Chapter 13

‘Well, I doubt it’s just because of that.’

Hearing Ediden’s words, Evelyn couldn’t help but let out a long sigh. Now that the nagging nuisance was gone, he was probably just delightedly burying himself in his research of ancient texts.

Only after chatting about this and that for a while longer was she finally able to end the communication with her younger siblings.

“Haa.”

She had called because she missed them, but once the line cut out, a deeper sense of loneliness settled over her.

Lying in bed, Evelyn tossed and turned.

‘Will I really be able to do this well?’

The moment that rebellious little face popped into her mind, a throbbing headache seemed to creep up on her.

“I’ll just have to do well, won’t I…”

The man who had introduced himself as ‘Cael’ earlier that day flitted across her thoughts as well.

“I didn’t expect him to actually give me his real name, though.”

Does he seriously think I’m an idiot?

Evelyn, who had been wearing a dead-serious expression, soon shook her head side to side.

No matter how sorry he might feel, there was no way he would hire her as his nephew’s private tutor while handing over that kind of exorbitant money over a mere apology.

She concluded that the man had simply given her his name without much thought. Or perhaps, since they were bound to run into each other eventually, he just hadn’t seen the need to hide it.

Pitch-black hair, and eyes bluer than the clear morning sky.

In this very castle of Claustra, there was only one single person with features like that.

“It really was a breathtaking color.”

Evelyn closed her eyes.

Yet even after that, it remained a strange night where she tossed and turned for a very long time, unable to fall asleep.

Just what on earth was she supposed to do with that little squirt?

Evelyn slowly blinked her eyes to hide her utterly incredulous reaction.

Whether he had been scolded by someone, the child was actually sitting firmly in his designated seat today. Only… that was literally all he was doing.

“Your Highness.” “…” “Prince Damian.” “…”

Patience, Evelyn. You must endure.

‘He’s my paycheck. He’s my employer’s nephew and the highest-ranking kid in this entire empire.’

This brat pays my salary.

Evelyn maintained a bright, forced smile on her face while chanting the words inwardly.

That child’s entire goal right now is to get under my skin. I can’t fall for it.

I can endure this. I can endure this. I can endu—

“Hmph.”

That little brat, seriously…!

Watching him turn his head away with such an attitude made her blood boil inside.

‘My temper really has died down a lot, hasn’t it?’

A hollow laugh escaped her lips.

If it were her siblings, she would have started lecturing them long ago, but reality dictated that she couldn’t do that here. After taking a few deep breaths, Evelyn finally regained her composure.

Then, acting completely unfazed, she grabbed a chair and dragged it over to the sunny spot by the window, exactly as she had done the previous day.

Watching her actions on the sly, a flustered look washed over Damian’s face.

Sensing his gaze, Evelyn casually cracked open the book to where she had left off yesterday.

‘Let’s go at it, then. Let’s see who wins.’

As she began focusing on the book, a faint, gentle smile curved onto Evelyn’s lips.

Whatever. I’ll just consider this visiting a library that actually pays me to be here.

What is wrong with this woman?

Damian’s reaction went far beyond flustered—he was bordering on complete speechlessness.

After calling out to him a few times and asking questions, the woman had given up as if it were useless, settling into the exact same spot as yesterday and flipping open her book.

She didn’t utter a single word, nor did she look at him. She just kept reading without even raising her head. Now, the tables had completely turned—he was the one staring intently at her instead.

Trill, trill~ Trill, trill~

When all the sand in the hourglass set for their lesson duration finally ran out to the bottom, a clear bird-like chiming sound rang through the room.

While Damian jerked back, startled by the sudden noise, the sharp sound of a book snapping shut echoed through the space.

Just like yesterday, the woman neatly wrapped up her things by returning the chair to its original place, then walked over with a bright smile.

“I shall see you again tomorrow at the same time, Your Highness.”

Bowing her head slightly with an elegant greeting, she hugged the book she had brought against her chest and walked straight out of the room—leaving behind Damian, who was staring right back at her with his mouth agape in sheer disbelief.

Having returned after a week-long demonic beast subjugation, Cael burst into a boisterous laugh upon hearing the whole story.

Having just stepped out after a quick shower, a subtle trace of blood scent still clung to him in his office.

Rousseau, spraying a de-scenting agent with a completely stoic face, racked his memory trying to recall the last time Cael had laughed this hard.

‘I think it was when that bird brought by the southern kingdom’s delegation as a gift ended up yanking off the wig of that royal member. Quite young as he looked, to already be wearing one…’

While most people had chosen silence out of pity at the naturally pathetic sight, the phrase ‘most people’ implied that there was also a lunatic who gleefully leaped at the opportunity.

“Ugh, my head hurts…” “Are you feeling unwell, Baron Million?” “It’s nothing at all…”

Cael, who already held quite a grudge against that man, hadn’t missed the chance.

The sole Grand Duke of Traugia had laughed like a madman while pointing at the bare head gleaming under the sunlight, and the royal member—his face flushing dark red with humiliation—had shouted with bulging neck veins, challenging him to a duel.

It went without saying that under the guise of an ambassador, that lowlife had been subtly harassing young noble ladies of lesser power, and Cael had given him an absolute, resounding beating.

When Rousseau recalled how much of a headache it had been afterward—having to drag him along to get chewed out by the furious Emperor while Cael just stood there smirking—a low groan unconsciously escaped his lips.

Clutching his sour stomach, he darted a glare toward the very culprit responsible for that incident.

“Instead of complaining, go get checked by Doctor Jose. As for Damian and Lady Libro… we’ll keep watching them for a bit longer. I actually like this current situation quite a lot.” “Do you like the young lady, or do you like the situation?” “Both.”

Cael picked up the documents stacked on his desk, answering in a voice that still carried a lingering trace of laughter.

“My troublesome little nephew is probably spinning his wheels trying to figure out how to win, while the lady who holds him in the palm of her hand and pulls his strings is thoroughly entertaining.”

Rousseau watched with a satisfied eye as the pages of the report he had pulled all-nighters to write were flipped through one by one.

Thanks to a superior who gave him far too much task work, he hadn’t seen the light of day for three straight days, but to think there was a reward satisfying enough to melt away all that fury in a single instant—

“Is this the end?”

Huh? Don’t tell me something was missed? That can’t be.

As his chief aide stared blankly back at him, Cael clicked his tongue.

Annoying as he might be, Rousseau Million’s competence was beyond top-tier. If he put this down, it truly meant this was everything…

“What about her mother’s side?” “It ends with the late Viscountess Libro. There don’t seem to be any distant relatives to speak of, as the title was entirely reclaimed by the Imperial Household. Is there something bothering you?” “A little. Look into that side in greater detail. So, how many days have those two been at this now?” “According to the head butler, it has been a week.” “A week?”

He raised a eyebrow slightly as if it was quite unexpected.

“She’s been coming out after doing nothing but reading books for a whole week? Ever since the day I departed for the subjugation?” “Yes. From the third day onward, she even had them bring in a cushioned chair and a small tea table.” “A tea table?”

He was told that various types of tea and tea foods sent up by the kitchen were extravagantly set upon it.

Picturing the red-haired young lady lazily enjoying her reading like a peaceful afternoon tea time naturally brought a smile to his lips.

“This is hardly a laughing matter.” “If a thing like this isn’t funny, what on earth is? Isn’t it entertaining? That nephew of mine must be frantically churning his brain trying to figure out what’s going on.” “…” “My nephew has finally met a proper match.”

Is that really something an adult should say?

Rousseau shook his head, looking at Cael as he stroked his chin with a thoroughly satisfied face.

To think he was so pleased to see his only nephew being played by a new tutor. He truly was a spiteful uncle.

“Be honest, you find it amusing too.” “Not a chance. I, Rousseau Million, am fiercely loyal to the Edmund Imperial House—” “Try dragging the corners of your mouth down before saying that.” “Understood.”

Rousseau forcefully pulled down the corners of his mouth, which had been threatening to soar straight to the sky.

Honestly, how many tutors had the young highness chased out so far?

Every single time, the Grand Duke—no, he, as his aide—had to struggle endlessly to hunt down a replacement tutor, a fact that brought tears to his eyes just thinking about it.

Even so, he wondered if it was really fine to leave things as they were… Wait, why won’t my mouth corners stay down?

“Still, shouldn’t you start taking some measures soon?” “Against whom? My disobedient nephew? Or Lady Libro, who is doing a magnificent job holding her ground in this battle of wits with that troublemaker?” “…”

‘Both of them.’

He barely managed to swallow down the words that had surged right up to the tip of his tongue.

“Leave them be. She’s not an easy lady to deal with.” “Do you know her well?” “Not particularly.” “Then why…” “You know how it is. My instincts are good.” “That is true, but…”

Ultimately, he decided to follow his master’s judgment. No matter how much he fretted and fussed, if this man said it wasn’t a problem, it wasn’t.

“By the way, why does His Majesty keep calling Your Grace for demonic beast subjugations? Doesn’t the Trauzen Order of Knights exist for that exact purpose?”

Rousseau shifted the topic, grumbling his complaints against the Imperial Household.

In any other place, such words would have been treasonous enough to cost him his neck, but neither Cael nor Rousseau paid it any mind.

“Do they ever set rules for such things? They call when they need to.” “Seriously…”

With a face that declared he had plenty to say but would refrain, Rousseau tightly closed his mouth.

“Since I completely wiped them out at the roots, it should be fine for the time being. At least there won’t be any emergency summons like this one for a while.” “I certainly hope so.”

No matter how many knights the Imperial Order had, the Imperial Household would always call upon the Grand Duke whenever necessary. With his unmatched martial prowess, they could achieve maximum results with minimal sacrifice.

Knowing the answer all too well yet putting on an act of playing blind, Rousseau let out one sigh after another.