Chapter 24
“A sponsorship?”
“Your Grace!”
Claude and Harry both raised their voices in surprise.
Standing between them, Aileen just stared blankly at Richard.
“Sponsorship? Richard… will sponsor Adrian?”
It wasn’t completely unheard of — sometimes, high-ranking nobles supported struggling lower nobles or commoners.
But Richard offering to sponsor Adrian? That was something Aileen never expected.
Meanwhile, Richard remained perfectly calm as he looked directly at Harry.
“I’ll take full responsibility for the young count’s education under House Olden. If he becomes my ward, that gives him a legitimate reason to stay here.”
“…As Your Grace says, in that case, I wouldn’t be able to interfere,” Harry admitted reluctantly. “However, a sponsorship should go to someone talented. If done carelessly, it could stain the Olden family’s reputation.”
To Aileen, those words sounded like: “Your brother isn’t good enough to deserve sponsorship.”
Her hands clenched tightly into fists, but Richard only replied coolly,
“I’ve been watching the young count closely. I’ve seen his potential myself. Are you doubting my judgment, Marquis?”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
Harry bowed his head, though his expression — half-hidden — looked sour.
As if reading his thoughts, Richard gave a faint, amused smile.
“If that’s all you wanted to say, you may leave. No matter what anyone says, I won’t change my mind.”
After hesitating, Harry finally gave a stiff bow and left the room.
Once his footsteps faded away, Claude quickly stepped forward.
“Your Grace… are you serious? You really intend to sponsor the young count?”
“Yes. Do you have any objections?”
Richard’s golden eyes narrowed slightly, and Claude immediately waved his hands.
“Of course not! I’ll start finding tutors for the young count right away.”
“Good. The basic education can be handled by the teacher Aileen hired, but we’ll need instructors for etiquette and other specialized subjects.”
“Understood. I’ll find the best in the field.”
Claude nodded quickly, then glanced sideways — noticing Aileen’s shadowed expression.
Sensing the atmosphere, he quietly excused himself and slipped out of the room.
Click.
The door closed, leaving Richard and Aileen alone.
Aileen kept her head slightly bowed, but from where Richard sat, he could clearly see her troubled face.
Watching her for a moment, he finally asked,
“Aileen, why do you look like that?”
“…I feel guilty,” she murmured.
“Guilty? About what?”
“Because you’re doing something unnecessary because of me.”
Aileen gripped her left wrist tightly with her right hand.
Richard shook his head.
“It’s not just to help you. And besides, I only made the decision — you’ll still pay for the tutors’ fees.”
“Still, it’s help nonetheless. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have gone this far for Adrian.”
“Well…”
He couldn’t deny that.
Aileen finally lifted her head, meeting his gaze. Her violet eyes were filled with confusion.
“Richard, why are you doing all this for me?”
“…For myself,” he replied immediately — almost automatically.
But Aileen didn’t look convinced.
“Really? Was it truly for yourself?”
This time, Richard couldn’t answer right away.
Was it really for myself? Or… for her?
After a long silence, he spoke quietly.
“I just… wanted to help you.”
He looked her directly in the eyes as he continued.
“Because I want this relationship between us to last.”
“This relationship?”
“Yes. A relationship where we respect and help each other — like now.”
Aileen’s eyes widened slightly, surprised by his words.
Richard gave a small shrug.
“You could even call it a partnership… or friendship.”
“Friendship…”
Aileen’s lips pressed together.
It wasn’t an unhappy expression — just awkward.
Because of her family’s decline, she had never really had many friends. The few she once had were long gone.
So hearing the word friend from Richard felt unfamiliar… yet oddly comforting.
In fact, she liked it.
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
“I’d like that too. I want us to have that kind of relationship.”
Richard’s expression stiffened for a second — then softened into a polite smile.
“I’m glad to hear that.”
“If anything ever happens to you, Richard, please tell me,” she said earnestly. “I don’t know how much I can help, but I’ll do my best!”
Her determined tone made him chuckle.
“Thank you.”
“Anyway,” she said, brightening, “we should tell Adrian about all this too.”
“Call the young count here. I’ll finish up here and join you shortly.”
“Alright.”
With her face finally relaxed, Aileen left the room.
But once she was gone, Richard’s expression darkened.
He picked up a report Claude had left and sighed heavily, running a hand over his face.
“Phew…”
His golden eyes glimmered with a flicker of unrest.
“‘Friends,’ huh…” he muttered.
He repeated the word several times, his tone flat — until finally, he sighed again.
“…How irritating.”
❧ ❧ ❧
Outside the mansion, Adrian was playing with Hynel’s magic like it was a toy when he spotted his sister.
“Sis!”
“How’s your teacher, Adrian?”
“He’s amazing! He was juggling with water balls — real water! It was so cool!”
Adrian’s eyes sparkled with excitement. It was clear he really liked Hynel.
Aileen smiled and patted his head — though worry clouded her face.
He already dislikes Richard… if he finds out Richard is sponsoring him, he’ll hate it even more.
“Sis?”
Adrian looked up, sensing her concern.
Aileen straightened and said gently,
“Adrian, we need to talk. Let’s go inside for a bit.”
“Talk? About what?”
She glanced at Hynel, who was standing a little way off.
“It’s about your education, so you should come too, Hynel.”
“Got it!” Hynel replied cheerfully, saluting playfully.
Adrian burst out laughing at his exaggerated gesture, and Aileen smiled faintly too.
She brought them both to a sitting room and gestured for them to sit on the sofa. Facing them seriously, she began,
“I’ll get straight to the point.”
Her eyes lingered on Adrian before she spoke.
“Adrian, you’ll be receiving sponsorship from House Olden.”
“…What?”
As expected, Adrian’s face stiffened immediately.
Before he could speak, Aileen continued quickly,
“Some people were saying it’s improper for the young heir of the Walker family — not part of Olden — to stay here. So Richard arranged sponsorship to give you an official reason to remain.”
Adrian’s face went pale. After a moment of silence, he clenched his trousers and muttered,
“Even so… I don’t want it. I’d rather leave.”
Aileen sighed softly — she had expected that reaction.
“And where would you go? How would you live alone?”
“You’d come with me, right?”
“Adrian, you know that’s not possible. I can’t leave here — not yet. For your sake and mine.”
Adrian dropped his head. Seeing his downcast expression, Aileen felt her heart ache.
Meanwhile, Hynel scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“Uh… sounds like there’s a lot going on here.”
“It’s complicated,” Aileen admitted. “And what we discuss here stays secret, alright?”
“Of course,” he said with a shrug.
Just then, Adrian slowly lifted his head again.
“So if I accept the sponsorship… what do I have to do?”
“Nothing special. Just study hard — under the tutors Richard chooses.”
“The tutors he picks?”
Adrian frowned, then pouted.
“I don’t like that. I want you to choose, Sis.”
Aileen was taken aback — she hadn’t expected that.
Before she could respond, another voice interrupted.
“That won’t do.”
All three turned toward the door.
Richard was standing there. No one had noticed when he’d entered.
He looked straight at Adrian.
“As you’re now under House Olden’s sponsorship, you must be taught by the very best. I can’t compromise on that, even for Aileen.”
“Oh, then I must be one of the best too, huh?” Hynel joked, trying to lighten the mood.
Richard smiled faintly.
“A mage from the Tower — you’re beyond compare.”
“An honor, coming from the Duke himself,” Hynel said with a grin.
But despite the laughter, Adrian’s face remained tense.
Richard walked over and sat beside Aileen, adding calmly,
“Also, the young count will receive one lesson a week directly from me.”
“…From you?”
“Richard?” Aileen looked at him in surprise.
He nodded matter-of-factly.
“One day, the young count will have to lead the Walker family. It’s only right he learns about estate management and administration from me.”
“I don’t want to!” Adrian shouted, jumping to his feet.
“I’ll rebuild the Walker family on my own! I don’t need your help!”
“I doubt you’ll find a better teacher than me,” Richard said evenly.
“I still don’t want—”
“Don’t act like a spoiled child, young count.”
Richard’s tone turned firm and cold.
Adrian flinched.
Looking straight into the boy’s trembling eyes, Richard continued,
“With that attitude, do you think you can rebuild your family? How long do you plan to cling to childish pride?”
