<Chapter 4>

Yurenia’s radiant smile bloomed like a field of flowers. At the sight of it, the Duke’s brow creased ever so slightly.

The power of good looks was truly something else. Even frowning, the man still looked handsome.

‘It’s a shame he’s not Kail…’

If Kailas were real, he’d probably look just like this.

“I apologize. This is my first time meeting someone as high-ranking as you, so I was a bit nervous. I’ll take your words to heart. Is there anything else you’d like to instruct me on?”

“Not particularly.”

“Understood. Then, could you please sign the employment contract?”

Yurenia pulled out the contract from her bag and held it out. The Duke took the document from her, keeping his eyes on her the whole time.

As he walked to his desk to fetch a pen, Yurenia spoke to his broad back.

“By the way, the job posting said I’d be tutoring a ‘seven-year-old boy.’ Is he your son?”

“He’s not my child. He’s my late brother’s.”

“So, your nephew.”

Yurenia nodded as she mentally noted the information. The Duke turned back toward her and spoke.

“Anything else you’re curious about?”

“Would it be alright to know the name as well? It helps build rapport to know it beforehand.”

“Chester Grayson Valerio.”

“Chester… So his nickname would be Chet, right? How cute.”

Relieved of her earlier nerves, Yurenia smiled brightly with her hands clasped together.

But the Duke’s expression as he looked at her was… odd. He scribbled his signature across the contract and handed it back to her.

“He’s not exactly cute.”

“Pardon?”

“Here.”

The Duke lowered the document to Yurenia’s eye level and tapped the bottom with his long finger.

‘What’s this…?’

Yurenia reflexively looked at the bottom of the contract. Next to the signature, in elegant cursive, was written: “Chester Grayson Valerio.”

“Because I’m Chester Grayson Valerio.”

“Oh…!”

Realization dawned, and Yurenia’s face flushed red-hot. If she could turn back time, she absolutely would have.

“I-I’m so sorry!”

As she cupped her cheeks in embarrassment, the Duke twisted his lips into a smirk.

“What an amusing tutor we’ve hired.”

He leaned back against the desk and continued speaking as Yurenia hurriedly put the contract back in her bag.

“Kailas Milan Valerio. That’s the name of the student you’ll be teaching.”

“Yes, yes. Kailas… Wait, what?”

Still halfway through closing her bag, Yurenia froze in shock.

A seven-year-old boy.

So, the child of House Valerio she was supposed to teach…

Wasn’t the second generation of the main couple.

It was the male lead from the original story, Kailas Valerio?

“Kail?!”

“Yes. Kail. Kailas Valerio.”

The Duke answered flatly, tilting his head slightly as one brow rose.

“Is something wrong?”

“N-no, nothing at all.”

Clutching her bag tightly, Yurenia swallowed hard. Her heart pounded in her chest.

‘I’m going to be teaching Kailas?!’

It really was the world of Chains of Obsession. Before the story had even begun.

‘Wait, hold on. If he’s seven years old, then…’

Suddenly, a crucial thought flashed through Yurenia’s mind.

Kailas was still young. And if they were hiring a tutor, that meant the Duke hadn’t completely abandoned him yet.

In other words, this was before Kailas had gone completely astray.

Which meant—

If she could show young Kailas love and kindness now…

Then in the future, neither Kailas nor Emilia would have to suffer.

The brutal tragedies and unspeakable torment could all be prevented.

‘Can I really change the original story?’

It wouldn’t be easy. But it was worth a try.

For both of them.

‘And I’m getting paid well. A little extra effort? Totally worth it!’

Her rosy eyes gleamed with ambition, full of dreams of a better future.

“I’ll do my best. Please count on me!”

Yurenia beamed with confidence. But the Duke only scoffed at her enthusiastic vow.

“No need to try so hard. I’m not expecting much from you anyway.”

Her smile began to fade.

‘What?’

That caught her off guard.

‘Then why even hire me?’

Seriously, what was the point of bringing in a tutor and paying a fortune if this was how he felt?

Before she could ask, the Duke answered on his own.

“Just make sure Kailas can play the part of a noble. That’s all I want.”

“…Not as a proper person, but as a noble.”

Yurenia muttered, her face twisting in distaste.

She was speechless. What exactly did Duke Chester think of Kailas?

The agency had told her she was already the sixteenth tutor hired for this household.

Now she understood why.

But even someone like Yurenia, a complete stranger, had asked about Kailas out of concern. The Duke, on the other hand, didn’t seem to care in the slightest.

Shouldn’t he be taking this more seriously? Kailas was his nephew.

‘He’s completely indifferent to the child.’

She’d suspected it, but hearing his instructions made it real.

The child had gone through sixteen tutors, yet the only thing the Duke asked was that the boy at least act like a noble.

Didn’t it worry him, even a little?

‘I mean, you are his uncle, for heaven’s sake.’

Yurenia cleared her throat softly. Normally, this would be the point where she wrapped up the meeting, but she felt the need to dig a little deeper.

Her big, round eyes darted thoughtfully before she carefully asked,

“When you say ‘play the part of a noble,’ what exactly does that entail?”

“Basic etiquette. Table manners. Dance. Foundational magic, things like that.”

The Duke listed them calmly, but a wrinkle formed between his brows.

“Isn’t that what a tutor’s supposed to teach?”

He seemed confused as to why she’d even ask, but then made a small sound of realization.

“Come to think of it… Weren’t you the one who entered and graduated top of your class at the Academy on a full scholarship?”

Duke Chester stroked his sharp jawline, lost in thought. Then he spoke as if doing her a great favor.

“I take it back. I will expect something from you. Do a good job. If you can endure, I might let you handle the entire elementary curriculum.”

He seemed to think she was offended by his earlier “I don’t expect much” comment and was trying to make amends.

But he was wrong.

‘That’s not the issue here!’

Where should she even begin?

It wasn’t that she felt underestimated. That wasn’t what upset her.

It was his utter indifference toward his own nephew, Kailas.

Yurenia had taught in many noble households. And regardless of the time or world, one truth remained constant: nobles were extremely passionate about education.

Whether they loved their children or not.

Every parent wanted their child to grow into someone great.

Because the child would inherit the family’s title, carry on their name, and uphold their honor.

Even noble parents who didn’t love their children still showed some level of concern.

“There’s no helping it. He’s a nasty little brat. You’d better be prepared.”

But no one had ever warned her like that.

Sure, many said, “Please take good care of my child.”

‘No wonder Kailas turned out the way he did.’

Yurenia let out a resigned sigh.

She couldn’t help but feel sorry for a child growing up under such neglect.

Not because Kailas was the male lead in the original story. It would’ve broken her heart no matter who the child was.

Seriously.

No child deserved to grow up in an environment like this.

Not after what she had endured in her past life through neglect, scorn, and abuse from her parents.

‘I don’t even feel like arguing.’

She was so stunned, she couldn’t even get angry.

Besides, the man was her employer. Arguing would only make things worse for her.

‘Fine. I’ll let it go for now.’

Yurenia was the daughter of a low-ranking baron, a humble tutor.

Chester Valerio, on the other hand, was a high noble who strode through the imperial palace like it was his backyard. They lived in completely different worlds.

But in situations like this…

When an employer said something utterly absurd, Yurenia knew exactly how to respond.

“…Understood.”

Just give the right answer.

That’s all that mattered.

Everything else about how she cared for Kailas was up to her.

After all, the Duke didn’t give a damn about the child.

‘Who cares what he thinks.’

Yurenia flashed a brilliant smile, as if nothing had ever troubled her. Then she gave a polite bow.

“I’ll do my best to guide him, Your Grace.”

Whatever you say, dear employer.

But first, let’s make sure our future male lead grows up to be a proper human being.
 

<To be continued>

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