CH 30

“She’s a good person.” 

Frustrated by Chelsea’s overly bland reply, Winston thumped his chest and raised his voice. 

“Who doesn’t know that? I mean, isn’t there something you know specifically about what kind of person she is?!” 

“You meant specifically.”

“Yes!”

At Winston’s words, Chelsea turned to face him. Then a faint smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

It was the first time he’d ever seen her like that, so he was surprised. 

“She is…. a very warm person. She doesn’t assert her aristocratic authority, and she doesn’t try to lecture others. She treats everyone as an equal, regardless of rank, and she knows how to say thank you when she is given help.”

“……I see.”

It was a strange feeling for Winston, never having heard Chelsea speak so highly of anyone, or with such a warm smile.

‘As expected.’

Winston’s upper body tilted toward Chelsea. Like someone about to share a confidential secret.

“And when you see…….” For an instant, Winston’s eyes flashed. “The tutor and master, what do you think?” 

“Eh?” Chelsea tilted her head in confusion. 

“The two of them seem to get along well, don’t you think?” 

Seeing the strangely mischievous look in his eyes, Chelsea couldn’t think of a response. 

But Winston just grinned, as if he was not looking for an answer. Suddenly, Chelsea was beginning to worry about Livia. 

***

Livia had no idea what was going on here.

Vincent was so excited to hear that she would be the only one teaching him from now on that he was eagerly solving problems with his eyes full of enthusiasm. 

He was so cute that she forgot about her troubles for a while.

Naturally, she ended up spending lunch with Vincent.

It was a beautiful day, so they had lunch in the garden. The early autumn weather was perfect for an outing.

Well, it was a bit of a stretch to call it an outing.

It was fine though.

After the meal, Livia sipped black tea and enjoyed the cool breeze.

Her stomach was full, the breeze was nice and gentle, and the tea was fragrant. 

Everything was perfect.

~ Translations by Lurelia | Editing by Valpal | Read only at moonlightnovels.com ~

‘And Anna, the original tutor, is gone,’ Livia thought in satisfaction.

She languidly lowered her gaze.

Anna, the original tutor.

Anna, who wanted to consume the Duke of Mercedes, and who used her antics and manipulation to keep Vincent and Cardien apart.

‘But now Anna is gone.’

Livia rested her chin and looked at Vincent, who was concentrating on eating his cake.

When their eyes met, she smiled brightly and asked, “Is it yummy?”

Vincent nodded vigorously.

“Yes!” 

Vincent had completely opened up to her; the initial wary little boy was gone, replaced by a happy 10-year-old.

“You should have some, too, tutor Via. “

“I’ve already had my fill. Just watching Vincent eat makes me full.”

Then a blush spread across Vincent’s cheeks.

‘Awww, how cute.’ 

It was adorable to see Vincent completely let his guard down. It was hard to believe that this child would later be the one to kill Cardien.

‘Even if he’s not his real father.’

Livia’s thoughts wandered towards Vincent’s biological parents.

Officially, he was known to be Cardien’s biological son.

But that’s not true.

Vincent’s real father is the older brother of Cardien, who is currently missing.

So in fact, Cardien is Vincent’s adoptive father.

‘Cardien’s real brother is—…’

Livia remembered the story of Cardien in <Everyone Loves the Saint>.

Cardien Mercedes was born out of wedlock. 

In addition, he suffered from madness, and everyone despised him for it. Even his parents.

Only his half-brother did not despise him, but embraced him as a brother, as part of the family.

It was his brother who had given him the magic pipe and the soothing herbs. 

As the eldest, first-born, and a well-respected man, it seemed as natural as the moon rising at night for him to become the next Duke of Mercedes. 

However, the day after succeeding to the position of a duke, he suddenly disappeared after leaving Cardien with a certificate of abdication of the dukedom.

The document was notarized with the duke’s seal, and since the duke’s position could not be left unattended, Cardien eventually became the Duke of Mercedes through the council of elders.

Cardien was nineteen years old at the time, and the child he took in as soon as he succeeded to the dukedom was Vincent Mercedes, who was then three years old.

That’s all Livia knew of the story.

‘I wonder if Vincent knows more.’

She wanted to ask, but the memory of Vincent’s tearful recollections of his mother, even in his dreams, made it difficult.

For him, it must be a source of great pain, being separated from his birth parents.

‘His biological parents.’

Now that Livia thought about it, she and Vincent were in a similar situation. 

That is, they both lost a parent.

‘Well, by that logic, I guess the same goes for Cardien.’

Although Livia had to doubt that he had anyone worth calling ‘parents’ in the first place.

Anyway, to get back to the point, with Anna out of the way, there was nothing to keep Cardien and Vincent apart.

She looked at Vincent, who was eating his cake with delight, and cautiously parted her lips. 

“Hey, Vincent.”

“Yes?” 

Vincent looked at her with his fork in his mouth. There was a smear of pure white whipped cream on his cheek, so Livia quickly wiped it away with her handkerchief.

Vincent’s bright red eyes flitted back and forth, then back to Livia.

“Can I ask you something?” Livia continued.

“Yes!” Vincent replied so quickly that her cautious question was almost forgotten.

She took a small, deep breath and asked, “You know, what do you think of the duke?”

“…….”

Vincent, who had been acting as if he would answer anything she asked, flinched.

Crossing her fingers, Livia waited in silence as Vincent struggled to formulate his answer.

Finally, Vincent’s lips slowly parted.

“The duke is……”

Vincent was still calling Cardien “Duke”.

Livia could sense the distance between them from the title. 

But the reply came as a surprise. 

“He’s a good man.”

“Huh?”

Expecting something more, something along the lines of difficult or scary, Livia’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.

But Vincent’s expression was as serious as ever. 

And soon she understood what he meant.

“Because he brought me back.”

“…….”

“I’m very thankful. That’s why I want to do well, but it’s not easy…….” 

Vincent trailed off.

‘I want to do well, but it’s not easy.’

Livia knew what he meant. Of course Vincent wouldn’t want to skip class and go into hiding. 

After all, his reputation is linked to Cardien’s. He may be young, but Vincent knew that better than anyone.

But, just like the mind, the real world was never going to be easy to control. Vincent was just too young to overcome the forces that raged against him.

So.

“It’s okay.” 

At the sound of her voice, Vincent looked up at Livia.

Clear and pure ruby eyes. 

She remembered the description in the original story when Vincent killed Cardien. 

[The son’s crimson eyes were as deep and dark as the abyss as he stared down at the corpse of the man who had once been his father.] 

“Let me help you.”

“Tutor Via?”

Vincent opened his eyes wide and looked at her.

She nodded vigorously.

“Mhn!”

To be honest, Livia didn’t know exactly what she was going to help him with.

But it didn’t really matter.

She just hoped the Vincent in front of her wouldn’t end up like the Vincent in the original book.

‘His life is his own.’

Anyway, it all came down to one thing.

Livia steeled her resolve once more.

‘Cardien, I’ll start with you.’ 

The time was running out.

***

After finishing the afternoon classes, Livia briskly made her way to Cardien’s office.

Winston had told her that from now on, she would have to send her class reports directly to the duke. 

At first, she panicked, but then she realized that this was a great opportunity.

‘I could be alone with him, and I could bring up the heirloom when the time was right!’

Livia had to have gained some credibility by uncovering Anna’s crimes. Plus, she remembered her conversation with Vincent at lunch and was even more motivated.

~ Translations by Lurelia | Editing by Valpal | Read only at moonlightnovels.com ~

However, that enthusiasm slightly faded the moment she actually arrived at Cardien’s office door.

It wasn’t about her being a wimp. 

Anyone could be intimidated by the cold violet eyes of a Cardien.

And this is all for the sake of her life.

She felt like she was walking a tightrope with every word.

“Whoo-ha.”

Taking a deep breath, Livia slammed her hand against the thick door.

This was much better.

She knocked on the door harder.

Knock, knock! 

And at this point it was at the level of beating, not knocking.

Unless he was deaf, there was no way he could not have heard it.

“…….”

But this time, again, there was no answer.

“What? Did he really go somewhere? 

At this point, she ought to come back another time.

Just as Livia was about to turn away, she suddenly remembered a line from the original.

[His magic power went out of control at an unexpected moment and swallowed everything around him.

When he finally woke up after suffering endlessly in a nightmare where no one could save him, his world had turned into an even more infernal hell.]