The Beast That Licks Me - Chapter 2.14

“I do have one regret. If we had met earlier, she could have married an even better person.”

“My sister was already of marriageable age. Anyone who meets you before marriageable age is truly fortunate!”

Levit deliberately raised his voice.

“You speak four languages and are proficient in mathematics and history. Not to mention your impeccable etiquette.”

Levit’s exaggerated praise made Rosette fan her reddening cheeks.

“It’s a shame. If your family hadn’t fallen, you could have married a prince.”

Now more comfortable with the act, Levit put on a regretful expression. Rosette matched him with a bitter expression, slightly lowering her head.

“That’s all in the past.”

“But thanks to that, we could afford to hire you at a low price. Thanks to you, she could get engaged to a nobleman with s-a-p-p-h-i-r-e mines, so it was completely worth it.”

As Levit overly emphasized the sapphire mines, Rosette cleared her throat and averted her gaze.

“Yes, and thanks to that, you can also go study at the academy. That’s fortunate.”

“That’s actually thanks to you, too, ma’am. After meeting you, I discovered for the first time that studying could be enjoyable. Otherwise, instead of preparing for the academy exam, I would still be doing menial tasks for guests here.”

“Your sea bass, madam.”

Just then, a staff member approached and placed a large plate with golden-brown sea bass and hot vegetables. With the main course served, their awkward conversation finally ended. Rosette sighed in relief and began eating with even more propriety than usual. This was Levit’s plan:

Miss Rose, the teacher who transformed a wild sister into a refined lady and got her married to a nobleman. The clever Miss Rose, who helped a boy doing menial tasks on a ship, enter the academy!

Levit had said that anyone wanting to marry off their daughter well or send their son to a good academy would surely approach Rosette. Rosette briefly wondered if someone who ran away to avoid marriage should be teaching such things, but agreed because she couldn’t survive on just breakfast bread for the remaining journey. In truth, she also thought it might be a bit of fun.

However, after finishing the main course and even through dessert, after Levit briefly left and returned with a somewhat embarrassed expression, no one approached Rosette.

“….”

Levit fidgeted nervously, shaking his leg at the unexpected lack of response. Rosette had already half given up.

“Oh, and ma’am. You mentioned you have other special abilities besides teaching us.”

“Uh…?”

“Crossing rivers on leaves and defeating sea monsters with pinecones, the almighty…”

“Levit, Levit. That’s enough now.”

Levit, stop. Rosette tried to stop him urgently, but Levit wouldn’t stop. Flustered, he was truly saying anything that came to mind.

“Taking down one hundred and thirty enemies and escaping gracefully…”

His claims were becoming so absurd that even the little credibility of his earlier statements was disappearing. Levit’s eyes were spinning wildly. Rosette needed to stop Levit’s runaway performance. Though she knew it was impolite, she quickly raised her hand to call a staff member.

“Excuse me, I’d like to pay the bill!”

***

After the meal, the two were looking out at the vast ocean from the balcony next to the restaurant. In Rosette’s hand was her wallet, now much thinner after paying for the second-class restaurant meal. While Rosette was merely troubled, Levit was devastated. Then, he clenched his small fist tightly as though he had made some decision.

“This money… I’ll pay you back.”

Rosette, who knew Levit’s means of repaying money, hastily shook her head.

“No, it’s fine. Really, don’t worry about it. Okay?”

“I’m not okay with it.”

Levit said with determined eyes. He looked ready to pick someone’s pocket at any moment.

“I wanted to treat you to a meal anyway. So don’t worry about it.”

“Treat me to a meal… why?”

“Because I’m grateful. I know you’ve been taking good care of us.”

“Ah… well…”

Levit turned his gaze away, seemingly uncomfortable with words of gratitude. However, the tips of his ears had turned red.

“It’s pathetic that I’m an adult with such poor survival skills.”

Rosette blurted out without realizing it, in a self-deprecating manner. Levit looked at her with surprised eyes. Rosette gave a bitter smile. When she ran away from home, when she lost her money, Rosette had thought she could make a living with her abilities. Though she had only stayed at home, she had received education from renowned tutors for a full 10 years. It was no lie that she was fluent in four languages and had enough knowledge to teach academy students.

Thinking she might be allowed to attend if she passed the academy exam, Rosette had studied desperately. Thanks to that, she received acceptance certificates from all academies that didn’t require in-person exams. Ironically, it was Stefan who went to the academy Rosette had dreamed of. Was all that studying for nothing then? As she thought this, Rosette’s mouth felt dry.

“That’s not true.”

Levit strongly denied as he approached. When Rosette chuckled, Levit stopped walking altogether.

“It’s really not true.”

“Hmm?”

“I don’t think you’re pathetic. You might be a bit clumsy, but everyone has their first time. You’re really trying hard. I don’t cling to things without potential. I did it because I thought it would work. Even though it didn’t go well…”

Levit, who had been earnestly consoling Rosette, suddenly looked gloomy. Finding him cute, Rosette gently smiled. Would he be embarrassed if she patted his head? Or would he get angry for being treated like a child? Rosette barely resisted the urge to ruffle Levit’s hair.

“What you have, most people here couldn’t have even if they were reborn. I thought etiquette and dignity were things you could learn, but after finding out you’re not nobility, I realized they’re innate.”

“Haha.”

Feeling guilty, Rosette laughed awkwardly.

“Anyway, you’re an amazing person. People just haven’t recognized it yet.”

“Thank you, Levit. I mean it.”

“You don’t believe me, do you? This is really true. There would be countless people willing to give up their entire fortune if they could buy your bearing, speech, knowledge, and dignity.”

“Oh, surely not.”

“It’s true.”

“Why bother when it doesn’t make money?”

“Why doesn’t it make money?”

Levit, who had been asking back, narrowed his eyes with realization. Rosette blinked, not understanding.

“This conversation confirms it for me.”

“What, what does it confirm?”

“You’re nobility too, aren’t you? Or at least rich enough to be comparable to nobility.”

“Ah, no. How could I be nobility?”

Her heart pounded at the thought of being discovered. When Rosette became awkward, Levit shrugged.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. Whether you’re nobility or not, you’re my guest.”

While grateful for Levit’s words, Rosette was also curious. She carefully asked him.

“But why did you think I was nobility…?”

“You’re so out of touch with reality. Even knowing just one foreign language, no, even just being able to read and write, is enough for most commoners to make a living for life. And people who can teach noble dignity and etiquette to commoners are rare. This ship is a special case. If you post an advertisement after getting off the ship, people would flock to you.”

Relieved that she wouldn’t starve to death, Rosette sighed in relief.

“Levit, would you like to learn to read and write too?”

At Rosette’s words, Levit stopped walking. Seeing his face filled with surprise and joy, Rosette smiled slightly.

“Me…?”

“Yes. You said most commoners can make a living for life just by knowing how to read and write. Wouldn’t it help to learn?”

“Of course it would help… but you need to earn money too…”

Levit looked worried. Rosette realized that Levit was concerned about money. She spoke firmly.

“I don’t need money.”

“That’s not right. I don’t want to take your time.”

“Time? I’m free anyway since I can’t find work. Just like you’re helping us now, think of it as me helping you.”

“…Do you think I can learn well?”

Levit seemed almost convinced. An irrepressible joy lingered on the boy’s face. Finding him cute, Rosette said while suppressing a smile.

“Of course, in a month you’ll finish learning to read and make some progress with writing too.”

“Still, I should pay something. I could somehow manage 2 silver per day…”

“Levit.”

Rosette rarely interrupted Levit. Startled, Levit opened his eyes wide and looked at Rosette. She took out 4 silver from her money pouch and handed them to Levit. This made her already thin wallet even thinner. Levit, who had taken the money in confusion, asked.

“What is this?”

“It’s the money for the seasickness medicine you repaid before.”

“Why are you giving this to me?”

“At the time, I took it because of the situation, but it kept bothering me. So I’m returning it. This is money you earned from pickpocketing, after all.”

At Rosette’s point, Levit’s face turned red.

“But, otherwise…”