“Let me prepare your meal,” said Luke, stepping out as the evening sky darkened.
While retrieving dinner from the kitchen, Luke pondered deeply.
Who could have cursed Elin?
The possibility of a dark sorcerer was slim—Elin, having always been in Bertein, would have had no reason to cross paths with one.
That left demons or ancient entities, though that seemed far-fetched too.
As Luke walked through the corridor, lost in thought—
“Hey!”
Startled, Luke turned to find himself face-to-face with Gerald.
“You… you little bastard…” Gerald spat furiously.
“My name isn’t ‘bastard,’ young master,” Luke replied calmly.
“How’s the ‘gift’? Feeling better?”
“Better? After all the trouble you caused? And reporting the mana herb to my mother?!”
“You told on me first, didn’t you?”
Gerald gritted his teeth but said nothing, likely realizing he had no argument.
“I genuinely offered you the herb as a gift,” Luke said, miming smoking two fingers.
“Without it, you’d have suffered badly from mana withdrawal.”
“And why would you care about that?”
“Who knows?”
The thought, Because I can’t let myself die before apologizing to Elin, stayed unspoken.
Luke patted Gerald’s shoulder lightly as he passed by.
“Take care, young master.”
“Of what?”
“Everything,” Luke replied ambiguously, cautioning Gerald both about mana withdrawal and his future actions near Elin.
After delivering dinner to Elin, Luke declared, “Magic lessons are suspended for now.”
Elin nodded obediently, though her expression remained glum.
“And what am I supposed to do now?” she asked weakly.
Fetching a teapot and cup from his subspace, Luke replied, “I’m not only responsible for teaching magic, remember?”
“Oh…” Elin muttered, recalling he was also tasked with teaching etiquette.
As water boiled, Luke assessed, “First, let’s gauge your current level of etiquette.”
Elin nervously gulped.
“I know the basics,” she said, recalling the stern etiquette lessons from her mother.
“Good. Let’s start with tea service,” Luke said, steeping chamomile leaves.
Elin carefully lifted her teacup, her movements precise, and sipped without making a sound before setting it down.
“Well?” she asked hesitantly, hoping for praise.
“Hmm? About what?” Luke sipped his iced coffee, indifferent to the tension.
“Aren’t you evaluating my tea etiquette?”
“Why evaluate perfection?”
Elin blinked, stunned by the unexpected compliment.
Before she could process it, Luke added, “But moving forward, our lessons will differ from anything you’ve learned. It’ll be quite challenging.”
“What kind of lessons?”
“You’ll learn how to handle subordinates.”
Elin blinked, confused.
“What’s the mark of a noble’s refinement?” Luke asked.
“Refinement? Uh… I don’t know.”
Luke answered, “It’s how well one manages their servants.”
Elin was taken aback.
“You’re too hesitant with subordinates. Look at me—aren’t I the only one here who dares speak informally to you?”
“Well, you’re the only servant I have…”
“That’s not true. Every servant in the duke’s household serves you, yet you defer to them with excessive politeness.”
“But my mother uses polite language with the staff too!” Elin protested.
“Polite language, yes—but she commands them decisively,” Luke explained.
“You, however, cower before them.”
“That’s because they don’t like me…”
“That mindset must change,” Luke declared.
“Why should anyone dislike you? You’re talented, even if others fail to see it.”
“But I can’t use magic,” Elin countered.
“That doesn’t matter. You’re still the most charming person in Bertein.”
Elin frowned slightly, questioning the value of such praise.
“Am I?”
“Yes, so let’s begin,” Luke said, retrieving a leash and collar from his subspace.
“Why do you even have that?” Elin asked, bewildered.
“To illustrate a point,” Luke replied.
“All servants in this household obey your commands. Even me. You hold my leash, figuratively speaking.”
Though skeptical, Elin took the leash.
“…I can really do whatever I want?”
A strange feeling stirred within her.
Thus began Elin’s training in handling subordinates, with Luke willingly serving as her practice subject.
By the end of the lesson, Elin was more confident, if not entirely comfortable with her newfound authority.
When the day wound down, Elin made one final request: “Don’t leave.”
“Pardon?”
“Stay,” she clarified. “That’s an order.”
Luke smiled. “If it’s an order, I’ll obey.”
Hearing his answer, Elin let herself relax, drifting off as Luke read her favorite story aloud, his voice steady and reassuring.
And for the first time, Elin fell asleep feeling safe.
Recommended Novel:
You think this chapter was thrilling? Wait until you read VTuber RP is not a concept! Click here to discover the next big twist!
Read : VTuber RP is not a concept
He is so going to regret that lmao.