After pondering all week how to ease Larisa’s burden, Siod finally couldn’t find an answer. This was the best alternative he could barely come up with.

“Lara, from now on, Saturday will be William’s study day, and Sunday will be Lara’s study day.”

“Why?”

Until now, Siod had always prioritized Larisa’s studies to fulfill his duty as her tutor.

But thinking about it, he wondered if it was normal for a 7-year-old child to want to study all week long. There was a need to forcibly adjust the schedule.

Siod smiled kindly and made eye contact with Larisa as he spoke. He had an appropriate excuse.

“I now have to oversee William’s studies too. William also has a lot to learn if he’s to become an excellent duke, right?”

At that, Larisa’s lips puckered out.

‘Why?’

Siod broke into a cold sweat.

‘Is she sulking?’

But before Siod could worry, Larisa smiled brightly as if nothing had happened and replied.

“Yes, that’s fine.”

William and Siod, watching this, exchanged glances.

‘She just sulked, right?’

‘She did.’

They exchanged looks, but there was no way to get an answer. Larisa spoke up bravely.

“Then since it’s Saturday today, I’ll practice piano by myself.”

“Wait.”

“Yes?”

“You should play today, Larisa. It’s a rest day.”

“A rest day?”

Larisa tilted her head. She had never heard the term ‘rest day’ before. That’s because no one in the slums used such a word.

“Yes. Since we decided not to study, you should play today.”

“…Okay.”

Siod felt uneasy seeing Larisa’s reluctant response. In the end, William and he pretended to go for a separate lesson and stood against the corridor wall.

“What are you doing now…”

“Shh!”

William, who had suddenly stopped with him, blinked quietly. After waiting for a moment, the sound of the piano soon began to be heard.

The piano playing didn’t stop for quite a long time. Siod pushed William into the study next to the reception room.

“What were you just doing?”

“About Larisa, did she like the piano that much?”

“She’s playing because she likes it, right?”

Is that so? Siod tried to accept William’s words and began the lesson for William.

Although he had declared a rest day to let Larisa rest, he actually needed time for William’s successor training as well.

Moreover, William was supposed to pioneer a territory as part of his successor training.

Siod persuaded William to learn about the duties of a lord step by step before rashly challenging, and William diligently attended the lessons.

However, as they neared the end of today’s planned lesson, William’s expression also became serious.

“…Why isn’t it ending?”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

Larisa’s performance didn’t end. Even though her finger strength could be felt weakening in the sound. Mistakes even increased more than at the beginning.

The two men were quietly silent.

Bang bang bang!

The two men flinched at the discordant sound of keys being randomly struck. She seemed to be very angry after repeatedly making mistakes in the same part.

“What should we do?”

“If we leave her alone, she’ll probably play until dinner time?”

The two looked at each other for a moment and then stood up without anyone needing to go first.

“Lara! We’re here.”

William, who arrived first by running, stood in front of the piano, and Larisa smiled brightly as if she had never been angry.

“William, did you study well?”

“Yes. Did you… have fun playing?”

“Yes.”

It was an answer without a hint of hesitation. William realized something was wrong. Is it okay for a 7-year-old to be this insincere?

“So… were you playing the piano?”

“Yes.”

“Really? Do you like the piano that much?”

“Yes.”

Everything was yes.

‘Why are you working so hard?’

William and Siod exchanged uneasy glances. They were worried that Larisa might be overdoing it. Siod asked kindly.

“Our Lara, do you want to become a pianist later?”

“What?”

“A pianist. Someone whose job is playing the piano.”

Then Larisa asked with wide eyes.

“Can you make money with the piano too?”

“Y…es.”

Siod felt oddly unsettled. If she didn’t want to be a pianist, why did she work so hard? Along with the question, Larisa’s next words plunged him into a quagmire.

“Wow, then I should work even harder!”

‘You’re going to work even harder than this?’

The two men were shocked.

*

When asked, Daisy said that Larisa wasn’t just diligently practicing the piano.

She mainly plays the piano during the day and practices writing after dinner until bath time.

Then she always reads books until bedtime, and now she reads difficult books well, not just picture books.

Daisy was so proud that the young lady she served was diligent in everything, so she proudly detailed how hardworking a child Larisa was.

“Oh my, come to think of it, it would be good to take it easy.”

After talking about it, she wondered if the young child was too precocious. Even Daisy became worried, and Siod furrowed his brow.

“This won’t do.”

He decided to inform Guinevere of this fact. Actually, he wanted to resolve it without Guinevere knowing.

But if Guinevere found out later after the problem had grown, that could be even worse. Guinevere had made an ambiguous vow to ‘do her best’.

Siod went to see Guinevere with William. And Guinevere’s reaction to hearing the story was nonchalant.

“What’s wrong with working hard?”

“That’s not it, I’m saying the child seems to be pushing herself too hard.”

“…So, what’s wrong with pushing herself?”

Siod felt momentarily frustrated. But Guinevere couldn’t understand Siod.

“She’s desperately trying to work for her future, isn’t she?”

Hearing Guinevere’s words, something came to mind.

“…That’s it.”

“What?”

“That’s it. Larisa was anxious about her future.”

Siod said as if he had gained an insight, clapping his fist against his palm. Guinevere spoke as if it was obvious.

“Of course she’s anxious. She’s a young child without parents.”

William, unable to stand by, intervened.

“Mother, can’t you adopt her?”

“What?”

“If we become an official family, Larisa won’t be anxious either.”

Guinevere scoffed and said.

“She’ll become an official family by marrying you.”

“Mother, are you saying that again? Everyone already thinks Larisa is my sister. I think of Larisa as a sister too.”

Guinevere was dumbfounded.

“You think of her as a sister. Really? Can you swear on your heart?”

Guinevere asked, pointing her long fingernail directly at William’s heart area. William flinched.

“You seem to pity Larisa to death, but don’t deceive your heart. I know you. You’re quite greedy and obsessive.”

Siod sighed and wedged himself between the mother and son.

“Why are you picking on the child?”

“I’m just stating facts.”

“Anyway, you think it’s okay because it’s Larisa’s effort to make herself happy?”

“Yes.”

Well, that’s a relief for now. Siod inwardly sighed in relief after hearing Guinevere’s firm thoughts.

“How is that oka… mmph!”

Siod forcibly covered William’s mouth as he was about to say something and dragged him out.

“Mmph!”

“Stop it. It’s not like your mother has been indifferent for just a day or two.”

As soon as Siod let go, William started to argue.

“No, isn’t it pitiful that a 7-year-old child is desperately trying so hard because she’s anxious about her future?”

“I find it pitiful. But Guinevere might think differently.”

“She’s really not human.”

This time, Siod flinched. The one who wasn’t human was himself.

“If Mother brought her in saying she’d take responsibility, she should at least let her live without worries at age 7. She’s just saying she’ll neglect her.”

“It’s not neglect…”

“You’re saying you’ll leave Lara like this. That’s neglect.”

‘This kid, it doesn’t seem like he’s angry because of Lara.’

Perhaps this was an expression of resentment for his own lonely upbringing.

Siod pondered for a moment how to console William, who seemed disappointed in Guinevere.

“You know Vera is from the slums too, right?”

“What?”

“In a way, isn’t Guinevere the one who understands Larisa’s feelings better than us?”

William looked at Siod as if he couldn’t believe it. Then Siod argued.

“It’s true. We were fumbling around not knowing why Larisa was working so hard, but Guinevere knew it was because Larisa was worried about her future.”

“I… guess so.”

William reluctantly agreed.

“Guinevere must have had a desperate past too. Born in the slums and growing up without parents, how anxious must she have been about her future? Maybe Vera knows that working hard is the best way to ease anxiety, so she said to leave her be.”

William silently closed his mouth at Siod’s words. He had never thought about his mother’s past. He thought she would have been arrogant, self-righteous, and lofty from birth.

But it was also true that Guinevere had been ridiculed for being of lowly birth and that she would have been nothing without her magical talent that she was lucky to be born with.

“…”

Looking down at William who had fallen into a long silence, Siod persuaded.

“Let’s watch for now. Larisa will stop being anxious once she gains confidence in herself. We just need to help Larisa gain confidence from the side, right?”

“Okay.”

William reluctantly nodded.