TPOVF 07

Chapter 07

Malenda was angry because she had almost been hit with the milk herself. She was furious that her dignity had nearly been damaged in front of the new private tutor who had just arrived today.

For that reason alone, she had been hounding the child.

Neither Eurenia, who had been subjected to the mishap, nor Kailus, who was cowering under excessive criticism, mattered to Malenda.

To Eurenia, her true intentions were crystal clear.

‘If only it weren’t for the nanny.’

The nanny who had raised the family’s heir since infancy was someone even the elders of the household respected.

Making an enemy of her on the very first day at the mansion was not wise.

“Malenda, I’m fine. Really.”

Eurenia replied calmly and looked at Kailus. Then she gave the child a gentle smile.

At her smile, the boy’s eyes, which had been bristling with hostility, widened greatly.

Was it really that surprising that someone would smile at him? The sight of the flustered child made her heart ache.

‘Has Kailus only ever seen adults who get angry at him?’

How could she be angry at a child like this?

Even though she had been drenched in milk, Eurenia couldn’t bring herself to blame Kailus.

Nor did she want to.

Rather, she resented Malenda for throwing a tantrum at the child.

‘How badly must she have treated him for the child to resort to something like this?’

When the mug had flown through the air.

At that moment, the milk had clearly been aimed at Malenda. It was just Eurenia’s bad luck that she had been hit instead.

“I was planning to wash up soon anyway. So please stop scolding the young master.”

When Eurenia strongly insisted, Malenda laughed awkwardly.

“Is that so? Then you should go and rest for now. In the meantime, I’ll thoroughly straighten out the young master’s manners.”

“No.”

Eurenia said firmly and grasped Malenda’s hand.

Then she smiled brightly—so brightly, in fact, that Malenda, who had been displeased by the refusal, wore a puzzled expression.

“Malenda, you go first.”

“But I—”

“You must have been quite startled. Go and catch your breath. I’ll take care of the cleanup.”

“…Are you sure?”

At Eurenia’s suggestion, Malenda narrowed her eyes.

“Well, if you insist. Alright. Let’s do that.”

“Yes, Malenda.”

Eurenia replied softly. Swollen with pride at the tutor’s docile attitude, Malenda turned away. Then she issued a warning to the child.

“Don’t think this is the end of it. I’ll report everything that happened today to the Duke!”

“To Uncle…?”

“Yes!”

At Malenda’s announcement, Kailus’s face turned even paler.

“No!”

“Whether it’s yes or no is for me to decide!”

“Nanny!”

Kailus cried out desperately as if the sky had fallen. She snorted with satisfaction at the child’s despair.

“Hmph!”

“Nanny, Nanny!”

Kailus stood up to grab Malenda. But before he could rush out, she mercilessly closed the door.

“Nanny!”

Kailus pounded on the closed door, his voice trembling with tears. At the sight, Eurenia clicked her tongue inwardly.

‘What a nanny.’

Though she didn’t physically strike the child, Malenda was an expert at emotional abuse.

She was vicious.

Kailus should not spend even a single day under a woman like this.

“Nanny, hic, Nanny…”

Eurenia approached the teary-eyed child. She lowered herself to meet the boy’s eyes.

“Young Master Kailus.”

Kailus, who had been desperately staring at the spot where the nanny had disappeared, looked at her. His vivid pea-green eyes were tinged with deep resentment.

“Who are you? Why did you suddenly show up and—!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll speak to the nanny. I’ll ask her not to report today’s incident to the Duke.”

“Who do you think you are?”

At the boy’s sharp question, Eurenia smiled slightly. Come to think of it, Malenda had left without even introducing her.

‘She must have been too flustered to remember.’

It wasn’t really because of the milk shower. It was because of Malenda. She had been so busy berating the child that she’d completely scattered everyone’s wits.

“It seems I finally get to greet you properly. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Young Master. I’m your new private tutor. My name is Eurenia Dovine.”

“…A tutor?”

“Yes. So rest assured. You won’t get in trouble with the Duke.”

Kailus stared intently at Eurenia with wide eyes. But soon, he pushed her away and shouted.

“How can I trust you! Get lost!”

Kailus kicked at her, his eyes even welling up with tears. He seemed humiliated that the new tutor had witnessed him being scolded by the nanny.

The small boy thrashed about in Eurenia’s arms.

“I don’t need a tutor! You’re on the nanny’s side anyway! You’re fired! Go! Just go away!”

“Young Master, please calm down.”

“Let go! I said let go!”

“Young Master Kailus Valerio!”

Eurenia put on a stern expression and raised her voice. Startled, Kailus flinched and shrank back.

“…Why?”

The child’s slender shoulders, filled with fear, curled up tightly.

“Why… are you calling me?”

Are you angry at me too?

Kailus added hesitantly.

Just from having his name called.

Just from one sternly spoken word, the child had frozen in fear.

Seeing Kailus so cowed, Eurenia bit her lip.

‘Why are you so easily frightened?’

It pained her heart.

Getting angry, putting up thorns, and eventually resigning to despair.

Eurenia understood exactly how Kailus felt.

Because she had been the same in her past life.

As a child, she had rebelled against her parents, who only favored her older brother. But after growing tired of the reality that wouldn’t change no matter how angry she got, she eventually gave up.

Later, she told herself that the world was inherently unfair. And she withered away, adapting to it.

Then she died.

Eurenia didn’t want to live that kind of life ever again. Nor did she want Kailus to live like that.

A child should not grow up in such an environment. A child must grow up receiving love.

‘Such a lovely and beautiful child.’

Eurenia’s heart ached at the sight of his dry, tangled hair and his reddened, tear-filled eyes.

A child abandoned by his mother, his uncle, and even his nanny.

She couldn’t leave this child as he was.

She couldn’t leave him isolated in a corner room of the great mansion, growing up under the hands of a cruel nanny.

Eurenia made a decision.

It wasn’t just for the money. That had ceased to matter since her conversation with the Duke earlier.

She would stay by this child’s side.

As a private tutor.

As a teacher, and as a friend.

She would make sure he received the love that every child in the world deserved.

‘Kail, I’ll protect you.’

Eurenia pulled the small boy into a firm embrace. Then she spoke gently.

“You don’t have to trust me. But I truly mean it. Even if you fire me right now, Duke Chester won’t find out about today’s incident. So don’t worry.”

Eurenia spoke warmly, slowly patting the child’s small back.

He was so thin that she could feel his spine clearly through the fabric of his clothes.

“…”

Kailus stood still without pushing Eurenia away. The child looked bewildered by the warmth of the adult embracing him.

“B-but…”

Kailus, who had been standing there awkwardly, unsure of how to react, muttered.

The child rolled his eyes and whispered softly.

“What if the nanny has already told Uncle…”

Like a thoroughly frightened rabbit, Kailus asked with a trembling body. The boy who had been shouting loud enough to hurt her ears was nowhere to be seen.

This was the child’s true nature, hidden beneath a thick, sharp shell.

Blaming others, getting angry, and acting out—it was all a desperate struggle to keep his fragile heart from being exposed.

Eurenia pulled the child even tighter into her embrace. So that he could grow a little more accustomed to warmth.

“Then I’ll just say that nothing happened. Since I’m the one involved, what can they do about it? Right?”

“…Mhm.”

“So see? It’ll be fine.”

“Will you really do that for me?”

“Of course.”

Eurenia straightened up and looked at Kailus. She met the boy’s gaze and wore a gentle smile on her lips.

“So don’t worry.”

At the tutor’s warm gaze, Kailus wore a confused expression.

“…Why?”

Kailus tilted his head. And asked once more.

“Why are you telling a lie for me?”

“Because I’m your teacher.”

“The teachers who came before never did that…”

Kailus fidgeted with his hands together. Rubbing his knobby fingers, the boy spoke.

“They all hated me. They only listened to the nanny. To me…”

Kailus, who had been speaking slowly, dropped his head. Then, in a voice that faded to a whisper, he muttered to himself.

“I… is what I said.”

“Hmm?”

Eurenia, listening to the child, blinked. She leaned forward to look at him, but the boy had already closed his mouth.

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

Kailus sealed his lips tightly and shook his head.

When Eurenia tilted her head, he gently grabbed her sleeve. Then he asked cautiously.

“Really? You’ll really keep it a secret from Uncle?”

“Yes. Really.”

Eurenia nodded earnestly. But even after her confirmation, Kailus kept glancing around, still unsure. He seemed unable to trust it easily.

‘We’ve only just met, after all. It can’t be helped.’

Eurenia smiled faintly. First, she needed to earn the boy’s trust.

“Then how about this? I’ll tell you one of my secrets too.”

She brought her hand to Kailus’s ear and whispered secretly.

“Actually…”