“Hold on, did she solve all this in her head?”

“She handles even more complicated things well. It’s a bit subtle, limited to money calculation problems, though…”

“My daughter is a genius.”

Hildy’s explanation no longer reached Luke’s ears.

“My daughter is a genius…”

Lifting his head at the duke’s muttering, Hildy, who looked at Luke strangely, almost overturned the teacup he was holding.

‘Is he pleased with that?!’

It was an excessively eerie face for such a thing. Even though he was undoubtedly a handsome man with thick lines, he somehow felt intimidating.

Would it be different for a woman?

No, it didn’t seem likely.

Certainly, a former duchess who had a romance with such a man was undoubtedly eccentric.

Hildy, with trembling legs, held onto them tightly and continued speaking.

“While there is some enthusiasm for learning, pushing too hard or progressing too fast may dampen interest. So, I plan to teach within a reasonable and enjoyable range for now.”

“Hmm…”

Luke, who had suppressed his smile, crossed his legs and put his hands on his knees.

The arrogant attitude suited him incredibly well. His eyes flickered.

“Alright, first, I’ll talk to Bonita slowly, and when the class is decided, I’ll send you a letter. We can discuss the salary later when that happens.”

“Oh, I understand!”

“Please charge separately for today’s tuition. I instructed to prepare it in advance.”

As Hildy stood up and bowed her head, Luke, who was about to walk toward the reception room, hesitated at the sound from outside.

“Your Grace?”

Hildy asked in a puzzled tone.

As soon as the door opened, the reason for the duke’s hesitation became clear.

“Oh, there he is!”

A cheerful exclamation from a woman.

She was a gorgeous woman reminiscent of a yellow rose.

Although she might seem fierce due to her sharp eyes, it wasn’t difficult to approach her because of her bright smile, making her look like a child.

“Bonita, were you waiting for Dad?”

Luke laughed heartily, holding Aria’s hand. Hildy was shocked for the second time.

It was because the smile she had made when looking at him earlier was completely different.

“Oh, no, it’s not like that.”

“Huh? Oh, not that?”

“Because Aria… the teacher said it was proper to greet before you leave. So, I was waiting.”

The shocked expression on Luke’s face, who had just drunk cold tea, was evident.

Swish.

His gaze quickly returned to Hildy behind him. His eyes looked fierce.

Hildy nervously smiled, wiping away the cold sweat.

“Haha. Miss Bonita is indeed well-mannered. But, this lady here…?”

“I’m Aria Hilton! I’m currently living in the duke’s house for now.”

Aria greeted with a big smile.
She was so friendly that she boldly grabbed Hildy’s two hands and shook them.

“You’ve worked hard today, teacher.”

“Oh…? Miss Hilton, uh, please let go of my hand…”

“Oh my! Teacher, is there a problem?”

Aria smiled brightly, tilting her head, and then laughed cheerfully.

“I just shook hands as a gesture of goodwill.”

Hildy’s lips twitched.

It was an extremely embarrassing welcome.

‘She’s like this?’

After hearing various information about Aria, he thought she would be a very insidious and wicked woman, scheming to seize the vacant position of the duchess.

But when he actually faced her, her expression was so bright that it was confusing. If there were hidden intentions behind it, she was truly an amazing person.

As for Aria…

‘Is this person the home tutor Oliver arranged?’

Hildy couldn’t catch on, but the blue eyes concealed in the smiling eyes were incredibly cold.

‘There are roughly two possibilities.’

First, if that man is Oliver’s loyal servant.

Second, if he is simply deceived by Oliver and manipulated.

If possible, he hoped for the second.

Thinking so, Aria, who smiled mischievously, still released Hildy’s struggling hand.

‘Honestly, I want to kick them out right away.’

That’s why she emphasized ‘today’ so much.

It meant she didn’t want to see them again after today. The truth was unknown to both the listener and the people around.

‘But… for now, I’ll have to wait and see.’

Honestly, Aria could keep that man from setting foot in this mansion.

Just whispering to Bonita would be enough. Bonita, who liked her mother, would likely request to meet another teacher, and Luke, who loved his daughter, would immediately fulfill that demand.

However, she didn’t want to use such a method.

“How was the lesson, Bonita?”

“It was fun!”

“…Really? And you, teacher?”

“I like the teacher too. I want to learn letters and read books too.”

What more is there to say.

She was as doting as Luke.

Bonita wanted to do something, but she had no intention of taking the lead.

Not until things became clear.

‘Heh.’

Almost becoming a couple, although one didn’t know, receiving the sharp gaze of the former, Hildy wiped her forehead with a handkerchief.

It felt quite bitter.

As she left through the main gate, Hildy, now finally alone, murmured quietly.

“Did I do well…?”