The Second Lesson (2)
"Why? Why is he so insistent on private lessons?"
Scratch, scratch. As Julia scribbled notes in her notebook, she stole a glance to the side. Aslan sat with a serious expression, appearing to listen attentively. He was clearly mocking her, yet the sinister, utterly wicked look on his face made that obvious. Strangely enough, to Julia's eyes, Aslan seemed genuinely focused on this basic magic lesson.
"Why...?"
It made no sense. This was something every noble learned as a matter of course from childhood. Even if he hadn't learned it before, what reason could he possibly have to study it now? And from a slave much younger than himself, no less. Either way, it was incomprehensible.
"Hik!?"
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing... yo."
Her arm brushed against his, and Julia flinched away. This man. That was deliberate. There was plenty of space, yet he'd moved his arm on purpose to touch her. At the same time, the maids' gossip she'd overheard flashed through her mind.
'I'm seriously dying of frustration. How can the head of the house be so clueless about women's feelings?'
'He does seem to look after the kids in his own way, but at this rate it looks like he's helping them with pure intentions!'
'Exactly! He should at least pretend to flirt or something. Ugh, it's so frustrating, so frustrating!'
Had Aslan heard that conversation too? Had he listened and thought, 'Ah, I need to make a move'? Was that why he was deliberately bumping into her? Ah!
'This lecherous bastard...!'
Now she understood! The basic magic lessons were nothing more than an excuse to be alone with her! That was why he'd said such ridiculous things and created time for just the two of them!
Julia felt an old question suddenly resolve itself and opened her mouth wide.
"Your mouth has stopped moving, Julia. Continue the lesson."
"Eut!?"
"...Why are you looking at me with such contempt?"
"Oh, it's nothing... yo."
When Aslan's gaze turned toward her, Julia instinctively looked away. A man's courtship. She'd never experienced anything like that. Especially not from the kind of man she despised—the arrogant type who relied on his status... Huh?
'Isn't Aslan Vermont that type of person?'
Sudden confusion washed over her. Aslan Vermont was definitely a scoundrel. He fed slaves from dog bowls without exception. He dressed them in whatever clothes suited his own tastes. He was the shameless man who demanded they earn an absurd sum of one billion larks each before granting them freedom.
Yet the things this man had done? Reviving the territory's economy. Awakening Charlotte's and her own abilities (even if she didn't entirely like how). And building roads to improve transportation. Contrary to the rumors of him being an irredeemable piece of trash, the Aslan Vermont Julia had seen was remarkably upright.
Just as she was wondering how that could be, she recalled another conversation the maids had whispered about.
'The head of the house is truly amazing no matter how many times I see him. How can a person change so completely into their opposite?'
'I guess the power of love really is something. Even someone like that becomes upright.'
Indeed, she'd heard that he'd changed after Charlotte and she had come to the mansion. Then, could it be... for their sake? If that was the reason Aslan had changed, everything made sense. The occasional, inexplicable kindness that occasionally showed through his normally indifferent words and actions. She felt as though she'd uncovered its true nature.
This man wasn't simply raising them to be future companions. He had already been preparing to conquer them!
'Crazy bastard. We're still so much younger than you...'
He really was insane. Julia shuddered, a strange feeling settling over her.
'Why does he like me?'
More than anything else, that was what puzzled her most. Pure and honest Charlotte was loved by everyone. She was the kind of child who adapted well wherever she went and was adored. But Julia wasn't like that. She was full of complaints, quick to get annoyed, and demanding about all sorts of things—a troublesome child. Even she thought so herself.
Occasionally—very occasionally—she viewed Aslan favorably, but aside from cases like when he'd exposed the orphanage director for the public good, there were almost none. From the perspective of the wicked Vermont, someone like her could only be a thorn in his side.
'Ah!? Could it be because of that?'
He wasn't interested in easy women! Was that it? Did he want to enjoy the process of breaking and corrupting someone as sharp and upright as her? Did he think she would submit? Even if she became a countess, did he think she would be tainted by evil...!
'There's really no other way now!'
Aslan had already marked her. No matter what she did, escaping the future where she became a countess would be difficult. Therefore, there was no other option. She had no choice but to remain in the mansion as a countess and become an internal spy...!
"Kuuuugh."
"...?"
Julia gritted her teeth with a determined expression, and Aslan's face filled with bewilderment.
***
"The day has already grown dark. Let's end today's lesson here."
"U-uh, yeah. I was also starting to get tired and wanted to stop... yo."
The suffocating second lesson had come to an end. The lesson itself had gone well, just like the first one. But every so often Julia would glance at his face, then let out a startled "hik," or suddenly blush and look away, or hesitate and struggle to continue speaking. As a result, the lesson had dragged on longer than expected.
Why was she acting like this? Did she need to use the bathroom?
"If you need to use the restroom, just say so."
"Ah!? What are you saying...!"
"Or don't. Go prepare to go out."
"Prepare to go out? Why?"
"Charlotte's Super Strong Sword performance test should be underway right now."
"I-I want to go."
Julia hurriedly grabbed the coat hanging on her chair and followed after him. If it had been earlier, she wouldn't have even wanted to share a carriage with him, let alone speak to him. But the awkwardness between them seemed to have eased considerably.
"Let's hurry. We're already quite late. By the time we arrive, it might already be over."
Charlotte would sulk if that happened. But it couldn't be helped. If he had to choose between the two, soothing Julia's sulking took priority. Charlotte would forget she'd been sulking in no time if left alone.
In the late evening as the sunset painted the sky, they left the mansion a little hurriedly and boarded the carriage. Come to think of it, this was the first time he'd ridden alone with Julia without Sylvia. Julia sat across from him, silently turning her head to gaze out the window. That figure looked almost like... a tragic heroine being dragged to an unwanted wedding.
Why did she have such a wistful expression?
"We've arrived. Get out."
"..."
"What are you staring blankly for? I said get out."
"You need to move aside first before I can get out... yo."
After the carriage stopped, Aslan extended his hand at the door, but Julia stood still without moving. Had she misunderstood that he was blocking the way? He stepped onto the footboard and firmly grasped Julia's small hand. She flinched and trembled.
"When a lady alights from a carriage, this is how you assist her. Offering your hand carries that meaning, so remember it."
"D-do you do this for other women too? The same way?"
"What do you mean?"
"Exactly what I said. Do you offer your hand to other women the same way?"
She needed to get down already. Why was she suddenly asking strange questions? Even when he pulled, she didn't budge. He could feel her firm resolve not to move until he answered.
"I would."
"You would? Not 'I have'?"
"It meant I've never had the occasion to share a carriage with a lady before."
Julia let out a small "kuk" of laughter. Did she really think he'd shared a carriage with a lady before? If he had to name someone, there was Irene, but Irene would ignore his offered hand completely and get down by herself.
"Then the person who becomes your wife will hold your hand like this every day, won't she?"
Having laughed to her heart's content, Julia willingly leaned against him as she stepped down from the carriage. When she struggled to find the footboard, he held her by the waist and helped her down. Julia's cheeks puffed up dramatically, filled with irritation.
"That's not how you treat a lady! ...yo!"
"Did you seriously think of yourself as a lady? If you want to be treated as one, come back when you've grown enough."
"Uuuu!"
You're not one yet. When he said that with a slight smile, Julia violently shook off his hand. Did she really want to be treated as a lady that badly? If that was the case, then fine.
"Here."
"W-what is it... yo."
"Hold it. A proper lady walks while holding the hand of the gentleman escorting her."
"What? You just made that up, didn't you... yo?"
"Of course not. Attending events without a male escort results in being treated as an outcast."
"...!"
Julia's eyes widened as she stared intently at the hand he offered. In the world of nobles, women were such beings. They couldn't do anything alone. Wherever they went, they needed a male escort, and whatever they did, they did it with a man. Could she endure that? Could she hold the hand of the man she despised and walk in front of everyone?
Of course she couldn't.
"Do you understand now? That's why I can't call you a lady."
Just as he smirked and withdrew his hand, her shoulder moved slightly. Her hand rose upward before quickly being pulled back.
"..."
"..."
She'd just tried to take his hand, hadn't she? Julia's face turned as red as a beet.