Episode 22: I Gained the Tutor’s Trust.
“Sergios is…”
The tutor (Samuel) awaits my words.
“He’s my…”
To gain his trust, I shouldn’t lie.
“Brother.”
“I know.”
He immediately retorted.
“No, that’s not it. The Sergios you know, my brother, is already dead, as you are aware.”
I state with the most solemn face I can muster.
–A lie.
“That Sergios is not Sergios. He is another brother of mine.”
If my cross-dressing is exposed, it will become difficult to move.
Therefore, I’ll put on a very serious face and tell a blatant lie.
“Another… brother? You were supposed to have a twin brother who died as the eldest son, weren’t you?”
Samuel voiced the information he probably gathered to threaten me before.
Yes, that’s correct. It’s the truth.
“Actually… there was a brother whose birth was kept secret. We were, in fact, triplets.”
It’s a lie, though.
“To avoid unnecessary confusion from having two male heirs born at the same time, one was kept secret. He wasn’t even given a name.”
It’s a lie, though.
“He still lives in the shadows. As my collaborator. I asked him to be a bodyguard because I couldn’t let anything happen to Ati.”
Well, he’s me, though.
“But this is a secret. A secret that my family must keep hidden…”
Yes, the fact that I, cross-dressed as Sergios, was causing trouble at the Sword Tournament is considered a great disgrace to the family.
“He will never appear in public. He can’t. So… please, keep it confidential.”
As a final push, I looked up at Samuel with slightly teary eyes.
He had a surprised look on his face.
But at the same time, he seemed to be thinking about various things. His gaze was wandering.
“…So, that’s how it was…”
Ah, he believed it.
Good. Even though he gathers information and pretends to be a strategist, I quite like this slightly simple side of him. …Though I hate it when he suddenly insults people.
“I see, so that’s it. The man named Sergios who was at the Sword Tournament that the Marquis participated in… wasn’t the man who was supposed to be dead, but him…”
Ah, it seems like different information got mixed in, making him even more convinced. Good.
“Um!”
I give it one more push, just in case.
“Please keep this a secret from the Marquis as well!”
If the information that Sergios is alive leaks to the Marquis (that guy), it will be very troublesome. I can see him pressing me to let them meet.
“Please…”
I approach the tutor (Samuel) with all my might and a convincing performance.
He hesitated for a while, but
“Understood.”
He seemed convinced.
Great!!
Alright. Let’s give him more information. To strengthen the lie further.
“It seems that Eric-sama is coming to this mansion because he mistook Sergios, who helped him at that time, for me. Well, we are triplets. Our faces are similar, after all.”
Well, I am him, though.
“Not wanting to shatter the dreams of an innocent child, I have told Eric-sama that I am Sergios. Please, don’t shatter Eric-sama’s dreams.”
Well, this part contains some truth. It’s true that Eric thinks I’m Sergios.
When I told him that, Samuel gave a slightly bashful smile.
“…He’s a surprisingly good guy.”
Hey. The ‘surprisingly’ is unnecessary.
Well, whatever.
For now, the false accusation against Sergios has been cleared, and I’ve managed to maintain Samuel’s trust.
This situation has been resolved peacefully.
Now, it’s just a matter of how to protect Ati from the clutches of the Love-Obsessed Maniac (Ilias).
I need to come up with various plans.
However–
I suddenly turn my gaze to the clock in the corner of the room.
It’s already quite late.
“It’s getting quite late. Please allow me to discuss the matter with Ati separately.”
Keeping the tutor in my room until this late isn’t a good idea. It would be troublesome if someone saw us and strange rumors spread throughout the mansion.
“Ah, is that so? Is it that late already?”
Samuel also noticed this and immediately walked towards the door of the room.
As I saw him off, I called out to his back.
“Please, for Ati’s sake. I’m counting on you.”
So, I bowed deeply.
“I know.”
He muttered something like that and left the room.
Samuel (that guy) might be a surprisingly good guy who cherishes the Marquis and Ati, as long as he doesn’t get any strange desires.
I’m not really sure if the Obsessive Boy (Ilias) is the real enemy.
But since nothing happens when Ati is in the mansion, the most likely culprit at the moment is the Obsessive Boy (Ilias).
I need to take measures.
Considering both the possibility that the Obsessive Boy (Ilias) is the culprit and the possibility that he isn’t.
The Obsessive Boy (Ilias) is an intellectual criminal. He probably wouldn’t directly use a knife or anything like that.
If he did, his position would be jeopardized, and he wouldn’t be able to stay by Eric’s side.
His current main goal is to be the closest to Eric.
So, if he were to do something, it would be indirect. In a way that leaves no evidence that he did it.
Like dropping a lantern where no one can see him, as he did the other day, or setting a trap.
However, his mind is too sharp, and I don’t think I can outsmart him with my own ideas.
If there’s any advantage on our side, it’s that.
The Obsessive Boy (Ilias) doesn’t realize that I and the tutor (Samuel) have noticed.
I think he’s a little wary because of Sergios’ appearance, but I don’t think he’s fully on guard. Probably.
There’s still a problem.
Even if I can protect Ati during the official engagement, will I have to keep protecting her from the Obsessive Boy (Ilias) forever?
That’s physically too difficult.
If possible, I want the Obsessive Boy (Ilias) to give up on attacking Ati…
But is that even possible?
Should I get rid of him?
No, that’s too unsettling.
That’s… the worst-case scenario.
Hmm. What should I do?
I can imagine too many possible scenarios, and there’s no way to cover them all.
What should I do in that case…?
Ah, that’s right.
In that case–
“Danchou! Genki ka?!” (Boss! How are you?!)
That’s the first thing he says? Well, it’s cute, so it’s fine.
I can’t help but smile at the words that came out of Eric’s mouth as he entered the mansion’s entrance.
Yeah, it’s fine. Even if he’s an idiot. It’s much better than someone who pretends to be smart but is shallow. It’s okay to be an idiot. As long as he’s a down-to-earth idiot.
By the way, as for Ati.
Perhaps because she declined dinner that day and didn’t sleep with me at night, she clung to my leg as soon as I visited her room the next morning.
It seems she was quite worried.
I’m really sorry, Ati.
But she’s a good girl who can worry about others. She’s a kind angel. Is it even possible to be cute and kind? It is in Ati’s case!!
He must have been enduring not coming to the house for the past few days.
Eric, who entered from the entrance, was trembling like a warrior eager for battle, as if he couldn’t bear it any longer.
Of course, with his caretaker, Ilias, following behind.
He (Ilias) was still looking at me with the same innocent smile.
I know. I know he’s hiding hatred behind that smile.
And besides.
I can tell now that I’m aware of it, but his murderous intent is overflowing. He still has a long way to go.
“Come this way. I have a proposal for you today.”
I led Eric and Ilias to the lounge, pretending not to notice anything.