CHAPTER 44……………………………………………..
Even if she regained a title, it would only be a hollow, low-ranking nobility—hardly useful. In fact, managing an estate and territory would only be a burden.
So Yurenia gave Chester the same answer she had given Maeve.
“I don’t have any desire for a title. And the Dovine barony already belongs to someone else. I’ll just accept the sentiment.”
—Yes, Yurenia, you should just take the sentiment. I’ll take a gift instead.
Rex quickly chimed in, snatching a blueberry from in front of Chester and grinning.
—You admitted my contribution earlier, didn’t you? And since “a Valerio never lies,” you’ll repay the favor, right?
“What do you want, you pig-cat?”
—I told you, I’m not a pig-cat!
“You don’t want anything? Got it.”
—Wait, wait, wait! I do! I do!
As Chester tried to end the conversation, Rex hurriedly spoke and hopped onto his lap.
—Tuna.
“What?”
—I like tuna. Fatty red tuna would be even better. Serve it at every meal. That’s all I want.
“…A very pig-cat-like request.”
—I said I’m not a pig-cat!
“Mreeeow!”
Furious at Chester’s indifferent reply, Rex threw an uppercut at his face—but Chester easily dodged, leaving Rex punching the air.
—Yurenia, I don’t like this guy!
“Like you’re one to talk.”
As Rex fumed, Chester replied lazily.
Watching their pointless squabble, Yurenia suddenly remembered something and spoke.
“Ah, right. That girl—the Marquis Elverin’s daughter. Will she be okay?”
—You mean Elly?
“Her name was Elly?”
—That’s what she said herself.
Yurenia’s mouth fell open.
Emilia Elverin. Nickname: Elly.
The female lead of the original story.
‘No wonder the name Elverin sounded familiar!’
Everything had happened so quickly that she hadn’t had time to think.
And now she realized—that child had been Emilia.
‘Wait… does that mean Elly’s father is that awful man?’
Yurenia pressed her lips together, frowning.
She had only seen him briefly, but even then, it was obvious the Marquis Elverin was despicable.
He shouted the moment things didn’t go his way—and raised his hand just as easily.
‘A child shouldn’t grow up in a household like that.’
Yurenia felt uneasy.
It wasn’t because Elly was the heroine.
Even before she knew that, she had been worried.
When she had faced the marquis, she had felt that the child needed to be protected from him.
“So why are you concerned about her?”
At Chester’s question, Yurenia straightened and spoke.
“I’m worried whether Elly is safe—whether she’s being abused by her father.”
“If that’s the case, we can request a household investigation through the imperial family. It’ll be faster if we go through the aristocratic council.”
“And if they investigate… what happens to Elly?”
“If evidence of abuse is found, they’ll assign her a sponsor—another noble household.”
“Then the sponsor would have to be a noble too… She probably doesn’t have one yet, right?”
“Are you worried about her?”
Chester tilted his head, looking puzzled.
“You barely met her. Why do you care so much?”
“She was afraid of her father. I can’t just pretend I didn’t see that. If I can help, I should.”
“That side of you is why the Valerio children were helped too. I almost forgot.”
Chester smiled softly, uncrossing his arms and leaning slightly toward her.
“If you want, I could become her sponsor.”
“Really?”
“That man tried to strike Kyler as well. But first, we need to confirm the facts. I was already planning to investigate Marquis Elverin. I’ll have the council send an imperial inspection team immediately.”
“Thank you.”
Yurenia smiled brightly at his reliable words.
Her smile softened his expression.
Just then—
Bang!
The door to the drawing room flew open.
“Teacher!”
It was Kylerus.
Yurenia stood up in surprise.
“Kyler! Weren’t you going to sleep with your mother?”
“I was, but I remembered something important.”
He hurried over, his expression unusually serious.
“What is it?”
“Save Elly from that bad man. This is really important.”
Yurenia smiled gently.
“We’re on the same page. We were just talking about Elly, right?”
She turned to Chester and Rex.
Chester nodded, and Rex let out a long meow from the table.
“Meooow.”
“Huh? Kitty!”
Only then noticing Rex, Kylerus’s eyes lit up.
He ran over and hugged the white cat.
“Kitty! Where did you go?”
“Mrr.”
Rex narrowed his eyes, seeming somewhat pleased by the affection.
“Teacher, Uncle—do you know this kitty?”
“Of course we do.”
“We do.”
“Really? That’s amazing! The kitty led me all the way home!”
“That is amazing.”
Yurenia smiled and introduced them.
“Kyler, this cat’s name is Rex. He’s my fr—…friend.”
“Rex! Hi, I’m Kyler!”
“Meow.”
“If you’re teacher’s friend, then you’re my friend too! Let’s be friends, Rex. Okay? You agree, right?”
Kylerus chatted happily, clearly in a much better mood after spending time with his mother.
“Teacher, can Rex sleep with me tonight?”
“MREEEEOW!”
Rex immediately sprang up in horror and bolted away.
He didn’t mind being petted—but sleeping together was clearly too much.
“Huh? Kitty…?”
Kylerus looked around, confused as Rex vanished.
Suppressing a laugh, Yurenia said:
“Rex likes being alone. And today is a special night—you’re sleeping with your mother, remember?”
“Mm.”
“And the duke—your uncle—will report Elly’s situation to the council. So don’t worry too much. It’ll be resolved.”
Kylerus turned to Chester.
Under the child’s clear gaze, Chester cleared his throat.
“…Right. Don’t worry.”
“Thank you, Uncle. And you too, teacher.”
Kylerus hugged Yurenia tightly.
She hugged him back.
After hugging his uncle too, the boy trotted out of the room.
Yurenia watched him until he disappeared behind the door.
Until now, he had clung to her out of loneliness.
But now—
He said goodnight first and went to sleep on his own.
Her chest felt both warm and a little empty.
But this was what she had wanted as a tutor.
For Kylerus to know his mother’s love.
To grow used to being loved.
So Yurenia gently pressed a hand to her chest and watched the door close with quiet satisfaction.
Crash!
Shatter!
A bouquet flew across the room, followed by the sound of a vase breaking.
Emilia Elverin—Elly—covered her ears in the middle of the wrecked house.
Ever since returning from the palace—
after seeing the Crown Prince and the young heir—
her father had been in a terrible rage.
