episode_0160

When I opened my eyes, I saw a ceiling stained and stained with various chemicals, and the scent of medicinal herbs so bitter that it made my nose tingle.

I blinked blankly and slowly got up. Perhaps because I slept in the wrong place, my whole body ached and I even had a headache, which bothered me.

“Keuung… … .”

The headache stuck to my head like a stain on a wall and didn’t seem to go away even when I pressed my temples. Because I slept in the lab, I smelled the medicine for too long.

ha… … . Yes, after I had a porter send the medicine, the time was unclear, so it’s my fault I just slept in the lab… … .

The headache will get better if I go outside and get some fresh air, so I guess it will happen for now.

“What time is it… … .”

I got up from the floor, straightened my messy hair, opened the window, and tried to check the clock tower outside.

But when I think about it, I realize that the clock tower cannot be seen in this lab due to its structure.

After remembering that fact later, I opened the window for ventilation, sighed, and washed my face dry.

“Come to your senses, come to your senses… … .”

After blowing off some of the sleep by taking deep breaths and exhaling at the window, I lightly relaxed my neck from side to side and tied my hair with the blue string I had placed on the desk.

After looking in the mirror and adjusting my clothes, I lightly shook off the white robe I had left on the floor, draped it over my shoulder, and went out.

There were no students in the hallway, and it seemed like it was still lunch time since there was no sound coming from the classroom right near the lab.

‘Let’s see when the time is… … .’

I came out into the hallway and immediately checked the time on the clock tower outside the window.

12:47 p.m.

Even considering that the first afternoon class started at 1:20, it was a bit of an awkward time to go to the cafeteria and eat.

“… … .”

When I turned around and returned to the lab, I was speechless as I saw the desk and its surroundings so cluttered that I thought it was a lab.

Since I don’t have time to eat anyway, I guess I’ll just do a little tidying up in the lab before afternoon classes start.

Thinking like that, I took off my gown, hung it up in an appropriate place, and started organizing the lab.

* * *

Clatter–clatter–

“This is here… … . This document… … . Oh, why is the history professor’s document here… … . Oh, I brought it to use as backing paper.”

10 minutes after starting to clean up. Because there was more to organize than I thought, I wasn’t even half way through it yet.

Well, the lab gets messy even if it isn’t cleaned up for just one day, but since it wasn’t cleaned for 10 days while doing research, it wasn’t unusual for it to be like this.

still… … . Is it okay that those ten days of hardship paid off?

“Hwaam… … .”

I stopped organizing my desk for a moment and yawned lazily.

It was because I realized that one big problem was over, and the tension went away.

With a sigh, I turned my head to put the papers I had organized in a corner, and the bottle of poison I had made not long ago caught my eye.

“With this, my sister and Charlotte will be happy… … .”

okay. This will make my sister and my nephew happy. You will be free from the terrible smell of alcohol and the terrible violence.

I smiled faintly, turned around and started organizing the remaining documents and items.

The clear sky today seemed to tell me that something good would happen.

“Phew… … . Good.”

I was tidying up my desk without realizing how much time was passing, and it was only when I heard the bell ring twice that lunch time was almost over that I was able to stop.

“It’s already time… … .”

I put down the paper I was holding, gathered the materials for today’s class, and went outside.

“Ah, gown.”

Realizing that my shoulders were empty, I went back into the lab, put on the gown I had hung up, and came out.

Feeling like it was finally perfect, I nodded lightly, calmed my expression, erased my emotions, and went out.

Then, as usual, I came down the stairs and walked toward the classroom where the first class of the afternoon would be held.

“… … .”

-Look, it’s Professor Priscilla.

-Uhm… … . It’s a bit awkward to say this, but Professor Priscilla is secretly scary… … .

―Wouldn’t it be okay if we just talk a little more?

I walked away, ignoring the voices around me. Because that’s what I always heard.

As I was walking like that, I looked at the back of the student with long straight hair in front of me and thought of my nephew.

‘I don’t think Charlotte would have thought the same thing when she saw me.’

It’s scary.

The moment I thought of that, I lost my footing. I almost fell off my seat.

Fortunately, I didn’t fall because I was holding onto the wall, but it hurt quite a bit because my ankle was broken.

―Uh, Professor Priscilla just now… … .

-huh? what?

-Ugh, it’s nothing. I guess I saw it wrong. Oh no, the professor… … .

For some reason, from that moment on, I became a little concerned about the voices coming from around me.

So, as if I was running away, I left the place and headed to the classroom. Thanks to that, my ankle is a little swollen, but since I don’t have to run, I think it’s okay to go to the health room after class.

When I arrived at the classroom, I took a deep breath and went inside.

-That’s right. What did he say then… … .

-What did you eat for lunch today? I am… …

-Uh, wait a minute, why is the professor already…? … .

As soon as I entered the classroom, the loud conversation coming from inside quieted down like a lie.

Is it because I’m scared? As I thought about that, my ankle throbbed a little.

“I just came early today for some reason. Class will start normally at 1:20, so you can chat without worrying about me.”

After saying that, I brought out a small chair and sat down.

Then he opened the book and started reading. But strangely, the classroom was still quiet.

I said it was okay, but why didn’t I make a fuss? Am I uncomfortable? No, it may be uncomfortable, but once we start talking again…

‘Professor Priscilla is secretly scary… … .’

At that moment, those words came into my mind.

‘Do I look that scary…? … ?’

I took out a small hand mirror, covered it with a book, and looked at my face reflected in the mirror.

Platinum-blonde hair and eyes, lifeless skin that looked as if it had turned pure white due to not coming out of the lab often, dark circles under the eyes, an expressionless face, and sharp eyes that looked like they were glaring even when she was still.

‘It’s worth being scared… … .’

Originally, it would have been a problem I didn’t care about at all, but strangely enough, it bothered me.

I never thought I would start caring about my appearance now.

I sighed inwardly and realized that it was almost time to start class, so I put the hand mirror in my pocket and got up.

“The time has come, so I will call attendance.”

Let’s think about this later. Anyway, thinking about it now, appearance is not something that can be changed.

So I took attendance, took a quick look around the classroom, and found something strange.

“… … ? I can’t see some people.”

The crown prince, princess, and nephew were nowhere to be seen.

Because she had bright blonde hair and bright red hair, I could tell with just a quick glance.

“Does anyone know what is going on?”

“The Crown Prince was talking to a janitor right in front of the classroom.”

I blinked at the boy’s words, but since I couldn’t see his face clearly, I squinted and looked at him.

“Don’t you know anything about the princess and Princess Charlotte?”

“Ugh, that… … . yes. The princess doesn’t go to any classes much these days, and the princess is a very secretive person, so I don’t know much… … .”

“Is that so? Okay.”

I don’t know the whereabouts of my nephew and the princess, but first I have to call the crown prince who is outside.

After closing the book for a moment, I asked for understanding from the students, opened the door to the classroom, and came out.

Just as the male student said, the Crown Prince was talking to a man who appeared to be a cleaner.

“Prince. Class has started, so please come into the classroom.”

Perhaps because he heard me, the Crown Prince looked in my direction and nodded.

“I’m sorry, but I think that’s the end of the story. Before I was a crown prince, I was a student.”

“Sleep, haha… … . Yes. yes. Okay.”

Just as I was about to re-enter the classroom, I stopped for a moment and looked towards the man when I heard a voice that seemed familiar.

I thought it was strange that there was a cleaner at this time, but was it the investigator I saw last time?

Why is the investigator here? To catch your nephew? Or because of the investigation?

“… … .”

The moment I narrowed my eyes and looked at the investigator’s back, and was about to open my mouth, I heard light footsteps behind me and a voice calling me.

“Professor Priscilla!”

After glaring at the investigator one more time, I quietly looked back.

I must have rushed all the way here when I made eye contact with the slightly red-faced teacher.

“Why are you doing that?”

“Ah, it is none other than Miss Charlotte’s body that looks a little… … . Because I don’t like it. The story of not being able to go to class today… … ?”

what?

Is your niece, Charlotte, not feeling well? why? The child who seemed so fine until this morning suddenly became so unwell that he couldn’t even come to class?

Did something happen? Or a chronic illness? No, a monster attack? Why on earth?

“Um, hey, Professor Priscilla… … ?”

“Now… … . Miss Charlotte, where is she? Is the condition very serious?”

“Yes? Ah yes… … . Upon examination, the internal injuries were severe so they were treated urgently. He is now resting in the health room… … .”

The moment I heard those words, I started running toward the health room without even looking back.

The ankle I had just sprained hurt, but it didn’t stop. My shoes bothered me, so I took them off and ran.

Born as a nobleman, it was a sprint that I had never done before.

Ah, how the weather is so clear and the sun is so hot.

The bad news that came unexpectedly made me feel sick to my stomach.