She Banished Me Yesterday, But Today She Calls Me Master? - Episode 13
The morning Eltrinde arrived, the principal convened an emergency faculty meeting.
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“Everyone, we cannot afford to make any mistakes today. Lady Eltrinde is known as the ‘Cold-Blooded Princess.’ If something displeases her, we won’t just face budget cuts—this school could be shut down entirely.”
The principal’s voice was grave, laced with ominous warning.
“No way… That can’t be serious…”
A murmur spread among the faculty, but the principal continued.
“This is no joke. There are actual cases where schools have been shut down after upsetting Lady Eltrinde.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me…”
I groaned inwardly. There’s no way my stepsister would go that far… or so I wanted to believe. But remembering how she exiled me, I wasn’t so sure anymore.
“Now, let’s do a final check before the inspection. Have all classrooms been cleaned?”
“Yes, we had all the students mobilized. Everything’s spotless.”
“Lesson plans?”
“All teachers have submitted theirs.”
“Decorations?”
“We’ve replaced the flowers in the vases and rolled out a red carpet in the hallways.”
Perhaps it was the looming threat of closure, but each teacher answered with visible tension.
“Excellent! And now… Professors Arnold, Chaos, and Asto!”
Hearing my name suddenly called, I nearly jumped out of my seat.
“Your lessons are especially important. Lady Eltrinde will be observing them personally.”
“Of course. I’ll show her the brilliance of my elite instruction,” Arnold boasted.
“No worries here. I’m always fully prepared,” added Chaos.
“Y-Yes. I’ll give it my all too,” I replied, following their lead—though the principal’s gaze felt oddly cold when it landed on me.
“The lesson content is important, yes—but so is appearance. I did request that you dress formally, Professor Asto.”
“Wait—what?”
“I asked Professor Anbie to inform you.”
This was the first I’d heard of it. I let out a bewildered sound. Nobody told me that…!
“I have no issue,” Arnold said smugly, shooting me a condescending smile. “I’m wearing a formal suit embroidered with my family crest—highly regarded even among nobles. Unlike a certain rookie who lacks even basic decorum.”
Sweat prickled at my brow as the principal nodded approvingly at Arnold, then turned back to me.
“Professor Asto, please wear formal attire. You still have time to return home and change, yes?”
“…I’ll manage somehow.”
“If you really can’t find anything suitable, consult me. I can lend you a spare, though it may not fit perfectly.”
“Thank you.”
I thanked Professor Chaos, but inwardly, I hesitated. I used to own formalwear, but it was confiscated when I was exiled. It’d feel wrong to borrow something… Maybe I should rush out and buy new clothes?
As the meeting ended and teachers dispersed, Anbie approached me.
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“Professor Asto, something on your mind?”
“Yeah, sort of…”
“I see… Would you like to grope my chest?”
“You should really value your chastity a little more! And—wait, more importantly, no one told me I needed to wear formalwear today!”
As Anbie began unbuttoning her jacket, I hurried to stop her. She remained expressionless as she replied.
“Of course. I never said anything. Here, take this.”
“Huh? What’s this bag?”
“It was delivered for you, so I accepted it on your behalf. Don’t you recall ordering anything?”
“Not at all…”
Opening the carefully wrapped package, I gasped. Inside was a formal outfit that looked exceptionally expensive.
“This is…?”
“A gift from someone. Please accept it without hesitation.”
It all seemed very suspicious, but I didn’t have any other options. As I hesitantly put on the expensive-looking attire, noise erupted from the entrance.
Looks like Eltrinde had arrived.
With nerves tightening in my chest, I headed to the front gate.
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★★★
Let’s turn back the clock a little. This takes place before Eltrinde learned of her brother’s true feelings toward her—when she was at her most giddy, just happy to be able to see the real him.
In her private chambers at the royal palace, Eltrinde was preparing paperwork for her inspection of Asto’s school. As she flipped through the report Anbie had brought, a sudden idea lit up her face.
“Anbie, I have a favor to ask. My brother doesn’t seem to own any formalwear, so I want to gift him this.”
“…Why do you know what kind of clothes Professor Asto owns?”
“I’m his slave. It’s only natural I’d know that much.”
“…In my homeland, we call that a stalker.”
Ignoring Anbie’s alarmed look, Eltrinde stood up and opened a large closet. From its depths, she pulled out an elegant suit made of high-quality, deep navy fabric. The golden embroidery on the collar and cuffs was
refined and regal.
“This is perfect. He has to wear this for the inspection.”
“…That outfit…”
“I had it custom-made by the royal palace’s tailor. I described my brother’s measurements based on what I remembered from our last night sleeping beside each other—it should fit perfectly.”
Hugging the formalwear to her chest, Eltrinde closed her eyes.
“He’s going to look so wonderful in this…”
Her cheeks flushed a delicate pink.
“The way his neckline peeks from the collar… the broad shoulders… and that fitted cut that flatters his waistline…”
She gently caressed the suit with dreamy reverence, completely absorbed in her fantasy.
“Him standing before the class in this—so confident, so composed… The female students won’t be able to take their eyes off him…”
Then her expression darkened.
“But that would be a problem. I have no intention of sharing my brother with those girls.”
Still, she quickly softened, returning to her dazed smile.
“…Though perhaps letting them glimpse just a little of his charm—what only I truly know—wouldn’t be so bad.”
As Eltrinde grinned to herself, Anbie finally interjected with weary resignation.
“Lady Eltrinde, how exactly do you plan on delivering that outfit to Professor Asto? I doubt he’d accept such a gift from a stranger.”
Eltrinde blinked as though just realizing the issue.
“Ah… you’re right.”
She paused, then firmed her expression with sudden resolve.
“Anbie, I have a request.”
“Yes, what is it?”
“Could you convince my brother to wear this? He’s kind and soft-hearted—he won’t refuse a lady’s request.”
Anbie hesitated for a brief moment, then nodded at Eltrinde’s earnest expression.
“Understood. I’ll make sure he wears it.”
Eltrinde beamed, cradling the formalwear once more.
“I can’t wait to see him looking so handsome again…”
Her cheeks reddened, and for just a moment, the black markings on her left arm glowed faintly. That night, Eltrinde blushed over and over again, unable to sleep, lost in thoughts of Asto wearing the suit she had lovingly chosen.