<Chapter 7>

Marlenda was furious because she had almost been hit with the milk. She was humiliated at the thought that her dignity might have crumbled in front of the new private tutor.

And for that reason alone, she lashed out at the child.

Neither Yurenia, who had been caught in the crossfire, nor Kailas, who had been harshly scolded and shrank back, mattered to Marlenda.

To Yurenia, the woman’s motives were plain as day.

‘If only she weren’t the nanny.’

The nanny who had raised the heir to the family since infancy was respected even by the elders of the house.

Making her an enemy on Yurenia’s first day in the mansion would’ve been a foolish move.

“Marlenda, I’m fine. Really.”

Yurenia replied calmly and looked at Kailas. Then she gave the child a gentle smile.

At that, the boy’s eyes widened, filled with surprise at the sight of someone smiling at him.

Was it really so shocking to have someone smile at him?

Her heart ached at the sight of his bewilderment.

‘Has Kailas only ever seen adults get angry with him?’

How could anyone be angry with a child like this?

Even after being splashed with milk, Yurenia couldn’t bring herself to blame Kailas.

She didn’t even want to.

Instead, she found herself angry at Marlenda for losing her temper with the child.

‘How horribly must she have treated him, for the boy to act out like this?’

When the mug flew through the air, it was clearly aimed at Marlenda. Yurenia was just unlucky enough to be the one who got hit.

“I was going to get washed up soon anyway. So please, don’t scold the young master anymore.”

When Yurenia firmly tried to stop her, Marlenda gave an awkward laugh.

“Is that so? Then why don’t you go get some rest, teacher? I’ll make sure to teach the young master a proper lesson in the meantime.”

“No.”

Yurenia replied firmly and grabbed Marlenda’s hand.

Then she smiled so brightly that Marlenda looked puzzled despite her irritation at being refused.

“You should go first, Marlenda.”

“But still—”

“You must’ve been startled. Go take a breather. I’ll handle the cleanup.”

“…You think so?”

Marlenda narrowed her eyes at Yurenia’s suggestion.

“Well, if you’re insisting that much. Fine. Have it your way.”

“Yes, Marlenda.”

Yurenia responded gently. Emboldened by the tutor’s docile tone, Marlenda turned to the boy and left a parting threat.

“Don’t think this is the end of it. I’ll be reporting everything to the Duke!”

“To Uncle…?”

“That’s right!”

Kailas’s face went pale at Marlenda’s warning.

“No, don’t!”

“Whether I do or not isn’t up to you to decide!”

“Nanny!”

Kailas cried out in despair, as if the sky were falling. Marlenda, satisfied with his reaction, let out a scoffing snort.

“Hmph!”

“Nanny! Nanny!”

Kailas stood up, trying to go after her, but she shut the door coldly before he could even take a step.

“Nanny!”

He pounded on the closed door, tears welling up in his eyes. Yurenia sighed inwardly at the pitiful sight.

‘What an impressive nanny.’

She might not have raised a hand to him, but Marlenda was a master of emotional abuse.

Vile.

No child should be forced to live under someone like her for even a single day.

“Nanny… hic… Nanny…”

Yurenia approached the crying boy, lowering herself to his eye level.

“Young Master Kailas.”

Kailas, who had been staring desperately at the door Marlenda had disappeared through, turned to look at her. His eyes, vivid green like peas, were clouded with deep resentment.

“Who are you? Why’d you suddenly show up and…!”

“Don’t worry. I’ll talk to the nanny. I’ll make sure the Duke doesn’t hear about what happened today.”

“And who do you think you are?”

At the boy’s sharp question, Yurenia simply smiled. Come to think of it, Marlenda had stormed off without even giving her a proper introduction.

‘It slipped my mind in all the chaos.’

Not because she got doused in milk, but because Marlenda had been so aggressive that she’d scrambled everyone’s thoughts.

“I guess this is my proper introduction then. Pleased to meet you, young master. I’m your new private tutor. My name is Yurenia d’Aubigné.”

“…You’re my tutor?”

“Yes. So don’t worry. You’re not going to get scolded by the Duke.”

Kailas stared at her with wide eyes. But soon, he pushed her away and shouted.

“How am I supposed to trust you?! Get lost!”

Tears brimming in his eyes, Kailas kicked in frustration. Having the new tutor witness him being scolded by the nanny had clearly wounded his pride.

The small boy flailed in her arms.

“I don’t need a stupid tutor! You’re on the nanny’s side anyway! You’re fired! Get out! Go away!”

“Young master, please calm down.”

“Let go! I said let me go!”

“Kailas Valerio!”

Yurenia raised her voice with a stern expression. Kailas flinched and drew back.

“…Why?”

The terrified boy’s shoulders hunched up tight.

“Why… did you call me that?”

Are you angry with me too?

Kailas mumbled, fidgeting.

All she did was say his name.

But that single, serious word froze him completely.

Yurenia bit her lip at the sight of his timid, frightened form.

‘Why do you get scared so easily…’

It hurt.

Anger and defiance that ultimately gave way to resignation and despair.

Yurenia knew that feeling all too well.

She had lived that way in her past life.

As a child, she had rebelled against parents who only ever cared for her brother. But eventually, she grew tired of the unchanging reality, and gave up.

Later, she came to believe the world was just inherently unfair. She conformed to it and withered away.

And then she died.

Yurenia had no intention of living that life again. And she wouldn’t let Kailas live like that either.

A child should never be raised in this kind of environment. A child should be loved.

‘A child this sweet and lovable.’

The sight of his messy hair and the corners of his eyes, still red from tears, tugged at her heart.

A boy who was abandoned by his mother, his uncle, and even his nanny.

She couldn’t leave him like this.

She couldn’t let him grow up, isolated in a back room of this enormous mansion, under the care of a cruel woman.

Yurenia made up her mind.

It wasn’t just about money anymore. That stopped mattering the moment she spoke with the Duke earlier.

She was going to stay by this child’s side.

As a private tutor.

As his teacher and his friend.

She would make sure he received the love every child in the world deserved.

‘Kail… I’ll protect you.’

Yurenia wrapped her arms around the small boy. Then she said softly,

“You don’t have to believe me. But it’s true. Even if you fire me right now, Duke Chester won’t hear a thing about what happened today. So please don’t worry.”

Her voice was warm as she gently patted the small boy’s back.

He was so skinny, she could feel his spine through his clothes.

“……”

Kailas didn’t resist. He simply stood still, dazed by the warmth of being held by an adult.

“B-but…”

Unsure of how to respond, Kailas muttered uncertainly.

He darted his eyes around, then whispered,

“What if the nanny already told Uncle…”

His body trembled like a frightened rabbit. The child who had just been screaming his lungs out was gone.

This was the real Kailas, the one hiding beneath that thick, sharp shell.

The one who blamed others, threw tantrums, and played pranks just to keep his fragile heart from being exposed.

Yurenia held him even tighter, hoping to make him just a little more familiar with warmth.

“Then I’ll say it didn’t happen. If I say it didn’t, who’s going to argue? It’s not like she was the one involved, right?”

“…Mm.”

“So it’ll be fine.”

“You really will… do that for me?”

“Of course.”

Yurenia straightened up and looked at Kailas. Meeting his eyes, she smiled gently.

“So don’t worry.”

The private tutor’s kind gaze made Kailas look confused.

“…Why?”

He tilted his head, then asked again.

“Why would you lie for me?”

“Because I’m your teacher.”

“…None of the others did.”

Kailas fidgeted with his hands, tugging at his thin fingers.

“They all hated me. Believed everything the nanny said. To me…”

As he spoke quietly, his head slowly lowered. And then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he muttered,

“They told me I ……”

“Sorry?”

Yurenia blinked, trying to catch his words. She leaned forward slightly, but the boy had already closed his mouth.

“I-it’s nothing.”

Kailas shook his head firmly and clamped his lips shut.

When Yurenia tilted her head slightly, he gently grabbed the hem of her sleeve. Then he asked cautiously,

“You promise, right? You really won’t tell Uncle?”

“Yes. I promise.”

Yurenia nodded seriously. But even after her assurance, Kailas still looked uncertain. He couldn’t bring himself to fully trust her.

‘Well, we just met. That’s only natural.’

Yurenia gave a faint smile. The first step was to earn his trust.

“Then how about this? I’ll tell you one of my secrets too.”

She cupped her hand to Kailas’s ear and whispered playfully,

“Actually…”
 

<To be continued>

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