Was it relief?

A held breath was exhaled from deep within Kardiel’s chest.

Yes. It wasn’t just the well-being of his stepmother that Kardiel wanted to protect.

She was someone who had said that, as an adult, children should be protected.

It wouldn’t be right for him, still a minor, to try to protect her.

Moreover, to say he would give up his own opportunity for that?

It was natural that she wouldn’t understand.

It would be fortunate if she didn’t forcibly send Kardiel to the academy instead of understanding.

Well, let’s say, for argument’s sake, that he succeeded in persuading her.

Then another problem arises.

Her noble character wasn’t weak enough to allow maintaining the household by sacrificing her son’s opportunity.

‘She would live like a sinner for the rest of her life.’

That would be trampling on her pride.

That’s why Kardiel could never discuss his true feelings, his decision to sacrifice, with his stepmother.

But…

Kardiel’s gaze turned to Lord Joseph.

‘I never thought I’d end up talking about this to someone.’

Also, he never thought someone would understand his feelings like this.

He hadn’t even planned to tell his siblings. To hear it from a stranger’s mouth.

“…I hope that everything you’ve said to me is true and sincere, my lord.”

“Of course, I will keep the young marquis’s secret. The duchess would be greatly worried if she knew her young children were still concerned about survival.”

“…”

Lord Joseph’s answer was an exact reading of Kardiel’s intentions. But suddenly, something strange was detected in his response.

‘Still?’

Did he say that knowing something?

There shouldn’t be anyone who knows that the three children of Daiern were abused by their father, the duke.

“The conversation keeps leaking, but anyway, this is what I propose for the young marquis’s academy admission.”

To Kardiel, whose heart had opened ever so slightly, Lord Joseph said this.

“First, prepare for the entrance exam as the duchess says. The semester starts next September anyway, so you can establish a safe foundation for Daiern by then.”

That it wouldn’t be as easy as it sounds. Just as Kardiel was about to object, those deep red eyes gleamed coldly.

“If you do that, I will solve the problem with Viscount Baden for you.”

It was an incredibly reassuring proposal.

Therefore, one that he had no choice but to agree to in the end.

But in the midst of this, Kardiel had not forgotten.

The incident that became the cause of the discord with his stepmother.

It was Viscountess Baden who had ordered that dinner be taken in each of their rooms.

From now on, they were to wait in their rooms every evening, waiting for her orders that might come at any time?

Honestly, Ernestine and Jephet weren’t too pleased with that instruction.

‘No! We must tell Duchess Daiern about today’s lesson results!’

They must boast about how excellent and lovely the duke’s children are!

After conducting their first lessons, the two were unable to hide their excitement for different reasons.

The Daiern ducal house’s children were far more outstanding than they had thought.

Jephet was particularly impressed by the young marquis’s excellent academic achievement and comprehension.

The reason for handing over the test paper that determines eligibility for the academy’s college course was because an accurate assessment metric was needed.

Yet to score a B+ on that difficult test where a B or above is a pass!

‘Perhaps another sage might be born in Daiern in the near future.’

Barely concealing his thrill, he went on to teach humanities to Lady Euphemina in the afternoon.

She wasn’t particularly special. But she was well-behaved and diligent.

She showed great interest in plants in particular, and the plant observation journal she said she had been keeping was incredibly detailed and thorough.

‘Seeing that, it seems teaching mathematics, chemistry, and natural sciences with clear answers would be better for the lady than humanities.’

He should prepare subjects related to that from tomorrow.

Lastly, Lord Chersion had something quite surprising about him.

It was his formidable memory that never forgot anything once taught.

Of course, application might be a slightly different matter, but…

‘The point is that lessons that make good use of Lord Chersion’s strength in memorization would be effective.’

Jephet, already looking forward to the next lesson, unconsciously hummed a tune.

“That pitch is wrong, Professor Jephet. You shouldn’t sing like that. You need more rhythm…”

“Be quiet, would you? When did I ask Professor Ernestine for a music lecture?”

“I never did. But still, even Lord Chersion memorized it after hearing it once, yet a scholar from the Tower of Honor…”

“Musical sense has nothing to do with that. Shall I find you a relevant paper?”

“No, no. Who said they were curious?”

Although they had dinner in their respective rooms, that doesn’t mean the two spent their personal time until late at night.

Sitting quietly in the room waiting for whatever orders the viscountess might send was getting on their nerves.

To be honest, making eye contact with the gargoyle statues placed in every corner of the room was giving them the creeps…

It was Jephet who first left his seat and went to the next room.

Ernestine, who had been having similar concerns, was able to mock him calmly by a hair’s breadth.

“…Hmm, but this is troublesome.”

“What is?”

“Isn’t it already past midnight? I’m done waiting for orders that may or may not come, I need to prepare for tomorrow’s lesson.”

“Ah! Does that mean you need to visit the library?”

“That’s right. I suppose you’re in the same situation?”

“Actually, I left something in the library…”

In the end, they both had to make a quick trip to the third floor.

The two, whose eyes met, didn’t hesitate long.

“Let’s go before it gets any later.”

“Let’s do that. If we had known it would be like this, we should have asked the servants earlier.”

Thus, the two stepped onto the stairs leading to the third floor at this late hour.

There were three main types of staircases leading to the upper floors of the Daiern mansion.

The grand staircase used by the family and guests, the back stairs for avoiding eyes, and the narrow servants’ stairs.

Jephet and Ernestine decided to use the back stairs.

For those of noble birth like them, using the grand staircase without an escort was quite burdensome.

The night’s shadows had now deeply settled over the Daiern mansion.

Not only the stairs leading from the second to the third floor, but even as they passed through the long corridor on the third floor…

“It’s eerily quiet.”

“…Everyone must be resting by now.”

Literally, there was no sign of life in the mansion’s corridors.

Of course, it was past midnight, so all the servants were resting. They knew that, but still…

Why did the servants who weren’t working overtime seem so unkind today of all days?

“I think the young lords’ and lady’s rooms were on the third floor too, at the far end, weren’t they?”

“You’re mistaken. It’s in a completely different direction. From the stairs we just came up, we need to turn to the opposite side, to the right.”

“Oh, is that so? Noble mansions are truly so complex…”

The two moved along, making idle conversation.

The silent corridor, which even the moon’s sparse gaze passed over, seemed to make even human presence feel secretive.

“Hey, hold that candlestick properly. I can’t see ahead.”

“I am holding it properly! Isn’t it that you can’t see because you’re sticking right behind me, Professor Jephet? I was going to say this anyway, but please stop clinging so closely behind me. It’s uncomfortable. What if my hair catches fire from your candlestick? Such a coward…”

“Wh-what did you say?”

“I said don’t burn my hair! This long hair is the symbol of an artist!”

The vision of the two, relying only on the faint candlelight, quietly traced the shadows as they passed through the corridor.

By the way, this place is truly eerie.

No matter how much they tried to forget their fear by deliberately speaking in loud voices, the moment their voices stopped, their hair stood on end from the violent chill.

Is it because of the late hour?

Perhaps it’s also due to the characteristics of this building.

This building, said to have been built around the end of the Magic Era, still embodies the life and culture of that time.

“…Do you know? This imperial capital mansion of the Daiern ducal family is a very old building, nearly a thousand years old.”

Once again, to dispel the fear filling the empty spaces, Jephet began to voice his thoughts.

“So you can glimpse the appearance of that era even in the interior decorations. For example, over there you can see… ack!”

However, just as he stretched out his arm to illuminate one of the decorations.

A hideous form suddenly leapt out into the dim candlelight.

Involuntarily holding his breath, Jephet stepped back, feeling as if his skull would freeze.

A m-monster?