𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟖: 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐇𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐡𝐥
Two weeks have passed since then.
I had completely adapted to life in Heyerdahl.
In the mornings, I taught the younger children things through songs and walks, and in the afternoons, I taught the teenagers about manners and the basics of noble society.
Theodore-sama would occasionally make time to visit the children’s study room, sitting in a small chair and listening to my stories.
Teaching in front of an audience was somewhat embarrassing.
“Don’t mind me. Just think of me as a mischievous boy who’s intruded.”
“Even if you say that. . .”
Even so, seeing Theodore-sama getting along with the children made me happy, so I tried to focus on my duties as a tutor as much as possible without worrying about it.
When he started singing a cute nursery rhyme with the children during a walk, I had to tell him, “Please stop, it’s not appropriate for a lord.”
I worked on education tailored to each child’s personality and aptitude, in cooperation with the nanny maids. For children who were good at singing, we expanded their interest from singing. For those interested in magic, they learned while looking at the magic stone mine and actual magical tools.
“Forget studying, I want to be of help to Lord Father as soon as possible.”
For children who appealed in this way, we let them learn from knowledge related to Theodore-sama’s work.
I had felt this way since I was involved in education as a charity, but I think I really enjoy interacting with children who have a future.
・・・
『”𝔸𝕨𝕖𝕓𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕤.𝕔𝕠𝕞” – 𝔻𝕚𝕤𝕔𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕒 𝕔𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕚𝕧𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕨𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕠𝕗 𝕝𝕠𝕧𝕖, 𝕡𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕒𝕕𝕧𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖, 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕔𝕒𝕟 𝕚𝕟𝕕𝕦𝕝𝕘𝕖 𝕚𝕟 𝕒 𝕔𝕠𝕝𝕝𝕖𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕟𝕤𝕝𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕕 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝𝕤 𝕨i𝕥𝕙 “𝕕𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕪 𝕦𝕡𝕕𝕒𝕥𝕖𝕤” 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕖𝕩𝕔𝕝𝕦𝕤𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕒𝕔𝕔𝕖𝕤𝕤 𝕥𝕠 “𝕒𝕕𝕧𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕕 𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤”.』
・・・
One afternoon.
When I tried to report to Theodore-sama about the day, I was guided by a servant to a carriage outside the castle.
Theodore-sama was already there. Dressed in a gray suit with a black cloak inspired by ethnic clothing, he smiled softly at me.
“Let’s talk while we move.”
“If you’re busy, we can do it another time. . .”
I was worried that he was so busy that he had to talk even while moving.
He laughed off my concerns, saying, “That’s not it.”
“I thought it wouldn’t be bad to have a conversation while sightseeing in the city.”
While worrying about whether I was interrupting his work, I talked to Theodore-sama about the children’s behavior today in the departing carriage. He looked me in the eye and listened with interest.
“Miss Chloe is amazing.”
“Eh?”
“You’ve bonded with those children faster than I imagined. They seemed nervous until they saw your face, being a tutor from outside Heyerdahl. . . I’m glad.”
“All of them are honest, well-behaved, and kind children. . . It’s all thanks to everyone who has been carefully dealing with the children.”
“Indeed, the nannies in the castle are doing a good job. But that, and Miss Chloe being a good teacher, are two different things. It’s because they recognized you as an adult worthy of acceptance.”
As the wind blew in from the window, Theodore-sama looked at me with a dazzling gaze. His gray eyes were capturing only me, and it felt too precious, so I turned my gaze outside.
The mountains with perennial snow, the fresh greenery.
I feel as if I’m being watched by the magnificent view from the carriage.
“. . .I myself became the wife of my divorced husband without even making my debut, not knowing right from left. My mother-in-law thoroughly drilled into me the education of a lady, as I was a child so ignorant it was foolish. I am grateful for that. . .but I don’t want young children to go through the same hardships due to ignorance. So, it’s like I’m doing it for my past self.”
“You’re kind, Miss Chloe.”
“I’m not kind, it’s my self-satisfaction.”
“Then let me say it for my own satisfaction. You are kind.”
He praises me with a stubborn seriousness.
My cheeks heat up under his gaze.
“Those children are the children left behind by my subordinates. They are children who have lost their parents in the chaos of war, who have grown up in their hearts while still young, and who have endured hardships to survive. . .If they can show just an innocent face in front of adults, it’s because of your kindness.”
“That’s an exaggeration. . .”
“Humility is unnecessary. You will be properly recognized and accepted here. . .Rest assured, and spend your time in our castle.”
“Thank you.”
The carriage enters the city.
Theodore-sama, his hair and decorative cord swaying, tells me in a boyish, buoyant voice.
“There’s a shop that serves good cake. Let’s go together.”
“Eh. . .Um, isn’t today your official duty?”
When I ask in confusion, he smiles.
“I’ve been having Miss Chloe taken away by the children. Today, you’ll accompany me.”
“Eh. . .Eh.”
“Do you mind?”
“. . .Not at all. . .”
“Then.”
Theodore-sama gets off the carriage and extends his hand to me.
I place my hand on his firm, strong palm and follow him off the carriage. I think his palm is hot. His large hand supports mine as if handling a fragile object.
ーーThis might be the first time I’ve been treated as a lady by having my hand taken like this.
Even while eating a cake set at the café, I felt as if my chest was about to burst with tension.
・・・
『”𝘈𝘸𝘦𝘣𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴.𝘤𝘰𝘮” – 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦, 𝘸𝘩e𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 “𝘥𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘶𝘱𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴” 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘵𝘰 “𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴”.』
・・・
“I’ve always wanted to spend time with you like this. . .Thank you, Miss Chloe.”
On the way home, he thanked me with his face lit by the setting sun.
Somehow, his words seemed to carry the weight of a truly long wait. . .I felt strange, but I couldn’t ask any more about it.
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