“Weren’t you already going?”
“No. You heard it too, remember? I said I’d think about it.”
“That’s true, but we thought you were definitely going.”
“…Aren’t you sad at all that we’ll be living separately?”
Carol put down her fork and asked in a gloomy voice. It seemed she had agonized quite a bit over this.
Some might wonder who’s worrying about whom, but Carol was most concerned about leaving the two of them alone in the capital.
“Huh?”
“We’re also thinking of going to the North after our appointment ceremony.”
An awkward atmosphere settled among the three.
“You’re going too?”
“Yeah. We couldn’t say anything because it’s not yet decided exactly when we can go North.”
“…You should have said something anyway.”
Carol wrinkled her nose, perhaps feeling embarrassed for creating an unnecessary atmosphere.
“Sorry.”
At the two’s apology, Carol picked up her fork again.
Dylan, looking at the now-calm Carol, asked with a hint of suspicion,
“There’s no other news, right?”
“What kind of news?”
“Like, say, marriage.”
“…What’s that about all of a sudden?”
Carol asked back, visibly flustered. It was a reaction that showed she hadn’t thought about it at all. Only then did smiles appear on the faces of the two.
“No, it’s nothing.”
Only then could the two brothers eat their meal with peace of mind.
“Are we the first ones you’re telling?”
“Yes. I’m planning to tell the Duke tomorrow, then Teacher Bianca and Louis after that.”
“…Louis doesn’t know?”
“No. You’re the first ones I’ve told.”
Carol asked back as if it should be obvious.
‘Then why was Louis wearing such a serious expression?’
One question lingered in the minds of the two.
****
Carol’s back ached terribly, as if she hadn’t slept well. She pressed her swollen eyes with her fingers and let out a shallow sigh, having tossed and turned all night.
Her condition wasn’t great. She had even canceled her appointment with Bianca yesterday and stayed home, but her physical state was still poor.
“I’m sorry.”
“What do you have to be sorry for, Teacher?”
“Thank you.”
“If you’re struggling, please let me know.”
Bianca said Carol could return to her arms anytime if she was having a hard time.
Since Carol couldn’t carelessly transform into her beast form outside, she smiled ambiguously.
“If it really gets tough, I’ll ask for your help.”
“Alright.”
Though it probably wouldn’t happen, seeing Bianca’s bright eyes made it impossible to refuse outright.
“I’ll lie down for a bit.”
Carol slid down to lie on the seat. The ride was smooth since it was a carriage lent by the Duke, not a private one.
‘I need to tell Teacher Bianca what I meant to say yesterday on the way…’
Though her mind knew this, her body betrayed her will. Her eyes soon closed.
Fortunately, she woke up just before reaching their destination.
“I’m sorry. I fell asleep.”
“It’s alright. You woke up just in time.”
Not long after she woke up and adjusted her clothes, the carriage came to a stop.
“Luckily, the weather is really bright today.”
Although it had been raining for several days and the ground was still wet in places, the sun was shining brightly, and it looked like everything would dry up by the afternoon.
“Indeed.”
“Shall we go in?”
Carol took off the wide-brimmed hat she was wearing.
“Yes.”
“Achoo!”
“Carol, have you caught a cold too?”
“I slept with the window open yesterday.”
Bianca looked at Carol with concerned eyes, but Carol insisted she was fine and straightened her back.
The two were standing in front of a temple in the suburbs.
Soon, a priest came out to greet them.
“Are you the ones who requested a meeting with Benjamin Bain?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
The place Benjamin had gone to was an orphanage affiliated with the temple, known for providing the best treatment.
Even if Carol didn’t sponsor him, it was clear they would safely raise Benjamin until he became an adult.
“We were originally planning to accept visitation requests after some more time had passed, but the child kept saying he wanted to see the teacher.”
“Is that so?”
“He’s been missing you a lot.”
The two responded diligently to the priest’s explanations throughout their walk.
“Is Benjamin adapting well?”
“Of course.”
The priest proudly said that all the children were very considerate.
The priest guided the two to a visitation room located apart from other buildings.
“Seeing outsiders come and go can unknowingly affect the children.”
“Yes, I understand.”
The priest stopped in front of the visitation building.
“Even though I told him to wait inside…”
Following the priest’s sympathetic tone, they saw a child sitting at the bottom of the stairs.
The priest said he would come back in an hour to pick them up and returned the way he came.
Bianca greeted the priest, then turned to let Carol go first.
“Teacher, please go ahead.”
Though puzzled, Carol soon nodded. They didn’t have much time to waste.
Step. Step.
“Father? Did the teachers come too?”
Benjamin, who seemed to have been listening attentively, reacted quickly to the sound of footsteps.
Carol greeted Benjamin, whose face looked fuller than before, kindly.
“Benjamin, have you been well?”
“Teacher Carol?”
“Yes. I hope you weren’t only hoping for Teacher Bianca to come?”
At Carol’s playful tone, Benjamin’s eyes filled with tears.
“Teacher!”
Benjamin ran straight to Carol. As he rushed, he almost tripped on a stone, but Carol caught him. Benjamin hugged Carol’s skirt with all his might.
“Are you alright?”
The first thing Benjamin asked about was Carol’s well-being.
“Huh?”
“They said… you collapsed… I thought… you might never wake up…”
Benjamin, seemingly bothered by his tears, roughly wiped his eyes with his sleeve and continued speaking while sobbing.
Carol’s last memory was of being tied up together in the basement.
“I must have worried you a lot.”
So she had heard about what happened afterward from Bianca.
Since Bianca said she had handled things well, Carol naturally thought Benjamin wouldn’t know about her fainting.
But children often know more than adults think. It seemed that although Benjamin had heard Bianca’s explanation, he had somehow known about Carol’s collapse.
“I told you Teacher Carol would be fine.”
Bianca unexpectedly joined the conversation, seemingly not having anticipated that Benjamin would know.
“…I thought you were lying to reassure me.”
Benjamin finally stopped crying.
“That couldn’t be.”
“That’s right.”
Listening to the two’s synchronized conversation, Benjamin soon twisted his body as if embarrassed.
“…Then you don’t dislike me either?”
“If we disliked you, why would we come to see you?”
At Carol’s words, Benjamin finally smiled brightly.
“I guess I was too worried.”
Benjamin held both of their hands.
“How is this place? Is it livable?”
The interior of the visitation room was modestly well-furnished. There was a round table with chairs in the middle, and to the side were some tea leaves, teacups, and a few cookies for a simple tea.
The three sat side by side, drinking water from the cups instead of tea.
“Yes. Everyone is kind and treats me well.”
“That’s good.”
Benjamin smiled faintly. His cheeks certainly looked fuller than when he was at his original home.
“Are you only coming this time and not coming again?”
“No, I might not be able to come often, but I’ll send letters and visit when I can.”
“That’s right.”
“…”
Benjamin’s expression darkened, as if the comfort didn’t work.
“There’s something I want to ask before that. You don’t have to follow what I say absolutely.”
Carol could only broach the main topic after reiterating that this was just one alternative path.
She explained about the academy being established in the North, that Carol would be going as a teacher, and that Benjamin could enter the school on Carol’s recommendation. And if he decided to go, Carol would even become his sponsor.
After hearing the explanation, Benjamin answered without a moment’s hesitation.
“I want to go.”
Not expecting such an immediate answer, Carol explained again.
“It’s not too late to answer after thinking it over thoroughly.”
She was worried it might be a decision based on momentary emotions.
But Benjamin’s resolve seemed firm.
“If it’s not troublesome for you, Teacher, I want to go.”
“Didn’t you say it was fine here too?”
“Yes. Better than home.”
Carol was momentarily at a loss for words at Benjamin’s response. His attitude suggested anywhere would be better than his home.
“Alright. But I still want to give you a little more time to think, just in case. There are procedures needed to take you, too.”
“…Okay.”
Benjamin nodded obediently.
Even though Benjamin’s mind seemed made up, he appeared to understand that he couldn’t be taken away immediately.
‘I’ll prepare the necessary documents for the sponsorship registration process, and ask him one more time before submitting the paperwork.’
No matter how firmly he answered now, he might want to stay here once he adapts to this place.
Awwwww