Diego stared at her for a moment, not even answering. It wasn’t hard for Estella to see that the emotion in his eyes bordered on bewilderment. He was making it blatantly clear that her visit was unwelcome. The people in this mansion would either be his allies or his enemies, and if he had to categorise Estella’s position, she fell into the latter category.

A smirk soon tugged at the corners of his mouth. Diego tugged at the corner of his mouth, not amused.

“What is it?”

Diego had been in this situation before. He’d grown tired of women he’d spoken to a few times wanting to sit next to him without knowing the subject matter. The tutor seemed to feel some kind of inner kinship with him, having overheard his secrets the last time. Still, she could hardly meet his eyes.

“It’s a lovely day. The flowers are blooming beautifully in the garden, and the sky is clear…”

Diego’s frown deepened as Estella’s ramblings continued. When Estella paused for breath, Diego opened his mouth to interrupt her.

“Look, Miss Margaret. You must be mistaken about something…”

“…I’ve decided to take the children out for a walk. We’re only going to the park, so I thought it wouldn’t be a burden for you to join us.”

Both Diego and Estella froze at the other’s reaction. They spoke at the same time.

“Mistaken?”

“An outing?”

Diego’s expression was somewhat threatening, and Estella’s shoulders hunched. The employer always had the right of first refusal. In a small voice, she answered.

“Yes, I’d like to organise an outdoor class with the children.”

Diego’s mouth dropped open, for his values could not comprehend Estella’s reasoning.

If she harboured personal feelings for him, she knows he shouldn’t be around children. It was no secret that Diego was uncomfortable with Cecilia and Cedric. He couldn’t imagine what was going through the tutor’s little head.

“I honestly don’t understand why you’d want me to accompany you to that outdoor lesson. I think you’ve got the wrong person.”

Nevertheless, it was clear that Estella’s suggestion was presumptuous. Diego didn’t hide his displeasure. She wasn’t too intimidated by him as she expected him to say no. Estella hesitated, then spoke up.

“About what you heard that day.”

The unexpected rush made Diego pause. Diego spoke up, his voice cold.

“I don’t know what you’re trying to accomplish by talking about that day.”

“My Lord, I mean…”

“I should have left you with one more warning then. If you try to use that to sway me, I will deal with you in a manner worse than they planned.”

With that, Diego strode briskly towards Estella. Estella barely managed to keep herself from stumbling backwards. Diego leaned over her menacingly and said.

“Miss Margaret, let’s get one thing straight.”

“…Please say.”

“You have not been placed in a position to prey on my weaknesses. Rather, you have been placed in a position to be more careful in your actions and words, do you understand?”

Standing up to a man who had a grudge against her was quite nerve-wracking. Estella replied, trying to look as cheerful as possible.

“My Lord, I’m not trying to take advantage of your weakness, nor do I think it’s a weakness.”

“Then how am I to interpret this situation?”

“Let’s call it a deal, and I think you have nothing to lose.”

Diego made no reply, but he didn’t stop her either. Estella paused for a moment, then spoke.

“I stayed in the study even after the Duke left. Thanks to that, I was able to eavesdrop on other stories as well.There is a person who cooperates with Duke Berta in the Marquis of Botry.”

In reality, she had not learned this information from the Duke of Berta, but it’s a fact known from the book. Anyway, Diego would never have caught her lie. Diego’s anger flared up and then subsided.

The Marquis of Botry were Diego’s only family. They were also the ones who backed him against Duke Berta’s arbitrary change of heir.

“Of course, I don’t doubt the ability of the Duke, but isn’t it quite a merit to be able to discern unexpected enemies in advance?”

Estella’s words were true. Diego has placed great trust in his maternal family as much as he is attached to his biological mother. He was in a position where he couldn’t go after them openly as he had a relationship he had built up.

“What do you want?”

Diego asked in a low, hushed voice, as if he were careful not to let the story slip out.

Estella gave him a puzzled look. She cocked her head to the right, then repeated her earlier request.

“Like I said, you’re going to play with the kids for the day…?”

The lighthearted tone made Diego wonder for a moment if he had misheard her. Yes, she was definitely asking him to join her for an outing with the kids. But that’s all she wanted in exchange for the grave matter of exposing a traitor?

In disbelief, Diego spoke up.

“Is that really all you want?”

“What do you mean, it’s no big deal… Teaching kids is harder than you thought it would be, and it means something.”

Estella responded with an ambiguous expression. Diego was someone who was often praised for his kindness to servants, but he often revealed his true character only to Estella. Diego replied with an expression that did not dispel Estella’s suspicion.

“How am I to believe that you are not lying?”

“If the man I have informed you of proves to be no traitor, then come to kill me in his stead.”

Diego paused at the bluntness of her words. Estella’s reaction was far too nonchalant for someone who had offered her head. Diego smirked.

“You risk your life just to ask me to join you on an outing?”

Estella didn’t laugh along with him. She wasn’t making a joke. It wasn’t because she didn’t value her life. It was a gesture of trying to save someone’s life.”

Estella looked straight up at Diego and said,

“Do you want to know who he is?”

Diego met Estella’s gaze with a cold one. He had to admit that he was a little offended that he would have to go along with her unknown plans to get the answer, but it was something that would have to be seen to be believed. Even if the tutor’s words were false, it would be worth it just to find out.

Diego soon wiped the smile from his face.

“Where should we go?”

* * *

No man in the capital attracts more women than Diego. Naturally, he’s been seduced and flirted with all his life. But, to his credit, Estella was the first to show up for an appointment with him in anything but a skimpy chemise.

“Here, Little Duke.”

Diego shakily accepted the teacup from Estella, the clear black tea swirling in the glass. Estella passed the tea to the children in turn. Cedric looked nervous, as if conscious of Diego’s presence, but he took a sip of his tea with a straight face. Diego glanced to his left, and his gaze locked with Cecilia’s.

“Hmmh.”

Cecilia clamped her mouth shut with a whimper. Cecilia took a hesitant step toward Estella. It was as if she’d seen something she shouldn’t have. It made Diego feel like a villain, even though he hadn’t done anything. Had he ever been scary to her? He couldn’t remember.

“Please eat. The sun is warm, but it’s still cold.”

Estella urged Diego, holding up her own glass. Diego hid his disapproval and brought the cup to his lips. The tea tasted quite good, which made his mood even worse.

Two kids who are wary of him and a woman whose motives are unclear… It was not a pleasant combination.

“Didn’t you say it was an outdoor class?”

Diego said, pointing out that they looked like they’d just left a picnic. Estella was undeterred and picked up the book in my lap.

“Yes, a class on enjoying nature.”

The book she had brought was a botanical atlas. She had been struggling to think of a suitable lesson that would allow them to meet outside, away from prying eyes. She forced herself to remember the memories of her time at her school and decided to teach the children about plants. She had told the maids to stay away, so they would not be disturbed. No one would guess that they were having a meeting with Diego and Nammo.

“Young master, my lady. Today we’re going to have a lesson on some plant seeds.”

Setting his teacup on the floor, Diego reflexively turned to Estella. Gone was her usual small, quiet voice, and she was speaking in an exaggerated tone, like an actress.

Come to think of it, she’s particularly gentle when dealing with children.

“What are you going to use all this learning for?”

Cedric asked, poking the corner of the book with his index finger. Estella smiled, restraining his cheeky hand gesture.

“Knowing the seeds of flowers is a must-have when giving sensible gifts. How well the garden is decorated is a measure of the owner’s class.”

Cedric nodded, crooking a nervous index finger. Estella looked back at Cecilia as if she had a question. Cecilia’s cheeks were flushed with interest.

The book was for toddlers, so it wasn’t very specialised, and plants have seasons, so there weren’t many pages to explain. Estella illustrated a dozen or so spring flowers, and then offered a bet.

“Whoever can find the most flowers in this book wins.”

“A prize?”

Cecilia asked expectantly. Estella nodded coldly.

“Of course.”

“What is it?”

“Um… It’s no fun for me to decide, so I’ll let the winner decide. You can ask for a snack, or a permission to skip a class?”

Diego stared at Estella in disbelief. It wasn’t the best example for an employer to hear. How to deal with a tutor who wanted to legitimately take time out of class to play.

But without giving Diego a second glance, Estella shouted, ‘Ready, go!’ As the children scrambled to grab their shoes and run out the door, Estella’s attention returned to Diego. She looked back at him with questioning eyes.

“Aren’t you going?”

He looked around, but the children had already left. It took Diego half a beat to understand her question and asked.

“…You mean me?”

“I thought you were supposed to help me with my class?”

Still, hw was reluctant. Was he supposed to dig through this sponsorship area like a child and pluck flowers? Diego was about to say no with a troubled look on his face. Estella smiled meaningfully.

“I’m sure the Duke is most anxious to win.”