Chapter 18
I’ll Become the Tyrant’s Tutor
Softly curved lips, a gentle gaze, and a head slightly tilted just to meet her eyes.
Prim felt like a sunflower facing the sun for the first time in her life.
“My eyes… might go blind.”
Prim murmured in a dazed, enchanted voice, as if she had lost her senses.
“You’re beautiful, Your Highness.”
“Stop talking.”
“B-but no matter how much I say it, it’ll never be enough! That’s just how beautiful you are, Prince.”
There was no deceit in the black eyes that said those words.
Rain smiled a little more naturally and asked her,
“…Do you really like my face that much?”
Prim nodded vigorously.
Was it only his face that she liked? Rain fought down the sudden irritation in his heart and spoke again.
“If you like it that much, then stay by my side.”
“…Huh?”
When Prim asked back stupidly, Rain’s face turned a little red as he snapped,
“Stay by my side. It’s too quiet and annoying without you.”
“…”
Prim only opened and closed her mouth soundlessly.
He said to stay by his side!
Our prickly beast said that!
Prim fought down her pounding excitement and nodded furiously.
“Yes! I’ll stick right next to Your Highness from now on!”
“Until when?”
“Until you find your—uh—beautiful destined partner!”
“…Right.”
His answer came half a beat late, but it was progress nonetheless. Prim beamed brightly.
And Rain’s face stiffened.
“You shouldn’t smile.”
“…What?”
Rain blinked slowly.
“When you smile… my eyes hurt.”
Prim jumped up in surprise and hurried toward him. Rain flinched ever so slightly at her sudden closeness and leaned his upper body back.
“Your eyes? Why? Can I take a look?”
“…Forget it. It’ll probably get better on its own. Just don’t smile. That’s an order.”
With that, Rain turned and walked away. Behind him, Prim protested about the unfairness of it all and demanded her right to smile—while also yelling for him to tell her if his eyes hurt again.
The noise was so loud and exhausting it nearly drained his sanity—but he welcomed it.
Rain smiled faintly, thinking, I must be completely out of my mind.
Her body still ached from that unexpected dance, but Prim felt light as air.
‘I’ll practice harder and show him only my best side when he meets his beauty!’
Brimming with energy, Prim left the palace. She had been invited to Lady Elina’s estate.
It was a bit unfortunate, but she needed to tell Elina she’d have to postpone their painting lessons for a while. The party was only a few days away, and she had so much to teach Rain before then.
‘If I want him to score points with Elina or any other lady, he’ll need proper manners.’
A beauty and a beast dancing awkwardly together? No way! Prim took a deep breath as if making a vow.
When she arrived at the meeting spot, she saw Elina’s familiar face.
“Prim!”
Elina hurried toward her, surprise written all over her face.
“What happened? I heard His Highness can see colors now?”
“Well, that’s… a long story.”
Prim gave her an awkward smile.
‘Right. It’s not exactly something I can talk about freely.’
Elina nodded as if she understood. She didn’t want to pressure Prim with uncomfortable questions anyway. That wasn’t the important part.
“I actually have something to tell you,” Elina said quickly, grasping Prim’s hands.
“I was formally invited to Her Highness’s birthday celebration!”
“Really?”
“Yes! I drew a painting inspired by my talks with you, and it seems the princess loved it!”
“Wow, that’s amazing! Congratulations! But what exactly did you feel?”
“….”
Elina averted her eyes.
“…Something avant-garde.”
“Just be honest and say your skills improved after I started teaching you.”
Elina giggled bashfully at Prim’s teasing.
“You really are a witch, Prim.”
“Sure. If I’m already using magic, might as well go full witch.”
Prim muttered in a half-resigned tone.
So my teaching’s so bad it makes other people improve instead?
She sighed as she looked down at her hands.
But at least something good had come out of it.
Thanks to that, her chosen beauty candidate Elina, and the once-fierce beast Rain, would meet sooner than expected!
While Prim was delighted, Elina’s expression darkened slightly.
“Prim… about the princess’s birthday party…”
“Don’t make that face. I’ll be there too.”
“Huh?”
Elina’s eyes went round with disbelief.
Of course Prim was going. She needed to stay close to Rain until he found his destined one.
“I drew something too. Something… avant-garde.”
“Avant-garde seems surprisingly popular these days.”
Elina looked as though she’d just realized something big.
After chatting for a bit, Prim finally said,
“Let’s focus on our own paintings for now.”
“What? But…”
“It’s your dream, isn’t it? To become a royal painter. Then you should focus.”
Elina pressed her lips together tightly, as if Prim had hit the mark.
“…You really know everything, don’t you?”
“Because I’m a witch.”
“…That’s so unfair of you.”
Elina’s face showed clear disappointment—she had really enjoyed spending time with Prim.
Prim felt the same. Even if it had started as a plan involving Rain, she had genuinely grown fond of Elina, seeing how much she enjoyed their time together.
“We can always meet again later. There’s plenty of time. We’ll both become royal painters one day, right? Avant-garde is all the rage now.”
At that, Elina couldn’t help but laugh.
As they shared a laugh, a carriage stopped in front of them. They got in together.
“It’s my first time bringing a friend home. I’m so excited! And since we won’t see each other for a while, I’ll have to study extra hard after today.”
Elina said brightly. Prim thought she should have brought wrist guards.
When the carriage stopped, Elina stepped down with the servants’ help while Prim hopped down carefully, glancing at the ground.
Baron Zervetta was said to barely maintain his title, but contrary to rumor, his mansion was enormous.
In the middle of the vast garden stood a grand fountain topped by a lion statue in a noble pose.
Prim watched Elina proudly show her around the house, smiling warmly at her enthusiasm.
“And this is…”
“Elina!”
Just as Elina was about to show her first painting, a deep voice called her name.
They both turned toward the sound.
Standing before them was Deiphs.
Both Prim’s and Deiphs’s faces stiffened instantly.
“Your Highness.”
Elina bowed politely, though her expression had gone rigid. Prim awkwardly lowered her stiff neck and bowed as well.
“I didn’t know you were coming, Your Highness. It would have been nice to receive word in advance.”
“I came to meet your father, the Baron. If I don’t show up in person, he always says he’s too honored to meet me and refuses to. Besides, since it’s about our matter, it’s only proper I come myself.”
“…”
Our matter? More like a one-sided delusion. Elina bit her lip as she looked at his smug face.
‘Our matter?’
Prim’s eyes darted between them. Deiphs looked slightly excited, while Elina avoided his gaze, visibly uncomfortable.
A prince personally visiting a baron to discuss “their matter”?
And that man dares to look so pleased about it…
It was obvious—this was a one-sided attachment.
There could be only one answer.
“So, you two… know each other?”
Deiphs forced a pleasant smile and gestured toward Prim.
“She’s my friend,” Elina replied.
“Your… friend?”
Deiphs repeated incredulously.
“Then the friend the Baron mentioned before must have been…”
Elina’s words made Deiphs’s face twist further.
Prim’s did too—if Elina had talked about her, that meant Deiphs knew about her art.
If my real skill level gets exposed…
That would mean she had lied to a royal. Anxiety crept up her spine.
“I heard you paint in a… rather unique style,” Deiphs said with a smirk tugging at one corner of his mouth.
As expected.
Prim couldn’t afford to panic now. If she did, all her lies would unravel.
Forcing her lips into a calm smile, she replied,
“Yes. Thanks to Elina, I feel like my skills have been improving.”
“I didn’t realize Elina was so talented. Perhaps I should join your lessons too.”
“I’m afraid I’ve been rather busy lately. I’ve even paused my painting lessons with Elina.”
“Busy with what, exactly?”
“I’ve been studying… colors.”
“Colors, you say.”
Deiphs put extra weight on the word. He was clearly probing her. Prim caught on immediately.
Then I’ll just return the favor.
With a faint smile, she said,
“I heard His Highness has been studying something as well.”
“Studying? What exactly?”
“Archery. I was told you’re quite skilled.”
A crack appeared in Deiphs’s smile.
“I’d love to see that skill myself—just how great it is.”
Prim remembered him aiming a bow at Rain in the forest. Their gazes clashed, sharp as blades.
“Elina. Let’s talk privately.”
It was Deiphs who broke the tense silence. Elina flinched at his call.
“I… I…”
She couldn’t get the words out.
Why am I so timid?
The prince who wanted a “special relationship” with her scared her—and she despised herself for being too afraid to say no.
“Your Highness, I’m sorry, but we’ll be taking our leave now.”
That warm voice from beside her washed away her fear.
Elina slowly opened her eyes and lifted her head.
