The Student Guardians Are Obsessed With Me

Aha.

Only then did Eleanor understand exactly what Kaidel meant. His ears were burning red from embarrassment.

Rumors were also unbelievable. Who said that this man was an iron man who wouldn’t bleed even if stabbed, and that he was cold-blooded and devoid of emotions? Eleanor’s fear of him melted away like snow.

“It would be nice for us to visit the Duke’s residence together sometime. If the Duke permits it…”

“Of course. Whenever.”

Kaidel’s face brightened as he immediately nodded.

“Demi would love it. Luke was very excited when he heard that we were going to study at the Imperial Palace.”

“At the Imperial Palace?”

Kaidel, who had been using his body to shade Eleanor from the sun, stopped walking. There was a slight wrinkle between his brows.

“Oh, haven’t you heard? I delivered it last time…”

“I couldn’t hear it.”

“His Highness the Crown Prince decided to spare some time to help the children in their dance class. He allowed us to enter the library, so we decided to visit it together. It’s very grateful, isn’t it?”

Eleanor’s wide smile was bright and radiant. In contrast, a cool shade fell on Kaidel’s face as he stood beside her. He replied in a low voice.

“…He did something uncharacteristic of him.”

“I think he really cares about Luke. He took care of each subject meticulously.”

Ha, bullshit.

A sneer flashed across Kaidel’s face. Eleanor’s gaze shifted away from him for a moment.

Kaidel nodded quietly beside her as she talked about the next class plan. When she looked at him and smiled, he even awkwardly pulled up the corners of his lips. However, her words only passed by Kaidel’s ears like wind. It was because Izmel’s cute and nasty face filled his mind.

‘His intention must be to cheat.’

He was almost certain of that fact. Kaidel knew him as well as Izmel knew Kaidel. Izmel wasn’t one to waste his time for no apparent reason. He was also concerned about how Eleanor and Izmel were conversing with each other.

It wasn’t that he naively believed that there was no other intention. The problem was that he had been paying attention to the Young Marquis Blake so far. He would surely try to boil Eleanor with his foxy face and serpentine tongue.

‘Shall I try to object to classes at the Imperial Palace as a guardian, I wonder.’

A childish thought reared its head inside Kaidel. Then a maid ran over and tipped Eleanor something. Eleanor, who nodded toward the maid, said to Kaidel.

“The children have all arrived. I will get them ready and quickly bring them here.”

“Huh…?”

“I’ll be back soon!”

Leaving the bewildered Kaidel in the open space, Eleanor walked away. Left alone, he only then realized the situation that was about to come upon him.

“…I’m in trouble.”

Kaidel remembered what his father used to say. With every choice comes responsibility. Enchanted by the sparkling green eyes, blinded by petty jealousy toward the Young Marquis, he made an impulsive choice. It was time to take responsibility for it.

His face, which was originally white, turned pale. Dealing with Demian was still difficult, yet to think that there were three terrifying children. Cookie-like beings that will crumble if you grab them by mistake.

Cold sweat ran down his spine, which seemed to have been painstakingly sculpted by God.

“Luke, don’t play with the wooden sword. Give it to me.”

Behind him was the sound of the children and Eleanor getting closer. Kaidel closed his eyes tightly at the sound of children’s voices mingling with each other.

He wanted to go home.

***

‘It’s like a piece of wood.’

That’s what Eleanor felt when she saw Kaidel with the children. Just looking at his back, she could feel his tension and bewilderment. Yet his voice was as calm and cool as usual.

“again. You can’t let the tension go to the end. Give strength to your arms.”

The magnificent dummies, cool atmosphere, and low-pitched voice were definitely not good conditions for dealing with children. Is that all? Kaidel’s voice was as hard as that of a training assistant, and his expression was blunt. Ordinary children would be sick just standing in front of him.

‘But fortunately, these three aren’t normal children. Well, of course not.’

Kaidel doesn’t seem to think so at all, but he’s quite compatible with the kids. At first, Eleanor, who was very nervous and paced behind him, at some point sat in the shade of an oak tree and began to observe the class leisurely.

Lucas was out in the open for the first time in a while and seemed happy. Sienna, as always, eagerly followed Kaidel’s lead, and Demian pretended not to, but kept glancing at his brother, making her laugh bashfully.

“Great. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to relax like this.”

Eleanor relaxed her shoulders as she sipped the iced tea the maid had brought. Thanks to Kaidel, it had been a long time since she had a chance to enjoy it. A fact flashed in Eleanor’s mind as she enjoyed the air, which was quite warm despite the shadows.

“Come to think of it, isn’t it my birthday soon?”

She almost forgot her birthday as she was living a hectic life these days.

In the previous life, lecturer Go Yeo-Jin’s birthday was nothing special, it was just a day that flowed the same way. It wasn’t until she saw the happy birthday messages from the credit card company and the shopping mall that she just said, ‘Oh, today is my birthday.’

She never felt sad about a birthday that wasn’t celebrated. It was a day she couldn’t even remember herself in the first place.

But Eleanor Everett was different. Every year, just as Dwight and Eleanor’s birthdays approached, the atmosphere in the mansion became loud. Count Everett and his wife, as well as the servants of the Count’s house, were all busy preparing gifts for the twins. It was a birthday party like an unusual annual event.

“What are they preparing this time?”

Just a small meal is enough.

‘Adrian will definitely say he’s coming.’

As Eleanor counted the friends she would invite into her head, her eyes met Kaidel’s, who was examining Lucas’ posture. Eleanor’s eyes widened. Kaidel continued the class without taking his eyes off her.

‘Should I invite Kaidel this year too?’

Eleanor shook her head in surprise at the thought, unconsciously raising her head. They were a lot more comfortable than before, but she was definitely not in a place to hang out with him in such a private setting. After all, isn’t he a guardian? The two had a kind of employment relationship.

‘There’s no trouble if I keep a proper distance between work and private life.’

Drawing a strong line between them, Eleanor shook her head. In the first place, it was unlikely that Kaidel would attend such a private event given his personality.

She could see Kaidel sweeping his hair over his forehead and stretching his back. Was it an illusion that his face, which had been straight and tidy until a while ago, had become a little pale?

That’s also true, the children were like rubber balls that didn’t know where to bounce. Even now that she’s used to dealing with children, sometimes it feels overwhelming. If you let go of your mind for a moment, unexpected things happen, and if you focus on one child, the sulky words flow from the side.

Then she met eyes with Kaidel again. Instead of avoiding his gaze, Eleanor smiled broadly at him. It was a smile filled with a little pity and gratitude.

‘Cheer up.’

Eleanor cheered with a puffy mouth. Kaidel visibly flinched.

Can he not see well because of the distance?

Tilting her head, Eleanor stretched out her arms and shook them vigorously as if cheering. After she did, she was a little embarrassed, but since he was the only one who saw it anyway, she decided to be bold.

Kaidel’s eyes, which had been hardened as if a little startled, slowly melted away. He turned his head away from Eleanor, as if to hide his bursting laughter.

‘She’s so cute.’

In that fleeting moment, Eleanor saw Kaidel muttering something. Eleanor, who had been reading his mouth, widened her eyes.

‘Huh…? Did he just say ‘cute’?’

Eleanor put on a dumbfounded expression.

No way. She must have seen it wrong.

Eleanor, who had been staring blankly at Kaidel and the children for a moment, fanned her hands busily to ventilate her mind. The air around her was strangely muggy. Eleanor turned her head away from the children and cast her gaze toward the garden of the Count’s house. Bright yellow flowers were blooming everywhere.

It was spring in full swing.

***

“We can eat the expensive ones, though.”

“I think this is the best. I’ve been everywhere, but there’s no place like this.”

The day she promised Adrian came. She was willing to buy him any amount of meal, even if it was expensive, yet the place Adrian chose was a restaurant they had often visited since childhood.

“Indeed, since you were young, you’ve never had a problem with stew here.”

“It’s the same for you, Ellen.”

“That’s right. Thanks to you, I will try it after a long time.”

Eleanor smiled broadly and tore off a small piece of bread from the basket and put it into her mouth. She was excited when the savory flavor of freshly baked bread filled her mouth pleasantly.

“We used to come at least once a week, remember? You, me, and Dwight…”

“Of course, I remember. I told you to try all the menus here.”

“I would have loved it if Dwight had come too.”

“He can come with us next time.”

Adrian grinned as he pushed the napkin in front of Eleanor. The channels of memories, once opened, continued uninterrupted. The table was filled with delicious food while chatting about old stories without knowing how much time was passing.

Adrian naturally took the plate and sliced the meat. Eleanor, who was looking at him with her chin resting on her hand, said with a smile.

“In the past, I used to cut all the meat for you. You were annoyed at not wanting me to cut everything first.”

“I was. Every time, pretending to be a grown adult, you cheated on my naive self.”

“What do you mean I cheated! And you weren’t even that naive, you know?”

I was a real adult!

As Eleanor became irritated, Adrian added with a mischievous laugh.

“Is that all? As we grew up, you tricked me and let me fall over, yet you didn’t even take responsibility for it. A habitual offender, very much.”

Eleanor’s eyes widened like someone who had heard the most ridiculous story in the world.

“When did that happen? When did I cheat again?”

“Huh, are you going to wash your mouth like this?”

Adrian also burst out laughing as if it was absurd. The two stared at each other as if they were having a snowball fight, feeling an irreconcilable difference in opinion.

It was Adrian who gave in first. After a moment of thought, he pushed his bowl towards Eleanor and parted his lips.

“Then, Ellen.”

Eleanor, who was picking up a cherry tomato from the salad, opened her eyes as if wondering why. Did she get caught picking and eating all the cherry tomatoes by herself? Eleanor’s fork jerked.

Adrian lazily tilted his head and met her eyes.

“This time, bring it here. I’ll take care of you.”