The first few weeks of being a teacher weren't all that bad. Lorena didn't really interact with the other teachers, but she did talk to the students. After getting used to her teaching methods, which were pretty unorthodox [1], the students really warmed up to her. She didn't quite know-how, though, as she always kept her stoic face on around them. Maybe it was her care that she shows for them? She really didn't know.
The important matter was, they asked her for help, and she would give it to them. Whether it was help for other classes, her class, romance, or just advice, she gave them her honest opinion and helped earnestly. Because of this, she became popular very quickly in school. Pretty soon, students from other classes were coming to her about their problems.
Am I just a therapist now? How did I go from being a math teacher to a therapist?
Lorena sighed. She wasn't going to go back on her word now.
About the investigations, she was doing well. Dirty little secrets were being dug up left and right. She tried to not let the results of her investigations affect her teaching, but sometimes she would show favoritism or disdain. What could she do though? She's human, after all.
Currently, Lorena is eating lunch under her tree. Yes, her tree. She sat under it and the students just kept on rolling in.
I should find another spot. This one isn't private anymore...
Originally, this tree was where nobody went. It was hidden away in the back of the garden of the school. Nobody knew about it, and Lorena considered it her haven. Until a student found her.
"Ms. White! I found you!"
Lorena looked up from the book she held in her hands. She deliberately hid during lunch so that she wouldn't be bothered, but she did say she would answer any questions... Lorena was a woman of her word. She couldn't just back out now. She sighed. Stupid morals.
"Hello, Elizabeth. Come, sit."
She patted the grass next to her. Elizabeth nodded and hurriedly sat down next to her. She twisted and clenched the handkerchief she had in her hands as she looked down. The girl was clearly nervous. Of what, exactly? Well, Lorena was about to find out.
"Is there a reason you've come to see me? Are you confused as to what we are learning in class? Do you not understand something? Or do you have more... personal questions?"
That last part she reacted to. She opened her mouth and hesitantly spoke.
"I-I didn't know who else to go to..."
Lorena nodded her head in encouragement. Elizabeth took a deep breath.
"You are aware of my family status, correct?"
Lorena nodded. Elizabeth Rene Greene. Daughter of Marquis Greene. They were pretty high up in the chain.
"Well, I am to be wed to the prince of the neighboring kingdom."
Lorena remembered this event happening in the novel. A Marquis's daughter got married off to the Prince of Brynes. Since Elizabeth and the FL were on bad terms, the FL decides to stage Elizabeth's death. She makes it appear as if she has committed suicide so as to not marry the Prince. Needless to say, the royal family of Brynes is offended and war almost falls upon the two countries.
Luckily, we have the FL who bravely navigates her way to Brynes and befriends the king and queen of Brynes and makes the Prince fall madly in love with her. Lorena really couldn't stand that two-faced bitch. Of course, Marquis Greene and his family are stripped of their title and sent to the streets. A tragic ending, for sure.
I suppose I'll help her...
The worst part of the whole scenario? Elizabeth actually fell in love with the Prince and wanted to get married! Who would've thought so?
"I really don't know what to do! I, by all means, do not want an arranged marriage. I would like to fall in love with a man and spend the rest of my life with him. I don't wish to be married to a horrible man I do not love!"
At this point, Elizabeth was in tears. Lorena's heart went out to the poor girl. Only at the tender age of 15 and she's already being married off. And here she was, a 22-year-old teacher who hadn't even had a boyfriend. Lorena found she really didn't mind though. The thought of acting intimate with another man used to bring her a warm and pleasurable feeling. All she felt now, however, was disgust and a strong sense of uncomfortableness. Like the men in her head weren't quite the right one. She shook off her thoughts, this was Elizabeth's time!
"I'm going to stop you right there. Who says you don't love him? Have you met him? Have you spoken to him face to face and learned how you feel about him?"
Elizabeth looked shocked for a moment. She was so hooked up on the fact that she was to wed a man she had never even met before, that she hadn't even stopped to consider whether or not he could be the one she loved. Was it possible? Would fate give her that kind of luck? She didn't know.
"I-I suppose not... However, I did hear that Prince Louis is a very strict and unreasonable person! He punishes maids for no reason and acts wantonly with other women!"
Lorena sighed. That? Those were lies planted in Elizabeth's head by the FL's subordinates. Truly a sad situation.
"I'll advise you, Elizabeth, do not listen to hearsay. It's scarcely accurate and almost always blown out of proportions. For all we know, he could be simply... misunderstood. Will you be the one person out there that actually understands him?"
Elizabeth thought long and hard about the questions. After a bit of deliberation, she nodded. Determination laced her gaze and she looked at me with gratitude.
"Thank you, Ms. White! I really feel better about getting my troubles off of my chest! I know what to do now. I'll see you during math class!"
With that, Elizabeth ran off.
After Lorena's chat with her, Elizabeth told everybody at the school how much of a help she was. Pretty soon, loads upon loads of girls (and some guys) were visiting her under her tree to ask for advice. Seldomly, would they actually ask a question related to math. There was much speculation as to whether Ms. White was the legendary White Angel the kingdom had heard about, but that wouldn't be confirmed until later.
Sigh. I should really find another hiding spot.