The Witch and the Nightingale Meet at Midnight

(A genius "witch" with troubles she can't talk about) x (a blackened) sweet-talking Border Collie. A dark comedy about a female teacher and her male student, in which a forced romance doesn't succeed. The blurb makes more sense after reading the ending

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The woman in the portrait is his teacher, his mistress, his first love, his wife, his...

But if she could appear before him again, he'd be willing to be nothing more than her nightingale.

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-A letter anonymously sent to the sheriff-

"As the last head of the Shelley family, I confess to the following crimes:

First, poisoning my own blood relatives. This wasn't a means of securing my succession. It was my original goal.

Second, framing others. The various potions circulating in the royal capital came from me, but who was the one slipping them into people's drinks?

Third, forcing a witch into marriage. Ignorance was my greatest sin, but even if I could live it over, I'd make the same mistake again.

Because I know she's waiting for me in hell."

-A treasured item hidden deep in a certain suitcase-

"To my disobedient little bird:

I can be your foster mother, your teacher, or your friend, but I can never be your lover.

I wonder what went wrong with my teaching. You turned out neither a devout believer like your mother nor a scoundrel worse than your father. But since you're the person you are, I suppose I do like you a little.

Don't hope for anything more than that. If you can manage it, try looking for me.

Perhaps one midnight, we'll meet again."

[Important notes]

1. Happy ending.

2. The first volume is mainly from the hero's perspective; the second is from the heroine's.

3. There is no magic.

Theme: Keep a bright heart and be a good person.