the royal family, making it a department that even the councilors could not easily meddle with.

Honestly, when Bangsyo mentioned convening a meeting at the Palace Administration, I knew it wouldn’t bode well. After all, the head of the Palace Administration was also a member of the council. However, somehow, the Palace Administration seemed to be on my side.

That’s how I ended up being able to send a letter similar to a notice to Lady Husak. I should probably send a letter of thanks to the head of the Palace Administration later.

“What did you say…?”

“…Do you need further explanation? Aren’t you mature enough now, like me? It also contains the sentiments of the younger nobles who think it’s okay for you to take a break.”

Upon hearing these words, Lady Husak’s face became even more contorted. Her already wrinkled face began to distort like a broken mirror.

“Do you think His Excellency believes that Her Majesty can take good care of the Princess?”

“That’s not for me to judge. It’s the Palace Administration. Personally, I don’t trust Her Majesty.”

Wait, this baldy?

I sipped my sweet coffee and was startled by the sound of a door creaking open. I turned to see Bangsoo standing there. He glanced at me, grinned, then continued speaking to Lady Hu Jak.

“Even within the palace, few truly trust Her Majesty. So why question the passing of this resolution? Perhaps the palace has deemed you problematic.”

“What problem could they possibly have with me?”

“Do you really not know?” Bangsoo asked, almost as if he didn’t believe Lady Hu Jak’s indignant plea. Meanwhile, I pretended to focus on my coffee, trying to eavesdrop on their conversation.

Bangsoo let out a long sigh, opened his eyes slightly, and fixed his gaze on Lady Hu Jak. Then, with words that made me doubt my own ears, he said, “Two years ago, rumors circulated tying you to the suicide of the former Queen, Aurora Snow White. Are you truly unaware of this?”

I nearly dropped my coffee cup. What did he just say? The first Queen committed suicide?

“I am aware! I was investigated at the time and cleared of any suspicion!”

“Just because the rumors vanished doesn’t mean the suspicions did. Perhaps within the palace, it was decided that having the former Queen by the Princess’s side would be more favorable than having you—”

I couldn’t hear their argument anymore. What on earth was happening? This contradicted what Vivian had told me—that she had performed the ritual to switch bodies with the first Queen out of jealousy for the King’s favor. If the first Queen had committed suicide two years ago, then Vivian’s story was a lie. It had only been a little over a month since I arrived in this world due to Vivian’s failed ritual.

I tried to press Eunsell for an explanation while touching the earring she wore, but she remained silent, almost as if she wasn’t present.

“What… What are you hiding from me?”