Chapter 19

At that moment, Hazel suddenly raised her head. Enoch, startled by the sudden closeness of her face, coughed and leaned back.  

“Do you know how much I struggled to adjust at first? I stayed up all night preparing, only for most days to end up being completely unhelpful! But you, you’re good at it as soon as you start!”  

“Then should I do worse than I am now?”  

“What are you talking about? Students have the right to quality lessons! How many chances do they get to take classes from someone like the Imperial Knight Order’s Commander?”  

Hazel glared fiercely at him. Though she didn’t look particularly intimidating, her gaze was filled with sincerity, even if she had gotten the title wrong.  

“I’m not the commander of the Knight Order; I’m the aide to the commander.”  

“That’s not the point right now! Either way, the name of the Imperial Knight Order carries weight! Taking a class from the Imperial Knight Order’s Commander is a huge deal!”  

“I said I’m the aide to the commander.”  

“Be quiet! Don’t argue with me!”  

Perhaps annoyed by Enoch’s meticulous corrections, Hazel reached out and clamped her hand over his mouth. Enoch gently removed her hand and spoke.  

“Hazel, are you really a liberal arts professor? There’s nothing liberal or artsy about your behavior right now.”  

“…This isn’t the Academy, so it’s fine.”  

Pouting her lips, she muttered and let out a deep sigh, grabbing her hair with both hands.  

Her golden blonde hair became a mess, but she didn’t seem to care, sighing deeply again and again.  

“I’m really struggling…. Not wearing uniforms is the least of it. Do you know what the students are up to these days?”  

Glancing around cautiously, Hazel gestured for him to come closer. Enoch leaned in, thinking she wanted him to hear something, and soon her tiny voice, like the hum of an ant, reached his ear.  

“s*x.”  

Enoch blinked in disbelief. He hadn’t expected to hear such a word from Hazel.  

Whether she didn’t notice his stunned expression or was simply relieved to finally talk about something she had been keeping to herself, Hazel poured out her words all at once.  

“Do you think they only do it in the dorms? They do it anywhere there’s no one around! Indoors, outdoors, it doesn’t matter! And what’s worse is that I always end up witnessing it. If other professors had seen it, it wouldn’t have been so hard…. They wouldn’t all just pretend they didn’t see it, right?”  

After rambling for a while, Hazel let out a sob and slumped over the table. Her shoulders trembled as she cried, and Enoch felt a pang of pity for her.  

But at the same time, he couldn’t help but wonder how she could be so naive.  

Even in the past, it had been common for students to sneak off to find secluded places. It was only natural. With young, energetic students sharing the same space, sparks were bound to fly.  

Of course, Enoch himself had never been involved with anyone. He had no desire to reveal his peculiar tendencies, nor had he ever felt the need to engage with someone.  

Perhaps that’s why Hazel had thought well of him. Unlike the troublemakers, he had been a diligent and upright student uninterested in rebellion.  

‘…Well, good for her, I suppose.’  

Since it wasn’t particularly relevant to the current situation, Enoch kept his thoughts to himself. Regardless, it was clear she was struggling, so he patted her shoulder to comfort her.  

“So, you’re saying you saw students having s*x outdoors? And it upset you to witness it?”  

“Yes! That’s it! Do you finally understand how hard it’s been for me?”  

Hazel’s face, red with frustration, shot up again. Feeling as though he shouldn’t be looking, Enoch instinctively averted his gaze.  

“I understand wanting to do it, but they’re still so young. And it’s at school, for goodness’ sake! I’d be relieved if they were at least practicing contraception, but do you think they’re doing it properly?!”  

Growing increasingly agitated, she slammed the table with her fist. Enoch carefully took her trembling hand in his and replied,  

“You’ve been through a lot.”  

“They can do whatever they want, fine. But what about me? I have to meet their guardians and discuss their futures! Every time I see those guardians, I keep remembering those scenes, and it’s driving me crazy! Why do I have such a good memory? I wish I could just forget everything!”  

Hazel’s brows furrowed deeply. Her face, half-crying, made Enoch feel a strange tension in his lower body. It was unavoidable.  

He had a particular attraction to Hazel Hoover.  

However, he didn’t want to make her uncomfortable by letting his desires show in this situation. Given their rocky start, he felt he needed to put in extra effort.  

If she saw him in a better light, there might be a chance for things to improve.  

But the fragile thread of Enoch’s rationality snapped at Hazel’s next words.  

“…I remember everything I did with you, too.”  

Hazel glanced up at Enoch. Her flushed cheeks made it hard to tell whether it was the alcohol or something else, but it was enough to ignite the desire he had been suppressing.  

Without hesitation, Enoch emptied the glass in front of him. Then he reached for Hazel’s glass.  

“What are you doing?”  

She stared at him, confused as to why he was drinking her glass, but Enoch downed it in one gulp. With a loud clink, he set the glass down, startling Hazel.  

“Get up.”  

Rising from his seat, Enoch extended a hand toward Hazel. She hesitated but eventually stood up. As he handed a few coins to a passing server, Enoch took Hazel’s hand.  

“E-Enoch?”  

Sensing something unusual, her voice trembled as she called his name. Enoch smiled faintly and said,  

“Is it okay if you don’t go home tonight?”  

“…What?”  

Her alcohol-clouded mind struggled to process his words. Before she could respond, Enoch led her away. When she stumbled, he scooped her up as if he had been waiting for it.  

How long had it been since she had been carried like this?  

Despite the weight of her dress, Enoch climbed the stairs effortlessly, his expression calm.  

“I need you to open the door. My hands are full.”  

He even bent his knees slightly to make it easier for her to reach the doorknob. Seeing his expectant expression, Hazel, still confused, opened the door.  

“This place feels like a dormitory.”  

Kicking the door shut behind him, Enoch commented. Hazel nodded. Though much smaller than the Academy dormitories, the atmosphere felt similar.  

“Can you drink some water?”  

After carefully setting her down on the bed, Enoch supported her back as she drank cool water. The refreshing sensation seemed to clear her foggy mind.  

Enoch placed the empty glass on the bedside table and gently caressed Hazel’s still-flushed cheek.  

The soft touch sent a shiver down her spine.  

Why did it feel so sensual, even though it was just the brush of his fingers against her skin? As Hazel swallowed nervously, Enoch suddenly asked,  

“You said you remember what the students did, right?”  

“…What?”  

Startled, she reflexively lifted her head, only to feel dizzy. As she wobbled, Enoch caught her waist, his firm grip making her gasp.  

The sensation of his hand gently stroking her side made Hazel inhale sharply, instantly sobering her up.  

Her heart raced for multiple reasons: the scent of him that made her chest flutter and the anticipation of what might happen next.  

Hazel subtly removed Enoch’s hand from her side.  

“I—I don’t need to actually do it to know, okay.”