Terminally-ill Instructor in Romance Fantasy

I stood before the long table.

...the sunlight filtering through the half-drawn curtains, painting lines across the polished surface.

This… was supposed to be a simple club meeting.

A relaxed, comfortable get-together where students could learn cooking, baking...nothing too complicated.

Yet, looking at the stack of files in my hand, I could already feel the weight of regret settling in.

I sighed quietly.

"This should be simple..."

I murmured, flipping open the list.

"Just read the names, confirm attendance, maybe talk about baking schedules.

That's it...easy."

Except, nothing in my life was ever easy.

---

"First name…"

I cleared my throat and read aloud.

"Nox Saint Grenn.

Second year."

The moment his name left my lips, the air in the room shifted.

Heads turned and I didn't even need to look up to know why.

Nox stood from his seat at the far end of the table.

He stood and replied, "...here" and sat back down without saying a word.

He didn't even look me in the eye.

…Right.

That's how it was between us.

Still, I tried.

"So...you did decide to join this club."

"Yes," he replied simply.

I waited for more but nothing came.

"Well..."

I continued, trying to sound casual.

"...it's good to see you taking interest in…extracurriculars.

Although cooking's not exactly what I expected from you."

Nox blinked once his expression neutral.

I decided to flipto the next page just so I wouldn't have to stare at him.

I didn't know why I bothered.

Maybe I was still clinging to the idea that brothers could mend things with small talk.

But no...if anything it felt that the wall that was built long ago keeps on getting new bricks with every encounter.

Next name.

"Leor Dawsen..."

"First year."

'Wait...Dawsen?'

A hand shot up immediately.

A boy with rounded glasses and slightly messy hair stood.

He looked like he'd been waiting his whole life for this moment.

"Present!"

He said, voice cracking slightly. Then he bowed awkwardly.

"Professor Noel, um...hello!"

His enthusiasm was almost blinding.

I blinked.

He was from my Magic Engineering class.

"I… uh, I know this might be sudden but…"

He adjusted his glasses, eyes darting nervously.

"I actually wanted to ask—what exactly will we be doing in the Delights Club?

Is it, like, advanced culinary alchemy? Or...uh...magical pastries?"

"...Pastries?"

I repeated.

He nodded earnestly.

"Yes! I mean, when I saw your name as the supervising professor, I thought...it must involve some kind of precision work!

Maybe ingredient-to-mana ratio research!"

I blinked again.

He looked genuinely excited.

Wait...he applied because of me?

"You… joined this club because of my teaching?"

"Yes!"

He said, smiling so brightly I could almost hear Claire giggle behind me.

"I really admire the way you explain Magic Engineering!

It's… really easy to follow, even for someone like me."

I stared at him for a beat longer than necessary.

"…Ah. I see."

I cleared my throat.

"Well, thank you, Leor.

I'll… do my best to make sure you don't regret that."

He bowed quickly again and sat down, cheeks flushed red.

…Okay...that wasn't too bad.

One enthusiastic student wouldn't hurt.

Maybe this meeting wouldn't be as painful as I thought.

"..."

And then I saw the next name.

My throat went dry.

"…Talia Veloria."

A few seconds later, the soft scrape of a chair echoed through the room.

A girl with long blonde hair stood, her posture very perfect.

Her yellow eyes gleamed faintly under the light and her expression calm.

Of course.

The third holy princess of the Empire.

Talia Veloria.

"Present."

She said politely, offering a small nod.

She was also in my Magic Engineering class.

And one of my class representatives.

I glanced at my paper again.

'Which makes two class representatives present in my club.'

I muttered, looking at Leor and then back to her.

Talia smiled faintly.

"I look forward to working with you."

I nodded, turning the page faster than necessary.

Inside, I could already feel the headache forming.

'...a princess...my brother...'

And I wasn't even halfway done.

Next name.

"Penelope Renee."

A small hand went up near the middle of the table.

The girl who stood had bright red hair tied loosely behind her, red eyes that shimmered softly, and a hesitant expression.

She was wearing a small hearing aid on both ears.

Right… Claire's note mentioned she was partially deaf.

I softened my tone.

"Penelope, correct?"

She nodded.

"I just wanted to confirm...can you hear me clearly?"

After a brief pause, she smiled shyly and nodded again.

"Yes… I can."

Her voice was light and slightly airy, the kind that made people unconsciously lower their tone to match.

She sat back down quietly, hands folded on her lap.

I made a small note beside her name and continued.

"Good. Welcome to the club."

Next.

"Ian Saint Varquees."

A lazy voice replied, "Here."

I looked up to see a boy with bright red hair and piercing blue eyes sitting near the end of the table.

He wasn't wearing his blazer.

His white shirt was half-untucked, his tie loose, and the top button of his shirt open.

My eyebrow twitched, I couldn't tell why but it had to be my character trait [Perfectionist] kicking in.

"Ian.." I said slowly.

"...please fix your tie properly."

He blinked.

"Hm?"

"Your tie."

I repeated.

"...and your shirt.

And where's your blazer?"

He scratched his neck.

"Lost it."

Lost it.

I stared at him for a few seconds and then exhaled.

"You're from the Saint Varquees House, aren't you?"

He grinned slightly.

"Guilty."

"Then I'm sure you can get another blazer."

"The academy requires full uniform before noon.

Please replace it as soon as possible."

Of course...there was another Saint Household member in my club because why wouldn't the universe stuff all of them in my club?

The next few names went by more smoothly.

"Erin Mylar."

"Present!"

"Gavin Loire."

"Yes, sir."

"Risa Avelyn."

A polite bow.

"And Calen Drew."

"Here!"

All decent, manageable students.

My brain was finally cooling down… until the last name.

"Calmia Saint Velmora."

The air shifted again.

A girl with long black hair rose gracefully from her seat near the window.

Her eyes were deep crimson catching the sunlight and her smile was… slow.

"Calmia Saint Velmora."

She said softly, her tone dripping with charm.

"It's a pleasure to be in one of the senior professor's classes."

She looked like the type to posion you tea and then later apologize while smiling.

And yet again...another person from a Saint Household.

I managed a polite nod before lowering my gaze to the paper again.

And that was it.

Everyone accounted for.

But as I looked up from the list, I couldn't help it...the realization hit like a slap across the face.

Nox Saint Grenn.

Ian Saint Varquees.

Calmia Saint Velmora.

And Talia Veloria.

That was four high-ranking figures from Saint or Imperial households.

Four.

Plus a partially deaf red-haired girl...a commoner prodigy, and four well-off students from noble lines.

Was this… some kind of joke?

I turned my head slowly toward Claire, who was conveniently avoiding eye contact.

You.

You did this.

I could practically feel a vein pulsing on my temple.

Internally, I screamed.

What is this lineup?! Did she pick people out of a main character generator?!

I looked around again.

A royal princess.

Two Saint House heirs.

My estranged brother.

And a partially deaf beauty

I exhaled slowly to the point I laughed internally.

From the outside, I looked composed.

Inside? My soul was halfway across the continent.

'If someone like Lumi had joined this club I would have officially lost it...I'm not even joking.'

"…Alright."

I said finally, closing the list.

"It seems everyone's here."

A few murmurs of acknowledgment echoed.

"Since this is our first official meeting, we'll keep things simple.

The academy will provide us with a designated room specifically for culinary practice.

I'll notify everyone once it's ready."

Leor perked up.

"Will we start with confectionery?"

"…Eventually."

I said.

"For now, we'll focus on the basics—sanitation, safety, ingredients, and learning to not blow up the kitchen."

"Any questions?"

I asked.

None which was good for me...speaking further would only have my already weighed thoughts of the main character's club scramble further.

"Then that's it for today.

I just wanted everyone to meet, familiarize yourselves with each other, and understand that this club while under the Extra-curricular Department is still bound by the Academy's code of conduct."

My voice was steady and authoritative.

On the outside, I was the perfect image of a responsible instructor.

Inside?

I was internally weeping.

I leaned a hand against my forehead, the faint headache returning.

A few strands of hair fell over my eyes. My thoughts tangled in disbelief.

Just why…?

Of all people, why these ones?

Is this what divine punishment feels like?

A student who has a broken and closed off relationship with his brother...the holy princess...a commoner who could potentially be a genius...a partially deaf girl and an entitled deliquent...3 of them from Saint households...

...and not to mention a civil servant of the empire who is their club patron.

I might not have known this RoFan game like my sister Hana did...but anyone has the brains to know this is a line up of major characters.

Claire, standing near the corner, tilted her head.

"Professor Noel? Are you okay?"

Oh, the audacity.

I lowered my hand slowly and gave her a dead stare.

"…Claire."

"Yes?"

"Remind me who chose the members again?"

She blinked innocently.

"You told me to."

"I told you to help choose..."

I said, voice dangerously soft.

"Not summon the empire's political lineup into a cooking club."

She smiled sheepishly.

"Coincidence?"

I breathed in deeply.

Then out.

Then in again.

Terrible Luck, I thought bitterly.

That's what my status says about this character.

Noel tends to find himself in the most absurd situations no matter how simple.

I could already imagine tomorrow's headline.

> "Professor Noel Saint Grenn of the Imperial Academy Forms the Most Dangerous Student Alliance in Academy History."