As if expecting that reaction, Genovefa spoke in a generous voice.

“Given the tight deadline, I don’t unreasonably expect you to master other subjects as well. Those can be learned gradually after the succession announcement. When I say become a noble, I mean you must appear impeccably noble in the eyes of others.”

“…Instead of this bullshit, why not just make Merche the successor? I don’t even want to be the successor anyway.”

“Oh my. My foolish son. The position of family head is not given to the more noble and brilliant one.”

Genovefa’s eyes changed slightly. In his eyes, which had been unpleasantly smiling the whole time, there was a flicker of madness-filled seriousness.

“The family head is chosen by the authority. The Lupinus authority has chosen you. You, not Merche.”

He finally took his hand off Rude’s shoulder, took a step back, and asked with a dry face devoid of laughter.

“Now that I’ve given you a suitable proposal, you’ll be my good son, right? Go apologize to your mother and diligently pursue your education as instructed.”

Rude only glared without answering.

But it was obvious even without saying that his silence meant consent.

Genovefa, who burst into laughter, finding his son admirable, patted Rude’s shoulder and left with a final word.

“Still, you’re my son, so I’ll give you a gift. Don’t be too sulky, boy.”

The Lupinus troublemaker changed.

The rumor quickly spread through the castle, which boasted a huge scale but was just as closed off and quiet.

The behavior of the young master Lupinus, who was called the “returning prodigal son” due to his terrible temper, changed from an unusually red morning.

Just the day before, he threw and shattered a bowl while eating soup, causing an unprecedented commotion. But as soon as the next day came, as if nothing had happened, he went to his mother, bowed his head, and apologized.

−I apologize for what happened yesterday.

Even his rough tone of voice, which made one frown just by hearing it, had disappeared cleanly.

Of course, the one most moved by this change was none other than Elizabeth.

She embraced her son, who had finally become human-like, and shed hot tears.

−Rude, my son….

Rude, who made the watching servants’ hearts race as if he would struggle at any moment, calmly lay in his mother’s arms, dispelling their worries.

At this, Elizabeth even kissed his cheek and whispered.

−I should have told you this the first day I met you, but I was too busy crying to say it to you. Rude, my beloved son. Thank you for returning safely.

Just like that, the chaotic situation was resolved overnight. Then, the next topic of discussion was none other than Merche.

The son of the family head and his wife, who was thought to be dead, returned alive, and his problematic temper was also corrected.

So what happens to Merche now?

On Rude’s first day at the castle, the family head tested his authority in front of the Wolf Corps, so everyone in the castle knew.

Rude was a direct bloodline with strong authority, while Merche was only a collateral with weak authority.

Amidst various speculations about Merche’s precarious situation, like a candlelight in the wind, an unexpected development occurred.

Even Rude’s maternal grandfather, who rarely visited, came to the castle, grabbed Rude and wept, saying loudly for all to hear.

−Of course you should be the next family head. How dare a mere collateral covet that position?

As the days passed, Merche’s position only became more precarious. Everyone in the castle held their breath and waited to see what decision the family head would make.

Then one day, out of the blue, Rude’s new etiquette teacher was appointed.

Surprisingly, it was Merche Ashtad.

As winter approached, the morning air was particularly chilly.

Merche, wearing a thicker shawl than usual, strode through the door and walked without hesitation to Rude, who was sitting lazily in a chair.

On the deep maroon wooden floor, the man who had not taken his eyes off her since the moment she approached snorted as if it was ridiculous.

“Well, well. If it isn’t Merche Ashtad who abandoned me and left.”

“Nice to meet you for the first time. I am Merche Ashtad, who will be teaching etiquette to Sir Rude from now on.”

Rude’s handsome face crumpled at the polite greeting delivered with a refreshing yet chilly scent.

“What kind of reunion greeting starts with lies? What do you mean first time? Our connection runs deep.”

“I apologize, but this is my first time meeting you, Sir Rude. Perhaps there is some misunderstanding.”

“Merche.”

“Nice to meet you for the first time, Sir Rude.”

Curses rose to his tongue and then subsided.

−Still, you’re my son, so I’ll give you a gift.

…Ah. Could this be the gift that bastard mentioned?

“Did the family head tell you? To pretend you’ve never seen me before.”

“I’m afraid I must repeat myself, but I am meeting you here for the first time, Sir Rude.”

“…It was his order, wasn’t it? Damn, he’s infuriating to the end.”

Indeed. Since he said he would erase her past as a slave, he must have forced Merche to do the same.

Otherwise, it would be strange.

Rude knew that Merche would not utter such lies of her own will.

But… even knowing that, a bitter taste lingered in his mouth.

As if she had cut out their very encounter, as if she had severed his very existence, her behavior grew more irritating the more he saw it.

You already abandoned me once. Was it easy for you to abandon me again?

The unspoken accusation rose abruptly and then washed away like a wave.

“Fine, let’s forget everything. Nice to meet you for the first time, my etiquette teacher. Should I call you teacher?”

No longer making an issue of the false greeting and moving on, Merche smiled as if painting.

“Just my name is sufficient. Now that we’ve safely exchanged our first greetings, shall we begin the lesson?”

Even though it was just a superficial smile without any sincerity. A vibration that resonated from his toes throughout his body rose.

Rude bit his lip roughly, disliking his uncontrollable body but finding it tiresome.

He crossed his arms and slid down, assuming a loose posture. Then he nodded, signaling her to continue.

However, after placing the textbook on the table, Merche stood still in front of Rude without even touching it.

Before long, Merche began to speak.

“Etiquette is how a noble proves oneself. It is the product of efforts to interact with people of the same class, share their culture, and not mingle with other groups.”

It was a definition that wasn’t as old-fashioned as expected.

Although he hated to admit it, she seemed to be a teacher who knew how to captivate students.

Even so, he still didn’t want to learn.

Placing a hand on his forehead and tilting his head, Rude looked up at the swaying golden hair almost glaring.

“Why do I have to learn that? Isn’t it funny for someone like me who grew up as a slave to learn etiquette and become a noble? Then anyone could be a noble.”

“It’s not entirely wrong. If we put aside the fact that etiquette is the exclusive property of nobles and not allowed to just anyone, perhaps as you said, anyone could easily appear noble.”

In the first place, if you are not a noble, you cannot learn etiquette.

If you learn etiquette, you can become a noble.

Occasionally, even if someone openly violated the rules and taught etiquette to a non-noble, they were mostly filtered out before reaching the threshold of any ball.

Because if you don’t have connections among nobles, you will never be invited to even a small banquet, let alone a mere tea party.

Nobles had to be born as nobles.

Bloodline, family reputation, connections, etiquette… If any of these were lacking, one could not be recognized in noble society.

That was their rule, pride, and self-esteem, isolated and exclusive.

“Especially if it is a meritorious family renowned for power and honor, its members must strictly adhere to etiquette. Otherwise, wherever they go, they will be pointed at as a disgrace to the family and branded as a sinner who tarnished the family name.”

“They’re so childish like brats. What’s with all that…”

Rude abruptly asked Merche how she thought about it, as if picking a fight.

“If we discuss etiquette alone, I don’t think it’s particularly useful or valuable.”

The answer was so unexpected that his thoughts momentarily stopped. This made him curious and unable to resist asking further.

Rude swept back his curly black hair with one hand, clearly showing his bewilderment.

“Then why are you teaching it?”

“Because the family head wishes for me to teach etiquette to you, Sir Rude.”

“……”

“And I also hope that you, Sir Rude, will not be despised or criticized among the nobles because of etiquette.”

“…Why is that? What does it matter to you if I’m despised, criticized, or cursed at?”

“Because it’s not your fault, Sir Rude.”

Merche looked at Rude clearly.

The sunlight pouring through the window made her sapphire-like eyes sparkle more transparently.

“No one can rashly say that a person’s way of life is wrong. If the environment one grows up in is harsh, the person placed there will inevitably be harsh too. I just don’t want anyone to disparage you for simply not knowing etiquette. That’s why I’m here, and for that reason, I will teach you etiquette, Sir Rude.”

Suddenly, Rude thought his face felt hot as if it had been burned by fire.

The cheeks where that upright gaze touched, his eyes, even his forehead and earlobes where her gaze had briefly passed. A heat that seemed to melt seeped in.

He liked this heat but also disliked it. He disliked that he couldn’t suppress his own self that welcomed the heat.

From birth, his life was a desert.

A dry, hot desert where not a single drop of rain fell. No grass or life could grow in his desert.

Everything withered and died.

Then, a puddle of water formed in the desert. The puddle, which seemed to dry up quickly, gradually grew in size until it became a lake before he knew it.

Perhaps it could even become a sea.

Rude feared that sea, Merche who relentlessly melted him, the first to appear in his life.