CHAPTER 48……………………………………………………………………
Matthias, who had been sitting on the sofa with me, nodded. I recalled the progress I hadn’t yet mentioned.
“I’ll help you with writing and basic studies for the time being.”
“…Aria?”
“Yeah. I thought it might be easier for you too.”
He had gotten better than before, but that was only with people he was familiar with.
His caution toward strangers was still strong. I wanted to assign a good private tutor, but that might just stress him out more.
‘I can’t make him feel rejected from the start.’
I wanted to provide the most comfortable environment so he could safely step into society and not fall onto a bad path.
‘I’ve studied a bit myself…’
Since the moment I possessed this body, the family had already fallen. To survive, I had to cram whatever I could into my head.
Thanks to that, I thought I could manage even the basic academics.
“But when it comes to swordsmanship, I have my limits, so we’ll need to look for other knights or professional instructors. Is that okay?”
“Yeah.”
His answer came without hesitation. He seemed pleased with my suggestion, his expression much brighter than before.
“Shall we start lessons tomorrow? In the evening?”
Since the merchant guild usually operated in the mornings and afternoons, evenings were the most free time.
“I might be tired.”
“It’s fine. This much I can handle.”
I had juggled university, a restaurant part-time job, and tutoring before. Alone, it might have been tough, but now with Kenis and others helping, I could spare a few hours.
Besides.
“Work is important, but you are too.”
At that, Matthias’s eyes flickered momentarily.
‘Since I brought him here, I have to take responsibility.’
At first, I only thought about making him an ally.
‘Have I gotten attached?’
It had been a long time since someone welcomed me like this at home. Being together constantly now, I felt a bit empty when he wasn’t there.
Same for him, too.
‘Matthias really has no one.’
Since I met him at his hardest time, leaving him alone now felt wrong. I wanted to take care of him a little more.
“If there’s something you don’t understand, ask right away. If something doesn’t work, say so. Got it?”
“Yeah.”
“Even if the lesson is a bit difficult, you have to tell me immediately.”
At that, Matthias blinked.
“I think you’ll do well.”
“…No, I’m not perfect either.”
Teaching is highly subjective. No matter how diligently I teach, it might not suit Matthias.
‘He’d probably just say it’s all good.’
That would make the lesson pointless. Memorizing blindly without understanding is a bad habit.
After asking him several times to be honest, Matthias finally nodded and grasped my hand.
Then, he fiddled with it like he was handling a favorite stuffed toy.
‘I’ll have to tell him not to do this later.’
He was lonely now, so it was understandable.
‘We’re not kids.’
If fully grown adults behaved like this, it could lead to misunderstandings. It wouldn’t be good for Matthias either.
For both our sakes, we needed to gradually restrain such intimate contact.
‘I’ll take it slowly.’
Once Matthias learned a bit more and could make decisions properly, I’d start keeping some distance.
“But…”
“Yeah?”
Matthias, who had been fiddling with my hand, suddenly asked,
“Why did you tell me to speak casually?”
“Who? Kenis?”
Well…
“We’re the same age.”
As I said before, I didn’t intend to keep him merely as an aide. Considering his intelligence, cleverness, and natural business sense, it made more sense to run a business together than just handle my own affairs. So, I told him to speak casually to become closer.
‘I should still keep some boundaries.’
Though free-spirited in speech, his loyalty was absolute. Even after being kidnapped and threatened because of me, he didn’t lose his integrity.
‘He’s reliable.’
He also had a clear purpose for being here.
So I didn’t worry much.
“But why that?”
“…Nothing.”
Matthias, who had been staring at me, lowered his gaze. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but when I asked, he kept his mouth tightly shut.
A knock came soon after, and I straightened up.
“…Because.”
Matthias mumbled while gripping my sleeve tightly.
“It feels like he’s getting closer to you than me.”
He bit his lip tightly.
“I don’t like it.”
Clack, clack—
The low sound of heels echoed as a man walked down the corridor and stopped before a massive door.
Knock, knock. After a proper knock and waiting for consent, he nodded and turned the handle. As soon as the door opened, the musty smell of cigars hit his nose.
Ignoring it, the man calmly stepped into the office.
“This is the report regarding the points you mentioned.”
“….”
At the far end of the office, Duke Frombel glanced up from the stack of papers on the large square table.
With a gesture to leave it, the man neatly placed the prepared documents on the desk. But just as he was about to step back, the Duke, still focused on the papers, suddenly asked a question.
“What is Renesty doing now?”
“After Xavier Renesty was captured, he hasn’t engaged in any public activities. Other than meeting the Emperor once, he hasn’t contacted any other nobles.”
“The Emperor…”
“Probably summoned in relation to the recent matter.”
“Understandable.”
That’s why Xavier had been killed. Leaving him alive would have been pointless.
“However, something odd has happened.”
“What do you mean?”
“It seems Aria Renesty has recently saved someone.”
Only then did Duke Frombel lift his head from the papers. The man continued cautiously.
“Kenis Lindel—an exceptional student at the academy—has refused offers from other famous merchant guilds, families, and even Duke Frombel’s own recruitment. Yet—”
“Went to the fallen Renesty family, huh.”
“Yes. But that doesn’t mean the two of them are close.”
“Hmm.”
Duke Frombel chuckled lightly at this.
“Seems like they’re restarting the business.”
Indeed. With debts cleared, reviving the guild was the only way to restore the family. To do that, they’d need talented people like Kenis Lindel.
“And it seems they brought one more person…”
The man hesitated, speaking carefully.
“It seems to be a personal guard, but something is suspicious about them.”
“Suspicious?”
“Yes. I can’t remember clearly, but I feel like I’ve seen them somewhere before.”
“Any guesses?”
“Well…”
The man frowned as he tried to recall. Then, with a clearer focus, he looked at his lord.
“The slave merchant guild that Xavier Renesty ran.”
If his memory was correct.
“I believe I saw them there.”
