Chapter 49:…………………………
The Teacher Who Suits You (5)
“…Is this… a horsewhip?”
Marot, the Marquis, spoke in a tone of mild curiosity, as if asking something obvious.
“You gave this to be used on Kaishien?”
“Yes.”
Hah.
Kaishien’s body, which I had checked just before, was covered with wounds and bandages from whipping.
The smell of strong ointment rose as soon as I loosened his clothing.
Moreover, opening the wooden box that Marot had handed me—just in case—it contained a horsewhip.
Are you out of your mind?
Even if he’s an illegitimate child, he’s still your son.
You would strike your own child?
Even recalling it made my blood boil, and the Marquis’s shameless attitude poured fuel on the fire. My vision was turning red at the edges.
“How… am I supposed to take this?”
“Oh.”
Marot, the Marquis, let out a short, casual exclamation and spoke calmly.
“You’re surprised. My apologies. I had prepared some prior instruction.”
“…You mean through beating?”
“Since he has become the son of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, he needs to carry himself appropriately.”
He removed his glasses and smiled.
Wrinkles formed at the corners of his drooping eyes, giving him a gentle appearance.
“This time, since we went to the trouble of receiving Lady Crimson, I made sure to curb his misbehavior in advance, so that he wouldn’t harm his teacher.”
“How, exactly?”
I asked quietly, and the Marquis picked up the horsewhip I had tossed onto the desk and replied briefly.
“This isn’t something to tell a young lady. But rest assured, he’s been properly disciplined.”
“…Disciplined.”
The way he held the whip looked disturbingly practiced.
He continued:
“So, if he refuses to obey and misbehaves, you may lightly whip him with this—or even just show it—and he will behave.”
“…Is there really a reason for that?”
At my question, Marot widened his eyes, then smiled lightly as he spoke.
“He has this nasty habit of trying to solve everything with force. And since Lady Crimson appears delicate, who knows what he might do?”
Hah.
A bitter laugh escaped me.
“…It seems, Marquis, that you’re the same when it comes to solving everything with force.”
“……”
Perhaps sensing the contempt in my voice, Marot slowly began tapping the desk with his fingers.
“Lady Crimson, I believe there’s some misunderstanding.”
“What misunderstanding?”
“This is merely the educational method of our household. If I had known you’d be so shocked, I would have explained in detail beforehand.”
He seemed genuinely aggrieved; deep lines appeared between his eyebrows.
“When I was young, I endured similar beatings while cramming thick books into my mind.”
A typical, “I went through the same thing” excuse.
“I once resented my father, but now, thanks to him, I became Minister of Foreign Affairs, so I am only grateful.”
He recovered his composure and smiled faintly as he concluded.
“Thus, one day Kaishien will feel gratitude toward me as well.”
“…Enough!”
I pressed my throbbing temples and shouted.
The more I heard him speak, the worse my headache became.
The edges of my vision were turning red. Did a blood vessel just burst in my eye?
At that moment—
Ding!
*+: ❝Word of Authority❞ activated! *+:
▶ Effect: Grants additional authority equal to (True Teacher skill level)% during conversation; the opponent cannot avoid this dialogue.
Current True Teacher Skill: Lv.999
▶ Condition: Used when the opponent cannot be recognized as a suitable educator or guardian
A red window appeared before me for the first time.
It felt like it reflected the turmoil in my heart.
“……”
Marot flinched and stopped speaking.
999% additional authority.
I seized the momentum and said firmly:
“I do not teach by beating students! I will not inflict physical violence or psychological threats. It’s counterproductive. That is—”
Each word I spat out, meeting Marot’s gaze directly.
I understand what kind of educator you are, but—
“Therefore, under no circumstances should students be whipped in the future.”
Kaishien is truly lucky.
His parents may be trash like you, but I will be his teacher.
“Marquis, remember this, and do not show me a scene like today ever again.”
I lowered my voice, threateningly.
“If you do not comply, we will not meet again.”
At my threat, Marot’s face reddened with anger.
He barely opened his mouth, his voice fluctuating as he struggled to suppress his rage.
“…Are you insulting our family’s educational method?”
Insulting?
“Yes. The Marquis family’s method is crude, barbaric, and inefficient.”
Yes. I am insulting it. So what?
Marot’s voice trembled, seeping through his tightly clenched teeth.
“As I said, I learned that way too—”
“So.”
I cut him off, my anger stronger than his sense of humiliation.
“Marquis, when your parents raised their hand, did you never flinch?”
I recalled Kaishien’s reaction earlier. He flinched even at the smallest motion of my hand. My mouth tasted bitter.
“…Excuse me?”
“Were there moments when the beatings were so painful or unbearable that you felt wronged?”
“…By what right are you saying this—”
“Then, you comforted yourself by thinking that the wounds were all from your parents’ love and attention, did you not?”
“……”
Marot’s face, already red, finally turned pale.
It’s over, I thought, finishing with one last line.
“So, in the end, aren’t you passing your wounds onto your child?”
Finally, Marot slammed the desk.
“…I cannot take this anymore! Young lady, you’ve crossed the line!”
“You crossed the line, Marquis!”
I shouted back at him.
I can yell too, you know?
“I am merely speaking plainly. Once again: under no circumstances should my students be subjected to whipping.”
I leaned close to him, and I could see his fists trembling. His voice trembled just as much as his hands.
“Leave immediately. As for this insult, we will—”
Even under the skill’s authority effect, he struggled to maintain his pride pathetically.
But don’t get the wrong idea.
I tilted my head slightly, smiling faintly.
“Marquis, do you think any other tutor could transform Kaishien Marot—who knows nothing of etiquette—into a gentleman of perfect social grace?”
“…Perhaps someone could.”
Not a chance.
“I, Lilian Crimson, am the tutor appointed by His Highness, the Crown Prince. If I resign, who else would accept this task?”
“……”
I drove the point home in the cold silence.
“Above all, I will not yield to another tutor. Kaishien will be taught by me.”
Realizing I would not back down, Marot gritted his teeth.
I met his gaze and quietly said:
“So if I ever see any signs that my student has been whipped again, you can look forward to the consequences.”
Unable to step back, Marot shouted roughly:
“…Even though he is your student, he is still my son! Are you saying I cannot raise my hand against my own son?”
“Yes.”
I answered firmly. Then he let out a bitter laugh.
“Ha, by what right?”
“The right granted by you, Marquis.”
I pulled out the tutor contract from my briefcase, signed just before today’s lesson, and waved it in front of him.
“Hence, Lilian Crimson holds the right to educate Kaishien Marot. The guardian is obliged to provide all that is necessary for Crimson’s instruction.”
You wrote it yourself and yet forgot.
Marot’s gaze, which had been fixed on the contract for a moment, slowly turned toward me.
“……”
His expression seemed ready to tear me apart.
Solving everything by force, you said? Who, again?
I asked calmly:
“Have I made myself clear?”
“……”
After a brief silence, he finally spoke, his mouth struggling to open.
“…We shall see how well you can teach with such a careless attitude.”
See for yourself.
“Yes. Very well.”
I nodded lightly to Marot and stepped out of the room.
Crash!
Then came the sound of something breaking beyond the firmly closed door.
I brushed my hair back and thought:
It can’t be helped.
A little before Lilian Crimson left the study:
‘Under no circumstances should my students be whipped.’
“……”
Kaishien, pressed close to the door, blushed on his pale cheeks.
