How to Protect My Sub Male Lead Dad

I was in a dilemma but Carlz continued to persuade me.

“You already established a scholarship foundation, with sending people all over the continent to discover and nurture talent. Your merit score is perfect.”

‘In truth, I created that foundation to find Brantley.’

The Information Guild had its limitations. So, with Dad and the guild’s help, I established the scholarship foundation.

‘I needed a clear excuse to find Brantley.’

Under the guise of searching for talent nationwide, we searched for Brantley everywhere. Maxim would provide the information, and the foundation would go looking for Brantley based on that information.

I was in Barbetz, and Maxim was the one who actually ran the organization.

‘Of course, we couldn’t find Brantley, but we fulfilled the role of a foundation.’

The scholarship has allowed me to discover many talents. They were going to aid the future grandfather envisioned.

Now that I have found Brantley, I have to make some changes.

“After all,” he said, “being an assistant professor at the Imperial Academy is a great opportunity. Think about it.”
With those words, Carlz. Let me off.

But my steps were heavy as I left his office.

“Grandfather will achieve what he wants, one way or another.”

He’ll make me a professor and keep me by his side.

“But this time, I won’t give up what I want.”

I won’t return to the capital alone, leaving Brantley behind.

I promised myself.

 

* * *

 

“What? Are you going to graduate early?” Katherine shrieked.

She almost fell off the bed.

“I haven’t decided yet, but I’m eligible.”
“Then I’m graduating early, too! I came here to be with you, and I’m not letting you go alone!”

Katherine paced frantically around the dorm room.

“If I knew this would happen, I would have studied instead of playing!”

As usual, Katherine wasted her talents and took it easy at the Academy, which meant she didn’t have the grades to graduate early.

After biting her nails and pondering, Katherine suddenly looked up.

“Now that I think about it, there’s still a chance for me! If I get perfect grades this semester, I’ll be eligible for early graduation!”

She immediately started packing her books.

“Katherine?”

“I’m going to study all night in the library starting today, and I’m going to graduate early with you!”
“I haven’t even decided that I’m going to graduate early yet…”
“Haha. Don’t tell Fritzka, because I should be the only one graduating early with you!”

Katherine grabbed her books and left for the library without another word. But word spread fast, and soon Fritzka was also a permanent resident at the library.

I cheered for them both. But without the twins hovering around me like bodyguards, I faced a problem.

“Hanelope, are you alone again today?”

It was him again. The descendant of the stable worker who had made me a bizarre proposal not too long ago.

‘His name is Thomas Purple.’

A spotless shirt, round glasses with thin rims that looked like they were floating.

‘The only thing that’s changed since then is his hair.’

His lightly waved bangs were curled up like a croissant.

‘Why was he forcing himself?’

I tilted my head and looked at him. He was a year older than me, but I only learned his name recently.

After the encounter with Fritzka, he disappeared for a while. But once the twins were out of sight, he was focused on me again.

“I heard you’re graduating early, so you’ll graduate with me this year?”

I thought for a moment before answering.

“Nothing’s been decided yet.”

Thomas frowned at my polite answer. I was being respectful, deliberately drawing a line in the sand.

Barbetz was a strict school, but as long as you were polite, you were allowed to talk to each other. So when I spoke to Thomas, a stranger to me, I didn’t think much of it and answered half-heartedly.

‘But if he starts bothering me, I should definitely put up a wall.’

“Well.. I’ll take my leave then.”

I started to walk past him. But Thomas blocked my way again.

“Why are you graduating early?”
“Because I’m smart.”

Thomas was taken aback at my blunt answer.

“Can I go now?”
“Wait.. Are you really going to teach in the capital?”

I was dumbfounded.

‘When did the rumor get that far?’

Thomas said excitedly, “What’s the point of teaching? It’s useless.”

‘Who the h*ll does he think he is?’

I felt upset, but I drew a line so he wouldn’t misunderstand.

“I haven’t decided yet.”

“Let me give you some advice. Becoming a professor is a waste of time. After graduation, what else is there besides marriage?”

“Pardon?”

“That’s how women of your age should be. It’s better to take bride classes during that time.”

I looked at him with a bemused expression.

It was true that the age of marriage was earlier than in modern Korea where I lived in my past life.

‘But here, regardless of gender, you can pursue what you want.’

Although there were occasional people like Thomas with narrow-minded views.

I felt like I knew why Thomas mentioned “marriage” and “bride classes.”

‘He’s still clinging to futile dreams, isn’t he?’

Ignoring him wasn’t the only answer. There was a need to dispel delusions firmly.

“I may or may not get married, but if I do, it will be with someone who respects my future.”
“You are being naive. There’s no such man in the world.”
“And I like good-looking people more than anything.”

Then Thomas chuckled at his own delusions.

“I’m not bad-looking, I suppose.”
“Are you sure about that?”

Thomas finally got a wake-up call.

“I prefer a man who’s appropriately bold yet delicately. Someone who’s affectionate yet as cold as the silver moon.”
“W-What?”
“In other words, you don’t have any business in my future or marriage, so please get out of my way. I have somewhere I need to be.”

I shoved him out of the way and walked past him. Thomas was so shocked he didn’t even follow me.

I heard an indignant “How snobbish…!” afterward, but he didn’t follow me.

I walked out of the room, feeling a bit smug.

‘I’m free till the end of the weekend!’

I had already requested a leave from the dormitory. Maxim helped me with it. According to Maxim’s letter, I’ll be staying in the lodgings at the foot of Mount Cran for the weekend.

‘Except I’m actually going to see Brantley!’

I sent Todd and Natu to Maxim as soon as I was reunited with Brantley, with the news that I had found him, and asking him to send a letter requesting my leave.

As I left the Academy, two chubby sparrows appeared out of nowhere and flew beside me. It was Todd and Natu.

– Are we going to see Brantley?
– He was cute when he was younger, but he’s a bit scary now that I haven’t seen him in a while.
– Hanelope, you better be careful. Brantley doesn’t seem to be the same.
– To be honest, I don’t think he’s a good match for you, Hanelope.

Todd and Natu pouted like parents managing their children’s friends.

‘But I won’t stand for you badmouthing my Brantley!’

I snapped at the two flapping sparrows.

Todd and Natu chimed in.

– We were just saying…
– By the way, is that really Aite hiding in there? I’ll have to find out today.

The two sparrows and I arrived at the cave where the Order was located.

There was a familiar face at the entrance. It was the man who was checking for marks.

“Why are you here again? Did the knight carve the mark?” He asked bluntly.

I shook my head, “No. Sir Knight told me to find out more about the Order before I decide.”
“I wonder what Sir Knight is thinking.”

He crossed his arms and tried to gauge my thinking.

“To be honest, you don’t want to become a devotee, do you? You’re here to see the Knight.”
“Ahh!”

How did he know? When I covered my mouth with my hands in surprise, he sneered.

“I’ve seen enough women come here for the same reason, and occasionally men too.”
“Huh!”
“Maybe that’s why he keeps his face covered. You’ve got plenty of competition.”

This was unexpected.

‘Sure, Brantley was handsome, but….’

In the time he spent away from me, he must have had a lot of company. I sulked, which only confused him more…

“W-What are you so disappointed about, he’s still single!”
“Thanks for your consolation.”
“It’s not a consolation, I-… Anyway, the knight isn’t here. He’s in the flower garden over there. Go that way.”

I headed off to the flower garden he pointed out.

Alone.

Todd and Natu had sneaked into the cave to look for Aite.

The field near the cave was surrounded by baby’s breath.

“Wow. It’s like popcorn.’

Brantley was bent over among the fragrant kernels.
But he wasn’t alone. He was with a woman.

“?”

I couldn’t ask in panic. I just squatted down and hid among the flowers. Brantley stood up, holding a bunch of Baby’s breath. He handed the bouquet to the woman he was with.

‘!’

The woman took the flowers, smiled happily, and ran off.

Brantley watched the scene, then turned his head to where I was hiding.