“Yes, everyone, you’ve all worked hard. I’ll be collecting the answer sheets. Please pass them back from the rear of the room to me.”
As the bell signaling the end of the test rang, Tia called out to the people at the very back, asking them to collect the answer sheets. With the afternoon tests all finished, only homeroom remained before the end of the school day.
“Thank you, thank you.”
Tia collected the answer sheets from the students sitting in the back row. Josette was among them. She handed the collected answer sheets to Tia and waved at Kent, who was seated in the front row, as she returned to her seat. Kent waved back in response.
“Kent, you look really happy,” Patty said to Kent, having observed their exchange.
“Do I?”
“Well then, we’ll start homeroom right away.”
Although homeroom hadn’t officially begun, Tia proceeded to start it.
“Um, the test was moved up this time, but since it was unannounced, we will not be announcing the rankings. Of course, there will be no midterm exam, so please don’t get confused. Also, announcements concerning…”
Tia relayed information about the test and a few other announcements.
“That concludes homeroom. Everyone, please be careful on your way home.”
With that, Tia left the classroom.
“Kent, didn’t Teacher Tia wave at you?”
“Hmm, I wonder.”
Before leaving the classroom, Tia had waved at Kent, just as Josette had. Patty looked puzzled, having witnessed this. Kent had also noticed but didn’t wave back, mindful of the other students.
“K-E-N-T. It’s after school!”
Josette called out to Kent. She had a very cheerful expression, which made Kent’s face soften in response.
“Is this really Josette’s usual personality?” Patty asked, looking surprised.
“I’ve always been like this, you know? Patty, what will you be doing after this?”
“I’m going to resume my part-time job starting today. I caused a lot of trouble for the shop, so I need to apologize to Marie,” Patty replied when Josette inquired.
“Are you going to continue working at the bakery, Patty?”
“The Queen also said I should continue, so I intend to, but… are they going to tell me there’s no longer a spot for me?”
“Patty, I understand you’ll continue, but where did you learn such a phrase as ‘no longer a spot for me’?”
It seemed Patty would indeed continue working at the bakery. However, Kent was a little bothered by the last thing she said.
“‘There’s no longer a spot for me’? If that’s the case, Rachel mentioned something like that before. She said it’s something a boss would say when you return to work after a long absence.”
“Marie wouldn’t say something like that.”
As feared, that phrase was something Rachel had put into her head. Seeing how pure individuals were being influenced by Rachel, Kent started to worry.
“Kyaaa!”
As they were discussing this, a sudden chorus of high-pitched screams echoed through the classroom.
“Patty, can I talk to you for a moment?”
“Gordon, what is it?”
Gordon, the kingdom’s 2nd Prince, appeared. With the announcement of his engagement to Patty, the attention of the entire class was now focused on the two of them.
“You’ve changed your way of addressing me.”
“Ah, Kent, I owe you a lot. I intend to repay you for your help another day,” Gordon replied, blushing as Kent commented on it.
“Josette also went to great lengths to help me, didn’t she? I’m grateful.”
“W-well, I may not have been of any help in the end, but it wasn’t for Gordon’s sake,” Josette replied shyly to his words of gratitude.
“So, Gordon, didn’t you have something to discuss with Patty?”
“Oh, right.”
When Kent asked him, Gordon clapped his hands as if remembering.
“I was thinking of accompanying Patty to Marie’s Bakery. Would that be alright?”
“Huh? I don’t really know what to say, but Kent, what should I do?”
Gordon seemed intent on going to Marie’s Bakery with Patty. Unable to make the decision herself, Patty turned to Kent for guidance.
“I don’t think there’s any problem. Right, Josette?”
“Indeed. The Queen sometimes visits incognito, so I don’t think it’s an issue,” Josette added.
“That’s right. It shouldn’t be a problem, should it?”
“Eh?”
Suddenly, a woman’s voice came from behind, startling Kent and the others.
“Ta-da! Principal Teacher has arrived!”
Emerging was the school’s principal, Queen Margaret.
“So the plan is to go right away. Now, what shall we eat today?”
Margaret seemed determined to accompany Kent and the others. Given who she was, they had no choice but to reluctantly head to Marie’s Bakery. Their classmates, who had witnessed the exchange, were surprised to learn that Marie’s Bakery, frequented by commoners, was also visited by royalty.
“I see. So that’s why Auntie is coming along too.”
Before leaving the school, they met up with Rachel and Caro. Rachel didn’t seem particularly nervous, but Caro was trembling uncontrollably.
“W-without any guards, the Queen and the Prince are accompanying you. If anything happens, our heads will roll.”
Caro seemed very anxious about the situation, with the Queen and Prince traveling without any protection. Margaret, seemingly having fulfilled her duties as school principal, was not wearing flashy attire and wore clothes that wouldn’t look out of place walking in the town. However, as she wasn’t disguised, students who saw her were surprised and parted to let her pass, bowing their heads.
“Caro, you don’t need to worry so much. Believe it or not, I’m a magic user. I can deal with any thug with just a flick of my finger.”
As Margaret said, she was one of the few magic users in the country. Unless she was extremely careless, she could handle any attack, so she confidently told Caro.
“If anything happens, Kent will handle it,” Josette said to the worried Caro.
“Me?”
Kent felt uneasy, wondering if he could properly handle any situation that might arise.
“I’m counting on you, Kent.”
Margaret added playfully, blowing Kent aKiss.
However, as long as they walked along the main street, the town’s治安 was good, and attacks were rare. They chatted and walked, and before long, they arrived at Marie’s Bakery without incident.
“Welco—Huh!”
It was currently a quiet time with few customers. Margaret, taking the lead, burst into Marie’s Bakery. Catherine, who had been lounging idly by the register counter inside, noticed the arrival and quickly straightened up. She then recognized Margaret and was surprised.
“O-Mom! Come here quickly! Ahaha. I lost my composure. Welcome. Welcome to Marie’s Bakery!”
Catherine called out to the workshop before greeting Margaret and Gordon with a forced smile.
“Looking at you, Catherine, you really seem like a baker’s daughter,” Margaret teased.
“It’s not just a feeling, I am genuinely a baker’s daughter!”
Marie then appeared, drawn by Catherine’s loud voice. She rushed over, covered in flour. Upon understanding why she was called, Marie hurried to compose herself.
“Marie, it’s been a while. I’m here as a customer today. I’ll seat myself. Gordon, don’t get in the way of business, come over here.”
“Y-Yes, Mother! Please don’t drag me like that!”
Margaret pulled Gordon by the hand and took a seat at the edge of the dining space.
