CH 23

I looked at the Young Master who was eating the soup with a smile and swallowed a sigh inside.

Even after I left, they tried to persuade him, hoping that he would become the successor, but I never expected him to ask for a class right now. (I’m not sure about this part;;)

This is because he was forced to learn even the basics of writing in the original story as he got older.

It was also possible because the Crown Prince somehow tried to convince him.

‘But at this point, he voluntarily said he would take the successor’s class—’

I was more worried than hard to believe.

‘…The Duchess won’t let it go.’

She is a person who has the purpose of humiliating and insulting Edric and expelling him from the family. She even knew ahead of time a collateral line boy who would succeed him.

If the woman next door, who was trying to poison Edric, had not made a mistake and killed only his mother, she would have held a funeral at a scheduled visit to the slum.

‘She didn’t mean to bring him like this in the first place—.’

Even if the Young Master she brought in this way knew nothing till now and did whatever he wanted, she couldn’t keep silent as long as he openly said that he would take the successor class.

Meanwhile, oil is being poured into the house on fire.

It is said that the Young Master even told the butler to find a tutor as soon as possible.

When I heard the news late, I naturally had no choice but to jump.

‘Without consulting with me—!’

But soon, I thought that there was no way that Madam would graciously listen to his request.

There was no way that the Madam, who had opened her eyes to expel him right away, could have made him take his successor’s class smoothly.

Regardless of whether she uses his health as an excuse, she will try to postpone it by any excuse.

The Young Master seemed to expect that the Madam would listen to this request through the butler since she maintained the attitude of offering extensive external support for him.

‘It can’t be… I need to comfort the Young Master.’

But I was worried for no reason.

This is because the butler delivered the news with a happy face.

“The Young Master will take a really precious teacher.”

The Duchess fulfilled the Young Master’s wish sooner than expected.

According to the butler, it is said that he had brought in a high-profile private tutor who only taught self-control to the great aristocracy.

It is also the highest-level teacher, exclusively teaching the heirs of a family comparable to Denkart.

‘What… Why are you doing this?’

For some reason, I felt uneasy.

She never expresses pity for Edric externally, but her attitude is too much now.

I couldn’t contain my anxiety in front of the butler, who was expecting the relationship between the two of them to improve.

‘…It’s suspicious. Isn’t this a trap?’

I had some sort of intuition.

Because Madam is that kind of person.

‘Then… Should I stop the Young Master now?’

Of course, the Young Master’s heart is great and deserves to be praised, but this is not the time to do it.

‘If only the Duke returns, but I don’t know…’

I struggled hard in my head how the unexpected academic enthusiasm shown by the Young Master would affect the safety of the two of us.

However, the conclusion soon turned to one side.

‘Safety is our top priority right now.’

As long as he lives in good health, he can receive education anytime later.

After waiting for the Young Master to finish eating, I talked to him with difficulty.

“Uhm, Young Master.”

He, who had already been looking at me, quietly waited for my words.

He looked like he’d listen to me no matter what I said— To make people feel more sorry.

I persuaded him with a smile, hiding my nervousness.

“I’m talking about the successor’s class. Why don’t you take it after you get used to the mansion for a month or two? Of course, I’m sure the brilliant Young Master will take the class very well, but still—”

“No, I’m going to do it right now.”

I was taken aback at the firm rejection without any room for reconsideration.

Still, I didn’t know it would be this sharp because the Young Master had been following everything I said recently.

The Young Master’s eyes shook at the sight of my troubled expression, but his thoughts remained unchanged.

He said as he turned his head out the window.

“I will do it no matter what, just so you know.”

This can’t be true—.

Young Master, even when the Crown Prince ask you to study together like that, you were just being sarcastic—.

“Did you want to study so badly?”

As a reader who had binge-watched the novel several times, I couldn’t believe it and asked.

Then he nodded slowly and agreed.

“…Yeah.”

I think he’s lying somehow—.

Looking at him suspiciously, the gaps between his luscious eyebrows that were reflected through the window glass came together.

“I will definitely do it.”

At this point, I couldn’t stop him either.

I don’t know why, but can’t I light a candle to a person who wants to live hard for the first time in his life?

I laughed as if I had lost.

‘…Then I can’t do it.’

Instead, I asked him for a favor.

*****

As expected, the dark side of the Duchess was soon revealed.

“Edric, Oliver Tudor, who will be your teacher, will come tomorrow. He is an excellent and wise man, so learn a lot from him.”

I focused all my attention on my ears, waiting by the door in the study with other maids.

Not anyone else, but she’s the one who killed his mother. It is very difficult to maintain composure in front of such a person for a long time.

Especially if it’s a kid like Edric.

‘…He’s not making any mistakes, is he?’

I became anxious and raised my eyes briefly.

But it was surprising.

I can’t see the expression because it’s from the back, but Edric was nodding slowly.

“But there’s something to keep in mind. You can’t continue your successor’s class except for the teacher who once wrote the pledge.”

‘….!’

I was astonished at the words.

No matter how harsh the settings were for Edric, I couldn’t even think of such a thing.

“It is a very noble tradition of Denkart that those who fail to even keep the basics don’t deserve to go further.”

There was a strange chill hidden in the sweet voice as if honey was added.

In other words, if the teacher is fired or steps down, he will be unable to take part in a successor class and would lose his qualification.

And, that woman was now convinced that Edric wouldn’t be taking the successor class.

I sighed deeply inwardly.

‘Ah… That’s why it’s easy…’

Denkart was described in the original story as a family that kept to a consistently strict tradition, but this was unexpected.

In the original work, Edric refused even a simple class in the first place, so I didn’t know this would happen.

‘…This is driving me crazy.’

Although I expected the trap, I never imagined that it was a trap that couldn’t be removed or beaten.

There’s no way that the Young Master doesn’t know what I felt either.

I lifted my gaze from the nose of my shoe again and looked at his back. His small back was sadly stiff.

However, contrary to my concerns, he showed no signs of displeasure. As before, he just nodded his head once more.

A satisfied smile showed on the Duchess’s face.

My heart grew heavier. However, since the water had already been spilled, there was no turning back.

*****

‘Oliver Tudor—  It’s a familiar name. Was it in the original?’

While thinking about the original story, I suddenly lowered my gaze while pushing the Young Master’s wheelchair.

There were clear nail marks on the palms lightly resting on his knees.

He had held back his anger by clenching his fists until it hurt in the drawing room a while ago.

I couldn’t understand.

Why are you trying to take the successor class while doing this—.

‘I’d rather stay like the original story and aim for the right time—’

“…Rovel.”

I was lost in thought and didn’t hear when the Young Master called me.

It was only when he called again that I came to my senses.

“Ah, yes. Yes, Young Master.”

When I stopped the wheelchair in a hurry, the Young Master looked back at me.

It was a look of anticipation.

I’ve never had this before and been more focused, but he asked something out of the ordinary.

“That…”

“….?”

“When I take a class… Can I read things like stones?”

“…Read stones?”

When I couldn’t understand right away and asked back, he bit his lips. He seemed to regret saying it.

Somehow, he turned his head back to the front with such a look.

“No… Nothing…”

But I quickly figured out what he was talking about.

“Ah… Slate. You are talking about the ancient stone plate. right?”

“….”

It’s obvious to see the ears turning red.

I answered while jokingly dragging the words, saying, “Hmm.”

“Of course it is. That’s the basic knowledge of the head family.”

“….”

“But why?”

The master doesn’t usually see even a single small stone, let alone an ancient stone plate. He has only recently seen my stone-like cookies.

I was curious and waited for the Young Master to say something, but he didn’t say anything.

‘You don’t seem to want to say it.’

If so, it could not be forced.

I eventually pushed the wheelchair again while reading the room.

On the way back, I could see the Young Master clenched and opened his fist several times.

It had a different meaning than before.

Surprisingly, he looked excited.