Chapter 29
“From what I see, the young master lacks nothing.”
“That’s not it.”
“Needless to mention your appearance, your family and background are impeccable, and now your swordsmanship is second to no knight. Any woman who rejects you must have a problem with her taste. Therefore, there is no need for the young master to feel dejected.”
“Listen to what I’m saying. What kind of unpleasant misunderstanding is this?”
The problem with a rigid man was that even his loyalty was stubborn. Hitaon decided to pretend he hadn’t heard and headed to the bathroom attached to his bedroom. His domain management lesson was scheduled next, leaving him no time to rest.
After washing up, Hitaon opened the arched window. He let the wind dry his wet hair as he took out a cigar.
While he caught his breath, preparations for the lesson were underway behind him. They weren’t rearranging the space—just laying out writing tools like quills and ink bottles on the desk, and preparing a seat for a copyist who would write on his behalf and a spot for refreshments.
“What’s that?”
Just as he thought preparations were nearly complete, a servant struggled in carrying a chair. Its armrests were carved with acanthus leaves, and the backrest shimmered with a pattern of gold-threaded vines. It was a high-end wooden chair that would fetch a large sum if sold—not something just anyone could handle.
“The Marchioness ordered it prepared.”
“For whom?”
“Who else would it be? Is there anyone else but me?”
A sharp, clear voice came from behind. The Marchioness, with long hair of the same color as Hitaon’s, was entering. The problem was the face visible behind her.
“I thought I might observe my son’s lesson for the first time in a while.”
“…How old am I that you need to observe? I thought you’d graduated from such hobbies long ago.”
“Where in the world does parenting have a graduation? Caring for you is your mother’s lifelong duty.”
Hitaon clicked his tongue inwardly. He wanted to shout back: does that duty include the woman following you? Luirene, whom he had been keeping a deliberate distance from for days, was entering behind his mother. Even a glance made it clear this wasn’t her choice.
He grasped the situation quickly. The Nanny had told his mother what she witnessed that day, and his mother had arranged this kind of test to find out whether the relationship she’d been informed about was real.
“Who is that behind you?”
So Hitaon struck first. He asked as if seeing her for the first time.
“You don’t know?”
“Should I?”
To appear unconcerned, he maintained an indifferent demeanor. The Marchioness, after watching Hitaon for a moment, smiled and gestured.
“She is Luirene, the caretaker attending to your grandmother. An intelligent young woman who used to work at a bookshop. I heard her tea-pouring skills are exceptional, so I brought her along to let you taste it as well. Using your mind tires you out easily, after all.”
“I see.”
“Luirene. You may prepare over there.”
Luirene, also with a composed attitude, said “Yes, my lady,” and moved. The lesson began to the sound of her preparing tea.
Hitaon grew increasingly on edge. He didn’t like the fact that such a situation had been set up in the first place, and to make matters worse, the tutor was bombarding him with questions today, as if he’d been bribed by his mother. Reading a line, asking for an opinion on it—it felt like a deliberate attempt to poke at his sanity, which was already sold to Luirene despite his pretense.
Was it really intentional?
If so, he shouldn’t take the bait. But the sound of her touching the teacup, the faint metallic sound of a spoon stirring its contents—these things seized Hitaon’s five senses and kneaded them at will. Thinking of her white, slender fingers moving here and there, it was irresistible.
What bothered him most was his mother. She hadn’t said a word, only watched. It felt like being monitored right under his nose, so his mood couldn’t help but sour. She opened her mouth when the deepening scent of tea had filled the air.
“The scent is lovely. It’s as if the leaves are still alive.”
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