Chapter 49…………………………………………..
The next day.
After finishing my afternoon work, I ate a light dinner and prepared for what was next. Starting today, I’d be giving one-on-one tutoring every evening.
I’ll have to start by teaching him the letters, step by step.
Still, he could already speak reasonably well, and he knew a handful of words, so it seemed like things would go a bit more smoothly.
Once he mastered reading and writing, I’d have him read an easy book. Then we’d gradually move on to harder ones.
I don’t want to overload him from the start.
Aside from studying letters, there was swordsmanship, etiquette—so many other things to learn. I didn’t want to exhaust him early by cramming everything in a short time.
Studying is all about interest, after all.
The important thing was helping him enjoy it.
After roughly mapping out the lesson plan, I stuffed the rest of my sandwich into my mouth and stood up.
When I went upstairs via the corridor stairs, Sophia—who had been standing guard in front of the reception room—approached me with a bright smile.
“Where’s Matthias?”
“He’s waiting inside.”
“Then could you bring some cold drinks and snacks? I thought we’d eat while studying.”
“Yes, miss!”
Sophia bowed and trotted off. Watching her lively steps with a fond smile, I reached for the doorknob.
The moment I opened the door—
“!”
A long shadow swallowed my body whole.
“M-Matthias?”
“You’re here?”
“Uh, y-yeah…”
I was here, but—
I looked up blankly at the man standing squarely in front of the door.
“Why are you standing there? You could’ve just sat down comfortably.”
“I heard you coming.”
“You heard me?”
“Yeah.”
Matthias slowly reached out.
As the distance between us suddenly closed, my body shrank back reflexively. He came right up to me, grabbed the open doorknob, and pulled it shut.
With our bodies pressed close and no room to escape, I held my breath and rolled my eyes slightly. Maybe he’d just washed—his scent, the same as my own bath oil, settled at the tip of my nose.
Click.
With the sound of the latch engaging, the shadow that had engulfed me slowly withdrew.
“Come in.”
“Uh… okay…”
Before I could calm my startled heart, I nodded absentmindedly.
Just as I’d planned, the lesson started with very basic grammar.
Since he’d been the hidden antagonist in the story, I’d assumed he was fairly smart, but—
“…This is insane.”
Why is his learning speed this good?
He got this right. And that one too.
Was this what people meant by “teach one thing, learn ten”? No—more than that, showing this level of progress within just an hour of starting class didn’t make any sense.
Even for an adult.
Is this some kind of final-boss buff?
It was great that he picked things up so quickly, but at this point it was starting to scare me a little.
At this pace…
Not only would he finish learning to read and write, but I could probably start teaching him basic academics before long. Looking at the paper filled with neatly written words, I felt inexplicably proud.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Oh—nothing. I was just thinking you’re really smart.”
That meant he’d be able to build the strength to protect himself more quickly. For Matthias, that was a very good thing.
“Smart? Me?”
“Yeah. Extremely.”
For a first day, this was an incredible achievement.
Feeling fond of him, I gently stroked his neatly settled black hair. He paused for a moment, then calmly let me continue.
This makes him kind of cute.
From what I’d observed so far, Baron Matthias liked physical contact more than I’d expected.
He still growled at others, but toward people who showed him kindness, he seemed surprisingly gentle.
He’s really improved.
He liked having his head patted, and he seemed satisfied just by holding hands or engaging in small, casual touches.
Though it might be a problem if he gets too used to it…
Still, he hadn’t been out in the world for very long. Once he learned etiquette and received proper education over time, things would probably even out.
Thinking that rather naively, I looked at Matthias.
“Was there anything difficult or confusing while we were studying?”
“No.”
Matthias answered simply, then softly clasped the hand that had been stroking his hair.
“I understood everything.”
He naturally laced his fingers with mine and smiled faintly. His slightly narrowed eyes looked strangely sensual.
“I want to learn more.”
“….”
“Can’t we do just a little more?”
“N-No!”
I hurriedly turned my head away, almost falling for that insane face.
Th-that was close.
Isn’t smiling like that cheating? How can someone look so bewitching? As I grew more comfortable around him, he smiled like that more often—and every time, it was seriously dangerous.
I mean, it was very pleasing to the eyes, but still…!
“Why not?”
If I gave in once or twice because of his looks, it felt like it would never end.
Just like now.
“We already did a lot today.”
Everything needs moderation.
Even if we rushed ahead, pushing further would only cause overload.
“And it’s the first day. Learning too much right at the start isn’t good.”
Still, enthusiasm was better than not studying at all.
Feeling even more fond of him, I kept stroking his hair.
“If you get everything right when you take a test later, I’ll give you a reward.”
“A reward?”
Matthias’s eyes lit up instantly. His pure, age-appropriate reaction made me laugh without thinking.
“If there’s something you want, I’ll grant you one thing.”
“Something I want…”
He repeated my words under his breath, then smiled faintly.
“When will that be?”
“Hmm. Once you’ve fully learned the letters, we’ll do one test. Then maybe one each time you master a new stage?”
Of course, if he did well, I planned to give him a few rewards along the way too. Proper incentives always made learning more efficient.
“Really—anything at all?”
“Hm? Yeah, as long as it’s something I can do.”
I couldn’t give him my entire fortune or anything, but within my limits, I intended to be generous. At that, Matthias suddenly set his resolve.
“I’ll work hard.”
“Good, good. If there’s anything you don’t understand, ask anytime.”
With a determined expression, Matthias nodded firmly.
After playfully ruffling his hair one last time, I stood up.
But there was one thing I’d completely overlooked.
Once Matthias set his sights on a goal, he was the type to charge straight toward it—
—Hey, wait a second! Hey!
—If I get everything right…
—You said you’d grant me anything.
Matthias had a surprisingly persistent side.
