Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The First Lesson
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A stifled chuckle could be heard from nearby. The vassals were struggling to suppress their laughter.
Some stared off into the distance, while others let out a long sigh.
Just then, someone strode up beside me.
It was Durias, the man I’d met in front of the dining hall a while ago. He was covering his mouth with a gloved hand, but he schooled his expression and met my gaze. His mischievous golden eyes twinkled.
"Oh dear, it seems the young lady is trying to wipe her mouth right away."
“Aileen not doin’ dat!”
"In that case, I'm relieved."
Durias grinned, feigning relief.
After walking down the hall holding me for a while longer, Kaide stopped. We had arrived in front of my room on the second floor.
Kaide set me down, stared at me for a moment, then gently flicked my forehead.
Ah.
"I don't know what's going on in that little head of yours. You don't have to pay me back, so just focus on what you'll spend your next allowance on."
My eyes widened.
Did that mean he was going to give me an allowance again?
* * *
“Wosawia! Aileen’s here!”
I burst through the door excitedly, only to find Rosaria talking with someone I had never seen before.
Who was she?
Rosaria, who had been in a serious conversation, greeted me warmly and beckoned me over.
I scurried over to Rosaria’s side.
“Lady Aileen, did you have a good time?”
“Uh-huh. I came wif Daddy.”
While dutifully answering Rosaria, I studied the woman sitting across from us.
“So this must be the young Lady Aileen I will be teaching.”
“Yes. Lady Aileen, please say hello. This is Miss Kasana, who will be in charge of your basic education.”
A teacher?
I looked at Kasana with curiosity. She had a calm demeanor and was laying out a piece of paper that looked like a schedule.
I couldn’t read yet, but it was divided into several boxes, so it looked like one.
“Aileen gonna study?”
“Yes. Are you excited? Young Master Set and Young Master Arban are also taking lessons. Now, it’s your turn, Lady Aileen.”
My interest was piqued at the mention that Set and Arban were doing it too.
“What awe we gonna study?”
“We’ll proceed with simple, play-based learning.”
“Wif my bwothers?”
“Your curriculum is different from the two young masters, my lady. We received special instructions from the Gaju.”
I was disappointed to hear I couldn’t take classes with them, but my head snapped up at the mention of Kaide's special instructions.
Kasana set down her teacup and began to explain.
“Normally, the heir training follows the same process for everyone without exception. However, given your young age, we have determined that the lessons the two young masters are receiving would be too difficult for you. They are a bit... rough.”
What kind of lessons were they taking that would be described as rough?
Recalling Arban jumping in and out of my window, I could roughly guess what their lessons entailed.
“It seems that part was a concern for him. The Gaju requested that the entire curriculum be revised for you.”
That was a relief. It would have been a problem if they’d taken me to the forest and told me to uproot an entire tree.
Kasana seemed relieved to see that I was agreeable.
It looked as though she had been worried about what she would do if I threw a tantrum, demanding to take the same classes.
“If all your questions have been answered, I will take my leave for today. Lessons will begin at two o’clock every afternoon, so please ensure she is ready, Miss Rosaria.”
“I will see to it.”
“Then I shall see you tomorrow, Lady Aileen. Please feel free to call me Kasa.”
Kasana rose from her seat. Having missed my chance to say goodbye, I quickly reached out and grabbed her finger.
“Kasa, bye-bye. Goodbye now.”
“Oh my, how polite of you, Lady Aileen.”
Kasana flinched when I grabbed her finger and turned to look at me. She didn’t seem to expect me to run up and take her hand.
“Aileen will study hawd. I’ll be smawt.”
“Very well. I will look forward to a fun lesson tomorrow.”
Kasana left the room with a faint smile.
* * *
Beneath a darkening sky.
Figures in black hoods appeared before the mansion.
An overwhelming pheromone billowed around them. Their very presence was a testament to what it meant to be intimidating.
They showed no signs of fatigue, despite having traveled from the border all night without rest.
“We’ve finally arrived.”
“Man, coming back from the wastelands feels like coming home.”
The man who had spoken so energetically took a deep breath. The familiar air awakened senses long forgotten.
“I know this is a special moment, but don’t get careless. I will now go over the precautions.”
The man standing at the very front issued the warning as he pulled a piece of paper labeled ‘Precautions’ from his pocket.
It was the list Rosaria had sent them in advance.
The items marked with a red star were of the highest priority. He scanned the list with a grave expression before beginning to read aloud from the top.
“First. Conceal your pheromones as much as possible in front of Lady Aileen.”
At once, the wildly surging pheromones of each individual grew as still as if holding their breath.
“Second. Guard her without taking your eyes off her for a single moment, as if you were hunting prey.”
“That, I can do.”
“But I don’t really get this whole ‘guarding’ concept. Anyone care to explain?”
From the moment they’d hatched, they had been far from the type to be guarded, so even the word itself felt awkward on their tongues.
After a brief silence, someone spoke up in a hesitant voice.
“...You watch, and if someone annoying shows up, you drag them off and take care of them, right? That’s usually how I handle anyone who gets near my prey.”
“Huh? That’s how I understood it, too. Sounds about right.”
A trivial chatter filled the air.
The man shot them a disdainful look before continuing to read the remaining precautions.
“Third. In unavoidable situations, prioritize defense over offense.”
“Okay.”
“Fourth. Lady Aileen is frail, so handle her with more care than you would a newborn chick. And finally...”
This one was marked with three stars, signifying it was the most important.
Thinking it was utterly childish, he mechanically read the final point.
“Do not reveal yourselves unless it is an emergency.”
If word got out that they—already infamous as the gatekeepers of the southern border—had gathered in time for the banquet, it would cause trouble regardless of their true intentions.
Once the precautions had been reviewed, the black-hooded figures vanished in an instant.
This was a mere two days after Kaide had issued the order for their return.
* * *
Today was my first lesson with Kasana.
I waited excitedly for the time to pass, drawing in my sketchbook.
I was drawing colorful clouds and a big house, waiting for my lesson to start, when a knock came at precisely two o’clock.
*Knock, knock.*
Rosaria, who was preparing some simple refreshments for the lesson, came over.
“It seems your teacher has arrived, Lady Aileen!”
“Aileen will get it!”
“Then shall we open the door quickly so your teacher doesn’t have to wait?”
“Okay!”
The crayon I’d hastily set down rolled across the floor.
I scrambled up from where I’d been lying on the rug and dashed to the door, shouting.
“Aileen’s comin’!”
When I reached the door and pulled down on the handle, I could see Kasana through the opening.
Holding her teaching materials, Kasana had her light reddish hair tied up and was dressed in a suit, just like yesterday.
I smiled brightly, took Kasana’s hand, and led her inside.
“Aileen was waiting for Kasa!”
“Is that so? Shall we put away what you were doing?”
“Okay!”
I diligently put away the toys scattered across the floor, returning each one to its proper place.
Kasana, who had been watching me, offered a small compliment.
“You’re very good at tidying up.”
“Aileen did good?”
“Yes. I will give you a reward sticker.”
Kasana took out a piece of paper with a drawing of a grape vine on it. She placed a green caterpillar sticker in one of the empty spots.
When I couldn’t take my eyes off it, Kasana handed the paper to me.
“This is yours from now on, Lady Aileen.”
“Aileen’s?”
“Yes. You will be in charge of it from now on. Let me know when you’ve filled it all up, and I will give you a gift.”
“Wow!”
Suddenly, the picture of the grapes looked like a treasure map leading to a gift.
And I get to take care of it all by myself!
I quickly took the paper and ran to the treasure box where I kept my snacks.
It was filled not only with snacks, but also with all the things I treasured.
I had to keep it here.
I folded the paper into quarters, placed it inside the box, and carefully closed the lid.
“Is that where you keep your precious belongings, Lady Aileen?”
“Uh-huh. It’s Aileen’s tweasure.”