TPOVF 16

Chapter 16

“Will Mother be happy if I study?”

“Of course she will.”

Yurenia quickly pulled out the papers she had prepared. It was a level test to gauge the child’s current abilities.

“I’ll help you. Let’s just do this simple one today.”

Yurenia placed a pen in the child’s small hand and explained step by step.

“This is a test I made to see how smart our young master Kyle is. It’s not difficult—it’s easy. You don’t have to solve all of it, just as much as you want to.”

“It’s easy?”

“Of course. Look, even younger children can solve these problems easily. Right?”

“……”

Kylerus stared silently at the test paper. And then.

Riiip.

He tore the paper in half.

“I won’t do it.”

The boy tossed the pen Yurenia had given him onto the floor. Then, with a flushed face, he stood up and stomped his feet.

“I don’t want to! I said I don’t want to!”

Yurenia let out a small sigh as she watched the defiant child.

‘I was too hasty.’

As she sighed absentmindedly, the child’s shoulders flinched. But Yurenia, who was picking up the torn test paper, failed to notice the frightened Kylerus.

“Then let’s try something else.”

She pulled out a picture book from beside the bed.

It was the book she had read to Kylerus last night before he fell asleep.

“Shall we read the picture book together? Today, why don’t you read it for me, Young Master Kyle?”

“……I don’t want to!”

Thwack!

Kylerus forcefully swatted the picture book away. The book in Yurenia’s hand flew out with a snap.

Crash!

The picture book arced through the air, shattered the window, and was thrown outside.

Whoosh.

The wind that seeped through the broken glass rustled Yurenia’s hair. She stared blankly at the clear sky and murmured as if entranced.

“Just now…….”

What just happened?

She had only asked him to read a book, yet Kylerus had sent the picture book flying.

‘He used magic again.’

Kylerus had probably just tried to snatch the book away. It must have bounced out of her hand because of her constitution.

Just like the mug last time.

“Young Master Kyle, are you hurt?”

Having assessed the situation, Yurenia turned her head.

The boy’s face, which had been slightly flushed just moments ago, was now as red as a ripe tomato.

“I, I didn’t do it on purpose!”

“I know.”

“I, I……!”

Kylerus bit his lip in confusion. Then, with an expression that said “whatever,” he pushed Yurenia’s back.

“Get out!”

“Young Master Kyle?”

“I won’t do it! I said I won’t!”

Yurenia was shoved across the room by the child who was stubbornly pushing her out.

The little boy’s strength wasn’t much, but she couldn’t bring herself to resist.

Because the child was so desperate.

“Young Master Kyle……!”

“I said I won’t! I hate it!”

BANG!

After finally driving Yurenia out, Kylerus slammed the door shut right in front of her face.

‘What should I do now.’

Yurenia stood in the hallway, troubled.

The Duke, whom she could have asked for advice, was absent.

At dinner last night, he had mentioned having an early morning schedule.

“Young Master Kyle!”

Just as Yurenia was pondering how to soothe the child.

A young man’s deep, booming voice pierced her eardrums.

“Young Maaaster!”

Two young men were running from the end of the hallway, searching for Kylerus with fierce momentum.

Enzo, and a man she was seeing for the first time.

The bulging muscles of the crimson-haired man running toward her without a shirt on were extremely intimidating.

‘W-what is this?’

As a startled Yurenia flinched, the crimson-haired man stopped in front of the door and asked.

“What’s going on here?”

“Uh…….”

Yurenia couldn’t find anywhere to look and averted her gaze.

“Yes, what could be going on.”

Why are you running here without clothes on?

And who might you be…….

“Teacheeerr!”

At that moment, Enzo, who had arrived a step late, approached gasping for breath. He grabbed the man’s arm and panted.

“Huff, huff. Has something happened to Young Master Kyle?”

“No, nothing like that.”

Yurenia waved her hands frantically in response to Enzo’s urgent question.

“Phew. Then?”

“We were about to start the lesson, but then……”

“Ah.”

“I thought something had happened.”

As Yurenia explained, Enzo and the strange man simultaneously let out deflated sounds. They exchanged glances and said as if it were nothing.

“It happens often.”

“It’s nothing serious.”

“I see. But…… who might you be?”

Yurenia asked warily, eyeing the half-naked man. Reading her wariness, Enzo let out an exclamation and slapped the man’s broad back with a smack!

“I told you to put on some clothes!”

“Ouch, that stings!”

The man flinched, rubbing his back and feigning pain. Then he snatched Enzo’s jacket and threw it over his shoulders as he spoke.

“Use your words, use your words. I’m sorry, I came straight from the training grounds. You’re Young Master Kyle’s teacher, right? I’m Kiernan Lawton, Captain of the Black Lion Knights.”

“Oh, I see! Hello. I’m Kyle’s private tutor. Please call me Yurenia.”

“Please call me Kiernan as well. I’m always at the training grounds, so feel free to find me whenever you need.”

Kiernan said cheerfully and winked one eye. Before Yurenia could respond, Enzo smacked his back again.

“Tch! Don’t flirt with the teacher!”

“Ah, I get it! Why do you keep hitting the same spot? You’re terrible at swordsmanship but your hands sure are heavy.”

Yurenia watched the two and laughed. It was the first time she had seen Enzo, who always spoke so stiffly and formally, act so comfortably.

Even without any explanation, she could tell he and the Knight Captain were close friends.

“But speaking of which. You said it happens often—has this happened before?”

“Yes, the other teachers who came before you…… also broke several windows. Though this is the first time it’s been this dramatic.”

Kiernan, who was forcing the small jacket onto his body, answered. Enzo glanced at him and lowered his voice.

“Young Master has never attended lessons. I’m sure you were surprised, but please just take it in stride and don’t worry about it. Just continue teaching etiquette lessons as has been done until now.”

“……I see.”

Yurenia looked at the closed door after hearing their explanation.

Come to think of it, on her first day here, the Duke had said something similar.

To provide only the minimum education.

‘Just leave him be?’

Yurenia looked at the closed door, troubled.

Why was everyone so unenthusiastic about Kylerus’s education? Why were they acting as if it was fine to neglect the child?

It made her heart ache.

Making loud noises and causing a ruckus—that was surely a plea for attention.

Telling her to turn away. To teach half-heartedly.

‘I can’t do that.’

She didn’t want to be an indifferent teacher. That wasn’t why she had stayed here.

Yurenia made a firm resolution inwardly and clenched her fist tightly.

‘I messed up again…….’

Kylerus crouched in the corner of the room, clutching his head.

The wind blowing through the broken window repeatedly swelled the curtains and then deflated them.

It was midsummer, so the wind was cool, but Kylerus flinched as if pricked by sharp needles every time the wind brushed against his skin.

‘What if the teacher hates me now?’

Kylerus’s eyes grew hot. The boy roughly rubbed his eyes and surveyed the messy room.

Then his gaze fell on the test paper split in half. After staring at the cruelly torn paper, the boy whipped his head away.

‘I couldn’t help it. If I solved that, I would have been found out.’

Kyle pouted his lips, on the verge of crying. The boy’s chin crumpled as he held back his tears.

‘Is the teacher…… really angry?’

Kylerus’s heart churned as he sat alone in the wide room.

The room that had felt warm and cozy when he was with his teacher now felt unbearably cold and empty.