Chapter 14: I Was Consulted by the Tutor
I swing my sword with single-minded focus.
So I don’t have to think about unnecessary things.
In the deserted backyard, I train my movements, also to make up for my lack of exercise.
Ati is currently being cared for by the Head Nanny (Maggie).
I visited Ati earlier. She woke up just as I arrived, and she cried, screamed, and became so distraught that it was hard to believe she was the usually quiet Ati.
The terror of being engulfed in flames even for a moment, being tackled by me to avoid injury, getting slightly burned, having her hair cut—her brain must be processing all of that. She was delirious with fever, crying and screaming in confusion, and she didn’t seem to hear my voice.
I sat on the bed and held Ati on my lap. I kept rocking her and patting her back until she was exhausted and fell asleep again.
Along the way, Ati’s fist hit my face and other places. It landed at a good angle. That was a good punch. She has a promising future.
Ah, but it was nostalgic.
One of my younger sisters had a terrible temper when she was little. Once she started crying, there was no stopping her. It was awful.
Once she went into that berserk mode, it was impossible to calm her down. Her face would get all red and messed up, and she’d thrash around on the spot. I just made sure she didn’t get hurt or have a seizure from straining too much, and I stuck with her until she calmed down.
Compared to her, Ati was still in the cute category.
My sister… her kicks were intense… When I unfortunately took one to the solar plexus, I actually had to crouch down.
Even so.
Even now, just remembering it makes my guts boil.
Someone tried to burn such a cute Ati by throwing a lantern at her.
Unforgivable. I’ll tear them to pieces.
But I don’t know who it was.
I don’t think it was the Marquis or the Head Nanny (Maggie), but I have no basis for that. Judging by my impressions is a recipe for disaster.
Besides, anyone can say anything.
There are people in the world who kill with a sincere face. You never know what they’re thinking behind their smiles.
For now, the tutor, Samuel, is the most likely?
But would someone plotting something like that reveal their true colors to me before committing the crime?
They shouldn’t do anything clumsy to avoid suspicion. They wouldn’t openly pick a fight with me like that.
…Unless they think I can’t do anything? No, even then, it’s too clumsy.
And what did that guy even want in the first place?
Did he really think he could drive me away with those words? Did he think I’d cry and go home to my parents if I was insulted?
…Laughable.
How many weak women were there around him? Or maybe they pretended to be shocked but actually left in disgust.
Either way, he probably doesn’t have many friends.
Crap. I don’t have many friends either, so I can’t really talk!
“In any case, I need to keep a close eye on the tutor (Samuel)’s movements. If he makes any suspicious moves—”
“If he makes any suspicious moves, what then? You violent woman.”
I was suddenly spoken to from behind, and I reflexively threw the knife I was hiding towards the voice.
Clang.
At the same time as the sound of the thrown knife hitting the tree, the man who must have been standing next to it fell on his butt.
“That’s dangerous, you walking arsenal!”
It was the tutor, Samuel. Ati shouldn’t be studying today, so he should be off, but why is he at the mansion? And why is he in the backyard?
“It’s because you suddenly speak to me from behind. I recommend not approaching me from behind when I’m armed.”
I wipe off my sweat and sheathe my sword.
Then I approach the tutor (Samuel) and pull the throwing knife out of the tree.
“What kind of world has such a dangerous lady of the house?”
The tutor (Samuel) stands up with a very dissatisfied voice and quickly distances himself from me as I approach.
What’s with that? Looking at me like I’m a hazardous material.
“Isn’t it normal to be able to protect oneself?”
“…You’re a woman utterly devoid of charm.”
Samuel clicks his tongue at my words.
“If you want charm, could you please change your behavior so that I’d want to provide it? There’s no need to show charm to someone who suddenly insults people. I have no desire to please you.”
I retorted immediately.
Why should I have to please you? I only want to show charm to people I like. In the first place, why does the world educate women to be amiable even to people they don’t care about?
If men want amiability, they should be amiable too.
If they don’t want to, they shouldn’t force it on women either, damn it.
Samuel stares at me with a sullen face, probably not expecting me to talk back.
“…I was a fool to think of consulting you,” he mutters and tries to leave.
“Consult about what?”
I couldn’t help but stop him, curious about his words.
Ah, it was too late.
He turns around with a smirk.
Something about that is irritating.
“…Do you know that Ati-sama was injured at the Andreu Estate?”
Samuel starts speaking in a slightly lowered tone, looking around a bit.
“Yes, I am aware. …I don’t know the details, though.”
I actually do know. I’m the one who saved Ati.
“Ati-sama was almost burned by someone. It was a close call, so she only suffered minor burns and singed hair.”
His voice was serious.
Does this mean he’s not the culprit, telling me this?
Or is he trying to involve me to make it easier for him to move around?
“The culprit hasn’t been identified. And—”
Samuel hesitates after saying that much. He puts his hand to his mouth, thinks about something for a moment, and then opens his mouth again.
“There was also an unidentified man who saved Ati-sama at the scene. He called himself Sergios.”
I see. So he was there too.
It was bad that he was witnessed by someone from the house.
I might get found out.
It would be a pain if I got found out.
After saying the name Sergios, Samuel seemed to be watching my reaction.
Ah, could it be that he noticed?
“Sergios is the name of your dead brother, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.”
I knew he would have looked into that too.
“I think that guy might be the culprit.”
Why would you think that! No way! It’s me!!
“Why?”
“I suspect he’s trying to endanger Ati-sama and Eric-sama, and then gain favor with Marquis Karamanlis and Duke Andreu by saving them.”
…Ah, if you look at it from a twisted perspective, you could see it that way.
It’s a common tactic. A false flag operation. Well, it’s not, but still.
The fact that he thought of that first—does that mean he’s the type to carry it out? I can’t let my guard down…
“…Why are you telling me this?”
Yes, that’s what I don’t understand.
Why did he bother to tell me that?
Could it be that he realized Sergios is me and came to blackmail me?
If so, he’s a real nasty guy.
Samuel looks away from me a little and covers his face with his hand. He seems to be having trouble saying something.
“I think the culprit is someone connected to this mansion.”
—He’s indirectly saying it’s me, isn’t he?
What should I do? Should I beat him until he forgets everything?
No, it doesn’t really matter if I’m found out. It would just make it harder to move around. It’s a bit of a pain to be restricted, but beating him up would be even more of a pain.
But on the other hand, would it be better to threaten him and silence him?
I touched the throwing knife behind my back.
“—He might be using your brother’s name to make your position worse. I can’t think of any other reason why he would bother to use your brother’s name.
If I want to warn the people in the mansion, but if it’s someone connected to this house, the information will be leaked, so I can’t tell anyone.
But I thought you wouldn’t do anything to tarnish your brother’s name.”
Far from being suspected, it’s more like I’m the only one being trusted.
Relieved, I took my hand off the knife.
When I glanced at Samuel—huh? Is his face red?
“That’s why I—”
You?
“—I want to ask you to guard Ati-sama. You seem to be quite capable.”
Wow.
I’m being asked a favor.
By the guy who was calling people bitches and sows.
Wow.
I’m kind of surprised.
My surprise must have shown on my face.
Samuel twisted his face and blushed even more.
“I-It’s not like I’m asking you because I like you. It’s just that, for now, you and my lord are the only ones I know aren’t enemies.”
Oh. What’s this? Is this what they call a tsundere?
I couldn’t help but grin, and he looked angry, turning his back to me with a huff.
“Anyway, be careful of your surroundings. Got it?”
He spat out those words roughly and tried to leave.
To his back, I called out,
“Understood. However, I have a condition.”
Samuel stopped dead in his tracks, slowly turning his face towards me.
“…What is it?”
He replied with a wary voice.
I smiled brightly and said,
“Could you please stop calling me ‘you’? I have a name, you know. It’s Selene.”
I said politely.
I don’t want you calling me ‘you’ all the time.
I have a name my parents gave me, too.
“…I’ll consider it.”
With just those words, Samuel stomped back towards the mansion.
After watching him go, I drew my sword again and focused on its tip, trying to concentrate on my thoughts.