CH 38

“When do you expect the date to be?” Cardien finally asked.

In response to the question, Livia casually replied, “I’m thinking three days from now, because that’s when the festival starts.”

She looked at him with a trembling face.

Cardien contemplated for a moment longer. Finally, he nodded his head.

“Let’s do it that way.”

“……! You’re giving me permission?”

“Yeah. He needs rest, as the tutor said.”

Wow, unbelievable!

“Thank you!”

Livia was so happy that she forgot about her posture, bent her waist, and thanked him loudly.

Then he chuckled.

It was really fortunate. Livia couldn’t wait to tell Vincent the news.

And in a way, it was quite unexpected.

Cardien allowed it sooner than she thought. Livia thought he would contemplate it longer.

Actually, Cardien seemed surprisingly generous in such matters.

Or perhaps he trusted Livia that much?

Either way.

‘Hooray for Cardien!’

In that moment, Cardien was a more sacred being to her than a saint.

However, Livia truly didn’t know.

What awaited her in just three short days.

* * *

After Livia left, Winston revisited Cardien’s room. It was to assist him with his work.

As he organized the scattered items around, Winston looked at Cardien with a pleased gaze.

He still couldn’t believe it.

‘I never thought my master would sleep.’

It wasn’t that he hadn’t slept at all, of course, but it was hardly what a normal human being would call sleep.

Minimal sleep, just enough for survival.

That’s all it was. But yesterday’s Cardien was different.

With a refreshed complexion as if he had a good night’s sleep, Cardien’s appearance asking about the time surprised Winston greatly.

‘It must all be thanks to the tutor.’

Winston was certain that the reason was Livia. It wasn’t just Cardien who was affected by Livia.

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

Vincent was the happiest he’d been since entering the Mercedes residence.

He no longer refused to go to lessons, but instead looked forward to them, so much so that Winston sometimes doubted his own eyes.

‘Moreover, she prevented a major incident from happening.’

Even Chelsea, who was normally indifferent to others, thought fondly of Livia.

In many ways, Livia felt like an extraordinary presence in Winston’s eyes.

Most of all, the sight of Cardien himself, listening to class reports and calling Livia at night, convinced Winston of one thing. 

Cardien harbors feelings for Livia.

For someone who claimed to know him better than anyone else, his behavior towards her was certainly strange.

‘Finally, the master has found a partner.’

Winston knew it well.

The fact that Cardien was feeling fluttery. But there was nothing he could do about it.

‘I was worried that he would live a lifetime of solitude.’

The rumors of madness and the predetermined position of the heir. No matter how beautiful he was, the marriage market was ruthless.

But to Winston, his master seemed so lonely that he sincerely hoped that somehow, some way, he would meet the right person.

And now he had found her!

Winston was convinced of it. As he thought about it, he couldn’t stop smiling.

He looked up and spoke softly.

“Master.”

“What?”

“About Tutor Pellington.”

“…….”

At the mention of “Tutor Pellington,” Cardien’s pen came to a sudden stop.

Watching the reaction with keen interest, Winston spoke up.

“She seems like a wonderful person, doesn’t she? She has a good heart and a pleasant personality.”

“…….”

“I can’t help feeling a bit envious of how the young master only follows Tutor Pellington. Hehe.”

“…….”

Cardien didn’t say a word in response to Winston’s jest.

Just as his laughter slowly died down and the mood turned somber, he heard a thud. Cardien put down his pen and looked at Winston.

His eyes were as cold as ever.

“Butler.”

“Yes, Yes?”

Winston wondered if his jest had offended him.

Winston responded cautiously, worried. But the reply he received was completely unexpected.

“In the butler’s eyes, does that tutor really seem trustworthy?”

“Huh?”

Winston’s eyes widened at the unexpected question.

He stared blankly at Cardien, wondering what intentions lay hidden in his words. But Cardien was only staring at him with his usual cold, impassive face.

Carefully, Winston answered.

“In my eyes… the tutor seems trustworthy.”

“I see.”

He replied as casually as he had asked the question and picked up his pen again.

Swish, swish.

The pen tip glided over the documents again.

Winston glanced at Cardien, swallowed nervously, and cautiously asked, “Master, do you not trust Tutor Pellington?”

“I don’t trust her.”

The answer came without a hint of hesitation, cold and indifferent like a sharp blade.

Winston’s eyes widened. 

Stammering, he continued, “B-But… Miss Pellington has prevented us from getting involved in potential rebellion charges. She has been more devoted to the young master than any other private tutor we have ever had, and……”

Winston looked at Cardien with a confused expression, unable to connect the dots. If he didn’t trust her, why would the master summon her?

Unable to find the right words, Winston sealed his lips.

He wasn’t trying to confront Cardien. It was simply because he genuinely struggled to understand his thoughts.

In response, Cardien, who had been focused on the documents, quietly parted his lips.

“There was a mana outburst not long ago.”

“Yes, what?!”

Winston’s eyes widened at Cardien’s sudden statement.

He knew better than anyone how much Cardien suffered after a magical outburst.

And how devastating it could be to the surroundings once it started.

‘But he never showed the slightest sign of it…….’

“When I woke up, the tutor was there.”

“You mean Tutor Pellington?”

Winston’s eyes widened again in astonishment.

He stammered.

“B-But… the tutor…”

It was understandable why Winston was taken aback because when Cardien experienced a magical outburst, everything in his surroundings was destroyed. 

Even if it was a person.

No wonder Winston was panicking. To the point where he couldn’t even remember that he’d met Livia in one piece just moments ago.

Then a cold smile tugged at the corners of Cardien’s mouth.

“She was unharmed. Not only that, but she also brazenly lied and said nothing happened.”

“Huh……?”

What is this now…

“My surroundings were intact, and most importantly…….”

Cardien’s gaze lowered, his violet eyes darkening as he remembered.

“The damned nightmares I usually have during the outbursts didn’t occur on that day. Instead.”

“……Instead?”

“……..”

Winston swallowed nervously as he tried to follow up, but Cardien remained silent.

Eventually, he casually picked up his pen again and added in an indifferent tone, “One thing is for sure – she’s not an ordinary private tutor.” He sneered coldly.

“…..Then, what will the master do with the tutor?” Winston cautiously asked his question.

After hearing the story, Winston realized that he had been thinking completely wrong.

Cardien didn’t keep her around because he liked her. It was quite the opposite.

As soon as he realized that a shiver ran down his spine.

“Well.”

He tapped the documents with his pen. Ink seeped out from the tip, staining the paper.

Suddenly, a wry smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

“We’ll see about that.”

Looking at Cardien like that, Winston couldn’t say anything more.

* * *

The next day, after class, Livia told Vincent the news that they had permission to go out.

As soon as he heard the news, Vincent jumped up and down with joy.

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

She couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him.

“Do you really like it that much?”

“Yes!” Vincent nodded vigorously in response.

Thanks to the excitement of going to the festival, Vincent’s performance in class had also improved significantly.

After finishing the lesson and returning to her room, Livia looked at the circled date on the calendar, two days from now.

‘I’m looking forward to it…..’

It wasn’t just Vincent; Livia was also filled with anticipation.

How long had it been?

She quickly calculated the last time she’d attended a festival. 

She hadn’t been to one since she joined the Academy. Calculating the years, Livia was surprised.

“Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye,” she murmured.

Thinking about it that way, Livia realized that a long time had indeed gone by.

‘I remember holding my dad’s hand and walking around the festival.’

She remembered being amazed by everything she saw because it all felt like a dream.

Even after that, Livia often thought about those times and dreamed of going to the festival with her father once she had paid off all their debts.

But in the end, it remained an unfulfilled wish. A heavy feeling weighed on her heart.

However, Livia quickly shook her head and cast off the heaviness.

She shouldn’t be depressed. Tomorrow would be a fun day!

Yeah, there was no need to be depressed about it.

By the way…….

“What should we do at a festival?”

It had been so long since Livia attended one that she wasn’t sure what they should do. But as an adult, she should be able to provide guidance.

‘I wonder if there’s anyone I can ask about the festival.’

As she was pondering about this, a person suddenly came to mind.