Chapter 16
What a shameless man.
Gavin Marquis clicked his tongue inwardly.
Thermion had practically saved Beighton’s neck earlier, yet that fool had the audacity to keep rushing in like a moth to a flame. Gavin didn’t even bother replying—he simply looked at Thermion.
“The young lady calls Lady Milenoff ‘Teacher.’ That means a genuine teacher–student bond has already formed. There’s emotional trust between them.”
“Not wrong,” Thermion admitted.
“All of us care deeply for the young lady. But no matter how devoted we are, we cannot match her eye level. I doubt we’ll find a better fit than Lady Milenoff.”
“…I didn’t know you had experience in childcare, Chairman,” Thermion said, sounding genuinely surprised.
Gavin laughed heartily.
“Your Grace, I may not look it, but I have three fully grown children. I’ve lived long enough to know these things.”
“Impressive. Then—is there anyone still opposed to appointing Aylesia as tutor?”
Baron Beighton opened his mouth as if he wanted to resist again, but when both Gavin and Kubera shot him sharp looks, he closed it immediately.
The other retainers stayed silent too.
Thermion spoke firmly to Gavin:
“Make sure no one dares treat her disrespectfully. She’s Eleanor’s tutor. Everyone must treat her the same way they treat Eleanor.”
“Naturally, Your Grace. I’ll ensure no one in the manor behaves rudely toward Lady Milenoff.”
“Sir Dayfold and I will leave for the northern duchy in five days at the latest. We won’t hold any more meetings before then. If anyone has business, come to my office directly.”
Thermion stood and left the room, Kubera following behind.
Gavin watched them go, then slowly approached the trembling Baron Beighton.
“You’ve had a rough day, House Steward.”
“Chairman… even if His Grace says so, this is—”
“Come now,” Gavin chuckled warmly. “Why get so worked up?”
He leaned in suddenly, smiling wide—
but his voice dropped to a cold whisper.
“I’d rather not twist your neck with my own hands. So stop while you still can.”
“…!”
“If anyone heard you now, they’d think you outranked His Grace. Do you need your skull cracked before you behave?”
The chilling whisper made Beighton freeze.
He couldn’t say a word.
“If you lack brains, at least have some sense.”
Gavin patted his shoulder twice and walked out.
Left alone, Beighton ground his teeth so hard that the sound echoed.
“That damned old man…!”
Ever since the young lady returned safely, everything had gone wrong.
The clueless young Duke was suddenly throwing his weight around.
Everything was spiraling.
No… this won’t do. I’m running out of time.
He jumped up and stormed out of the room.
✦
Aylesia was brushing Eleanor’s hair after her nap when Thermion came to deliver the news.
“Your position as tutor is officially confirmed.”
“Hmm.”
Thermion himself came to tell her—though his expression was oddly sour.
“Now, at least in title, you and Eleanor are teacher and student.”
“Hmmm.”
He was definitely emphasizing certain words.
She doubted it was her imagination.
Honestly, why bother praising the idea last night if he was going to sulk about it today?
This guy is such a doting uncle—it’s funny every time.
Aylesia nearly laughed imagining how offended he’d look if she said that aloud.
“Teacher.”
Eleanor, enjoying the brushing, pouted a little.
“If it’s only in ‘title,’ does that mean you’re not actually going to teach me?”
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
“You said it only looks good ‘on the outside.’”
Aylesia froze mid-brush.
Thermion’s eyes widened in panic.
“N-no, Ellie, that’s not what I meant! You’re still too young to study magic seriously, that’s all!”
“Really?”
“Of course! Right, Lady Aylesia?”
He gave Aylesia a pleading, desperate look.
Naturally, she felt like teasing him again.
She finished tying Eleanor’s ribbon and smirked.
“Well, magic is important, but there are other lessons first. For example…”
Aylesia clapped her hands lightly and turned to Eleanor with a mischievous smile.
“Listen carefully, darling. A man must be kind above all else. Bad boys may seem exciting at first… but only in the beginning of a romance.”
“If no boys are kind?”
“Then pick the most handsome one. If the personality is bad, at least the face should be nice.”
“Then, teacher, will you pick Uncle?”
“…Huh?”
“What nonsense—!”
Aylesia blinked calmly, but Thermion practically jumped backward in horror.
“Darling, your uncle does not count as a man.”
“Huh?”
“Teacher doesn’t consider anyone under twenty to be a man.”
“Oh, I see.”
Eleanor nodded earnestly.
“…That’s what you meant?”
“What other meaning is there?”
“…Never mind.”
Thermion collapsed onto the sofa, exhausted.
“What are you teaching my niece…?”
“Life advice that will keep her alive and well.”
“…”
Can I really entrust my niece’s future to this person?
Thermion’s expression darkened.
It was his own decision to hire her, but the thought of witnessing this chaos every day was daunting.
“So, what’s your real reason for visiting?”
“What, can’t an uncle come to see his niece?”
“So His Grace skipped work to come chat? The sun hasn’t even set yet.”
“I’ll manage my own schedule, thank you.”
He sighed, then finally got to the point.
“I’ll be leaving for the Duchy in five days.”
“Five days? Why?”
“I have to subjugate the demonic beasts. I should already be stationed at the Gardeveil Mountain camp.”
Aylesia mentally flipped through the novel’s original plot.
Eleanor was kidnapped in early September.
Now it was mid-November.
The timeline matched.
Originally, he leaves Ellie here and goes alone…
Nothing major should happen until spring—Eleanor’s birthday arc.
The Grand Dame returns to the capital in the new year, and Lady Hermann watches Eleanor until then.
But the original story doesn’t say much about the winter months. Only about ten chapters cover four whole months.
Knowing the original was practically useless when the source material itself was full of holes.
“So you’re not taking Ellie?”
“As cold as it is here, it’s even colder in the northern estate. It would be too harsh for her.”
“Hmmm…”
Aylesia thought for a moment, then asked,
“Do you have time tonight?”
“…Sorry?”
Before Thermion could even react—
“WOW! Teacher, are you going on a date with Uncle?!”
“D-date?!”
“Uncle, you got asked on a date!”
“Where did you learn that?!”
Thermion looked at her with wounded puppy eyes.
Aylesia sighed and moved her fingers dismissively.
“Darling, dates are for adults. This is just a simple meeting.”
“A meeting?”
“Talking face-to-face is called a meeting.”
“Then we’re meeting right now?”
“Our darling is so smart.”
“Hehe!”
Thermion silently swallowed his complaints.
Does teasing her uncle make her that happy…?
They were definitely well-matched as teacher and student…
So why did he feel like he was getting pushed farther and farther away?
He gave up trying to understand.
Still—
Watching Eleanor chatter so cheerfully made him feel warm.
It had been so long since he’d seen her this lively.
He truly was glad he appointed Aylesia.
“Come by my office whenever you’re ready. Any time before midnight is fine.”
“If you sleep late, you won’t grow tall.”
“Please stop worrying about my growth plates.”
Thermion stood, gently patted Eleanor’s head, and turned to go.
He hadn’t planned to stay long—only stopped by before heading to the training grounds.
“Be a good girl and listen to Teacher. And dress warmly when you go outside.”
“Okay! I listen to Teacher really well, Uncle!”
“Good.”
As he left, Aylesia called brightly:
“Thanks for hiring me, Your Grace!”
“…I don’t need your unnecessary gratitude.”
Eleanor watched his retreating figure with a strangely thoughtful look.
“Hey, Teacher.”
“Hmm?”
“Are you really not going on a date with Uncle?”
