Chapter 22
“What? Isn’t that Serena?”
The woman who spotted Serena widened her eyes.
That bright smile she always had, and even when she dressed nicely, she still looked shabby in the end—
Serena looked exactly the same as Erelia remembered.
“Serena? Ah~ I remember. The eternal second place.”
“But she’s poor. There’s no way she could come to a place like this.”
Erelia glanced at Serena and chatted with her group. Back in their academy days, she used to run into Serena often.
They weren’t on good terms. Whenever Erelia saw Serena, she would pick a fight. Serena had good grades but came from a poor family, so she was an easy target.
But—
[Wow, you’re wearing that again? Don’t people remember you for your clothes instead of your face?]
[Oh, this? It’s cheap and durable, so I bought five. I’ll keep wearing it often.]
[You don’t need a diploma, you need a paycheck. Stop wasting time and go earn money.]
[I’m working hard too. Thanks for worrying about me!]
Even when she was openly mocked, Serena stayed calm. That attitude, like nothing affected her, always annoyed Erelia.
Maybe she heard them whispering. Serena recognized Erelia and walked over.
“Erelia! Long time no see. You’ve been well, right?”
Serena reached out her hand as if to shake, but Erelia scoffed.
“Happy to see me? Ha, don’t make me laugh.”
“You haven’t changed at all, Erelia.”
“Look who’s talking.”
Erelia narrowed her eyes and looked Serena up and down, as if judging her worth.
Already aware that her outfit didn’t suit the place, Serena gave an awkward smile.
“Ah, I came here suddenly…”
“Of course you did.”
Erelia clicked her tongue. She was already irritated because orders were piling up today. It seemed like they had brought in just anyone as temporary staff.
“I rang the bell so many times. Why are you only coming now?”
“Hm? Maybe the kitchen is busy?”
Erelia pushed her soup bowl harshly. It didn’t spill over, but a few drops splashed onto the lace tablecloth.
“The soup is cold. Take it back and heat it up right now!”
“Huh?”
“What, are my words a joke to you? I’m a regular here, a regular!”
Erelia raised her voice. Serena blinked, confused.
“So slow. This place must be going downhill. Bringing someone like you, even if they’re busy…”
Erelia muttered mockingly.
‘Even if she studied well, she’s still just a poor noble with no connections. In the end, she’s just carrying plates in a restaurant.’
Erelia was certain Serena was a temporary worker. This restaurant was far too high-class for Serena to be here as a guest.
“Everyone seems busy. If the soup is cold, you could just eat it as it is.”
“Are you done talking? You expect me to eat this?”
Erelia stood up angrily. People started watching. Her companions called out, “Erel!” but she ignored them.
“Not everything in the world will go your way. Sometimes, even if you don’t like it, you should learn to be satisfied.”
Serena spoke gently, as if calming a child. That attitude only irritated Erelia more.
“You—!”
Erelia threw the soup bowl at Serena.
The bowl flew through the air and hit Serena in the chest. Red stains spread across her white clothes.
“Someone stop her…”
“She’s that famous count’s daughter. Who can stop her?”
People whispered among themselves.
“You think we’re still academy students?”
“Erel, stop!”
Her friends tried to stop her, but this was a chance.
Erelia had always hated Serena. When she bullied others, they would cry and apologize—but Serena never did.
[You’re really something. No matter what, you can’t be first. Were you born to be second place?]
[Maybe. But it’s fine. Second place still gets a full scholarship.]
‘Annoying girl!’
Even though she was just second, professors liked her. And now, look at her.
Erelia smirked.
“Know your place. I’m a count’s daughter with a bright future, and you’re just a lowly worker carrying food!”
“No, that’s not true.”
A small, cute voice interrupted.
People turned toward the sound.
“Our Teacher Serena is actually an amazing person!”
“Teacher isn’t coming.”
“She’ll come soon.”
“She’s not here. I’m bored.”
Solphy shook her empty glass. She had finished her orange juice, but Serena still hadn’t returned.
“Maybe she got lost. Let’s go find her!”
Jumping off the soft chair, Solphy whispered to Marcelo.
“Teacher Serena is actually bad with directions. It’s her weakness, so don’t tell anyone.”
“If she gets lost, how does she go on field trips?”
“Well… this is a super secret.”
Solphy lowered her voice even more.
“There’s a kid in our class named Hakona. He’s like a human map. Once he sees a map, he remembers everything. So on trips, he always stays next to the teacher.”
Marcelo chuckled. After seeing how well Serena guided them at the exhibition, it sounded more like an excuse to keep that kid close.
Holding Solphy’s hand, Marcelo went to look for Serena. She wasn’t even in the restroom.
“Where did she go?”
While searching—
“I’m a count’s daughter with a bright future, and you’re just a lowly worker carrying food!”
They saw someone yelling at Serena.
‘That’s Erelia Rosewin.’
Marcelo recognized her. A count’s daughter known for bullying anyone who annoyed her.
There was a red stain on Serena’s clothes. It looked like Erelia had thrown something.
‘The Giraffe Class teacher is my guest.’
Marcelo stepped forward, unable to ignore it.
“No, that’s not true.”
Solphy shouted.
Her voice carried quiet anger.
“Our Teacher Serena is an amazing person!”
She stomped forward and pointed at Erelia.
“Big sister, how can you throw food just because you don’t want to eat it? Even Kinan, who says he’d rather die than eat carrots, doesn’t throw his bowl!”
“Solphy…”
Serena looked flustered.
“You’re worse than a seven-year-old from our Giraffe Class.”
Solphy continued firmly.
“Do you know how hard the farmer worked to grow the tomatoes in that soup? And the cook must have worked hard, sweating while making it, hoping you would enjoy it!”
“So what? I paid for this soup.”
“Wow… you’re really terrible.”
Solphy was angry.
Serena hadn’t even planned to come here. She had only come because of Solphy.
‘So it’s my responsibility too.’
‘I’ll protect her. My teacher… my future mom!’
Solphy placed her hands on her hips and looked up at Erelia.
“Our Teacher Serena is amazing! She made Kinan eat carrots even though he cried every time he saw them. And Rico, who always left bread, now eats everything and even got chubbier!”
It was true. Back in Penguin Class, mealtime was chaos. But after meeting Serena in Giraffe Class, the children changed.
Even if they disliked food, they tried at least one bite. They learned why they disliked something. They even grew vegetables themselves to get used to them.
Those changes came from effort.
“You should come to kindergarten and learn how to eat properly. But not Giraffe Class… start from the five-year-old Hippo Class.”
People watching began to laugh.
Erelia’s face turned red.
“You little—!”
Tap.
Footsteps approached. The restaurant manager appeared.
Erelia scoffed.
“Finally. Do you know how many times I rang the bell? My soup got completely cold!”
The manager ignored her and walked straight to Serena.
“We sincerely apologize, ma’am.”
Ma’am?
Erelia’s eyes widened.
“We will compensate for your clothes.”
“Hey! My soup is cold!”
Bang! Erelia slammed the table.
She was used to this treatment. As the daughter of the wealthy Count Rosewin and a famous gourmet, restaurants always treated her with great care.
“Miss Erelia Rosewin.”
The manager turned to her.
“Ha! Now you talk? It’s too late. I’ll demand compensation. Do you know who I am?”
Erelia thought Serena was just lucky to be here, probably spending all her savings.
But the answer she received shocked her.
“You are no longer allowed to visit this establishment.”
