CH 12

Chapter12 - Rebuke

Last night, Fran had a dream.

It seemed a pleasant and somehow reassuring dream.

“Seemed” it was, because the moment she woke up, she forgot everything she had dreamed.

“I…why?”

The first thing that came out of Fran’s mouth when she woke up was a feeling and word of doubt…

She woke up on her bed in her room and was unknowingly changed into her nightgown.

Strange…

I was supposed to be in my mother’s lab last night with her and Lou.

The person who unveiled everything for her…

Was Lola, the maid of all works.

“Miss fainted in the laboratory, and Lou-sama carried you to your room. I’m sorry, but I had to change your clothes at Madam’s orders.”

…As I thought.

My memory of the lab skipped the second half.

Fran pondered for a while.

I remember now!　

When Lou said he was going to release the corpse of those strange enemies…I was distraught.

She fumbled for her memory, but she still couldn’t remember what happened next.

But something….she felt something comforting enveloped her.

Was it because Lou carried her?

…Fran often dreamed since childhood.

Whenever she woke up, she remembered fragments of the content.

Most of the time, nightmares awakened her, but this morning was completely different.

That’s it! Where’s Lou?

Is he still in the mansion?

No, he doesn’t want to stay here!

Fran curiously asked Lola about it.

She replied that Lou had long since woken up and was waiting for her at the breakfast table with her mother.

Ah!

Thank God!

Fran hurriedly changed her clothes and ran downstairs from her room to the dining room.

She jumped down two flights of stairs and felt Lola’s cold gaze on her from behind, but she didn’t care.

**Medieval Western aristocrats usually do not eat breakfast, but in this world, it is in accordance with the current regimen.

“G-Good morning!”

Fran greeted loudly as she barged into the dining room.

Adelaide looks a little stunned.

“Well, well! You’re looking great already, Fran.”

Beyond Fran’s line of sight…

Her mother was there, and so was Lou!

“Fran, are you all right?”

“L-Lou! G-Good morning! Right! M-M-Mother, w-what happened afterwards?!”

Fran, faltering in her desperation to question Adelaide, has none of her usual ladylike charm.

“Oh dear, what’s the matter? Look, you’ve surprised the servants!”

Adelaide laughed it off and tried to appease her agitated daughter.

“B-Because…!”

“Don’t worry. I made sure he signed a contract to be a temporary teacher at our school, as you wished.”

Adelaide smugly informed her daughter.

Beside her, Lou nodded.

“Ah, that’s great! But…”

When Fran heard her mother’s words, she was ecstatic for a moment, but then her expression quickly turned serious.

She folded her arms tightly.

“…Umm, that’s certainly wonderful, but for some reason, I have mixed feelings about it…”

Adelaide was amused by Fran’s silence and dropped another bomb on her.

“I didn’t just sign a contract. I asked Lou a lot of questions about his circumstances and magic!”

“Whaaaaa!!…T-That’s not fair!”

In response to her mother’s “provocation,” Fran puffed out her cheeks indignantly and made no effort to hide her dissatisfaction.

Seeing her daughter’s frown, Adelaide laughed mischievously and stabbed her further.

“What do you mean it’s not fair? Ugh! There was no getting around it. You fainted so easily because of such a thing.”

“Such a thing, grrrr…Mother, you’re terrible. You’re mean.”

Fran looked deeply exasperated.

She’s been dying to hear more about Lou’s life and magic in person.

“Terrible? Mean? Don’t fall asleep and utter strange things in the morning. It’s very sweet of me to comply with your wishes.”

Adelaide couldn’t help but smile and feel very happy.

Since the death of Fran’s fiancé…

Fran showed no interest in other people’s affairs.

Adelaide tormented her daughter relentlessly ・・・・・・It was a mother’s joy to see her daughter brighten up.

The usual breakfast was a tasteless affair of mother and daughter having a minimal conversation while surrounded by servants.

“Hmph! Isn’t it a mother’s love to wake me up with magic when I was in a situation like that?”

“Perhaps. Forget it, what’s done is done. More importantly, the three of us should go to school today.  I know we’re on spring break right now, but I should be able to show you around the school and introduce some people to Lou. I’m sure some of the staff are working on the holidays.”

“Uh, okay. But you’ll have to tell me all about it later, Lou.”

Adelaide offered a tour of the school, so Fran had no choice but to agree.

****

An hour later…

The carriage was ready and the three of them got in.

They would head to the Valentine Magical Girls Academy to show Lou around, the temporary teacher, around.

As usual, two young knights dispatched by the Royal Knights would escort the carriage.

In front of the main gate, Zeimon, the chief steward, and some servants were standing by to see them off.

Zeimon had no doubts at all about Lu’s abilities.

On the contrary, he was eager to learn about the strange physical techniques that Lou had used, and was excited to try his hand at them again if possible.

Zeimon was not only Adelaide’s loyal head of house, but also a perfect combat-enthusiast, battle junkie.

“Madam, Miss, please take care! Lou-sama, please take good care of them.”

Zeimon smiled and saw the three off.

The two knights, on the other hand, bore indescribable looks on their faces when they witnessed this scene.

The lady of the house, who was known to be difficult, got into the carriage with a big smile on her face, and Miss of the house, who rarely expressed her emotions, was smiling happily.

The knights were well aware of Fran’s usual pensive expression and Zeimon’s bluntness.

The knights looked at each other and shook their heads slowly, as if they had seen something incredible.

After confirming that all three were on board, the coachman gave a signal.

After a moment, the two horses neighed with the flick of a whip, and the carriage began to move slowly.

The escorting knights mounted their horses and rode alongside the carriage.

It was only a short ride from the Count of Dumer’s residence to the Valentine’s Magical Girls Academy. In fact, most of the schools such as the Valentine Magic University, the Girls Academy, the Boys Academy, and the Knights University were located in the residential area where nobles resided. 

The carriage arrived in front of the school’s main gate after only about ten minutes of driving.

The two knights who guarded the carriage hurriedly tied their horses to the school’s stables and stood in front of the school’s main gate, scanning the area for any suspicious person.

The main school building was probably the large building that rose in front when viewed from the main gate.

Lou counted five stories. The chalk-white building, reflecting the morning sun, was quite impressive.

Adelaide pointed and oriented him.

“Lou, that’s the main building. There are also two four-story annexes with a lab and a training room, one indoor and one outdoor arena, plus one dormitory.”

“Whoa, it’s a beautiful building, and it’s full of magic.”

“Fufufu, that’s a very Lou-like impression.”

Adelaide chuckled.

Suddenly…

“All right, I’ll show you around!”

Fran took Lou’s hand without warning and tried to walk away.

But!

Adelaide’s sharp voice cut in.

“Wait a minute!”

“Huh? Mother, what’s the matter!?”

“Don’t hold hands! This is a workplace. You’re the acting principal and a senior teacher. Lou will be your subordinate and junior. You’ve got to get your act together!”

“I see!” 

Hearing Adelaide’s “educational guidance,” Fran, who had been in high spirits, became pitifully dejected.

Adelaide expressed herself outright. Despite her being her daughter, she didn’t mix public and private matters.

“There is no such thing. Everyone already believes that you’re getting special treatment. On top of that, if you’re flirting with a guy at work, you’ll get the short end of the stick.”

In response to Adelaide’s reprimand, Fran turned her head and pondered for a while.

She thought that her mother’s words made sense.

“I get it, Mother!”

Fran’s face changed from that of a maiden in love to that of a serious teacher.

She looked back at Adelaide’s face from the front and nodded abundantly.