TNDOBM 06

Chapter 06

‘*Hah.*’

Cecilia, who had ended up standing in front of the dog door, narrowed her brows.

“Charles! I’ll give you a treat if you come back!”

“…….”

“Charles?”

The rookie butler stood by the wall and called out, but the aloof cat didn’t even deign to meow in response.

He had clearly heard the butler’s earnest plea, yet steadfastly ignored it—so much so that he even deserved to have his paw slapped for it.

‘*If I leave him be, he’ll probably wreck the garden again.*’

After all, Charles had a glorious track record: on his very first day at the Marquess’s residence, he had destroyed a grass sculpture that the gardener had spent a month meticulously crafting. Though the gardener, who had wept and beat the ground, had quickly recovered after receiving financial compensation for the damage… it was clear that this approach wouldn’t work on Rien, who seemed to consider tending the garden a hobby.

Ultimately resigned, Cecilia shoved her body into the dog door, which felt particularly narrow today. And, surprisingly, she didn’t make it through.

‘*Wow, I’m stuck.*’

Whether it was because she had just eaten, or because today’s outfit had an unusually excessive amount of lace and fabric scraps, her waist and hips were wedged in, and she couldn’t move.

Sweat beaded on her brow at the embarrassing situation, regardless of the reason. Then, suddenly, a large hand gripped around her ribs and hoisted her up as if pulling out a radish.

“A-are you alright?”

Startled by the sudden shift in height, Cecilia grabbed onto the other person’s shoulder.

It was Rien, the robe enthusiast who was, as always today, draped in his robe.

‘*Crazy.*’

She never imagined she’d be seen in this state.

No matter how shameless she was, getting stuck in a dog door and needing to be rescued was mortifying.

Face flushing bright red, Cecilia made an excuse in a voice that had shrunk to its smallest.

“Th-that’s because Charles went over there again….”

“Ah, I suppose he likes my garden. He was playing over there again, actually.”

Whether his friend’s advice had been quite effective, he replied without stammering and even smiled naturally.

…Not that she could see it, because of the robe.

But she could tell from the curve of his mouth or the hint of amusement in his voice.

Afraid her agitation might be exposed, Cecilia averted her gaze and pretended to be calm.

“But, could you put me down now?”

“S-sorry!”

At her single remark, Rien quickly returned her to her original position and promptly set her down on the ground.

“I-I’ll go get Charles!”

“Should we just go together?”

And the moment her feet touched the ground, Cecilia immediately tried her old tricks again.

‘*I really wasn’t in the mood for this….*’

Muttering an excuse, unsure who it was for, Cecilia lightly brushed the dust off her clothes and stood beside him.

“Is that alright?”

“Huh? Yes! Of course!”

Under his stiff escort, they made their way to the west garden.

As before, Cecilia made small talk with him.

“I think I’ll have to block up that dog hole. It’s useful for going outside without my father’s permission, but it also means illegal intruders like Charles or me can just wander in whenever we want….”

“Lady Cecilia.”

Suddenly, Rien carefully cut her off.

“This might be an impertinent question, but… are you perhaps troubled by something?”

At his rather sharp question, Cecilia turned her head towards him.

She thought she had hidden it well. It seemed her complex mood had been betrayed by her downcast demeanor.

Cecilia cast her gaze toward the white flower garden they had now arrived at.

She couldn’t exactly tell him the whole story, but she didn’t want to lie to him or brush him off either.

Without much hesitation, Cecilia spoke.

“Something came up, so it looks like I’ll have to go up to the capital soon. But I’ve never been outside the territory before. I guess I’m a little worried thinking about all the things I need to learn.”

“Did you say the capital?”

Rien, hesitating for a moment, asked back.

“Ah, right. You said you came from the capital too, Rien?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

He nodded obediently.

Cecilia gazed silently at the mansion, so large that it created an optical illusion of being close despite the considerable distance.

She had heard that this mansion, right next to the Marquess’s residence, was built by one of the ancestors of the Weberdin family for a beloved friend. As time passed, the owners changed, and because the price was exorbitantly high while being in a remote location, it had become something like a vacation home for wealthy nobles.

If he could afford to buy such a mansion, his family must either hold a high title or be incredibly wealthy.

‘*And a noble from the capital, on top of that.*’

Regardless of his gentle personality, he must have significant authority and connections.

As she continued her somewhat mercenary speculations, a good idea crossed her mind.

“Um, Rien. If it’s not too much trouble, could you recommend a good etiquette teacher? I need someone well-versed in etiquette lessons.”

It wasn’t that she genuinely wanted an introduction to a competent teacher.

It was just a selfish scheme to build a rapport with the same tutor who had taught him, thereby solidifying her Plan D.

‘*I really wasn’t in the mood to scheme.*’

But what could she do? When an opportunity rolls in, you have to seize it without letting go.

However, perhaps it was quite a difficult request for him, as he didn’t answer easily.

Just as she was about to withdraw her request, thinking it was too uncomfortable, he hesitated for a moment, then seemed to make up his mind and willingly offered to recommend a teacher.

“W-would it be alright if… I became your teacher, Lady Cecilia?”

Rien himself.

—

In the room where an awkward silence flowed.

To be precise, inside the interview room for selecting her etiquette teacher, Cecilia was struggling with all her might not to stare blankly, gape, or let out strange exclamations.

There was one reason.

‘*What the hell is with that face.*’

‘That’ Rien, who acted as if he’d die without his robe, was standing before her in a neat, formal suit.

Of course, the thick silver-rimmed glasses were still there.

Still…

‘*I’ve lived a good life.*’

The hardships and adversities of possession might have been created just for this very moment.

However, another person in the same space, observing the same subject, had a completely different thought from hers.

As if lacking the aesthetic sense any normal person should possess, the Marquess, who had been coldly scanning the resume, finally spoke.

“He is quite young, but… having been a professor at the Academy, his career is certainly impressive.”

‘*What?*’

He looked to be around her own age, yet a professor at the Academy. It was practically impossible unless one was a genius of the highest order.

But he didn’t seem like the type to fabricate his resume.

On the day Rien had proposed to be her teacher, Cecilia had nodded her head without a second thought, not caring about the implications.

It didn’t matter that he was still hiding his identity, or that he didn’t seem particularly adept at etiquette.

She had simply grasped the opportunity that had rolled her way.

So, upon returning home, she had immediately appealed to the Marquess about the necessity of a teacher. Shortly after, Rien had applied to the job posting the Marquess had put up.

‘*I was prepared to be insistent if Father didn’t like it.*’

But to think he was even a capable person.

“I was lucky.”

As Rien replied humbly, the Marquess’s eyes narrowed further.

“However… I find it curious why someone with a career like this would come all the way to a remote border region, far from the capital.”

“It’s a simple reason, but I always thought that if I were to ever take a break, I absolutely had to come to Weberdin.”

“Hmph. Is there a reason?”

“Yes. My mother enjoyed traveling in her youth, and she praised the Weberdin territory endlessly, saying it was a peaceful and beautiful place blessed by the gods.”

“Well… there are indeed many beautiful places in Weberdin.”

“Yes. It’s as wonderful a place as I heard from my mother, and I am very satisfied living here.”

Maintaining her composure as much as possible to avoid revealing her acquaintance with him, her pupils began to shake violently as the Q&A continued, and eventually, her mouth even fell slightly open.

‘*…Who on earth is that!*’

Where was the shy gardener who got flustered easily and stammered? There was no way this person, displaying such eloquent speech, could be ‘that’ Rien.

Yes, that had to be someone else who looked exactly like Rien, or perhaps his secret twin.

Unlike her, who was astonished, the Marquess seemed to have eased his guard against Rien with a light compliment, and his sharp eyes softened slightly.

Clearing his throat, he continued in a gentler voice than before.

“So, you’re saying you’ll teach my daughter etiquette while you’re resting in Weberdin?”

“Yes. In my opinion, Lady Weberdin already possesses dignity that is incomparable to any noble from the capital, but if you entrust her to me, I believe I can be of some small help.”

Praising her child to boost the parent’s pride, while pretending to be modest and subtly emphasizing his own necessity.

Had this been 21st-century Korea, parents would have shouted “Teacher!” and entrusted him with everything—their child and their wallet alike.

And parents’ hearts are the same in any era, any world.

The effect was certain.

“Then let’s draw up a contract first.”