(EP-140.1) Professor #3
140 – Fairy Professor #3
Me, Mirna, and Professor Stella went to a café in Ark’s campus.
The cafe was built with brown bricks, giving off a warm and cozy feel, which was perfect for couples on a date.
As we entered the serene interior of the café’s second floor, we each ordered a drink and took our seats.
“…….”
Meanwhile, Stella’s eyes were constantly darting everywhere. She looked like a deer cautiously drinking from a pond in a meadow full of predators.
“Tweety.”
─Pireureuk.
She soon summoned a giant blue eagle flying in the sky. And then she whispered into its ear.
“Keep an eye on those collectors.”
─Quiying!
Flapflap.
As I watched the bird fly out the window, it was only then that I remembered why Stella was acting so cautiously.
She owed a huge debt of 500 million coins to the bank. That was why she’d been hiding and being as inconspicuous as possible.
Teureureuk, teureureuk.
Finally, she brought over a folding screen-like object and placed it around us, creating a secluded space. With a satisfied expression, Stella uttered a brief remark, “Good.”
Seeing her so anxious, I couldn’t help but feel anxious myself.
To be honest, I felt a bit uneasy.
Me, Mirna, and Stella Belhawk.
It was an unexpected combination. I had no idea what would unfold from this conversation today.
It felt awkward.
Hureureup.
“So.”
Mirna, who had taken a sip of her white-colored tea, was the first to speak.
“Is it true that you owe 500 million coins? Judging by your attitude, it seems like the debt collectors are looking for your payment.”
“What…?”
Stella’s amber eyes immediately turned to me.
Her glare was basically saying, “Why the hell would you say that?”, so I decided to speak frankly.
“I can’t reject Lady Draco’s questioning, can I?”
“Well, that’s true. But still, this isn’t right. Revealing someone’s secret when they asked for it to be kept. Theo, I’m really disappointed in you. Truly.”
Professor Stella clicked her tongue as if she really was disappointed with me for revealing her secret to Mirna.
But I guessed, it was only natural for her to feel that way.
Promises were built on trust, but I had broken that trust. Though, I thought it turned out for the better.
Professor Stellar’s 500 million coin debt and the problems of the upcoming general meeting were honestly too difficult for me to handle alone.
But.
If I had Mirna’s support, I could see a way out somehow.
So when Mirna pressed me for the truth, I thought that if I played my cards right, I could join both the Draco and Belhawk Family together.
Of course, as to whether Mirna would actually cooperate with Stella or not was still uncertain, but should I say that I felt confident in my own way?
When Mirna questioned me about extramarital affairs, a plan started forming in my mind.
“Theo Gospel. You broke your promise. Apologize.”
Professor Stella’s attitude was firm.
But I pretended to be clueless and asked, “Apologize?”
She said, “Kneel before me and apologize. You have tarnished my honor,” putting on an even stronger condition.
Kneel in front of her…
Honestly, I didn’t think that was enough of a punishment.
I meant, I revealed Stella’s secret to the Young Lady of another great family. If I was in her position, I would have had the loose-mouth get beheaded.
Stella was surprisingly generous.
However, unlike my increase in respect to Stella, Mirna was rather furious.
“Professor Stella, doesn’t the problem root from you breaking into his room in the first place? And you were digging through his belongings. That’s not something a Lady from a great family does in her free time, is it?”
Mirna was defending me on her own terms. I was very moved, but at the same time I couldn’t help but think, ‘Look at her.’ It was almost as if she didn’t just question me like she was going to eat me whole.
In response, Stella simply replied, “Hmph, that’s a different matter. Breaking a promise is breaking a promise. The trust between us is now broken.”
“Tr, trust?”
Trust, broken-. Mirna trembled at these words.
“…….”
And then, she subtly glanced at me. Was she thinking about how she suspected my infidelity in the morning and getting angry?
Mirna didn’t trust me.
As a result, I had also lost trust in Mirna —perhaps that was what she might be thinking?
In a way, Mirna was feeling emotionally indebted towards me. At least, that was my guess.
Aware or unaware of the situation between me and Mirna, Professor Stella added.
“The Belhawk Family has a saying. Trust is like crafted glass, once broken it can’t be put back. Even if you managed to glue it together, it would never be the same as before.”
Seureuk.
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