Chapter 5

Estella spoke in a thin, tired voice as she tried to stop Cedric.

“Young Master, you shouldn’t speak to your sister like that…”

Cedric snorted.

“Then what else should I call someone who’s almost six and still can barely talk?”

He marched over to Duchess Anna with his short legs and proudly said,

“Mother, forget Cecilia and ask about my studies instead. I recently finished memorizing the entire history of the Kingdom of Meskida.”

The Duchess’s eyes widened.

She bent down, grabbed Cedric’s shoulders, and asked,

“Cedric, is that true? You really memorized all of Meskida’s official history?”

Cedric nodded.

Even the Duchess looked shocked.
Even Estella, as his teacher, found it hard to believe.

The Duchess turned to Estella.

“What book did he study? Surely not some childish picture book?”

Estella hesitated for a moment before answering.

“He studied The Bloodline of Meskida by Sir Cesario.”

It was a difficult history book that even adults struggled to finish.

For eight-year-old Cedric to complete it, there were only two possibilities.

First—Cedric was a genius.

“My son… you truly are a genius.”

The Duchess lovingly stroked Cedric’s hair.

“Just looking at you makes me feel full, even without food.”

Then she stood up excitedly.

“This is wonderful. I must tell the Duke and have him prepare a special gift for you. There will be a banquet soon, so look forward to it.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“I’ve interrupted your studies enough. Continue your lesson.”

Before leaving, Duchess Anna shot Estella a sharp look.

“I’ll overlook Cecilia’s poor progress this time because Cedric is doing so well. But remember—I pay you to teach two children.”

“I understand, Your Grace.”

Estella bowed deeply.

Once the Duchess left, silence filled the room.

Estella stared at the closed door, then turned to Cedric.

“Young Master.”

“What?”

The second truth the Duchess didn’t realize was this—

“You haven’t actually studied that far yet.”

Cedric was lying.

Cedric shamelessly replied,

“Does that matter?”

He crossed his arms proudly.

“I just saved you from getting fired. Don’t you get it?”

“That may be true… but what will you do when the Duke quizzes you at the banquet?”

“I’ll just study hard until then.”

Estella sighed in defeat.

Cedric really was smart for his age.
While he hadn’t finished the book, she could probably force enough knowledge into him to pass the Duke’s questions.

Instead of returning to his seat, Cedric sat beside Cecilia.

“Cecilia, she’s gone.”

“Gone?”

“Yes. You can lift your head now.”

Cecilia slowly looked up, then smiled brightly.

Cedric gently patted her small head.

Estella blinked in surprise.

So Cedric’s cruel words earlier weren’t sincere.

He had simply learned how to act around his mother to keep Cecilia safe.

‘So they really do care about each other.’

Estella’s heart felt complicated.

For the past month, Cedric and Cecilia had simply seemed like children to her.

Cedric was mature for his age.
Cecilia had delayed speech.
But neither deserved to die because of it.

That was why Estella still couldn’t decide whether to run away or stay.

She didn’t know if she could save them.

But if she left, their tragic future would never change.

She tried hard to remember.

When exactly did Diego begin his massacre?

She only knew it would happen sometime this year—after the Duke died.

But the exact date remained frustratingly unclear.

“Teacher, since I saved you from the demon, let’s skip lessons today.”

Cedric suddenly tried to bargain.

Estella looked horrified.

“Young Master, how many times must I tell you not to call your mother that?”

“More nagging!”

No matter how caring he was toward Cecilia, Cedric was still rude to Estella.

Her brief emotional moment disappeared instantly.

“Teachers are supposed to nag,” Estella replied coldly.
“You made a promise, so now we’re continuing history lessons.”

Cedric puffed his cheeks in protest.

Estella quickly offered a reward.

“If you finish to page 120, I’ll take you to watch the knights train in the practice yard.”

Some things never changed.

Children were still children.

Cedric’s eyes instantly lit up with focus.

Estella opened the book and began teaching.

* * *

“Carry me!”

That was Cedric’s first demand at lunchtime.

Estella immediately looked at Cecilia, who was sitting quietly.

Surely Cecilia should be the one needing to be carried—not this perfectly healthy boy.

“I’m sorry, Young Master, but you’re quite heavy.”

“I’m a child.”

Cedric was frighteningly clever when it came to using his age to his advantage.

In the end, Estella gave up and carried him on her back.

He wasn’t unbearably heavy, but he certainly wasn’t light.

“My Lady, hold my hand.”

Estella reached for Cecilia.

Cecilia happily toddled over.

“Teacher! Outside?”

“Yes, My Lady. But please pronounce ‘teacher’ more carefully.”

Cedric snickered near Estella’s ear.

“Since Teacher uses a northern accent, Cecilia’s speech is getting worse too.”

What an insolent brat.

Still, Estella understood his attitude came from his difficult upbringing.

She sighed as she carried him outside.

Duchess Anna’s overwhelming expectations…

Diego’s terrifying presence…

Living in a house where danger existed inside the family was exhausting.

“If we go to the training yard, you’ll skip lunch again, won’t you?”

“There’s no time to go to the dining hall.”

“I thought so.”

As expected, Estella stopped a passing maid and requested simple food be sent to the training grounds.

Suddenly, Cecilia pointed down the hall.

“Flower!”

Before Estella could react, Cecilia ran off.

“My Lady—wait! Don’t run, you’ll get hurt—!”

Already weak from carrying Cedric, Estella struggled desperately to chase her.

By the time she reached the corner, Cecilia had already run back and hidden behind Estella’s skirt.

“My Lady?”

Confused, Estella looked up.

Then her entire body froze.

Cecilia tugged urgently on her skirt, as if begging to leave.

Standing before them was someone Estella had desperately avoided.

With a stiff voice, she forced out a greeting.

“Good… day, Young Duke Diego.”