Episode 5
Scratch, scratch.
The sound of a pen brushing across paper filled the quiet office.
Duke Chester Grayson Valerio, the head of the Valerio Dukedom, looked sharply over the documents.
As the master of the empire’s greatest noble house, his schedule was packed down to the minute. He didn’t have time to waste on something like meeting a tutor.
And yet, Chester personally met Kailas’s new private tutor — every single time.
That was because of his sister-in-law, Marchioness Maeve Dalton, who had earnestly asked him,
“Please, Chet, take good care of Kail.”
“Chet,” huh?
Chester chuckled as he remembered the bold young woman he’d just met. Only his family called him that nickname, yet the new tutor had said it so naturally — even calling it cute afterward.
She had looked him straight in the eye and chatted brightly, despite his intimidating presence. Her manners were proper, but there was something daring about her.
Probably because she was still young.
This new tutor looked even younger than her resume said — four years younger than him.
“Without experience, she won’t last long.”
Chester’s nephew was no ordinary boy.
Most tutors gave up within a day and a half, saying they couldn’t teach him anymore.
That’s why Chester had given the new tutor a rare word of encouragement — “Try to hang in there.”
But instead of looking grateful, she had seemed displeased, as if he’d said something wrong.
Even when he told her to just teach basic manners, she’d looked uncomfortable.
He didn’t understand it. Usually, people were happy when they were told to take it easy.
“Strange woman.”
Still, Chester smiled faintly. He’d shown uncharacteristic concern and received a sharp look for it — but oddly enough, he didn’t mind.
Once she met Kailas, she’d understand what he meant.
Then she’d know to keep her distance and do the bare minimum.
Because Kailas Valerio was a difficult child.
The nanny’s report said he was picky with food and often threw tantrums.
He also got rid of his tutors one after another — so many that counting them was pointless.
“Let’s see how long this one lasts.”
Still, she looked determined.
Chester set his pen down and crossed his arms.
He couldn’t focus on work anymore.
“If Kailas drives this one out too… I’m done with this.”
He had already done his duty for his sister-in-law — hiring more than ten tutors for the boy.
With a sigh, he closed the file, erased the image of the smiling tutor from his mind, and pressed the call bell.
“Right this way, please.”
A young man with pale green hair led Eurenia up to the second floor of the mansion.
“The Young Master’s room is at the very end of this hallway,” he said.
“The nursery is quite far inside,” Eurenia commented.
“The nursery?”
“I mean the Young Master’s room.”
“Ah… yes, I suppose it is.”
He looked like he had a lot he wanted to say but kept it to himself.
Eurenia studied the Duke’s assistant carefully.
Enzo Paisley was thin and quiet — so quiet he hadn’t spoken a word on the way there.
But Eurenia didn’t miss the way his lips kept twitching —
right after they left the Duke’s office,
when they passed Branson in the lobby,
and now, in front of the nursery hallway.
It was obvious he was dying to speak but forcing himself not to.
He probably thought his face was unreadable.
“The last room is the Young Master’s. The one to the left is yours,” Enzo explained. “Your luggage has been brought there. Everything you need should be ready, but if you need anything else, you can ask me or the butler.”
“Thank you, Mr. Enzo.”
“Please, just call me Enzo, Miss.”
“All right, Enzo. Then please call me Eurenia.”
“Understood, Miss Eurenia. Now, if you’ll excuse me—”
“Wait a moment.”
Eurenia stopped him.
“Why is it so quiet here?”
“…Pardon?”
Enzo blinked at the unexpected question.
“Usually, a house with a seven-year-old boy is noisy enough to shake the walls,” Eurenia said, stepping closer. “But this place feels like a monastery.”
“Is that… so?”
“Yes. What kind of child is the Young Master?”
“Why do you ask all of a sudden?”
He blinked rapidly, clearly uncomfortable.
“As expected, not an easy one to crack.”
She had expected this. An assistant who gossiped wouldn’t have survived long here.
But if she wanted to understand Kailas, she needed information.
In the original story, little was said about Kailas’s childhood.
After his father’s death, his mother had all but abandoned him to the Valerio family.
He’d grown up in this massive mansion, alone and neglected.
A few years later, his younger sister — who had inherited the same illness as their father — died. That tragedy sent the whole family into darkness, and Kailas’s childhood turned miserable.
“At least this is before all that happens.”
The timing was right.
Eurenia clasped her hands earnestly.
“I was only told his name and age,” she said. “I need to adjust my lessons to fit his personality. Please — could you tell me a little about him?”
Her tone was polite and reasonable. Enzo bit his lip, torn.
“Well… actually, the Young Master is—”
“Oh my, Enzo?”
Just as he was about to speak, a warm female voice cut in.
A middle-aged woman appeared out of nowhere, stepping between them.
“What brings you here, sir?” she asked cheerfully. “You know you can leave anything about the Young Master to me, Malenda.”
“I was just showing the new tutor to her room.”
“Ah, I see.”
The woman turned to Eurenia with a kind smile.
“How nice to meet you. I’m Malenda Mago, the Young Master’s nanny. Please, just call me Malenda.”
“I’m Eurenia Dovine. It’s a pleasure, Malenda. You can call me Eurenia, too.”
“Of course. Now then, leave the Young Master to me, Enzo. You must be busy.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
With a bow, Enzo left.
Eurenia quickly realized — in this house, the nanny had real authority over anything involving Kailas.
“Well then,” Malenda said kindly, “since we both care for the Young Master, let’s get along.”
“Of course, Malenda.”
Eurenia smiled brightly. Losing Enzo wasn’t a problem — she had found someone even better.
After all, a nanny spent every hour with the child.
“Malenda, is that milk for the Young Master?” Eurenia asked sweetly, pointing to the mug in her hands.
“Yes, dear. Children need to drink well to grow strong! Come with me — I’ll introduce you to him.”
Malenda said cheerfully and turned toward the nursery. Eurenia followed beside her.
“Finally… I’ll meet Kailas.”
The seven-year-old boy who would someday become the male lead.
It was hard to imagine that the proud, masculine man from the novel’s cover had once been a child.
What would he be like?
“You know,” Malenda began with a motherly smile, “I see you like a daughter, so let me give you some advice.”
“Yes?”
“You’d better brace yourself. Young Master Kailas is no ordinary rascal.”
Eurenia laughed lightly. “Boys his age can be quite mischievous.”
“Don’t take my words lightly,” Malenda said, her tone soft but oddly pointed. “I’m the only one who’ll tell you the truth, miss.”
Miss?
Just a minute ago, she’d called her “dear,” like a daughter — now it was “miss.”
Malenda’s tone carried a hint of condescension, even though she knew Eurenia was the boy’s tutor. She was already mixing in informal speech.
Eurenia felt her smile stiffen. Something about this woman didn’t feel good.
