“Oh? You know Kent, Tia?” Brook asked Tia, having overheard their conversation.
“Yes. He was a student in the class I was teaching at the academy. Well, *was* teaching is more accurate,” Tia replied.
“I see. In this country, everyone has to attend the academy in the Royal Capital when they come of age, so it makes sense that you would have met at school if Kent was a student. But the way you say it, you’ve really resigned as a teacher.” Brook said to Tia with a slightly disappointed expression.
“My father and mother supported me, and I became the teacher I always dreamed of, but I am truly sorry to have resigned so soon.”
“You’ve made your own decision as a grown adult. It’s not for me or Brook to interfere.”
“I was surprised when I received your letter saying you were quitting teaching and coming home, but I share Parker’s thoughts.”
“Father, Mother. Thank you.” Tia expressed her gratitude to her parents, tears welling up in her eyes.
“By the way, what happened to your glasses?” Parker asked.
“I was wondering about that too. From what I can see, you’re not bumping into trees or walls, so you seem to be able to see?” Kent and Brook asked. Tia had poor eyesight and could only see blurry images without her thick, bottle-bottom glasses. However, now she could see clearly without them, which puzzled Parker and Brook.
“Actually, someone I know who has healing magic treated my eyes, and now I can see clearly even without glasses.”
“Whoa! So being a teacher at the academy means you get treated by people like that, huh?”
“That’s right. I didn’t know there was someone who could solve this without glasses. The world certainly has amazing people in it.” Brook and Parker assumed that Tia’s words implied she had been treated by a renowned individual and had paid a significant sum for it. However, in reality, it was Mike, the shop-attached fairy at Marie’s Bakery No. 2, who healed Tia’s eyes, and the cost was practically nothing.
“Still, even as my own daughter, you’ve become very beautiful. You’d be fine to marry off anywhere now.”
“Yes, you’ve become very beautiful, just like me.”
“Wh-what are you saying all of a sudden?” Parker and Brook remarked upon seeing Tia. Her clothes were plain, not much different from the other women in the village, but without glasses, and with makeup she had continued to purchase with her own salary after her academy allowance ran out, she had taken great care of her appearance. This had resulted in her skin being radiant and her hair silky smooth. Combined with her natural good looks, she was a strikingly attractive figure within the village. The surrounding villagers cast curious glances at Tia’s beautified face.
“So, now that you’ve quit being a teacher, there’s no problem with you having a good relationship with Kent, right?”
“That’s right. It’s unacceptable for a teacher and student to be in such a relationship, but now that you’re no longer a teacher, you’re just a young man and woman.”
“Ugh.” Tia was cornered by Parker and Brook’s probing questions and didn’t know how to respond.
“Could it be that the reason you quit teaching is because of that?”
“Myring, I can’t believe our cute daughter would do something like that. Tia is shy and would never take the initiative. Perhaps someone became infatuated with our beautiful daughter and acted unilaterally?”
“I’m sorry. Actually, I’ve fallen for one of my students, and well… I made the first move, so…” Cornered by Brook and Parker, Tia reluctantly revealed the reason she had quit teaching.
“That’s enough. I understand. Kent, please disregard our previous offer.” Brook cut off Tia’s explanation mid-sentence and withdrew their engagement proposal to Kent.
“So you ran away? You were prepared to give up your dream of being a teacher to pursue him, weren’t you? Now that you’re no longer a teacher, there’s no need for hesitation. Go for it and make him yours!”
“But he has an aristocratic fiancée…”
“Then he’s in a position to take multiple wives, isn’t he? Whether as a lover or a concubine, you should be by his side.” Brook admonished Tia in a stern tone.
“Hey now, you don’t have to go that far,” Parker interjected, feeling Brook was being too harsh.
“That’s how I captured Parker’s heart!”
“I’m the son of a farmer, and you’re my childhood friend from the same village…”
“Be quiet. Parker, I don’t care about you.” Parker tried to stop Brook, sensing her harshness, but he was no match for her fiery resolve.
“These things will follow you your whole life. If you make the wrong choice here, Tia will regret it. It’s one thing if you try your best and it doesn’t work out, but I will never forgive you for giving up halfway and running away. The stagecoach you rode in on departs on its return trip tomorrow. You can stay home tonight, but you must return to the Royal Capital on that coach immediately.”
“Mother.”
“You worked hard to become a teacher, and you can do this. It’s simple enough, isn’t it?”
“I understand. I’ll try a little harder.” Encouraged by Brook’s words, Tia regained her motivation. Her expression became filled with the same determination she had when she was striving to become a teacher.
“That’s my good girl. Go for it, Tia.”
“Yes, Mother.” Tia’s spirits were completely lifted as Brook stroked her head.
“I seem to have disrupted the mood. I apologize. Kent, if it’s alright with you, I’ll pour you a drink.” Brook then sat down next to Kent, who had been left out of the conversation, and poured him a drink.
“Well, I suppose it can’t be helped tonight. Kent, tonight is a festival. Please enjoy the hospitality of my wife.” Parker resigned himself to Brook’s actions, unwilling to neglect their guest of honor.
“Mother, why are you sitting next to Kent and pouring him drinks?”
“Huh? Well, you see…”
“I’m not sure what you mean by ‘you see,’ but I’m at a loss,” Kent replied, confused by Tia’s sudden outburst.
“I’ll pour drinks for Kent-san!”
“Could it be that the object of your affection…?” Brook, seeing Tia’s actions, understood everything and her expression brightened.
“I suppose it can’t be helped. We’ll leave the rest to the young people. Hehehe. Go for it, Tia.” Brook handed Tia the bottle of alcohol and moved back to Parker’s side.
“Hey, what’s going on?”
“You’re so dense. The person Tia was talking about is Kent. It seems Kent’s visit to this remote village was to bring our daughter back. It turns out things were already set up without us needing to do anything. We’re just getting in the way here. Come and drink with me.” Brook pulled Parker along, who didn’t quite grasp the situation, and led him to the group of villagers.
“I’m sorry about my boisterous parents.”
“Not at all. I think they’re wonderful parents,” Kent replied. Tia, holding a cup of alcohol, sat on a log of a suitable size next to Kent and apologized for the earlier exchange.
“I’ve also decided to be resolute after what my mother said. Kent-san, what I said at the academy the other day was my true feeling. There are many women around you, Kent-san, but please allow me to join the end of that line. I ask of you.”
“Teacher Tia.”
“Kent-san, I’m not a teacher anymore, so please call me Tia.” Kent addressed her using her title, but Tia protested, puffing out her cheeks slightly, clearly displeased.
“Tia. In my current position, I cannot marry multiple women. However, I will do my best to respond to everyone’s feelings.”
“I believe you can do it, Kent-san.” Kent corrected himself to using Tia’s name and shared the goal he had set while living with Caro.
“Tia, please take care of me from now on.”
“Yes. I am still lacking, but please take care of me.” Kent and Tia clasped hands and spoke to each other.
“Hmm, they’re kissing.”
“That’s right, a smooch right there.”
“That’s right, this is the time to press your advantage.”
“My daughter is leaving me… snivel…” Kent and Tia were lost in their own world, but when they looked up, they saw Hanako, the village chief, and the now-returned Brook and Parker sitting and watching them.
“Uwah!”
“Eek!” Startled, Kent and Tia both tumbled off the log they were sitting on.
