MYKBH 09

Chapter 9

The Countess’s private drawing room.

A simple assortment of desserts and tea had been placed on the table, but Agnes couldn’t bring herself to touch any of it.

Since both Kesenor and Silmare were technically Agnes’s guests, she thought it was only right for her to return to the Laverose estate.

But asking for leave wasn’t easy.

We’ve been connected for so long.

If the Countess of Valdemar hadn’t helped her, Agnes wouldn’t have been able to hold out this long.

How should I put it?

The Countess had always been an intimidating person to deal with.

Yet the thought that everything weighing heavily on her shoulders would finally be resolved made her heart feel a little lighter.

She wanted to tell the Countess everything with a happy heart.

Amy was alive and would be coming home.

And, just as Kesenor had said, she would be bringing back an amount of money equivalent to the Empire’s annual budget, so there was no need to worry anymore.

But Agnes wasn’t foolish enough to casually bring up something like that.

Besides… after I leave, will there even be a tutor willing to teach Leonard and Cedric?

Rumors must have spread everywhere by now.

The Countess always threatened to send the children to boarding school if they didn’t properly attend their lessons.

But Agnes knew that wasn’t truly what the Countess wanted.

The children were still young, and she knew the Countess still wanted to raise them under her own roof.

They’re already embarrassing enough when they’re at home. If they went to boarding school, their shortcomings would be exposed for everyone to see.

That was why it was even harder for Agnes to bring the subject up.

Although the children weren’t easy, the Countess had hired inexperienced Agnes as their tutor.

And she even renewed my contract.

Two years ago.

Agnes had been forced to accept that she had no choice but to give up everything.

She had dismissed all the servants from the estate and sold off everything she could, barely managing to keep going.

But eventually, she could no longer afford the interest and principal payments that came due every month.

So, while she was wondering whether she could surrender all her assets, including her title, to the state and simply ask them to look after Amy, a letter arrived from the Countess of Valdemar.

The letter was surprisingly kind, which left Agnes deeply puzzled.

Valdemar holds the largest portion of our debt. Why would she…?

Whenever she thought about her father, all she could do was sigh.

The Valdemar family had always had frequent dealings with her family, and the two houses had shared a long-standing relationship.

That was why they had willingly lent them money.

But her father had squandered every bit of it on drinking and gambling.

There’s not much left, but most of our territory and property will end up belonging to Valdemar.

It was obvious what would happen.

Agnes and her younger siblings, none of whom had reached adulthood yet, would be scattered to different places, while the state would inspect their remaining assets and distribute them among their creditors.

Naturally, most of it would go to Valdemar.

With a heavy heart, Agnes had visited the Count’s estate.

But the Countess had made an unexpected proposal.

“I’ve heard that you take good care of your younger siblings. And your mother told me long ago how intelligent you are.”

“Our children are so immature that it’s difficult to find a tutor willing to teach them. Would you perhaps be able to do it? They’re still young, so I think it would be enough if you simply played with them and spent time with them.”

Not only that, the Countess arranged a new contract that meant Agnes didn’t have to repay her debts immediately.

Of course, the contract would become a greater burden once Agnes reached adulthood, but at the time, she had been grateful simply for the opportunity to buy some time.

I don’t have to be separated from my siblings.

If that was possible, she was willing to do anything.

At the time, Amy had been only four years old.

There was no way Agnes could send a child who had only just begun speaking properly to some unknown place.

The only thing I got wrong was thinking that once I turned twenty, I’d have more options besides being a tutor.

Then she’d lost Amy as well.

She’d reached adulthood at twenty, her debt burden had grown even heavier, and she had no way to earn money except through tutoring.

The days when she’d thought she couldn’t endure any longer now felt impossibly distant.

The hardship whose end had once been impossible to see was finally over.

Will Leonard and Cedric be all right?

She was still somewhat concerned about the two boys, but she remembered what Kesenor had told her a few days ago.

“The Countess showed me what the children had learned in their lessons this morning.”

“She seemed rather anxious to the point of asking me about something so trivial. She said that the children were unruly and didn’t listen, that Miss Agnes was having a difficult time because of them, and, above all, that she was curious about the children’s level.”

Perhaps the Countess had been troubled too.

Maybe she originally brought me here as a playmate, but now they’re old enough to begin serious studying.

Thinking that, Agnes finally found the courage to speak.

“I’m sorry, my lady, but I’d like to take some time off for a while.”

“Leave?”

“Yes. The Marquess and the gentleman who arrived today are both my guests, so I feel it would be rude to continue staying here.”

“Oh my, I really don’t mind… Did the two of them perhaps say that they found this place uncomfortable?”

“No! It’s because I feel embarrassed to impose on you. And I’d also like to check on the house before Amy returns.”

“That is true. You haven’t been home for quite some time.”

As the words flowed naturally, Agnes realized just how desperately she wanted to go home.

She wanted to go home.

It had already been more than half a year since she’d left.

She sent living expenses home every month, but she still wondered whether her siblings were doing well and worried that something might have happened in the territory.

Most of all… I want the house to look at least somewhat presentable when Amy comes home.

The estate was practically in ruins because no one had been able to properly maintain it.

If her six-year-old sister had been working so hard, shouldn’t Agnes, as her older sister, at least show her a home she could be proud of?

I want to go home right now and fix up the garden, clean Amy’s room…

As she mentally organized all the things she needed to do, something about the Countess’s reaction seemed strange.

The Countess had lowered her gaze and appeared to be thinking deeply about something.

Only after taking a few sips of tea and letting some time pass did she finally speak.

“Actually, there was something I wanted to ask of you, and the children are also at an age when they’re learning a great deal. So I’m afraid that would be rather difficult.”

It was a polite refusal.

Agnes was caught completely off guard.

When Amy had been alive, the Countess had often been the one to suggest that Agnes take leave.

“Your sister must miss you terribly. You may visit home whenever you’d like.”

Because she’d spoken so kindly in the past, Agnes had naturally assumed she’d receive permission this time as well.

First, she decided to find out what the Countess actually wanted.

“May I ask what you were hoping to ask of me?”

“It’s not something I can easily explain.”

“But I have guests here, and it’s also been such a long time since I’ve been home. If you’re worried about Leonard and Cedric, I’ll leave them assignments before I go.”

But the Countess shook her head firmly.

“Don’t worry about your guests. Valdemar doesn’t discriminate simply because they are your guests. They’ll be treated generously, so you needn’t worry.”

That was true.

Staying at the Valdemar estate would certainly be more comfortable than living in her practically ruined home.

Could she be planning to send them to boarding school?

They would have to take entrance examinations, but the two boys should pass without much trouble.

I’ve worked so hard teaching them.

So Agnes decided to ask more directly.

“I actually heard from the Marquess that you weren’t satisfied with my lessons.”

The Countess’s eyes widened in surprise.

“How could that be? I know how hard you’ve been working for our children.”

“But I heard that you showed him what the children had studied and asked about their level.”

“That was simply because I wanted to make sure they were learning properly.”

“Yes, exactly. Actually, I also think the children would be better off learning from someone more knowledgeable than me.”

“Is that so?”

The Countess slightly raised the end of her eyebrow, but soon lifted her teacup to hide her face.

“Actually, I was considering adding more advanced lessons. I was also planning to ask the Marquess to recommend someone.”

“I know you’ve always taken my circumstances into consideration. In that case, perhaps it really is best for me to step down at this point, for the sake of the children. So that they can have the opportunity to meet a better teacher.”

If the Countess had been unable to bring herself to say it because she was worried about Agnes, then it was truly all right now.

She would be all right.

I have a way to repay the debt now, so it’s right for me to quit.

The Countess had probably wanted Agnes to leave for a long time, but had been unable to say so because of Agnes’s circumstances.

I shouldn’t have been so insensitive as to ask for leave.

Thinking that, Agnes felt strangely relieved.

“I understand. You probably couldn’t bring yourself to say it because you felt sorry for me. Fortunately, I think I’ll soon be able to give you some good news.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I don’t want you to stop being our children’s tutor.”

“I understand. The children will need some time to adjust, and you’ll also need time to find a new tutor. So, could I at least ask for a week of leave first?”

In any case, the Countess’s sympathy toward Agnes would surely change once she saw Agnes rebuilding her estate.

She would realize there was no longer any need to pity her.

After Agnes finally obtained permission and left the drawing room, the Countess hurriedly summoned the butler.

“I need to send my husband a letter immediately. Tell him it’s urgent.”

“What should it say?”

“Tell him that girl looks like she’s trying to run away. He’ll understand.”

After the butler left, the Countess remained alone.

She stared down at her lukewarm cup of tea and muttered.

“I should never have trusted that girl with our precious children in the first place. Why did I have to take in some pathetic little family and create all this trouble?”

Eventually, the Countess rose from her seat and looked out the window.

The servants were loading luggage into a carriage.

It was probably the belongings of the Marquess of Celesta.

That little girl’s belongings amounted to nothing more than a single bag, after all.

“If she could at least establish some connection with the Celesta family, she might have been useful…”

In any case, as the mistress of the estate, she had to see them off.

Suppressing her annoyance and wiping every trace of emotion from her face as though putting on a mask, the Countess left the room.