Chapter 36
I’ll Become the Tyrant’s Tutor
Something felt off.
She had acted fine, but maybe she really wasn’t.
Or perhaps—she just didn’t want to show Rain a messy painting.
“Prim.”
At Rain’s call, Prim lifted her head.
“Come with me. There’s somewhere I want to go together.”
“…All of a sudden?”
“Yeah.”
Rain took her by the hand and led her somewhere.
His large, cool fingers intertwined with hers.
He’d been training with a sword every day—she could even feel new calluses that hadn’t been there before.
Rain stopped walking in front of Prim’s room.
“Go in and rest.”
“Sorry? What about you, Your Highness?”
“I’ll be back.”
“Huh? Weren’t you in the middle of training? Wait, Your—Your Highness!”
Before her startled voice could reach him, Rain was already gone.
‘…He just walked me back? He really didn’t need to do that.’
After setting down her things, Prim flopped down on the bed.
She didn’t know how much time had passed when—
Knock knock.
Her body sprang up like a spring.
“I’m coming in.”
Of course, it was Rain.
He was holding a small plate in his hand—
red, glossy, and delicious-looking: a strawberry tart, her favorite dessert.
“Here.”
He held it out to her.
Prim accepted it, dazed.
“This is…”
“You like it, don’t you?”
“Y-Yes, I do.”
It was the same strawberry tart she had loved so much back at Velles Palace.
“They say strawberries are hard to come by this fall. It might not taste that good.”
“…Did you go out just to get this? Yourself?”
“No one else would know which tart you like.”
“…”
“You always look happiest when you eat this.”
To comfort her.
Rain said it so casually as he pulled a chair to sit across from her.
“Now. Tell me.”
“…Tell you what?”
“Why you’re upset. Did something happen?”
Prim’s heart skipped a beat.
Upset? Was she?
‘Was I even upset?’
No, she was fine—really.
Prim shook her head.
“I’m fine. Nothing’s wrong.”
“Liar.”
“It’s true.”
Rain raised an eyebrow, then nodded slowly.
“All right. As long as it’s not something serious.”
“…You didn’t stop training because of me, did you?”
“Technically, I was on my way to train.”
Her jaw dropped.
“Go back, quickly!”
“I’ll go after I see you eat.”
“Please, hurry! If someone finds out you’re here, I’ll get scolded.”
At her insistence, Rain reluctantly left the room, saying he’d come again later if he had time.
“Really, he’s hopeless,” Prim murmured, laughing softly as she looked at the tart.
Ah. The heavy weight in her chest finally felt like it was lifting.
“…Is that true?”
Elina’s voice was full of disbelief.
Baron Zerveta nodded nonchalantly.
“Yes. That red-haired woman who was with you back then—she’s become a royal court painter.”
“…”
Elina silently lifted her teacup, though she couldn’t quite hide her expression.
‘Prim became the royal court painter?’
It felt strange. Not exactly jealousy.
Prim’s painting style was very different from the popular Imperial trends.
But that uniqueness was part of her charm.
Still, one thing bothered her.
‘Why didn’t she tell me?’
Maybe she kept it quiet out of consideration for Elina, who also dreamed of being a painter?
That thought made her heart swell with quiet resentment, bubbling just beneath the surface.
“It’s wonderful to see a friend succeed, but… Elina, don’t neglect your studies,”
the Baron said gently, trying to soothe her feelings.
“Oh, and I heard the Eighth Prince has returned to the palace…”
He went on, trying to change the subject, but Elina wasn’t listening.
She liked Prim.
Prim had courage—she’d even fought off that monster, Daphs, for her.
And she was always bright and confident, never discouraged.
Thinking of her made Elina’s chest ache with sudden sadness.
She had to see Prim.
“What?”
Rain’s face, which had softened after seeing Prim, turned hard again.
Prim scratched her cheek awkwardly.
“I don’t think I’m suited to being a royal painter after all.”
“Why suddenly? Did someone bother you? Say something to you?”
“N-no… I just think my skills aren’t good enough.”
Rain was the one looking more flustered now.
He hadn’t expected that answer.
“Besides, there’s something more important than painting.”
“More important?”
Rain raised an eyebrow, but then immediately realized what she meant.
Ah. The search for the “beauty,” or whatever she was chasing.
This was bad.
If she quit her position, she wouldn’t be allowed to stay in the palace.
They wouldn’t be able to see each other every day.
‘That’s why I’m here in the first place.’
In this suffocating palace, learning things he didn’t care about, counting the days until time would move faster—
all for her.
Rain hesitated.
‘If I told her that I’ve accepted her as my destiny… would she even believe me?’
No.
A mocking voice deep inside him laughed at the thought.
You’re not even an adult yet.
She’d just pat your head, call you “cute,” and treat you like a little brother.
The way she acted toward him already said as much.
If he confessed now, she’d probably avoid him.
Just thinking about it made him grit his teeth in frustration.
Damn this four-year age gap.
He hated that number so much his jaw hurt.
What should he do? How could he stop her from leaving? What excuse could he use?
His mind was overflowing—
99.9% of it with thoughts of Prim.
The remaining 0.1% was divided equally among painting, four years, annoyance, and rage.
Thwack!
Rain’s sword cut straight through the wooden practice dummy.
The attendants watching behind him gasped in admiration.
‘Damn.’
Rain sighed. He hadn’t meant to strike so hard, but his thoughts had distracted him.
“Your Highness, you truly are a genius! For someone who picked up a sword so recently, your improvement is remarkable!”
The sword instructor showered him with praise.
The more compliments they threw his way, the more irritated he became.
Rain only had one goal:
to live quietly until adulthood, then leave the castle with Prim.
But thanks to his cursed face, he was constantly the center of attention.
Since he couldn’t live quietly, he’d at least hoped to be bad at something.
“Magnificent, Your Highness!”
“I’ve never seen such clean cuts!”
“And look—four logs, all sliced at the same perfect angle!”
Four again. That damned number four!
Rain scowled and flung the sword aside.
“Y-Your Highness?”
“Forget it.”
“Your Highness! Where are you going?”
The attendants scrambled after him, but Rain was long gone.
‘Should I just go see Prim now?’
He thought about it briefly, but shook his head.
If he showed up now, she’d realize he’d skipped training again—and scold him mercilessly.
Though honestly, even her scolding sounded like music to his ears.
‘But she doesn’t like when I slack off… So no.’
Just as he turned a corner—
Thud!
He collided hard with someone.
Rain barely moved, but the other person fell flat on the floor.
“Are you all right?”
Rain bent down to help.
“Y-Yes… I’m fine…”
The woman looked up—black hair, red eyes—and her eyes widened at once.
“Your Highness?”
She recognized him.
Rain searched his memory but couldn’t recall ever meeting her.
Seeing his confusion, the woman spoke quietly.
“…Elina. Elina Zerveta.”
At that name, his smile vanished.
Baron Zerveta’s daughter—the one who had clung to Prim and always glared at him with suspicion.
Rain’s brow twitched slightly, though no one noticed.
He held out his hand.
“…Thank you.”
Elina took it and stood, but he withdrew it almost immediately.
(It’s not like I wanted to hold your hand anyway,) she muttered inwardly, forcing a polite smile.
“Allow me to greet you properly, Your Highness. I’m Elina Zerveta.”
“I know.”
“You may speak comfortably, Your Highness.”
“Then I will.”
His tone turned cold. The moment he recognized her, his demeanor changed entirely.
“What brings you to the palace?”
“I came to see Prim.”
Rain’s brow twitched again.
So she was here to steal his precious time with Prim.
“She’s busy. Come back later.”
Elina’s lips tightened at his curt tone.
“…I know she’s busy. I came knowing I might be intruding, so I’ll wait. That’s my choice.”
Her calm smile said plainly: You go mind your own business.
Rain’s expression hardened.
“Surely you know she’s my tutor.”
“I do.”
“She’s busy teaching me.”
“That’s why I plan to visit while she’s painting. Prim and I studied art together. She’s a dear friend.”
She deliberately emphasized the words dear friend.
Rain’s jaw tightened.
He couldn’t very well act like a sulky child and say “No, you can’t.”
Then, suddenly, an idea flashed in his mind—
a solution that might satisfy them both.
Rain lifted one corner of his mouth in a sly half-smile.
“I have a proposal. Would you care to hear it?”
