CHAPTER 48……………….

After dealing with Sylvia, Logan, and Enrique—basically every troublemaker in high society—I had a rough idea of what I was facing.

Only after the hallway emptied did I slowly open the door.

Creak—the heavy door struggled open.

Ding!

*+: [Luck skill activated!] *+:
▶ Deducted points: 100P
▶ Remaining points: 3100P

Crash!

“…Huh.”

I knew this would happen. They always throw something.

A heavy vase flew past my head and shattered on the floor.

I dodged it easily.

“Ugh.”

Rubbing the stiffness in my neck from suddenly twisting, I lifted my head.

In the corner of the room, I saw someone curled up.

The first thought that came to me:

“…Is that a child?”

I expected someone around Logan’s age.

But contrary to that, a grown young man was huddled there.

He shouted in a hoarse voice:

“Do not come closer…!”

“….”

He threw the vase himself—so why is he so scared?

I first checked that he wasn’t holding anything else and slowly stepped into the room.

What was his name again…?

“Hello, Kaishien.”

Kaishien answered in a trembling voice.

“…I told you… do not come in.”

“I can’t just stand outside all the time. Excuse me.”

“….”

With a click, the door closed, and the young man shrank further into himself, pressing his lips tightly together.

He was wedged in a narrow space where the drawer met the curtain, and though his build was solid, he looked utterly terrified. Why?

…Could it be because of me?

“….”

No matter how I thought about it, that was the only reason I could come up with.

I couldn’t understand why he would be so wary of an ordinary tutor like me.

“Ahem.”

I stared at him in the corner as if engaging in a silent stare-down and gave a slight cough.

“…!”

His face paled further as he pressed himself even closer to the wall.

Ah, this is a mistake. To make up for the distance, I spoke in as gentle a voice as I could.

“My name is Lilian Crimson. I’ve come to teach you at your father’s request.”

I put all the luggage I had brought on the table and slowly approached the curtain where Kaishien was hiding.

“….”

With each step, I could see Kaishien’s hand tremble as he gripped the curtain.

Eventually, I had to stop a few steps away.

His caution was extreme.

So, where should I start?

I was pondering that when suddenly:

“Meow~!”

Right. Meow…

“…?”

What’s that?

Somewhere, a cat cried. But where? The windows are closed.

Looking around in confusion, my gaze fell under the sofa.

“…Ah!”

A kitten peeked out and mewed.

“Meow.”

At the same time, Kaishien straightened up and shouted:

“W-Wait!”

Not a chance. You stay hidden in the corner.

Crash!

He and I both reached toward the sofa at the same time and collided.

“Ugh.”

In the end, I won.

Rubbing my stinging forehead, I carefully pulled the kitten out from under the sofa.

A soft, pale yellow striped kitten looked dazedly at me, meowing again.

“Meow.”

“…Is this a real cat?”

Its warm body, the tiny heartbeat under my hands, its twitching movements—it was alive.

Why was it under the sofa?

I gently lifted the kitten with both hands and looked at Kaishien.

“….”

His eyes trembled as they accidentally met mine, and he lowered his head deeply.

“S-Sorry…”

“Hmm?”

I was just looking for some explanation about the cat.

Kaishien’s voice trembled.

“I-I’m sorry. P-Please don’t throw it away… I found it crying in the garden after losing its mother…”

“….”

So that’s why he brought it in and hid it under the sofa.

Does the Marquis dislike cats?

Thinking I might rush off to tell the Marquis about the cat, Kaishien gripped my sleeve tightly.

…Where is the resemblance to Enrique in this young man who’s so devoted to a fragile animal?

I carefully placed the kitten in his hands and whispered with a teasing tone.

“It’s okay. Did you bring it secretly?”

“…Y-Yes…”

Kaishien took the kitten gently. It rubbed its head against his hands and knees naturally.

“Meow.”

I said softly:

“Don’t worry. I won’t tell Marquis Malot.”

Kaishien nodded slightly, finally relieved.

“…Th-Thank you.”

The important thing was that I could finally see Kaishien properly, now that he had moved from the corner.

His hair was a bit dusty but fine, and his green eyes gleamed with a calm light.

Definitely in the bloodline—he resembled Marquis Malot closely.

I now understood how rumors could spread even though the Marquis hadn’t officially announced the existence of his illegitimate child.

I asked casually:

“How’s your life at the boarding house?”

“Ah.”

Kaishien jumped slightly at my question.

“…It’s not… bad.”

He spoke hesitantly, timidly.

Even with the physical distance reduced, the deep green eyes still carried a strange wariness.

“…I see.”

Being cautious is one thing; having a nasty personality is another. I felt pity that he was rumored to be like Enrique.

Anyway, it was clear he needed my help.

I would show him the power of a top-notch tutor.

Leaving the sofa aside, I sat cross-legged on the floor with Kaishien and continued speaking slowly.

“Listen. I’m your tutor.”

“….”

“I’m here to teach you the etiquette you’ll need when you enter high society.”

Kaishien listened silently, the kitten curled up on his lap, purring.

“Have you had a tutor before me?”

Finally, a faint reply came.

“…A few…”

Hmm. I wonder if he rejected all of them.

I nodded and continued.

“I see. Basic etiquette isn’t that hard to learn. Step by step, we’ll go through it together…”

At that, Kaishien mumbled without meeting my eyes.

“…I don’t want to.”

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t want to. I’m s-sorry. Please… go back.”

“….”

His huddled frame, though large, looked fragile.

Veins on the hand gripping his sword stood out, trembling badly.

The kitten licked Kaishien’s fingers.

“….”

Instead of cutting him off like I did with Enrique, I paused to think.

What was the cause of his extreme caution?

Stress from environmental change? Neurosis? Hypersensitivity?

Several possibilities came to mind, but none were something I could diagnose immediately.

“…Something.”

I had a gut feeling I was missing something crucial about Kaishien.

I’d need to investigate more before approaching him again.

I spoke in a measured voice:

“Is that so? What a shame. If you change your mind, will you call me again? I can wait. Or we can start as friends.”

We looked about the same age.

“….”

Of course, Kaishien still lowered his head, giving no answer.

Alright, little one.

“Hmm.”

I gently dusted the dirt from his hair and raised my hand to say goodbye.

Then:

“…!!”

The moment I lifted my hand, Kaishien flinched and curled into himself, bowing his head deeply.

“…?”

What? It was as if I were going to hit him…

Looking down, I saw his head lowered.

Through the slightly open seam of his clothes, a faint mark was visible.

“….”

Wait… that…

I had seen something similar recently.

Frowning, I slowly reached out and firmly grabbed his shoulder.

“…Excuse me.”

“Ah…!”

Kaishien flinched but I didn’t stop.

I confirmed what I saw again.

This was…

“Th-this is the study, teacher! Wait a moment.”

“Out of the way.”

Bang!

I pushed past the protesting servants and roughly opened Marquis Malot’s study door.

“…?”

The Marquis, busy with paperwork, frowned at me over his glasses.

“…Have your lessons already finished? Is something the matter?”

“What matter?”

Catching my breath after running here, I brushed my hair back and slammed the object in my hands onto his desk.

Thud!

Even my own ears felt the coldness of his low voice.

“I should be asking that. What is this, Marquis?”

Inside the box he handed me was a riding crop.

If you want, I can also create a polished, natural English version that reads like a novel instead of a literal translation—it will feel more immersive.

Do you want me to do that?