Chapter 9: The Second Son of the Bertain Duke Family, Gerald Bertain

He had experienced the most humiliating moment of his 15 years of life yesterday.

“No, well, yesterday the young master…”

“Really…? Did he eat something strange?”

Wherever he went, he could hear maids talking about Gerald.

There was nothing to be done about it.

The servants, who found it strange that Gerald stayed in the bathroom all day, reported it to higher-ups.

Worried that something was wrong, they even called a physician.

“…It’s just a common stomach upset. He should be fine by tomorrow.”

-What? He looks like he’s about to die! It was definitely an assassination attempt!

-But, young master, aside from a slight tear around his anus, I can’t find anything unusual…

The physician left after a brief checkup and some medicine.

Gerald threw the ointment the physician gave him.

“That bastard must have used some trick,” he muttered.

What came to mind was the white-haired man who looked like he would collapse from a strong blow—Luke Berkline, Ellyn’s tutor.

“I should have suspected from the start…”

Gerald was sure that Luke was the culprit behind his stomach problems.

After all, he felt sick right after eating the bread Luke had given him.

He had been so careless, intoxicated by powerful magical herbs.

Just recalling that made his face burn hot enough to need a fever reducer.

When he first took up the sword, he had challenged a lower-ranked knight to a duel and lost.

He hadn’t felt this humiliated then.

But now, to be so humiliated by Luke, a mere tutor, was unbearable.

“Haah…”

Knock knock.

Gerald knocked on the door with a determined air.

“Mother, are you there?”

He had come to Nathia’s room.

Despite being the second son of the Duke, at the age of 15, he was still at an age where he sought his parents’ help when something went wrong.

Answering shortly, Nathia’s voice came from inside.

Come in.

He opened the door quietly and entered.

“What is it, son?”

Nathia asked, handling documents as usual.

Gerald, not wanting to disturb his busy mother, kept it brief.

“Please send Luke Berkline away.”

The issue, however, was that it was too brief.

“What do you mean?”

Nathia’s hand stopped, and a sharp look turned towards Gerald.

“That bastard gave me something strange to eat.”

Gerald finally explained the situation.

Luke, instead of teaching, had taken Ellyn and gone out of the mansion.

He had loafed around all day and fed Gerald suspicious food.

Of course, Gerald didn’t mention that he had come to send Ellyn on an errand.

In his frustration, Luke had become a villain in his story.

“Really? He didn’t seem like the type.”

Nathia was skeptical.

Something about Gerald’s story felt off.

Luke was highly intelligent, a top student at the academy. If he had been suspicious from the beginning, there would have been a reason for it.

Otherwise, he would have been caught by now.

“Are you sure, son?”

Gerald nodded eagerly.

“Yes! You have to get rid of him!”

After repeating his plea several times, he left the room.

As the door closed behind him, Nathia was left thinking.

Although Gerald was capable, his character had always been questionable. Why, then, had he not dealt with Luke himself but come to her instead?

“…I’ll see for myself.”

“Princess, what did I tell you?”

“…What?”

Ellyn blinked, water dripping from her hair.

“Did you only wash with soap again?”

Ellyn glanced away.

“…No?”

“Hah…”

“It’s true, I didn’t.”

Luke pulled on her cheeks with a teasing expression.

“Princess, you’re not good at lying.”

“…”

“Why did you come out without using the bath products I bought you?”

“…I used one.”

Ellyn’s voice was muffled as her cheeks stretched like cheese.

“What’s the difference? What exactly did you use?”

Luke gave her a suspicious look as Ellyn went into the bathroom and came back out.

“…This.”

In her hands was a bunny doll.

A bath toy she could float on water.

“…Well, at least you used something.”

“If you don’t understand, I’ll explain it to you anytime, just call me.”

“…Okay.”

“Can I dry your hair?”

Luke showed her a combination of heat and wind magic.

After a moment of hesitation, Ellyn looked at Luke’s hands, then started combing through her wet hair.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

“…I’ll endure.”

Her voice was firm.

Luke was taken aback.

“You don’t have to force yourself.”

Traumas aren’t healed overnight, especially when someone like Ellyn had suffered for a long time.

Knowing this, Luke didn’t want to push her.

“…No, dry it.”

But Ellyn insisted, sitting in front of Luke.

Her small shoulders were trembling slightly.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Yes, because you’re the teacher.”

It seemed like she was starting to trust him, even if just a little.

Ellyn quickly pressed her small head closer to him, signaling she was ready.

“I’ll dry it for you. Let me know if you’re tired.”

“…Okay.”

Whoosh—

The heat emanated from his hands, and he slowly brought it to her damp hair.

Ellyn flinched slightly but calmed down quickly.

With her hair dry, she let out a relieved breath.

“…That was hard.”

“Well done.”

Luke almost patted her head but stopped himself.

He feared that Ellyn might be scared again if he touched her after she had just gotten better.

“…Wait.”

Suddenly, Ellyn grabbed his wrist.

“…Why did you stop?”

“Huh?”

“Weren’t you going to comb my hair?”

It wasn’t exactly that, but it was close, so Luke nodded.

“You’re uncomfortable, aren’t you?”

“…No.”

Ellyn then took his hand and placed it on her head.

“…I want you to comb my hair.”

It was a shocking request.

Ellyn, who had never asked for anything like this before, was now requesting it from him.

“Is this a precious item?”

He slowly combed her hair while asking.

Ellyn flinched slightly at first but soon settled into it.

Was the bunny doll really enough to calm her down?

“…Yes, it’s precious. Maybe the most precious thing.”

“Who gave it to you?”

“…I don’t know.”

Ellyn hugged the doll tightly.

“I’ve had it since I can remember.”

Her voice was dry, but there was clear affection in the words.

Thinking back, Ellyn had always carried the bunny doll in the early stages of the game.

Though it disappeared soon after.

Why did it disappear?

“Does it have a name?”

“…A name?”

Ellyn tilted her head slightly, and Luke noticed the hair slipping from his hands.

“You didn’t name it?”

“Is that necessary?”

“It’s not necessary, but…”

Ellyn didn’t seem to have considered giving the doll a name.

“Don’t you feel lonely being alone?”

“…I’ve always been alone.”

Luke fell silent.

It seemed like Ellyn had been so accustomed to loneliness that she never thought to make friends.

“Do you want to learn something now?” Luke asked.

“Learn?”

“Are you asking if we should have a lesson?”

“Why ask like that?”

“Because you’re my tutor.”

“…Oh, right.”

It seemed as if Ellyn had forgotten this simple fact for a moment.

Luke was about to open a spatial rift to fetch a magic book when…

Knock knock.

A small knock echoed.

It wasn’t Gerald, then.

Someone who could come by at this time…

He grabbed Ellyn’s shoulder before she could rush out.

“Princess!”

When he heard her panicked breathing, Luke grabbed her tightly, looking into her eyes.

“Calm down, Princess. There’s nothing to fear. Breathe with me.”

“…Hah…Hah…”

Ellyn was overcome with the panic etched deeply in her instincts.

“…Teacher.”

“Wait here. I’ll check.”

Luke wiped the cold sweat from her forehead before opening the door.

“I knew you were here. I couldn’t find you in your room.”

To his relief, the person at the door wasn’t the Duke, whom Ellyn feared.

“Are you Luke Berkline?”

The maid at the door had freckles on her face.

Ellyn, recognizing her, slumped against the bed.

“Yes, I am Luke Berkline. What is it?”

His voice was cold. He couldn’t be kind after scaring Ellyn.

“Nathia is looking for you.”

“Nathia?”

Why? What for?

Luke’s mind was filled with questions as he nodded to the maid and turned back to Ellyn.

“Ah… I knew it.”

“…Princess?”

Ellyn looked pale.

“Is something wrong?”

“…You’re going to get fired too.”

Ellyn curled up on the bed, burying her face in her knees.

“I told you not to be nice to people.”

She whispered weakly.

Luke was confused.

Who was she trying to send away?

Had the trust they built up meant so little?

“Don’t worry, I’ll never leave your side.”

Without waiting for an answer, he left the room.

“I’ll be back soon.”