CH 24

Chapter24 - Intimacy

Lou and Fran left the Kingsley Company’s Royal Capital Branch.

They were accompanied by Michelle Estre and Olga Flaviny, students at the Magical Girls Academy.

The two girls were as quiet as meek lambs.

“Sorry to have kept you waiting at the store.”

“No-Not at all!”

Michelle shook her head repeatedly.

It made her smooth blonde hair sway in the air.

She was so nervous that she even bit on Fran’s words of encouragement.

“Are you guys going back to the dorm now?”

“Y-Yes! We’re going to have lunch on the way and then head back!”

This time, Olga replied unusually fast.

Fran said.

“Just as well, then. Let’s all have lunch together.”

She said with a smile.

Michelle and Olga were surprised.

“E-ehhhh?!”

“Headmistress-sensei, what was that?!”

They didn’t look overtly uncomfortable, but…

Obviously, Michelle and Olga were sitting on pins and needles.

They were uncomfortable…

They wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.

It was as plain as day what they wanted.

“It’s a nice idea. Hey, Lou, don’t you think so?”

“Yes, Francesca-sama, food tastes better when eaten with more people.”

On the surface, the two immediately became master and servant…

Yet, they were already “in sync”.

Fran, the acting principal, had the right to their life and death in her hands.

Michelle and Olga, the students who had done the misdeed, had no way to say no.　

***

The restaurant where Fran brought the three was…

The building was elegantly built and had a refined atmosphere.

The signboard read, “Breezy Restaurant”.

Michelle and Olga’s eyes widened…

“H-Here?”

“I’ve never been in a restaurant like this.”

The two usually lived in the student dormitory.

They usually ate at the school cafeteria.

When they did eat out, it was usually at cafes, and they rarely went to restaurants like this one.

“Uh-huh, lunch will be fine.”

Fran smiled at them.

“And besides, it’s part of your lesson.”

The two girls looked at each other dubiously when Fran said “lesson.”

“Le-lesson?”

“Uh? Lesson? This one?”

Whatever Fran’s intentions were…

Michelle and Olga didn’t seem to understand.

“All right then, let’s all go in.”

Fran urged everyone into the restaurant as if they were children.

***

One hour later…

“That was delicious～!”

“I want another serving!”

Michelle and Olga’s expressions before the meal were completely different.

Michelle and Olga were dreamy as they savored their dessert cake.

“Giggle, that’s great. But Lou, you need to study more about etiquette.”

“Hahaha, sorry about that. I’m a hick.”

Despite Fran’s criticism, Lou remained calmly smiling.

They had a delicious meal, so seeing Lou’s reaction…

Michelle, who was now completely relaxed, asked in a reserved manner.

“Um, Headmistress-sensei…Wouldn’t it be a problem if you dined with only us? Wouldn’t other people call this favoritism?”

“It won’t be a problem at all.”

In response to Michelle’s question, Fran answered confidently and added.

“This is an important lecture to help you get used to dining like a lady. If anyone is interested in taking it, I’ll happily do so.”

“Dine like a lady? Oh, I see!”

This time Olga shouted and clapped her hands in comprehension.

“No, Olga. That’s a 10-point demerit. It’s unladylike to make a scene in a restaurant.”

Fran smiled wickedly as she looked at Olga.

“Well, then, can you teach us more, Headmistress-sensei?”

This time Michelle smiled at her.

“Of course. You will be eating in many different restaurants when you grow up. Today is just a practice run.”

“Practice run?”

“Actually, this is also a pilot study for Lou.”

Fran replied with an amused smile.

It seemed that the girls’ worry that they’d be scolded was already gone…

They were both sipping their tea, seemingly at ease.

Seeing that the time was right…

Fran encouraged Michelle and Olga to greet Lou again. 

“You guys should take the opportunity to introduce yourselves to Brandell-sensei.”

“Y-Yes!”

“Right away!”

“Mmm, you’re both energetic…but not at this restaurant. Ten-points demerit for both of you.”

When Fran said that, Michelle and Olga looked at each other and silently exclaimed, Oh no! Afterward, they introduced themselves once more.

“I’m Michelle Estre of Magical Girls Academy, Class 2C, Royal Knights. I’m an aspiring mage knight.”

“I’m Olga Flaviny. I’m in 2nd year Class C of the Magical Girls Academy, Royal Capital Knights, an aspiring mage knight.”

“Oh, Lou here. I’m Lou Brandell. Nice to meet you, Michelle and Olga.”

After Lou greeted them, Fran quickly added.

“He…Lou is a temporary teacher who was recommended by me and the vice principal. Details about it are still pending.”

Fran emphasized that it was her and the vice principal’s recommendation, just as her mother Adelaide had said.

“Eeh? T-The vice-principal?”

“A-Are you for real?”

The girls stuttered.

After all, Kelly was…

Her character made her somewhat ・・・・ famous to some extent.

The corners of Lou’s lips rose slightly.

…Then the four started chatting.

Michelle and Olga were also students in Fran’s class.

In the Kingdom of Valentine, the Royal Knights were the stars of the kingdom, and Mage Knights were considered to be of the highest rank.

The female Mage Nights they were aspiring to become were an elite position whose main duty was to protect the queen and other women of the royal family and high-ranking aristocrats.

Despite a lot of demand for Mage Knights, there was a chronic shortage of them, which spurred the female Mage Knights into an elite group.

Proof of this…

For Fran’s security, female Mage Knights, who were of the same gender as her, were rarely in charge.

What made female Mage Knights, to begin with?

Since they were basically knights, even a slender woman must be skilled in martial arts.

Their appearances were also important.

That being the case…

It was hard to find a woman who possessed both martial arts and magical talents, as well as good looks.

Michelle and Olga were the daughters of knights who originally excelled in martial arts.

When they discovered that they had a talent for magic, rather than getting married right away, they took the entrance exam to the Magical Girls Academy and passed with flying colors.

They decided to pursue their dream of becoming female Mage Knights.

However, their journey wasn’t all smooth sailing after they entered the school.

In fact, Michelle and Olga would be attending the spring semester course starting two days later.

After a year of study at the school…

They found it hard to acquire knowledge of magic and wield it.

They were desperate to improve their skills as much as possible for the new school year.

It was motivating for Michelle and Olga to have a new teacher, even if he was of the opposite sex.

“Wow! Lou-sensei is going to be our temporary homeroom teacher?”

“Really? Lou-sensei?”

Perhaps they threw their reserves towards him…

In no time, Michelle and Olga’s way of addressing Lou had changed.

“For now, during the spring semester…The final decision will be made with input from the Chairman and Vice-principal.”

“Nonetheless, I’m looking forward to it!”

“So am I!”

Fran chuckled.

It was probably because Lou was male, but she had never seen Michelle and Olga like this before.

As Fran was thinking about this, Michelle and Olga suddenly apologized to her.

“We misunderstood Headmistress-sensei, I’m sorry!”

“Yeah, right! I’m so sorry!”

What misunderstanding?

Fran was taken aback.

This time, Lou interjected.

“Both of them are saying that they did not know the real Francesca.”

Michelle and Olga nodded strongly in assent to Lou’s words.

“He said it! I never knew that Sensei was so friendly…Can I ask for your advice about some things from now on?”

“We definitely want to be Mage Knights! Please train us! We’ll do our best!”

Seeing the two girls being so enthusiastic, Fran naturally smiled.

For the first time in her life…

She was now tasting the happiness of being a teacher.