“We will solve a few questions first to start the class in earnest.”
Roy presented the questionnaire. Upon receiving it, twenty-six letters were drawn for the consonants and vowels of the official language of the kingdom.
“Could you write the letters you know?”
Next to her, Michael immediately began moving his pen with a serious attitude.
Perhaps, if it was the old Sienna, she would have been embarrassed by this questionnaire and be greatly discouraged by Michael’s flaunting appearance…
‘…How much should I do to make it look like I’m struggling like a normal kid?”
Now, Sienna was getting embarrassed for a different reason.
Sienna had been dedicated to the role of Lorraine’s Head Maid. It included learning perfect handwriting by practicing until calluses formed on her hands so she’d be able to write Loreina’s letters.
I don’t think it should be too perfect, but I wasn’t confident that it wouldn’t be perfect.
‘I should pretend to not know my letters…’
…But it was a bit embarrassing to do this next to a 10-year-old who had already completed his questionnaire and was looking this way.
Anyway, I grabbed a pen because I wanted to give it a try. Fortunately, the necessary muscles needed for writing were still underdeveloped, and poor handwriting was shown.
“Yes, yes, try a little more. No, you have to lean in a little more from here.”
It was so naturally crooked that Michael, who sat beside her, taught her.
“Good job!”
When Sienna finally completed the writing of 26 consonants, Michael was greatly relieved and even praised her.
“You’ve never learned it properly, but you know the letters. You’re amazing.”
‘I was praised by a 10-year-old for writing.’
That’s cool. Sienna, who sighed inwardly, returned the answer sheet to Mr. Lowell. Lowell nodded slowly.
“…Yeah, well, fortunately you know how to spell. You’d better practice for a while. so that others can recognize what they are reading.”
It was just then.
“Little duke! Oh, you were in class. I’m really sorry.”
“Oh, why are you…?!”
“Why not?”
The gentle-looking young man who suddenly appeared replied with a vicious smile.
“Since the little duke didn’t come to class, I came to find him myself.”
No wonder. I was wondering if he came here because he had time to kill before his class, but I guess he was skipping.
Feeling helpless, Michael blushed as Siena looked at him blankly.
“Che, don’t get me wrong! Did you think I came here because I was worried about you?”
(P/N: The ‘che’ is a scoffing sound that people make sometimes before mocking others or in this case, being a little tsun tsun. It’s similar to ‘tch’ XD )
“No, it’s not…”
“Now, stop, stop it.”
The young man entered with a smile.
“Let’s stop interrupting the class. If you haven’t forgotten your spelling, get up right away.”
“….Tch.”
Michael stood up with a pout. But he didn’t go out right away and sent a warning to Lowell.
“Teach her properly. I won’t stay still if you tell her unnecessary things.”
“Oh, my God! I wonder if they’ll take care of themselves. Are you not going to come over? Do you want me to grab you by your ears and drag you out?”
“Okay, okay, okay!”
Following the teacher, she could hear Michael asking, saying, ‘What will she see me as if you talk to me like that!’, the sound of protests went down the hallway and disappeared.
As the whole place became quiet and they were left alone, the tutor looked down at Sienna with a cold look.
“You’re an orphan who came out of nowhere and you even annoyed the little duke…”
Oh. Sienna lamented a bit. She still couldn’t recall his face, but that look in his eyes was familiar. It seemed this was the same tutor she had in the past.
“It’s terrible that you’re so brazen and clueless. It’s even worse than a beggar.”
Listening to the abusive language, Sienna thought.
‘It’s good that there’s someone who hasn’t changed.”
This blatant hostility was better than those who acted sweet but went crazy, as if they were being strangled with silk
Since that is the case, I just hope the hostility will remain consistent in the future.
“I don’t know how full of yourself you are, but you’d better get your head on straight.”
I thought it was great, and I was going to cooperate with you…
“He’s the descendant of the great Grand Duke, who is connected to the blood of the Great Empire, and you’re just an orphan of unknown origins.”
…The more he spoke, the more he was getting out of line.
Suddenly, I thought, it is good my attitude did not change since I won’t be confused by his words.
But do I need to be listening to all this nonsense?
In the past, I held back no matter what happened, but that’s when I was scared.
As long as the grand duke didn’t know what she was doing, there’s no way she’d be scared of the tutor.
“…I have a question, sir.”
“?”
“If you keep on calling me an orphan, does that mean it’s your weak point?”
“What…”
“I understand then.”
Sienna smiled nonchalantly. It was a gentle smile, though there seemed to be something missing. Even so, the words she spoke were not in the least bit gentle.
“It turns out, people know that the most painful part of themselves can hurt others. Because teacher is like that too.”
He had thought a cotton ball was flying towards him, but instead, he was suddenly hit on the head with a brick. The face of the tutor, who belatedly understood the slanderous language, quickly heated up.
“So arrogant…. I’ll teach you a lesson!”
The man who couldn’t overcome his anger strode up and raised one hand up high. Sienna clicked her tongue.
‘I’m in trouble.’
I wanted to avoid it, but I thought it wouldn’t be bad to just take the slap and change her teacher. Sienna closed her eyes in preparation of the incoming shock.
It was then.
“Enough!”
A voice which sounded like a low roar. There was a heavy sound of a cane hitting the floor. Kangg!
Sienna’s eyes flew open upon hearing a voice which she shouldn’t have been able to hear at this time.
“…Your, Your Highness the Grand Duke!”
The Grand Duke stood at the door.
‘Ah.’
Sienna was unknowingly relieved.
It was one thing to rush out just because you were not afraid of death, and another to be subjected to violence.
“I, Your Grace, this is not it…”
“Young lady!”
Mrs. Deborah called Sienna from behind. Sienna quickly escaped in her direction.
“You are mistaken, Your Highness! Why would I hit the child for no reason? I’m telling you, that kid first insulted me with words that are not suitable for you to hear!”
This was complete nonsense. What could an eleven year old say to make an adult lose their reason and want to slap them?
Even if the child cursed at their late parents, it would still be the adult’s fault for losing their reason.
However…
In Sienna’s eyes, the Grand Duke was someone who could believe that nonsense.
Being behind his back, it was hard to guess how the grand duke was taking these words..
She was rude to the tutor. Although Sienna wouldn’t be in any big trouble for now, she didn’t want to be misunderstood anymore.
I’ve had enough of being framed. I hate it as much as I did when I died.
There was no time to think deeply. Sienna walked out from Mrs. Deborah’s arms and approached the Grand Duke. And…
“….!”
I grabbed the hem of the robe with a small hand.
‘Not. Not even slightly wrinkled…’
It was a rather passive gesture to claim innocence, but this was her best bet.
The Grand Duke looked down at the tiny, fluffy duff of a child holding onto his robe, and lost his words for a while.
‘This kid…’
Are you hiding?
Grabbing my clothes…?
It was unbelievable. No matter how he looked at her, she was the child who would freak out and faint whenever she saw him.
Though, it didn’t seem much different this time. Her hands on the hem of my clothes looked like feathers, which made him think they would fly away if he made the smallest mistake.
The handsome face of the Grand Duke cracked in moments.
‘How many times have you scared this child in this short period of time?’
How deeply would it be that the child would have to overcome the fear and think about hanging on to him?
‘It seems she thinks it’s safer to hide behind me…’
Thump. That small bit of trust weighed down on his whole heart.
She didn’t put down her guard or laugh at him. Her trust was to the extent that she believed him to be capable of solving this kind of situation.
However, that alone shook the rock-like heart of the Grand Duke.
Maybe it was because he had only raised sons who weren’t afraid of anything. He had no immunity to the feeling of a small fluffy chick tickling his ribs from the inside. He was utterly helpless against it.
It was a small piece of faith sent by a child who trembled at the sight of him.
I thought I’d die if I didn’t repay you.
“I, Your Majesty, I, I’ve been wrongly accused…”
He didn’t want the child to see his appearance when speaking to the tutor. The Grand Duke raised his hand and coldly cut off his words.
“Devon.”
“Yes, Grand Duke.”
The aide replied with a friendly smile.
“Don’t mind it. This Devon will take my time to find out whether that guy has an extra life or an extra liver to spare.”