The Baron said with an amused face.

“We have an hour left, and it takes thirty minutes to reach the mansion, so there’s plenty of time.”

Leonard gruffly asked who had inquired about that, but the question of what time it was now didn’t come up.

The Baron felt strange.

It was the first time in his life he had seen Leonard show such attachment to a human, not magic.

He was someone who hadn’t even shown more than a certain level of interest in his parents and siblings.

Yet here he was, separating Cordelia from her father behind her back, and knowing she felt lonely, he made time to stay by Cordelia’s side constantly despite being extremely busy.

No matter how one looked at it, it was difficult to see this as a normal teacher-student relationship.

‘Is Lady Cordelia the problem?’

Leonard’s feelings seemed somewhat certain, but it was ambiguous whether Cordelia actually saw Leonard as more than a teacher.

No, to be honest, Cordelia didn’t seem to view Leonard as a man at all.

‘Perhaps the master will have to suffer in silence for a while.’

“What are you smirking about so unpleasantly?”

“Ahem. It’s nothing. I’m always on your side, master. You know that, right?”

“What are you talking about.”

* * *

“Master.”

“What?”

“Aren’t you busy these days?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Shouldn’t you be busy? You’ve come to Yebo Delim after a long time, don’t you have work to do and such? Oh, what about the trial? Are you preparing for the trial?”

There was a reason Cordelia so earnestly wished for her master’s absence.

For about four days, it was nice to have him by her side. But as it passed five days and went beyond a week to eight days, it became very stifling.

Especially, he was very displeased even when Cordelia went out to walk in the garden. On the surface, it was ‘Do your homework in that time,’ but in reality, he was preventing her from moving her legs at all.

“Hmph. You haven’t done your homework again.”

“It’s not that I haven’t done it, I couldn’t do it. I’ve been sleeping only four hours a day lately! When I’m awake, I’m either looking at your face or doing homework while looking at this paper. The doctor said I need to sleep well for my foot to heal.”

“Four hours of deep sleep is enough, isn’t it?”

There was no getting through to him.

Cordelia’s lips trembled. Leonard saw this and chuckled, then pressed his index finger firmly on her forehead.

“I’m getting busy again from today anyway. I’ll be going to the palace this afternoon.”

“Ah, really? Are you very busy?”

Her face brightened. Leonard smiled mischievously at that smile.

“Still, I’ll have to make time every day to check your homework. You’re my only disciple after all.”

“…I looked it up in a book, and it said that one should become a person who studies independently, proactively.”

“That’s just a fancy way of saying you want to play, isn’t it?”

“Play? I’m telling you I’ll do self-directed learning.”

As they were bickering as usual, Alex approached.

“Master. Lord Mervan and Lord Ingrion have arrived.”

“Ingrion? Ah, Beluce?”

Cordelia jumped up from her seat. It was absolutely not because she didn’t want to study, but to welcome Beluce.

“Master. Let’s go. Beluce will be waiting for us.”

“He should come here, why should I go?”

“Oh, come on. It’s good to take a short walk and breathe some fresh air, isn’t it?”

“You’re still limping, what are you… You’re really trying hard to avoid studying, aren’t you?”

It was a transparent ploy, but as always, Leonard couldn’t break Cordelia’s stubbornness.

Cordelia headed towards the main gate, supported by Leonard. There stood a face she hadn’t seen in nearly a month and a man she was seeing for the first time.

“Beluce!”

At first, she didn’t think much of it, but when she actually saw his face, joy welled up. She waved her hand towards Beluce.

Of course, Beluce didn’t respond warmly. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and glared at Cordelia suspiciously.

“What’s this?”

“It’s been a while, Beluce. Have you been well?”

“Why are you suddenly acting friendly?”

“Why is Beluce acting unfriendly again? Didn’t we agree to hold each other’s funeral if we die?”

“Hmph.”

Beluce snorted and looked Cordelia up and down. Soon, seeing her awkward posture, he asked.

“What’s wrong with your foot again?”

“Oh, I just twisted it while walking in high heels.”

“I can imagine. You probably ran around recklessly.”

Cordelia just grinned without making excuses. Changing the subject from her injured foot, she greeted the knight next to Beluce.

“Hello. Nice to meet you. I’m Cordelia Abrams.”

“Gasil Mervan. I’ve heard about you from Lord Ingrion.”

Unlike Beluce, who generally wore loose clothing and had a casual way of speaking, Gasil seemed like he had jumped out of a knight’s textbook.

He was a somewhat wooden man, showing no change in expression.

He gave a short bow to Cordelia, then immediately went to Leonard and bowed at the waist.

“I’ve returned, Head of the Family.”

“Yes. Good work.”

“I’ll prepare a report on the task you assigned.”

Leonard merely tilted his chin slightly as if bothered, that was all.

“Master. Didn’t you say earlier that you had to go to the palace?”

“Why do you keep rushing me since earlier?”

“When did I rush you? I’m just asking. Can’t I ask about your schedule?”

Cordelia raised her voice and retorted shamelessly. Leonard stared at Cordelia for a long time, then gestured to Beluce.

“Keep an eye on this one while I’m at the palace.”

“Yes. Understood, master.”

“Why does Beluce have to watch over me? I’m so well-behaved.”

Of course, Cordelia’s protest was completely ignored. Leonard left for the palace with Gasil. Until he got into the carriage, he kept warning Cordelia to stay put and do her homework.

Cordelia sent him off, telling him not to worry and to have a safe trip.

“Is he gone?”

“What are you doing? Didn’t you hear the master? Let’s go inside quickly.”

“The master is really gone, right?”

Cordelia stretched her neck to check multiple times that the carriage had completely left. Beside her, Beluce urged her to go inside. Of course, Cordelia didn’t pay any attention to him.

She had a servant bring out another carriage.

“Beluce, you go inside. I have an appointment, so I’m leaving.”

“Appointment? With whom?”

“With someone I know. You must be tired, Beluce, so go in and rest.”

Just then, the carriage pulled up in front. Cordelia was about to get into the carriage with the help of a servant when…

“Ah, what! Why are you pulling?”

“Where are you going?”

“I told you I have an appointment, ah, let go of my clothes! They’re going to tear, I said they’re going to tear!”

“What acquaintances do you have in the capital? The master told you to stay put, didn’t he? Get, into, the mansion.”

“I do have acquaintances, you know. I told you to let go! I’ll count to three. One, two, two and a half. Two and three quarters!”

The servant who was trying to help her into the carriage stepped back with a disgruntled face as the two quarreled in front of the carriage.

Cordelia struggled to get into the carriage with her injured foot, while Beluce held onto her clothes to stop her. Beluce’s eyes blazed as if filled with fire.

“Get into the mansion before I knock you out and carry you in.”

“Just try and knock me out. I know how to summon lots of snakes into Beluce’s room. I’m really good at summoning magic, you know?”

“This woman has gone mad.”

“I haven’t even shown you what madness is yet.”

Any feelings of joy at seeing each other after a long time had long since turned to dust. Cordelia and Beluce glared at each other without backing down an inch.

After a long standoff, victory went to Cordelia. Beluce loosened his grip on Cordelia’s clothes. Seizing the opportunity, Cordelia quickly got into the carriage.

And Beluce followed her into the carriage as well.

“What’s this, why are you getting on, Beluce?”

“I need to verify who this acquaintance of yours is.”

“Why does Beluce need to verify my acquaintance? Get off. I said get off!”

Beluce sat diagonally across from Cordelia. And he closed his eyes completely. It was a silent notification that he wouldn’t get off.

Cordelia was displeased, but fearing she might be late for her appointment if she kept arguing with him, she reluctantly had the carriage depart.

Not long after, the carriage stopped in front of a large park.

“We’ve arrived. Shall I let you off here?”

“Thank you for your hard work. I’ll take a hired carriage on the way back, so you can go back first… ugh.”

Excited, Cordelia quickly got out of the carriage, but then groaned as a sharp pain shot up her right leg. Beluce, who got out after her, openly mocked her.

“How do you intend to sightsee with that leg? Tsk.”

“Since you’ve come all this way, lend me your arm.”

“Who said I would?”

“Aren’t you going to give me your arm? Give me your arm. Arm.”

Cordelia forcibly took Beluce’s support as if she were collecting a debt owed to her. Beluce grumbled but didn’t push her arm away.

Cordelia walked earnestly somewhere on her painful leg. Fortunately, it wasn’t long before she found the person she was looking for.

“Lydia!”

“Cordelia. Over here.”

Lydia, who had been reading a book on a bench, welcomed her with a smile.

After the Saracen banquet ended, Cordelia and Lydia had been exchanging letters, and they found they got along surprisingly well, so they made a promise to go to a delicious dessert shop together.

There were no women Cordelia’s age in the Vasquez household, and she hadn’t had the luxury of making friends in the Abrams household, so talking with a female peer like this was one of her modest dreams.

Moreover, going to a dessert shop together! It felt like the aristocratic life of a capital lady that she had only heard about, making her even more excited.