Bang bang, the Baron of Baden struck the table, creating a threatening atmosphere.

Kardiel frowned at the violent behavior, but the baron didn’t care.

Rather, he thought that as an adult, he could easily intimidate a child who didn’t know the ways of the world.

Instilling some fear would also have a good persuasive effect.

He was planning to coax gently from now on anyway.

‘Hmm, now that I’ve done this much, should I offer some carrots?’

The Baron of Baden’s voice became dramatically gentle right after.

“So, nephew, from now on we must join forces to protect Daiern. That way, you’ll be able to inherit the duke’s position without any problems in three years.”

“…”

“Who else but a relative with the same bloodline like me would protect you and your siblings to the end?”

However, Kardiel didn’t immediately react to his words.

He just stared blankly at the Baron of Baden for a while with an expressionless face.

“Are you listening to me?”

Only when the impatient Baron of Baden urged for an answer did Kardiel open his mouth.

“Yes, I heard you well.”

“Good. Then from now on, you and I are allies. This uncle will only trust our future duke.”

“I understand.”

“Yes, yes. I’ll have a contact infiltrate the Daiern mansion soon. Hahaha… ahem, ahem.”

Having received an affirmative answer, the Baron of Baden was in such a good mood that he almost burst into laughter.

He quickly realized where he was and let out a fake cough, but he couldn’t stop rejoicing inwardly.

Children are indeed easy to handle.

‘Especially if it’s the child of that stupid duke.’

To the Baron of Baden, Kardiel looked surprisingly similar to the late duke’s childhood.

The handsome face, the pretty eyes, the luscious long platinum hair.

Certainly, the Daiern bloodline tends to be born with fairly attractive appearances on average.

But is there any substance inside that fancy shell? Well…

And among that bloodline, the late Duke of Daiern was particularly stupid.

The Baron of Baden himself, who had enjoyed the power of the direct line by flattering him appropriately, knew this fact best.

‘So if I flatter this immature kid appropriately…’

He might be able to get something even bigger.

Greed flickered in the Baron of Baden’s eyes.

However, there was something the Baron of Baden overlooked, which was that Kardiel was a more cold and mature child than his peers.

Above all, there was a fact that the Baron of Baden, who had never once come to meet the children, couldn’t know.

It was the solid bond that had formed between Kardiel and Lieselotte over 10 years.

The bond of victims.

“I will remember the Baron of Baden’s words without forgetting.”

“Of course, that’s right. That’s right.”

Kardiel didn’t bother to mention that these words would become a fatal weakness for the Baron of Baden.

After finishing the conversation with me, my brother quickly finished paying his respects and left.

Upon receiving news that my brother had left, Kardiel soon returned to the room with the Baron of Baden where my husband’s coffin was.

But the Baron of Baden’s expression is quite interesting.

‘It’s the face of someone who has achieved what they wanted.’

The way his mouth corners are twitching, if it weren’t for the constraints of the funeral, he would have already burst into laughter.

“Ahem, ahem. Has the Baron of Landgritz already left?”

“He just left a moment ago. If the Baron of Baden finishes paying his respects, we were thinking of wrapping up the condolences and preparing for the burial.”

“Oh my. Has it already become that time?”

It was already a time when the sunlight had completely sunk.

Although it meant to leave quickly, the Baron of Baden, however, didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving soon.

Instead of calling a servant to get his outer garments, he said to me.

“I, before I go today, have something to say to the Duchess.”

“It must be quite urgent. If it’s something you need to say before the funeral is over.”

“It’s not exactly that, but it’s related to the future of the ducal family and the heir’s education, so it can’t be postponed, can it?”

My goodness.

I got a bit of goosebumps here.

‘It’s exactly as Joseph said.’

Until I guessed the purpose of the two ill-intentioned mourners’ visit and my brother’s visit, it was just a bit strange.

I think I didn’t have a sense of reality until then.

But knowing exactly what the Baron of Baden would say last felt a bit different.

It’s only now that I’m starting to realize that Joseph really knows the future. Even if I don’t know how it’s possible.

I felt dazed, but I didn’t hesitate to spit out the words I had prepared right away.

“I was actually worrying about how to educate the young duke as an heir. In fact, there’s already an excellent scholar serving as Daiern’s tutor, but unfortunately, he’s reaching an age where he should consider retirement…”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Thinking we were on the same page, the Baron of Baden sat down heavily in the chair where my brother had sat earlier and continued.

“To educate the young duke, who is no different from Daiern’s future, I think we need a more professional educator, especially a private tutor who can focus solely on the young duke.”

I honestly agree with that statement.

Although the current tutor is a person with reliable skills, it’s undeniable that managing the studies of three children simultaneously would be overwhelming.

Above all, isn’t it a mother’s heart to provide the best possible education to her children?

In fact, it’s been difficult to increase the number of tutors until now because of my husband.

Damn… no, he’s already damned, right?

“You’re right. I’ve been thinking the same thing. So, after the funeral, I was planning to look for a suitable person. Therefore…”

“Ah, if it’s that…”

The Baron of Baden interrupted me. I tried to finish what I was going to say before him.

No, I tried to finish.

“I’d like to ask the most trustworthy person, but…”

“Wh-what?”

Oh my, he’s interrupting again.

“Do you mean you’ve already found a tutor? Who? Don’t tell me this was what you were secretly discussing with the Baron of Landgritz?”

It’s so important to listen to others until the end.

If not, you end up stammering nonsense like that because you can’t control your temper.

I don’t know why the embarrassment is on my part.

“No. I haven’t found one yet. That’s why I’m requesting the Baron of Baden to find one for us now. No matter what anyone says, the one who cares most about Daiern is the Baron of Baden…”

“So! You’re asking me to find a tutor! A tutor to educate the heir of Daiern and the young duke! How dare someone like me! Is it even appropriate…”

Only after saying that much did the Baron of Baden seem to notice something was off and couldn’t finish his sentence.

I was secretly disappointed. I wanted to hear that arrogant Baron of Baden deprecate himself to the end.

“My goodness. Do you really think so, Baron of Baden?”

“Ahem! I, that is…”

“I didn’t know you would feel so burdened. I feel sorry for getting ahead of myself. Alright then, let’s pretend this never happened…”

“Ah, no, who said I didn’t want to!”

Oh my, my eardrums.

“O-of course! I may be lack… lacking. But I am the chairman of the Privy Council who serves His Majesty the Emperor at close quarters, and above all, I am the closest to the young duke. Who else but me could find a tutor!”

I was going to entrust it to him anyway. Still, watching the Baron of Baden sweating to cover up his verbal slip was quite an entertaining spectacle.

Today’s lesson: Listen to people’s words until the end.

“If you really think so, that’s fortunate.”

“Hmph, of course.”

“And Baron of Baden, no matter how much lower your title is compared to the ducal family…”

“Hm?”

“…I don’t think you are someone ‘lowly and insufficient’ enough to refer to yourself as ‘dare’.”

“…?”

Don’t give me those eyes saying you didn’t say such things. I know too.

“Then I’ll assume the Baron will find a tutor for the young duke. I’m glad you’re so willingly offering help.”

With that, the conversation seemed to conclude well, as Joseph had advised.

Honestly, I wasn’t very keen on this matter.

However, the foresight engraved in my mind by Joseph’s firm voice made me quite nervous.

He said, ‘What’s going to happen cannot be avoided or prevented no matter what.’ That it has already happened several times.

Joseph said that if I insisted on not accepting this matter until the end, the Baron of Baden would use his power as the chairman of the Privy Council to even get an imperial edict.

It was an abuse of power beyond imagination.

I wondered if he would really do such an unreasonable act, but thinking about it again, it’s something he might well do.

What wouldn’t he do when the duke’s position is at stake?

And if it really comes to that, I would be the one in trouble.

Because I would completely lose the right to be involved in or control the children’s education.

‘Then I’ll end up watching Daiern being stolen with my eyes wide open.’

That can’t happen.

In this case, there’s only one way. To make things happen in the most advantageous situation for me.

By the way, aren’t both my brother and the Baron of Baden really funny people?

They’re opening their mouths from both sides, wanting to swallow Daiern.

As long as I hold out, the duke’s position will go to the rightful heir.

Suddenly, I felt a gaze fixed on my side profile.

I turned to see Kardiel staring at me intensely with burning eyes.

I smiled secretly at my eldest son, whose expressionless face still made it impossible to know what he was thinking.

‘Don’t worry, Kar. I’ll make sure that person can’t lay a finger on you and your siblings.’