LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 19
“That’s interesting. Do you know how precious time is to me before you say that?”
“I don’t know. I don’t want to know either.”
Thump!
Shaking my head, I lifted one leg and brought it down again.
As I stomped the head of the one who was about to pop out from my shadow, I shoved him back into the shadows.
You shouldn’t interrupt a conversation between elders without manners.
“You said instead of an apology, you would grant a request, didn’t you? You’re not really trying to take that back, are you?”
“…….”
All I asked was to be left alone for today.
It’s a very trivial request; there’s no way they could make huge demands on me.
Logically, who would ask for a diamond in exchange for a single corn?
If I were to use the power of violence, it’d be a different story, but I’m also confident in that field.
I was slightly hopeful that they’d give me a reason first, but unfortunately, the Agail Duke was a meticulous person.
“Prepare the carriage and coachman.”
“Understood.”
It was like declaring they’d accept my request and leave immediately.
Despite the head of household being humiliated, the retainers made no objections.
I thought at least one would step forward, but it seems they’ve been trained quite well.
The presence of the knight who had tried to harm me seemed to have disappeared, so it must have been dealt with internally.
‘If something cannot be controlled according to his will, he’d exclude it first.’
I really didn’t want to get entangled with such a reckless person.
That’s why he was trying to send me off without hearing the reason I came.
If it was about Rynelle, he might have listened, but that was a blatant lie.
A man who even ignores his own daughter, what kind of daughter could she possibly be?
Any discussions unconnected to students or academy business were off-limits.
“…… I’ll certainly remember your hospitality.”
“So, you mean you won’t come empty-handed next time? Then I look forward to your next visit!”
As I played coy, the Agail Duke, who had remained expressionless until now, furrowed his brows.
Along with his daughter, the Agail Duke was also a great target for teasing.
There’s no need to worry about being assassinated on my way home.
If he shows hostility towards me but has something he wants to take, he’d keep me alive for now.
Shortly after the Agail Duke left, Rynelle re-entered the room.
Entering with an obvious sense of dread, she suddenly grabbed my arm and started shaking it wildly.
“Professor! What did you talk about in there? What did you say that made Father calm down the moment he walked out?”
“I didn’t talk about anything grand. I simply told him to let me know in advance next time and sent him away.”
“Wait, so you sent him away without even asking what business he had for coming all the way here?”
“Yep!”
“Hah, haha…!”
Rynelle’s face lost all color.
Perhaps wanting to deny reality, she held her head in disbelief.
“I don’t think it’s that shocking.”
“Do you want me to tell you what happened to those who challenged Father until now?”
“They were tied up with ropes, stuffed into boxes, and thrown into the sea.”
“Oh my, that’s not a bad way to dispose of a body!”
Damn! I’ve brought this awful culture into this world.
I assumed they’d do it naturally being from a family like the mafia.
“Anyway, I don’t particularly care what your father does.”
The Crawford family would crumble without my interference someday, and he probably already knows I have no close connections to anyone.
The closest would be Nina, but she has become the prince’s benefactor, so I can’t just mess with her.
The prince, who has provided solid backing to Nina in politics.
I didn’t interfere in their meetings because I knew we’d inevitably become rivals.
“As I said before, I’m someone who has nothing to lose. On the other hand, your father seems to have a lot to lose. Whose loss would it be if we sever ties?”
“He has the most important thing—his life.”
“Does your father really think he could take my life from me?”
Rynelle seemed to ponder deeply.
If she knows her father’s abilities better than anyone, she can make an objective judgment.
And whether she reached a conclusion or not, she scratched her cheek.
“It’s hard to gauge your limits, but since you could send the knights in the shadows to another dimension, it’s clearly not easy even for my father.”
“So I can stand firm even in front of the Agail Duke.”
“Yet if you act like that, wouldn’t Father suspect you have some backing from Professor?”
“Let him speculate all he wants. Unless he sees with his own eyes whether my powers surpass his, if I’m lacking, or if I’m nothing and just putting on a façade, he won’t know for sure.”
The Agail Duke was not a man who would gamble on uncertain matters.
He’d likely send someone frequently or watch over me closely to gather information bit by bit.
And his daughter would probably be included in that.
“If your father asks if he knows anything about me, just say you don’t know.”
“Why? Didn’t you just say you’re not afraid of him?”
“Am I running away because I’m scared? I’m avoiding him because it’s filthy.”
“Father is a dung…?”
Rynelle’s lips twitched continuously.
She would find it funny since her love-hate target—her father—was treated like dung.
“Ahem! Got it, I’ll especially keep Professor’s info a secret.”
“Okay.”
“Fufu! In a way, it’ll be our secret, right?”
Leaning in with a playful smile, Rynelle.
Even though I said it was fine, seeing her come at me without a hint of hesitation made me want to retract my words.
“To be precise, it’s a secret that Nina also knows.”
“Tch……”
As I denied it wasn’t just our secret, Rynelle pouted her lips in dissatisfaction.
Still, she managed not to voice it and turned away, so it seems our little girl has grown a bit.
“I’ve held you back for too long. You worked hard all day, and I’m really grateful for dealing with my little whims…”
“If you’re thankful, I’d appreciate a little sincerity in return.”
“Like this?”
Rynelle, surprisingly, lifted her skirt.
Revealing luxurious black lace panties, far more sensual than what I saw the other day.
However, I merely snorted, showing no interest at all.
“Professor, are you perhaps gay?”
“I like women. I just don’t find little girls’ underwear appealing, no matter how you look at it.”
“You’ll definitely regret not examining my underwear in the near future when I become a mature lady…!”
“Tell me then. I don’t know if such a future will come!”
As I mocked, Rynelle stuck her tongue out and left the classroom.
No matter how mature or demure she pretended to be, her childish behavior at the end proved she was still just a kid.
“Ugh!”
As the last student left, I began tidying up the classroom.
‘Even if I’m tired and it’s a hassle, I should clean up.’
Since this is my personal lecture hall, I decided to take some care of it.
While organizing the materials, I wiped off what I had written on the blackboard.
As I was erasing the magic circle I had drawn, my gaze suddenly caught on the triangle that had entered the circle.
Staring at the triangle made me recall Rynelle’s black triangle panties I just faced earlier.
“……Tch!”
My face turned hot, so I quickly erased the magic circle, trying to shake off those thoughts.
However, calming my mind proved to be quite challenging.
Curses! “Damn it…! How dare she tempt me with such arousing underwear!”
All it took was a single cheeky piece of lingerie to throw me into turmoil; I suppose I really am just a helpless guy.
Until the seas dry up and Baekdusan wears down…
*
The breakfast atmosphere in the Agail Ducal Family remained quiet and chilly.
The three sitting at the table were consuming food without any small talk.
It seemed like everything was flowing as usual until an unexpected event occurred.
“Rynelle.”
“Yes, Father.”
Luphon Agail Duke, who had been consistently ignoring his daughter, spoke to her while making eye contact.
Startled by her father’s attention, Rynelle tried hard to act calm.
“Do you know anything about your professor, Daniel Crawford?”
Unfortunately, just because he made eye contact didn’t mean he had become interested in her.
Yet Rynelle didn’t hesitate to shake her head in denial.
“Professor Daniel doesn’t show off at all. I’ve been observing him steadily, but he doesn’t reveal himself much; I found nothing.”
“Is that so….”
“Is there a problem?”
“No, there isn’t. Keep monitoring Daniel Crawford, and if you discover anything unusual, report it to me immediately.”
“Understood. I will do that.”
“And try to be close with him as much as possible. He might be someone who becomes your husband.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I expect to hear good news.”
For the first time, her father had spoken to her directly with a serious task, and he even had expectations.
With such absurd events happening one after another, Rynelle forgot the taste of the steak in her mouth.
Since being born as the eldest daughter of the Agail Family, had anything like this ever happened?
Even on her birthday, her father hadn’t even said a word of congratulations.
To finally receive acknowledgment of her worth from such a father…
‘It’s not that great of a feeling, though.’
While she was a bit flustered and surprised, it didn’t feel exhilarating like she had hoped.
Now she found herself feeling shame towards her past self, who had longed for that attention.
Yet there she was, smiling down at her clear soup, unable to help but notice.
Husband.
The moment that word was mentioned, she couldn’t help but smile.
What on earth was it about that mere “husband” that made her feel her father’s expectations were boring?
Although she couldn’t fully understand it, she decided to accept part of her heart’s true feelings.
Rynelle Agail found that she was more interested in the annoying professor than her father’s attention.