TPOVF 05

Chapter 05

Scritch, scratch.

The sound of a fountain pen brushing against paper filled the quiet office.

Chester Valerio, the head of the Valerio Duchy, scanned the documents with sharp eyes.

The master of a great noble’s main household, and the empire’s foremost ducal family at that, had much to do.

Chester’s schedule was adjusted down to the minute. Meaning he had no time to waste on a mere tutor.

But Chester personally met with Kailus’s tutors.

Every single time.

All because of his sister-in-law, the Marchioness Dalton, Maeve’s earnest plea.

‘Please take good care of Kail, Chet.’

…Chet.

Chester let out a chuckle as he recalled his sister-in-law’s earnest request. He had been reminded of the audacious young woman he had just met.

Only family called Chester Valerio by the nickname ‘Chet.’

Yet the tutor, having met him for the first time, cheerfully used that nickname.

Even adding a compliment that it was cute.

The tutor who had dared to look straight at the face of the Valerio Duke and chatter away.

Her actions were remarkably polite, yet there was something bold about her.

Perhaps it was because she was young.

This tutor looked considerably younger than the ones he had hired before. Checking her resume confirmed she was four years younger than the previous one.

‘With less experience, she’ll probably have a harder time holding out.’

Chester’s nephew was no ordinary child.

There had been countless tutors who raised the white flag within half a day, saying they couldn’t teach him.

So Chester, uncharacteristically, gave the new tutor some words of encouragement.

To hold on well.

But for some reason, she had made an unsatisfied expression. As if he had said something wrong.

She seemed baffled from the moment he mentioned just teaching basic manners.

He found it hard to understand.

Didn’t people usually like it when they were told to work less?

What an odd woman.

‘Well, she’ll figure it out.’

Chester chuckled.

He had meddled inappropriately and received a sharp look, but he wasn’t particularly displeased.

After she actually met Kailus, she would understand what his words had meant.

Then she would do as he said and keep a reasonable distance.

Kailus Valerio was a difficult child.

According to the nanny’s reports, he was picky about food and threw frequent tantrums.

On top of that, he constantly changed tutors. It was pointless to even count how many tutors had been hired this time.

‘I wonder how long this one will last.’

Still, that woman did seem to have some backbone.

Chester took his eyes off the documents he had been reading. He had only been staring at them without any focus.

‘If the brat chases this one away too, I should put an end to this.’

Chester put down his pen and crossed his arms.

He had taken in his nephew for his sister-in-law’s sake, but he was growing tired of the constant babysitting.

He had hired over ten tutors, so surely he had done his part.

Chester sighed and closed the file folder.

Erasing the face of the smiling tutor from his mind, he pressed the call bell.

“This way.”

A young man with light green hair guided Yurenia to the second floor of the mansion. He walked deep into the hallway and spoke.

“Young Master’s room is at the end of this hallway.”

“The nursery is quite far in, isn’t it?”

“Nursery…?”

“I mean the Young Master’s room.”

“Ah, yes. Well, I suppose so.”

His expression said he had much to say.

Yurenia observed the Duke’s aide.

The slender aide, Enzo Paisley, was extremely reticent. He hadn’t said a single word while bringing her here.

But Yurenia didn’t miss the moments when Enzo’s lips twitched.

Right after leaving the office.

When passing Branson in the lobby.

And now, stopped in the nursery hallway.

Enzo kept fidgeting his lips like someone with an itchy tongue, then closing them. It was obvious he wanted to speak but was holding back with all his might.

He probably thought he had completely concealed his expression.

“Walk straight ahead, and the end room is the Young Master’s room. The room on the left is where you’ll be staying. A servant should have placed your belongings there. The basics are provided, but if you need anything, you can ask me or the butler.”

“Thank you, Aide.”

“Please call me Enzo, Tutor.”

“Yes, Enzo. You can call me Yurenia as well.”

“Understood, Tutor Yurenia. Then I’ll take my leave…”

“Just a moment.”

Yurenia stopped Enzo, who was trying to leave after exchanging pleasantries.

“Why is it so quiet here?”

“Pardon?”

At the tutor’s question, Enzo’s mouth fell slightly open. Yurenia stepped closer and spoke.

“Usually, a house with a seven-year-old boy is loud enough to shake the mansion. But this place is as quiet as a monastery.”

“Is that… so?”

“Yes. What kind of child is the Young Master?”

“W-well, why are you asking that all of a sudden?”

At the persistent questioning, Enzo’s eyes blinked rapidly.

‘He’s not easily swayed, I see.’

She had expected as much. If he were someone who gossiped lightly, he wouldn’t be the Duke’s aide.

‘But I need information to reach Kailus.’

In the original work, the description of the male lead’s childhood was brief.

After Kailus’s father died of a chronic illness, his mother abandoned him to the ducal household without explanation. And so he was left neglected in a vast mansion with no one he knew.

A few years later.

His younger sister, who had the same illness as their late father, died, and the household fell into darkness. As a result, Kailus spent a desolate youth.

‘At least it’s before the ducal household falls into darkness.’

The timing wasn’t bad.

Yurenia clasped her hands together and spoke earnestly.

“I’ve only heard the Young Master’s name and age. I need to tailor the lessons according to the child’s personality. Please.”

Emphasizing that it was a reasonable request, Enzo bit his lip.

“Well, actually. The Young Master is…”

“Oh my, Mr. Enzo?”

Just as Enzo was about to speak after a fierce internal conflict.

“What brings you all the way here, Aide?”

A middle-aged woman appeared out of nowhere and inserted herself between them. She stood with her back to Yurenia and spoke to Enzo.

“Do you have business with the Young Master? Oh dear, you can leave anything regarding the Young Master to me, Malenda.”

“I was just escorting the Young Master’s new tutor.”

“Is that so?”

At Enzo’s answer, the kind-faced middle-aged woman looked at Yurenia. She smiled, her eyes crinkling, and spoke warmly.

“Pleased to meet you. I’m Malenda Maggo, the Young Master’s nanny. Call me Malenda.”

“I’m Yurenia Doviné. Please take care of me, Malenda. Feel free to call me informally as well.”

“Alright. Well then, leave the tutor to me. You busy Aide, hurry along now.”

“Understood.”

As Malenda waved her hand, Enzo bowed his head and disappeared.

From the looks of it, the nanny seemed to have authority over matters concerning the young master in this household.

“Let’s get along well, since we’re both taking care of the Young Master.”

“Yes, Malenda.”

Yurenia smiled brightly. She had missed out on the aide, but she wasn’t disappointed. She had met the nanny instead.

Wasn’t the nanny the one who stayed with the child 24/7?

“Malenda, is that for the Young Master?”

Yurenia asked playfully, pointing at the cup Malenda was holding. The mug contained a white liquid.

“Yes, it’s milk. Children need to eat well to grow up strong. Follow me. I’ll introduce you to the Young Master.”

Malenda spoke cheerfully and turned toward the nursery. Yurenia stood beside her.

‘Finally, I get to meet Kailus.’

A seven-year-old male protagonist.

Just thinking about the original novel’s cover made it hard to imagine Kailus’s childhood.

A grown man who exuded a masculine scent—what had he been like at seven?

What would he be like?

“You know, I’m saying this because you remind me of my own daughter.”

Malenda said as they walked toward the nursery. She smiled kindly and spoke.

“You’d better brace yourself. Young Master Kailus is no ordinary brat.”

“Boys that age are usually quite mischievous.”

Yurenia replied with a smile. Judging by how freely she spoke to a stranger, Malenda seemed to be the talkative type.

“Don’t take my words lightly. No one but me will lend an ear to what you have to say, missy.”

Missy?

First she said she reminded her of her daughter, and now she called her ‘missy.’

The tone, which subtly looked down on her despite knowing full well she was a tutor. And she was starting to mix in casual speech.

It didn’t feel good.