The Duchess, who had been looking nervous at Diego’s sudden question, smiled widely. She even looked at Estella in a very loving way. The Duchess clapped her hands together.

“Well, would you look at that! Your son seems so gifted. He might be able to help you with your work when he grows up a bit more.”

As she spoke, the Duchess looked back at Diego. The graceful way she lifted her chin was a little provocative. Diego was unperturbed and continued to compliment Cedric.

“I see you’ve been keeping up with your lessons.”

Cedric’s cheeks flushed red. Cedric was very reserved around Diego.

She wondered if he looked up to his much older brother as an object of admiration, but he blurted out a humble response.

“No, I heard you were even better than that, and I dream of being like you.”

Diego glanced over at Cedric in surprise. The Duchess’s face stiffened at her son’s outburst of praise for his half-brother. Gauging the reactions of the audience, Duke Berta raised his glass as if to settle the situation.

“It’s good to see you all in good spirits, so let’s drink to your hearts content. Except for you, Cedric.”

“Can’t I have a drink?”

“Hoho, instead, I will give you a big prize. What would you like?”

Cedric cried out in excitement at Duke Berta’s offer.

“A real sword!”

“Hmm, yes. It’s about time you have a sword of your own.”

Duke Berta stroked his chin and nodded. His gaze travelled to Estella this time, and he offered her a benevolent smile.

“Yes, our teacher deserves a reward. What do you want?”

“I…”

Estella considered her words for a moment. Duke Berta jerked his chin impatiently. Estella nervously replied.

“I prefer cash than goods, Your Grace.”

The Duke of Berta stared at Estella, dumbfounded. It was as if he hadn’t expected her to ask for money. After a moment of laughter, he replied.

“Puha! I must have met an unusual person. All right, I will.”

His laughter contained a mockery of Estella’s worldly remarks, but she didn’t take it to heart. The Duke was on his deathbed, and she had no intention of bargaining with Diego. The only remaining option was to flee with the children, but if their financial situation wasn’t good enough, it would quickly become exhausting if she didn’t have enough money in her pocket.

“Come to my chambers for a few minutes after supper. I will give you a cheque.”

With that, the duke finished his meal. After completing the verification, Cedric was arrogant. Watching Cedric raise and lower his eyebrows with his characteristic gleeful expression, Estella imagined for a moment how difficult life on the run with two children would be. Though she’d ultimately fail to relieve herself of the burdensome responsibility.

* * *

The dinner was not finished until quite late. The Duchess kept refilling the glasses, which resulted in an unintentional overindulgence on the part of Duke Berta. The first to rise was Diego, who announced that he was going out tomorrow. Cedric and Estella were the next to leave the room. Estella carried Cedric to his bedroom and handed him over to the maid. It was time for the child to brush his teeth and drift off to sleep.

Leaving Cedric behind, Estella thought for a moment. Duke Berta had told her to come to his office after dinner. But she doubted he would remember his promise to pay the note in his drunken stupor.

After a moment’s deliberation, Estella finally made her way to the office, knowing that she would be the one who would be disappointed if she didn’t get the money she was promised anyway.

Unfortunately, jer fears were soon realised. The office was empty. She was hoping to find the money, but the desk had been cleaned out. Inwardly, Estella wasn’t too disappointed, as she had expected this. Perhaps Duke Berta was still drinking.

Instead of waiting for him, she went straight outside. Luckily, there was a place to kill time next to the office. Estella stepped into the study that connected to the office. The vast library was filled with books of all kinds. She’d been in there a few times before, but never picked out a book for herself.

Estella walked slowly forward, her hand brushing the spines. There was an intermittent light, just enough to make out the words. Scanning the room, she soon spotted a familiar and unwelcome face.

“My Lord?”

The figure was so unexpected that she reflexively flinched. Diego slowly turned his head in the direction of the sound. Estella felt a flash of panic, but kept the conversation as casual as possible.

“What brings you to the study at this time of night?”

“Why is the teacher here…”

Diego, who had stopped talking, nodded as if remembering.

“Ah, uhm.”

Diego said, grabbing a book off the shelf and hoisting it over his shoulder.

“I just came to get something to read in bed.”

His voice was still emotionless. He’d drained a few glasses of wine at the dinner, she remembered, but he didn’t seem drunk at all. Heck, he looked as sober as ever when he got up to leave. Maybe the fact that he had plans tomorrow was an excuse. Whatever it was, it was none of Estella’s business.

“Oh… Yes, then have a look.”

She didn’t make a habit of talking to killers for long. Estella walked past him with a slight bow of her head. Diego, who had been watching her closely, suddenly stopped her.

“To be honest, I’m a little surprised.”

“What?”

“Because I knew Cedric wasn’t doing his homework.”

Estella froze in place and looked up at Diego, who walked towards her with book in hand. She took a reflexive step back.

As Estella tried to distance herself from him, Diego closed the gap between them. Thanks to him, Estella showed a retreat to the end of the wall. With nowhere to go, she took a defensive stance.

“…Why are you doing this?”

“I’m trying to talk to you, but you keep moving away, so I have to move closer.”

“We can carry on a conversation from five steps away.”

“Then you won’t be able to see through these ridiculously thick glasses.”

Saying that, Diego tapped Estella on her glasses. Ridiculously thick. Estella could not contain her shock at the harsh evaluation. Her eyesight wasn’t too bad, but she was particularly fond of accessories that made her look like a classic tutor…

“You worked some strange magic overnight.”

With that, Diego tugged at the string on Estella’s collar. It was meant to hold a ribbon, but she’d left it hanging loose after a meal. Diego soon had it neatly tied. Estella felt his hand on her collar, quite hot.

Perhaps this was a distraction. Estella tried to focus on the conversation.

“Magic?”

“Because I think you have a talent for cramming more than I thought.”

“It’s true, Master Cedric has mastered the book.”

It had taken her all night last night, but that didn’t make it any less of an accomplishment. Estella rolled her shoulders proudly.

“Unfortunately, that is the case.”

Diego said, his voice flat. Estella’s eyes widened at that. It was clear that Diego was genuinely bothered by his brother’s achievement.

What was the problem with this man. Following his abusive father, he killed his younger siblings. He couldn’t at least spare the innocent children

The words came out of Estella’s mouth unbidden.

“… Wouldn’t it be nice if your younger brother is willing to learn?”

Diego stared at Estella for a moment, his eyes unreadable. Then he spoke in an insensitive tone.

“You say some very funny things. Like Cedric is really my younger brother, and I’m really his older brother.”

“You two are family.”

“It sounds a bit dull to be naive.”

Diego untied the ribbon again, looking uninterested. Estella gathered her courage and pushed his hand away. Fortunately, Diego obeyed and took a step back. His next words were more of a compliment.

“You look more like a decent man than I thought you would that it doesn’t go well with this house.”

“I’m just doing my job as a teacher…”

Estella was about to retort when she was interrupted by a radio-like sound that cut in and out behind her. Of course, this was a time when such machines had not yet been invented, which meant that what she was hearing was human speech.

Estella’s brow narrowed. She wondered if there was someone behind the thin wall. As it turned out, the study led to the Duke and Duchess’s bedroom, with only one door separating them. Estella’s ears perked up involuntarily at the sound of voices behind her.

“Make a fool… before growing up…”

“Look at this. Such a good sight…just leave the child alone…”

“No matter how much he…is the heir…he’s got his eyes on him…it won’t be easy to deal with…”

Diego and Estella were the only ones in the study, so when they stopped talking, a perfect stillness descended around them. In the silence, only the voices on the other side of the wall sounded unusually loud. Diego leaned closer to the wall as if he heard the same thing as Estella.

“…I think I heard something.”

As soon as Estella heard Diego’s voice, she realized with a jolt who was there, and what kind of conversation they might be having.

Estella stared at Diego, breathless. She quickly pulled her back away from the wall.

“The wall, there might be a rat inside. It’s common in old mansions like this… It’s nothing, just leave it.”

“What are you talking about? I just heard voices…”

Estella reflexively reached out and covered both of his ears.

Her palm brushed against Diego’s temple. Diego stared at her with an uncharacteristically puzzled expression. But as if mocking Estella’s excuse, explosive screams began to flow from behind the wall.

“Well done! Thanks to you, Diego has grown up like this now! They say there’s no one left in the capital to rival him in swordsmanship, so what kind of skill are you planning to use?”

“Don’t say I called someone to deal with it! He’s one of the most skillful assassins in the South. Damn, I promised him money, so he’ll do something, whether it’s cutting his throat or making him a cripple!”

Soundproofing in this era was atrocious, Estella found out in a very unwanted way. She wished that Diego would not hear these terrible words, but her small hands could not protect him.

Diego’s bewildered expression gradually hardened. Diego pulled her hands away from his ears, but Estella desperately held on. Estella spat out like a rapid-fire cannon.

“Don’t listen. It’s nothing.”

But the Duke of Berta seemed intent on leaving them no hope, for he shouted angrily.

“You’d better keep an eye on Cedric, because he’s about to spout some bullshit about how he can’t inherit the title because it’s his brother’s! What a bastard, wanting to be like him.”

“Don’t listen. I told you it’s no big deal, please… don’t listen.”