The Marquis' Daughter, a Research Enthusiast, Fails to Notice Her Junior's Devoted Feelings After Her Engagement is Broken. - Chapter 1.14

Today was the cultural festival at the Lazafest Royal Academy.

As a teacher, my job was to patrol the school and ensure that students didn’t get too carried away. However, since I was only a temporary instructor, my responsibilities weren’t particularly demanding.

The festival allowed entry to students’ family members up to second-degree relatives, meaning not only parents but also many grandparents were in attendance.

Upon entering, I received a pamphlet detailing the festival’s schedule and a map of the various food stalls.

The baron’s daughter’s performance was scheduled for the center stage in the afternoon.

Apparently, participants could perform anything within a five-minute time frame—not just singing but also acts like pantomime or small theatrical plays.

The rankings would be determined through a popularity vote, and the winner would receive a cafeteria meal voucher.

So this was what she was so determined to win? Was the free meal that important to her? Hmm…

For now, I decided to check out the events featuring His Highness and his attendants while making my rounds.

However, as I tried to move, I found myself constantly stopped by students calling out to me from all directions.

Most of them were female students, eagerly offering me food from their class stalls and trying to drag me along. The situation quickly escalated into a competition among them.

Just as I thought things were getting out of hand, a sharp clap clap rang through the air.

A poised figure with golden ringlet curls stepped forward.

“Ladies! You’re troubling the professor. A true lady wouldn’t resort to aggressive customer solicitation, now would she?”

Mary swept her gaze across the crowd, causing the surrounding students to immediately back off.

“Honestly… Professor Emil, if you wander around so carelessly, you’re an easy target. You should be more mindful of your own safety.”

“Thank you, I appreciate the help, Lady Mary.”

“We were just about to visit the student council’s stall. Would you care to join us, Professor?”

Realizing that the same situation might happen again if I stayed alone, I immediately agreed and accompanied them.

✳ ✳ ✳

The student council’s stall was located near the center stage, slightly off to the side. It was a prime location, bustling with foot traffic.

Their stall was selling something called takoyaki.

Neither His Highness nor the baron’s daughter was present, but Simon was there, focused entirely on his task. With a towel tied around his head, he was skillfully flipping round, golden-brown treats on the griddle.

His movements were quick and precise—he must have practiced.

Normally, nobles who attended this academy wouldn’t cook themselves; even the other stalls mostly had students instructing hired chefs.

This seemed to be more of a performance-style setup.

Given Simon’s good looks, a long line of female students had gathered, watching him cook while squealing in admiration.

We joined the line as well.

“…Nathaniel isn’t here…”

Mary visibly deflated.

“Let’s ask Sir Simon. They have assigned shifts, after all.”

Her friends, Charlotte and Françoise, tried to console her.

“Allow me to buy for everyone. So don’t be too downhearted, alright?”

“Oh my… Professor, how kind of you. Isn’t that wonderful, Lady Mary?”

“Just keep it between us, alright? Consider it a small thanks for your help earlier.”

“Fufu… Thank you.”

I had planned to pay from the beginning, but this way, I avoided making it seem like special treatment.

With Mary slightly cheered up, our turn arrived surprisingly quickly.

While placing my order, I casually asked about Nathaniel’s shift.

“I was told not to give out that information.”

Simon answered curtly without even looking up.

Mary, however, stepped forward and held her ground.

“I am Mary Downing, Nathaniel’s fiancée. Even so, you won’t tell me?”

Simon handed over four servings of takoyaki.

“If Nathaniel wanted you to know, he would have told you himself. Since he hasn’t, it means he doesn’t want you to know.”

“How rude! Mary!”

Her friends flared up in anger, but Mary raised a hand to stop them.

“I apologize for troubling you during your busy time.”

She gave a perfectly composed bow and walked away.

✳ ✳ ✳

We found an empty table nearby and set down the takoyaki, but no one touched their food. Instead, all eyes were on Mary.

“Mary…”

“Oh, I’m fine. This isn’t the first time I haven’t been informed of his schedule. Now, let’s try this ‘takoyaki,’ shall we?”

“Y-Yes… But how are we supposed to eat it? There are no forks or knives.”

The takoyaki came with a single small wooden stick. None of us knew how to use it.

I flagged down a temporary server working the event and requested forks and knives.

“Thank you, Professor.”

The young ladies smiled and began eating their takoyaki using the utensils.

“Oh, it’s hot inside!”

“It’s quite delicious once it cools down. The sauce has such a unique taste.”

“Did His Highness come up with this dish? Or was it Nathaniel?”

“It must have been Nathaniel!”

Her friends tried to keep the conversation lively, but Mary only smiled softly as she chewed.

“Mary…”

“I’m sorry for worrying you all. I just need to freshen up a bit.”

She gracefully stood up and headed toward the restroom.

✳ ✳ ✳

“Mary…! Professor, we should go.”

“Go ahead. She’ll need her friends more than anything right now.”

After watching them rush after her, I asked a nearby staff member to clear the table and made my way to the academy rooftop.

✳ ✳ ✳

The rooftop was empty, and I let out a small sigh of relief.

If I moved around too much, I’d get caught up with more students, so it was best to be selective.

I quietly chanted a spell and activated a magnification spell.

Scanning the academy grounds, I soon spotted a distinctive head of pink hair at the outskirts of the festival.

Thank goodness for rare hair colors.

Standing beside her was—probably—Nathaniel.

I activated a sound-enhancing spell as well, but they were too far away for me to hear anything clearly.

Without wasting a moment, I hurried down the stairs and made my way toward them.

When I arrived, I found Nathaniel and the baron’s daughter—along with Mary and her friends—facing each other.

It seemed I had walked right into a confrontation.