Chapter 002
“…….”
The fleeting look of displeasure that had crossed Decion’s face vanished faster than spring snow melts.
Naturally smoothing out his expression, he spoke politely.
“I am far too lacking to dare become the Princess’s mentor. I am merely grateful that you hold my meager talents in such high regard.”
“Of course, the Chancellor is teaching her with great enthusiasm, but….”
“Duke Delrn is a magnificent teacher. I cannot be compared to him.”
“Drop the insincere humility. You must know there is no one in Panther more learned than you.”
The King shifted in his seat and changed the subject.
“Anastasia often asks after you.”
At the King’s words, Decion lifted his head. Pulling up one corner of his mouth slightly, he asked casually.
“Is that so?”
“She pestered me with questions—if there was any news of you, where you were staying these days. It seems she was inwardly quite hurt that you suddenly quit and left like that. Did she not follow you quite well back then?”
After a brief silence, Decion let out a short chuckle and nodded.
“Yes, she did.”
The King spoke in a bright voice.
“Since you’ve come all the way to the palace, stop by and say hello. I think Anastasia would be very happy to see you.”
At the King’s suggestion, Decion stood up with a faint smile.
“It was an honor to have an audience with Your Majesty after so long. Until we meet again, please stay in good health.”
With an elegant bow, Decion departed the audience chamber.
Thud, thud.
The smile slowly faded from Decion’s face as he strode down the long palace corridor.
‘If I leave now, I should arrive by evening….’
The moment he stepped out of the building, calculating the journey to his territory in his head.
“Oh, it really is you.”
A voice as innocent as a young girl’s brought Decion’s steps to a halt. A red hem of a dress entered his field of vision.
“Teacher, it has been a long time.”
Decion slowly looked up.
Curly blonde hair falling to her waist.
Dark bluish-purple eyes.
A woman decorated flamboyantly from head to toe, with cat-like eyes that were particularly striking.
Upon discovering her, Decion slowly parted his lips.
“Yes, it has been a long time. Princess.”
The Princess of Panther, Anastasia Janet de Panther.
As the King’s only daughter, she was the heir destined to inherit the throne after his death, provided nothing unusual occurred.
Until about three years ago, Decion had been personally in charge of Anastasia’s successor education.
A reunion between teacher and student after a long time.
Yet, there was not a hint of warmth in the air flowing between the two standing face to face.
“…….”
Anastasia, smiling brightly, broke the silence by lightly touching his arm.
“‘Princess.’ It hurts my feelings when you call me that, Teacher. Please call me by my name as you did before.”
“Ah, is that so?”
When Decion showed no particular reaction even to her flirtatious words, the corners of Anastasia’s mouth twitched minutely as if in a spasm.
However, she soon continued in a bright voice as if she didn’t mind.
“My nanny told me that you came to see Father today. I thought it would be hard to see you in the future…. Yet here we are, meeting again. I’ve truly missed seeing you.”
Decion gave a short nod. He replied with a polite smile.
“I heard from His Majesty. That you were often curious about news of me.”
“Well, isn’t that only natural? You suddenly quit the lessons, and I heard you left the capital to wander here and there.”
Anastasia’s eyes shone sharply as she looked up at Decion. At that, Decion replied with a shrug.
“It was for the sake of study. I realized there were far too many things in the world that I did not know.”
A crooked smile rose on Anastasia’s lips at Decion’s words.
“There are many things in the world that are better left unknown, yet you are quite curious, Teacher. Did you find out what you wanted to know?”
“I wonder.”
As if he did not wish to speak at length, Decion dismissed the conversation with a short answer. At that, Anastasia pouted and said.
“Teacher, you never give an easy answer to anything. Even though you told me to answer every question clearly.”
Anastasia tilted her head slightly, wearing an innocent smile like a child. With an expression and voice that seemed capable of melting anyone’s heart, she asked again.
“Surely you can answer this much for your one and only student. Have you returned to the capital for good now?”
Decion, reading the faint anxiety flickering in Anastasia’s eyes, let out a chuckle.
“No. I plan to head down to the territory immediately.”
“To the territory?”
Decion nodded.
“Yes. I plan to focus on the affairs of the territory for a few years. My journey thus far has been arduous. I wish to rest for a while.”
“Ah.”
The corners of Anastasia’s mouth curved smoothly. She spoke in a sweet voice.
“It is a shame, but since it is a choice for your health, I cannot stop you.”
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“The fresh air of the countryside is very good for the body. Oh! Come to think of it….”
Anastasia’s eyes widened as if she had suddenly remembered something. She asked, pressing her fingertips against her red lips.
“Is Eloise doing well?”
“…….”
At that moment, Decion’s expression stiffened terrifyingly.
As the slight, formal smile vanished from his lips, Decion’s face looked as cold as if frost were about to fall.
The sharp atmosphere he emitted was overbearing enough to make an observer freeze, but Anastasia alone showed no sign of being suppressed by his energy.
Instead, smiling brightly, she lightly grabbed the hem of her flame-red dress and performed a small curtsy.
“I hope the fresh air of the Heisen territory helps her as well. Travel safely, Teacher. I look forward to seeing you again.”
In the spot where Anastasia had left, Decion stood for a moment, looking up at the familiar palace building.
As he looked up at the golden dome delicately engraved with the leopard—the symbol of the Panther Kingdom—Decion’s eyes gradually darkened.
“Yes, Anastasia.”
Decion whispered lowly.
“I, too, very much look forward to the day we meet again. For I will finally be returning you to the place you deserve.”
The thick veins on the back of Decion’s hand, which gripped a secret, bulged.
* * *
“Still no news? Just when is Brother coming back?”
Eloise, who was sitting at her desk transcribing a thick book, suddenly looked up.
At that, Heidi, who was tending to the flowers in a vase, shook her head.
“No, there’s nothing. I suppose it would be difficult for him to send a letter while traveling.”
“Everyone has been in a fuss since morning to welcome him.”
“It seems he won’t be able to make it today. It’s getting too late.”
“Yeah, I suppose so.”
Seeing her looking dejected, Heidi approached Eloise. Then, Eloise looked up at her and asked.
“Come to think of it, you’ve never met my brother even once, have you?”
Heidi nodded.
“Yes. I heard he was always away on business abroad. Though I don’t know the exact details.”
“I don’t know the exact details either. Probably no one does. The occasional letters are all we get. Brother is just so busy.”
Heidi clapped her hands together.
“Oh! But I have seen his portrait. It’s hanging at the end of the third-floor corridor.”
At that, Eloise shook her head.
“No. He’s a bit different from the painting.”
Recalling the portrait and imagining Decion’s appearance, Heidi tilted her head.
“He doesn’t look like it?”
“He roughly looks like it, but that’s about it. Brother is absolutely not the type to sit still until a painting is finished. He thinks it’s a waste of time.”
Scritch, scratch.
The hand of Eloise, who had been writing her diary line by line, stopped.
“Oh, I’m out of ink.”
“Really?”
Heidi, who had shaken the ink bottle, said as she placed it down on the desk.
“There’s probably none left…. I’ll go buy some early tomorrow. It’s late today, so why don’t you stop here and go to sleep?”
Eloise pouted.
“It feels icky to stop in the middle of writing. Besides, it’s not easy to find ink exactly like this one.”
Thinking for a moment, she tapped the desk and spoke.
“Ah! There’s probably some in Brother’s room. Heidi, could you go get that for me?”
Heidi’s eyes grew wide.
“From the Master’s study?”
* * *
“Wow….”
Heidi, entering Decion’s room holding a small lamp, let out an exclamation.
Although she had worked there for over two years, it was her first time entering the Master’s study.
Usually, the butler was the only one allowed in his study. Occasionally, maids would enter for cleaning, but it was done strictly under the butler’s supervision.
“So this is how it’s decorated. It feels much more grand than the Young Lady’s room.”
Heidi’s gaze swept across the entire scenery of the spacious room.
The bookshelf that filled an entire wall first caught her eye. As she slowly turned her head along the exotic tapestries decorating various spots, the glittering medals boasted an intimidating presence.
Losing herself in the scenery of the unfamiliar room lasted only a moment.
“Oh, right! The errand.”
Heidi quickly remembered the purpose for which she had come to this room.
Carefully setting down the lamp, Heidi began to scan the desk with her eyes.
“The ink…. It should be somewhere around here.”
While she was peeking next to a mountain of documents relying on the dim light.
“I heard a rustling and wondered if a little rat had snuck in.”
