Chapter 15  

“Baron Beighton? Why him?”

Aylesia blinked innocently, pretending she knew nothing—
even though she already knew he was a traitor.

“I believe he’s connected to Ellie’s disappearance.”

“Why?”

“When I mentioned hiring you as Ellie’s tutor, he immediately tried to twist it into saying my judgment was wrong.
Even though it wasn’t something that required a meeting, the other retainers jumped in too, like they were waiting for an excuse.”

“What do you mean?”

“A tutor is someone I hire. I inform the household—end of story.
Advice is fine, but there’s no reason for a vote or approval process.”

Interfering in personnel decisions was basically ignoring the Duke’s authority.
Thermion had deliberately presented it as an ‘important topic,’ giving them an excuse to butt in.

So “hiring a tutor” was the trap.

He had created a situation where the retainers had to show their intentions.
Beighton, not realizing that, had grabbed the bait with both hands.

“A five-year-old isn’t going to be learning anything too advanced.
At this stage, a tutor is essentially a guardian and play companion.
The fact that they reacted so nervously means they had something planned.”

“And you don’t know what that is?”

“… I suspect they want to use Ellie to oppose me. She’s young—easy to manipulate. If they coax her well enough, they probably think she’ll listen to them.”

In the early chapters of the novel, there was always a legitimacy dispute whenever the ducal household faced trouble.

Thermion was the illegitimate son of a previous Duke, and he had zero talent for magic.
If he hadn’t awakened as an Aura Master, he would have been openly looked down on.

Not like he even wanted to become Duke… He never cared for it in the first place.

A seventeen-year-old boy with an unknown mother and no political backing—
And yet he suddenly became Duke.
Of course the foundation beneath him was unstable.

Thankfully, the former Duchess (called the “Grand Dame”) treated him like her real son.
And with the Tigel Knights and a handful of loyal retainers supporting him, he managed to perform the duties of Duke.

“How disgusting.
Let’s drag out their true colors properly.”

“You have a plan?”

Aylesia’s lips curved into a wicked little smile—
the smile of someone who had spent her life playing with schemes and trickery.

“What if we turn him into a gigantic frog?”

“…That’s a very witch-like suggestion.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment. I am a smart and insanely powerful witch.”

Thermion chuckled and leaned forward, eyes bright.

“I’d like to hear more.”

He was definitely interested.

***

Three days after Eleanor’s return

Thermion gathered the retainers and made a unilateral announcement:

“I appoint Lady Aylesia Milenoff as Eleanor’s tutor.”

Some retainers exchanged uneasy glances.
Baron Beighton cautiously raised his hand.

“Your Grace, didn’t you say you would take some time before deciding?”

“I’m deciding now. Why? Is there a problem with me handling my own niece’s education?”

Still harboring irritation from before, Thermion’s voice was icy cold.

“What Eleanor needs right now is emotional stability, not strict lessons.
But we can’t ignore education entirely.”

“What kind of education are you referring to precisely?”

Baron Gavin—quick on the uptake—smoothly joined the conversation.
He, too, had grown suspicious of Beighton recently.

“She shows strong talent for magic. Lady Aylesia will teach her the basics.”

“The young lady can use magic…?”

“This is wonderful news for the family!”

“My congratulations, Your Grace! The Grand Dame will be delighted!”

Even among gifted mages, being recognized before the age of ten was rare.

Eleanor was only five.
Showing talent this early meant she wasn’t just gifted—she was exceptional.

“But Milenoff-dono appears to be in her early twenties at most… Is she truly capable of teaching the young lady?”

Baron Beighton pressed the issue, ignoring Thermion’s glare.

Baron Gavin opened his mouth to intervene, but before he could—

Sir Kubera spoke.

“I heard from the knights who accompanied His Grace.
She used spatial teleportation magic—at least 7th-tier High Mage level.”

“That high?”

Baron Gavin asked delightedly, and Kubera nodded.

“She surpasses the standard of ordinary mages entirely.
In pure magical ability, she’s above me.”

“Well, that’s impressive for someone so young.”

Reaching 4th-tier magic in one’s twenties was enough to be called a genius.
The fact that she surpassed Kubera—nearing forty—meant Aylesia was completely out of the norm.

“Why not have Sir Dayfold teach the young lady personally?
If she’s that talented, early training is important.”

Another retainer spoke—the same one who had supported Beighton earlier.

Thermion suppressed the urge to click his tongue.

“Sir Dayfold is only in the Imperial Capital temporarily.
He should be in the Gardeveil Mountains right now handling knightly duties.
He’s already overworked.
I can’t dump Eleanor’s education on him as well.”

“Then wouldn’t it be smarter to request an expert from the Mage Tower?”

“…The same Mage Tower that didn’t protect Eleanor last time?
And you want another outsider near her?
Are you joking?”

“But Milenoff-dono is also an outsider—”

“I recall telling you something similar a few days ago.”

BANG!

Thermion slammed his fist on the table.
Everyone flinched.

“If you all care so much about my niece’s education,
Then why did it take you so long to report her disappearance?”

Silence fell.

“When Lady Hermann nearly coughed up blood trying to reach the palace to inform me,
What exactly were you doing as head butler?”

Beighton wiped sweat from his forehead but maintained a stiff posture.

“Of course I was mobilizing all available resources to find the young lady—”

“You never left the manor once.
All available resources, was it?
Should I use all available methods until you give me a proper answer?”

A faint gray aura leaked from Thermion’s hand.

“…Maybe I should start by ripping off your fingernails.”

Beighton turned white as a sheet.

“Now, now, Your Grace,” Baron Gavin interjected calmly.
“I think everyone understands the depth of Your Grace’s concern for the young lady.
Perhaps we should cool our heads.”

“Hmph.”

Thermion reluctantly pulled back his aura, though his eyes remained sharp.

“I agree with His Grace,” Gavin continued cheerfully.
“Background means little—what matters is competence.
Isn’t that right, Sir Dayfold?”

“Indeed.”

“And after such a traumatic event, the young lady needs stability above all.
Trying to force early education will only burden her.
She needs someone she trusts by her side.”

“Do you really think so?”

Thermion’s voice softened.
Other retainers leaned in, listening.

“As we all know, aside from His Grace, everyone here outranks the young lady.
There is no one of similar status to speak comfortably with her.”

“That is why bringing in an expert from the Tower—”

Zap.

Gavin shot Beighton a freezing glare before he could finish.

It was the kind of look that said:

“Shut up for once.”