The Student Guardians Are Obsessed With Me - Chapter 53

[Dear the beautiful Eleanor.

 

I wonder if your heart has warmed a little today. Do you still hate me?

 

Deeply reflecting,

 

Izmel Biden Pontius de Bellium.]

 

***

 

[Your Highness.

 

I don’t hate you.

 

Forgetting everything about yesterday,

 

Eleanor Everett.]

 

***

 

[Dear the beautiful and generous Eleanor.

 

Do you know that you are the only one who can make me so happy with just four words, I wonder.

 

I heard that you get along well with the Princess. It’s strange how she behaves politely when she’s with you. These days, even in the Imperial Palace, I’m living very calmly. It seems to be thanks to you.

 

(Dwight’s virtue is also great. I’ll compensate him properly after the Princess leaves.)

 

So what I want to say is, I want to meet and talk in person. These days the weather is nice, shall we walk in the garden together?

 

Have a good day.

 

Your forever friend,

 

Izmel Biden Pontius de Bellium.]

 

***

 

[To my eternal friend, Your Highness,

 

No.

 

Too busy working,

 

Eleanor Everett.]

 

***

 

[Dear Eleanor, who is beautiful and generous, but is too busy with work.

 

…You really don’t hate me?

 

You’re the only one who can make my heart sink like this with just three words.

 

Please don’t hate me.

 

You might ask what the big deal is. All you do is shut up more than usual or not smile broadly.

 

Actually I didn’t know either. To think that I would toss and turn for several nights at your one word of hate. To think that my heart would be sliced at the wounds you received.

 

Why, I wonder. I think I know, yet I don’t. Please give me a chance to find out why.

 

Once again restless,

 

Izmel Biden Pontius de Bellium.]

 

***

 

“Miss, the carriage has arrived!”

 

A maid’s voice came from outside the door. Eleanor quickly put Izmel’s letter in the desk drawer and left the room.

 

“Hello, Rian. You’re here early?”

 

“You too. It was okay for you to come out late.”

 

Today was the day she decided to visit the print shop with Adrian. There have been continuous complaints that the ink on the homeschool materials was severely clumped or smeared, making it difficult to read, and they were trying to solve that problem.

 

As Eleanor slumped back in the seat, the carriage began rolling slowly.

 

“How many exchanges have you had lately because of ink smearing?”

 

“Eighteen so far this month.”

 

“Last month?”

 

“Thirty-two.”

 

Eleanor pondered.

 

“Even if it costs a little more, wouldn’t it be best to do more thorough inspections and print more spare copies?”

 

Adrian suggested. Eleanor slowly nodded.

 

“I think that’s for the best right now. But, let’s take a look around.”

 

As they exchanged business talks the carriage quickly stopped. Adrian, who got off first, held out his hand.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

Eleanor casually placed hers on Adrian’s hand. His long, pretty fingers completely wrapped around Eleanor’s hand.

 

A little while after Eleanor put her feet on the ground, Adrian let go of her hand. Eleanor bit her lip lightly, realizing the subtle difference that she normally wouldn’t have felt.

 

“Hello, Renny.”

 

Entering the print shop, Eleanor greeted the male weaver who was writing. Startled, he took off his hat and bowed his head.

 

“I didn’t know you’d come early… I’m sorry. Please wait in the back office for now.”

 

“No. We came too early.”

 

Eleanor and Adrian entered the office and sat side by side on the leather couch.

 

“Shall I open the window?”

 

“Hm? Do so if you want. I’m fine.”

 

The air smelled of ink and dust, and the sound of the movable typesetting was heard outside. Eleanor liked the atmosphere quite a bit.

 

At that time, an employee named Renny brought out several loaves of rye bread and black tea.

 

“It’s not enough, but this is all we have right now…”

 

“It looks so appetizing. I’ll enjoy it. thank you.”

 

Eleanor rose from her seat and waved her hand. Then, peeking out from behind the door, someone poked her head out. Her large, clear brown eyes peered at her and Adrian. She was a girl who looked about five years old.

 

Eleanor asked with a smile.

 

“But that little girl…”

 

“Ah, this is Hess, my daughter. Hess, you need to say hello.”

 

“Hello, Hess.”

 

Eleanor greeted her. Hess grabbed her father’s pants and hid behind his back.

 

“I’m sorry. She’s still young…”

 

“It’s fine. You have such a cute and lovely daughter.”

 

As Renny closed the door and walked away, Eleanor sat down and broke the rye bread with her hands. The bread was a little rough, but chewing it gave it its own flavor.

 

“Rian, aren’t you eating?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Adrian stared down at the slice of bread on the plate. It was far different from what he usually enjoys.

 

‘Even Eleanor wouldn’t be used to such rough and crude food.’

 

Sometimes Eleanor did things he didn’t see as a well-bred lady from a noble family. Although he’d gotten used to it now, when he was little, he thought Eleanor’s behavior was eccentric.

 

Like getting up in the morning and making her own bed, casually carrying and moving heavy furniture, or bringing dishes to the kitchen after a meal.

 

When Adrian asked why she would do such a thing, Eleanor replied.

 

“Why, can’t I do it?”

 

“Of course you can. I was just curious as to why.”

 

“It’s hard to answer that question. For me, this is natural.”

 

Scratching her head, Eleanor answered.

 

“There is no particular reason. I can do it, so I just do.”

 

Adrian stared at his eccentric friend. Eleanor sat slumped on the old, dusty couch, chewing on tough bread.

 

Now he knows for sure That Eleanor’s eccentricity and the unique parts of her make her all the more endearing.

 

“Delicious?”

 

“Mmhm. You want some?”

 

Eleanor asked, her eyes twinkling. Adrian nodded his head.

 

“Aaa.”

 

Eleanor shoveled a bite-size loaf of bread into Adrian’s mouth. It was very natural, probably because she was accustomed to taking care of children.

 

“Doesn’t it taste better than it looks?”

 

“It’s a bit sour.”

 

“Rye bread is better for your health than plain bread.”

 

At Eleanor’s words, Adrian tilted his head.

 

“I hadn’t heard of that. Is that a reasonable statement?”

 

Eleanor was taken aback. Sometimes she inadvertently spits out common sense from her past life.

 

“In the past… I read it in a book.”

 

“What book?”

 

Eleanor, who had been turning her eyes, hurriedly turned her words around.

 

“Oh, there was something I wanted to ask when I met you.”

 

“What?”

 

“Do you know Princess Izent well?”

 

“I don’t. I did see her a few times though. She’s an investor.”

 

Adrian shrugged his shoulders once.

 

“But why?”

 

“I got an invitation to her tea party next month. I have an appointment, so I think I should go, but I’m not sure what kind of person she is.”

 

Eleanor scratched her cheek.

 

“That’s a good thing. It’s not easy to be invited to a party held by Princess Izent.”

 

“Really?”

 

“It will be a good opportunity to expand your connection. You have no idea how many people want to be in that gathering.”

 

“Connection…”

 

I don’t really want to use it.

 

Unlike the timid Eleanor, Adrian seemed quite happy.

 

“What kind of person is the Princess?”

 

“Well. I don’t have any particularly bad memories. She was kind…”

 

“Not very helpful information. Is there anyone who isn’t kind to you?”

 

Adrian let out a low laugh as Eleanor pursed her lips. That’s right, it’s not that common.

 

Just then, the door opened slightly. Adrian turned his head. The child they saw earlier was secretly watching the two of them through a crack in the door.

 

“Hess?”

 

Adrian called the child.

 

“Do you want to come in?”

 

After hesitating for a moment, Hess hesitantly entered the room. Her chubby cheeks like a squirrel and the crooked bangs were cute.

 

Adrian lifted Hess up and sat her down on the sofa.

 

“How old is Hess?”

 

He asked and Hess started wiggling her fingers. Hess, who had wrinkled her forehead and wriggled for a long time with a serious face, barely folded her little fingers.

 

“Four years old?”

 

“Yesh.”

 

Adrian bent his eyes and smiled broadly. Hess couldn’t take his eyes off Adrian, as if she liked him.

 

Eleanor spoke in a laughing voice.

 

“Hess seems to like you. She’s not even looking at me.”

 

“I’m getting quite proud, you know?”

 

Adrian responded, matching Hess’ hand gestures. Hess, who at first was shy to even enter the room, was sitting on Adrian’s lap at one point, humming her hum.

 

Seeing the two friendly faces, Eleanor blurted out.

 

“I think you’ll be a really good dad later on.”

 

Thump.

 

Adrian’s heart sank at Eleanor’s meaningless words. His gaze drifted slowly toward her.

 

Adrian pretended to be as nonchalant as possible and answered in a calm voice.

 

“Perhaps. I like children, and they like me.”

 

Adrian glanced at Eleanor and opened his mouth insinuatingly.

 

“But you know what?”

 

“What is that?”

 

“I can do a lot better than that as a husband.”

 

Eleanor’s eyes widened, and Adrian smiled, twitching the bridge of his nose as if he were joking.

 

Eleanor jerked her head away as if she hadn’t heard. Her  ears were burning red.

 

The door opened at just the right time, and Arthur, the owner of the printing shop, entered.

 

“I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”

 

“No. You came at just the right time!”

 

Eleanor jumped up from her seat and warmly welcomed him. At this moment, Eleanor felt like he was a savior.

 

“Can we see the printing process?”

 

“Of course. Shall we go?”

 

Eleanor creaked and took the lead. Adrian followed her and let out a small sigh. Approaching the shy girl wasn’t as easy as he thought.

 

“There’s also a way to change the ink, but the price difference is quite large.”

 

“To what extent?”

 

Hearing Arthur’s answer, Adrian shook his head. Eleanor stood still, lost in her thoughts.

 

“It would be better to hire another inspector and take some more margin.”

 

“I’ve even talked about it with Eleanor, but…”

 

Adrian looked in Eleanor’s direction.

 

“Eleanor, what do you think?”

 

She met his eyes.

 

“Hm?”

 

“Is it better to do what I said earlier?”

 

“That’s fine too, but… I don’t think it’s a fundamental solution.”

 

Eleanor stared at the scenery inside the print shop, lost in her thoughts again. One of the employees was seen loading and carrying the prints onto a cart.

 

Suddenly, a small idea flashed in Eleanor’s head.

 

“Or how about this?”