She walks through the castle corridors in a light peach-colored dress, so different from her usual leather armor.
The way her chest is emphasized more than usual is clearly the result of some careful pushing up and a touch of vanity.
“Frea von Crostpurge”
The fifth daughter of the high-ranking noble Crostpurge family and an active knight.
Thanks to her excellent knowledge of magic and general education, her direct superior Halfren had given her a special task, gathering the children of various nobles and teaching them basic knowledge.
At first, she did it reluctantly, but now, two years later, she cannot get enough of how fun it is.
Every child is so honest and listens eagerly to everything she says.
There is no inscrutable superior who goes off to exterminate dragons without a word of explanation, no colleague who whines 「I want to get married too～ What should I do～」 with impossible complaints, and no junior who sighs 「My chest feels like it is getting bigger again lately」 while Frea secretly wishes she would share some of that extra softness.
This job is truly peaceful and delightful.
「Everyone～ Please take your seats. We are going to start class～」
She opens the door and steps into the room that is used only for military meetings.
Today again, the adorable children are… staring toward the back of the room with puzzled looks.
A vein quietly pops on Frea’s forehead.
「Yo. Aggressive Frea.」
「…Prince Halfren? If you say that one more time, you will see blood.」
「That dead-serious face combined with the sudden polite tone is way too jarring.」
「Why are you even here, Your Highness!」
「I am a guardian. Guardians are free to observe, right?」
「That is technically true, but…」
Frea is completely thrown off.
He has five concubines, yet no children of his own yet. Then why is he here?
The answer comes from where all the children’s eyes are fixed.
「…Prince Argusta? Why are you sitting there so naturally, blending in perfectly with the children?」
「Yes, sensei. Please do not mind me at all. Go ahead with the lesson.」
He radiates an intense eagerness to learn that is almost intimidating.
That attitude itself is heartwarming, but the student is a prince, and the husband of her superior. Above all, seeing someone attend class so seriously, with his spouse sitting right beside him, leaning in close with their shoulders brushing just a bit too cozily…
「Captain! Why are you here!」
「……」
「Work! It is work day today, right!」
「…Yes.」
With her usual blank expression, the stunning beauty leans in slightly against Argusta, her body tilting just enough to make their arms touch softly. There is no mistaking it….It is her superior, Noie.
「Then please go to work! Staying inside the building means even Lutte would not be able to find you! She is probably wandering lost and about to burst into tears by now!」
「……」
「Aah, come on!」
Frea tears at her hair in frustration at the woman who shows no sign of moving.
「Noie. That is enough playing around with Frea-san for now. Please go to work.」
「…Yes.」
She obeys her husband’s words without hesitation.
Noie stands up smoothly and strides straight to the window, opening it with a casual flick.
「Do your best, Noie.」
「Yes.」
She steps onto the windowsill and hops right over, vanishing outside.
The children, who have only ever heard rumors about the dragon slayer, are buzzing with excitement.
(Ah… seriously…)
Suppressing the urge to vent her frustration on everything around her, Frea composes herself.
「Alright, everyone. Let us start studying.」
「「Yeees～」」
「…Prince Argusta, are you really joining in?」
「If I am doing this, I aim to be the best.」
「…Understood. I will teach without regard to status here, so please understand that.」
Since he seems completely serious, Frea gives up and decides to just teach the lesson.
「Today is about our country. Um… you there. What is the name of this country?」
「Yes. It is Univance.」
「Correct. Formally, it is the 『Kingdom of Univance』. Then, what about its location? You next to him.」
「Yes. It is said to be in the southern part of the continent.」
「That is right. So today, to help everyone understand what kind of place it is, I brought a map.」
She hangs the map she brought on the wall hook and spreads it out wide.
It is a precious item called the “world map”.
But there is real doubt about whether this map is truly accurate.
No one has ever seen the entire world or even the full shape of the continent itself.
This is probably the first time most of the children have seen it. Their eyes sparkle with curiosity, and it is just too adorable.
「This is the map of our world. We live on this big part in the middle… and this area here is said to be the Kingdom of Univance.」
She points to the lower right diagonal side of the long trapezoid-shaped continent at the top.
「The basis for that is the positions of rivers and mountains. From how the rivers flow into the sea, it is thought 『probably around here』.」
The children start copying it onto the papers they each brought.
The one copying with incredible seriousness is the new oldest student in the room today.
(He is surprisingly diligent.)
The Prince Argusta that Frea had heard about in rumors was supposed to be completely hopeless at martial arts but suited to civil duties. Yet he was not meant to be this serious, he was said to be the type who dragged other noble children his age into constant play.
『Is that rumor even true?』 she wonders. No… the way he is behaving is so earnest it makes the rumor feel like nothing but a lie.
(Could this serious side be why the captain is so attached to him?)
Noie is a complete mystery when it comes to what she is thinking or how she lives.
That alone makes it dangerous to take things at face value, but watching him like this, Frea cannot sense any unpleasant aura from him at all.
「Come on, everyone. If you do not follow Prince Argusta’s example and study seriously… you will end up like that bad prince over there.」
「I am technically your superior, you know?」
「If you are my superior, then stop yawning and watch properly.」
「No, yesterday I overdid it a bit…」
「Shall I have you step outside the room?」
「…I will watch quietly. Yes.」
Noticing the vein twitching on Frea’s forehead, Halfren falls silent.
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