Reidox had never once laid a hand on the children, but today he felt like giving Luid a good flick on the forehead.

But, as always, he couldn’t bring himself to do it to children who had grown up without a mother since birth.

“I told you it was an adults’ matter. And our Yukanadar and Blake houses have settled all old grievances.”

“Hmph. Looks like the Duke threatened you again! Didn’t the Duke just make Lucy cry earlier?”

Lucy, who had been listening quietly beside them, nodded in agreement.

“Yes. The Duke is scary.”

“See?! Even Lucy says he’s scary!”

Reidox could clearly see just how deep Luid’s distrust of the Blake ducal house ran.

But when he had decided to tutor Kian as crown prince, it was equivalent to pledging to serve him as this nation’s sovereign. That meant Kian would become Luid’s liege.

From Reidox’s perspective, his own son was throwing a tantrum, demanding to chase away someone without even recognizing he was his future monarch — which gave him a headache.

“Luid. The Duke may be frightening, but he’s not a bad person.”

“If he made a child cry, then he’s a bad person!”

But Lucy didn’t fully agree with Luid.

“But the Duchess is a truly admirable person. I like her.”

“That’s right, Luid. You haven’t forgotten that the Blake house helped us find Lucy, have you? You mustn’t forget kindness.”

It was certainly true that finding Lucy was a deeply appreciated act. Still, even so, Luid wasn’t exactly thrilled about Kian.

Luid spoke in a deflated voice.

“That’s true, I guess….”

“Besides that, the Duke has also helped our territory in other ways, so I’ve entrusted Kian to you. For Lucy’s sake, at least, try to get along with Kian. Understood?”

Luid wanted to argue back somehow, but having no real rebuttal, he reluctantly replied.

“Yes.”

“Then, let’s all take our seats.”

The study room had a single round table in the center, and the children sat around it in a circle. Reidox also sat at the round table, opened a book, and looked at the children.

“Starting today, we’ll be studying history. Now that you’re all seven years old, it’s time you learned it.”

“History?”

Lucy and Luid looked at him as if asking what that even was, and Reidox smiled, gently patting both their heads. Watching this, Kian was reminded of Valije, who often used to stroke his head.

Though Kian still didn’t know whether his father was alive or dead, he no longer held any hope that he was. After all, his father had vanished without a trace in those snowy mountains — he couldn’t possibly still be alive.

“Yes. We’ll learn how our kingdom came to be and what achievements it has made.”

“Wow. That sounds fun.”

The twins who had said that fell asleep before Reidox even turned the first page of the history book.

Since this history lesson wasn’t really meant for them anyway, Reidox focused entirely on reading the book without even glancing at Kian to test him. After all, if Kian were like any ordinary child, he’d fall asleep immediately too.

But Kian was showing considerable interest. Although this wasn’t a lively lesson where he listened to history alongside friends, it held a different kind of fun compared to the spirit lessons he’d taken with Vika Lamberst.

While Reidox taught history, Kian’s intelligent gaze never once wavered — it sparkled steadily.

Seeing this, Reidox once again glimpsed the bearing of a sovereign in Kian. He felt certain Kian would become a monarch wiser and more brilliant than any king in history.

‘Has there ever been a crown prince, at merely seven years old, who focused on lessons with such brilliance?’

So Reidox nearly blurted out, “Well done, Your Highness,” before catching himself — he coughed awkwardly a few times and woke the twins.

“The lesson’s over. Time to get up.”

Reidox, having finished the lesson, roused the twins. Lucy was still half-asleep, dazed, while Luid stretched and spoke as if he’d paid rapt attention the entire time.

“Dad, the story was fun.”

“Yes, it was fun.”

Though the twins were pretending after having slept soundly, this was perfectly normal to Reidox.

“Good job. Take a short break, then we’ll resume the lesson.”

“Yes, Father!”

“Then, I’ll be back in thirty minutes. Don’t fight — just play nicely.”

When answering like this, the twins were braver than anyone else.

“Yes. Of course!”

Even as they said this, it was obvious they’d end up fighting — but Reidox had to leave them to manage among themselves.

On the other hand, he also gained confidence that Kian, being so clever, would surely get along well with his children.

So when he left briefly and returned, his headache only worsened.

The moment Reidox entered the study room, he saw Kian — who, while trying to stop Lucy, had ended up scratching the back of Luid’s hand instead.

“Kian! Are you alright?!”

“Oh. Yes. It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

Kian said he was fine, but Reidox already felt a dull ache creeping up the back of his head.

Before heading to the ducal manor, we briefly stopped by the capital city.

The capital was always bustling with people and brimming with energy. Walking these streets after so long, my worries about Kian seemed to ease slightly.

“There are plenty of dresses, but not enough jewels. So today, I’ll buy you some jewels too….”

I nearly stumbled forward upon hearing Sikar’s next words.

“I think I should also buy you some undergarments.”

I stopped walking abruptly and stared at Sikar as if he were a pervert.

“How do you even know whether I have many undergarments or few?!”

Unlike my flustered self, Sikar remained utterly calm.

“You… you… you don’t mean you can see that kind of thing too?”

“What kind of thing?”

“Like me putting on undergarments… or me bathing…?”

Sikar looked at me as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“Of course. You’re asking about something perfectly natural.”

“You, pervert!”

Sikar frowned and grabbed my waist.

“Your voice is too loud.”

But looking around, everyone was busy sightseeing — no one paid us any attention. And right now, that wasn’t even what mattered to me!

“How can you possibly see something like that?! Only perverts do that!”

“I said I can see it — not that I have seen it.”

“But you know I don’t have many undergarments! Doesn’t that mean you’ve seen me putting them on?!”

I was practically hopping with agitation, but Sikar replied with the same indifferent, detached expression.

“Why do you assume I can only see such things through your memories?”

“Then… how did you know…?”

“I saw it through Vika Lamberst’s memories.”

“Does Vika Lamberst know about all that…?”

“Vika Lamberst may not have much to do as a steward, but he is still the steward of the ducal manor. Even if he pretends otherwise, he knows all the inner workings of the household. Apparently, he overheard maids gossiping.”

Ah, since Vika Lamberst has sharp ears, that makes sense.

“So you saw Vika Lamberst eavesdropping on the maids?”

“Yes. But why didn’t you just tell the maids if you felt your undergarments were insufficient?”

“I didn’t know I could ask the maids about that. Mary doesn’t have money, after all. I was planning to buy some next time I came into the city.”

“Mary doesn’t have money, but if you tell her, she’ll inform the head maid, and the head maid will settle it with a blank check. So from now on, tell Mary everything.”

“I didn’t realize that system existed. Got it. I’ll do that from now on.”

I gave that answer, but I still felt uneasy. Surely he wouldn’t have secretly peeked at my memories of putting on undergarments and then claim he didn’t see anything?

No. Knowing Sikar’s character, he wouldn’t lie about something like that. If he had seen it, he’d openly say, “Yes, I saw it — what are you going to do about it?”

Sikar pushed me into the undergarment shop and said,

“I’ll go buy your jewels while you’re here — get whatever you want.”

I’m definitely uneasy. From now on, I’ll have to close my eyes every time I put on undergarments. And bathe with my eyes shut too.

Since undergarments in this world are extremely expensive, there weren’t as many displayed as I’d expected — so I practically cleared the shelves. All the undergarments I bought arrived at the ducal manor that very evening.

The person most delighted by my increased undergarment collection was none other than Mary.

“Madam, thank you so much!”

“Mary, why are you thanking me?”

Mary covered her mouth as if realizing her mistake, looking flustered.

“It’s fine — speak freely. I’m curious why you’re grateful.”

“Well… Sadie in the laundry room was always very careful when washing your undergarments because you had so few… she didn’t want them to wear out….”

Ah, I see. No wonder my undergarments always looked brand new, even though I changed them daily.

“Sadie must have worked hard. I should give her a gift.”

“A gift?”

I fetched two emerald brooches from my room and placed them in Mary’s hands.

“One is for you, and one is for Sadie.”

Mary looked at the brooches in her hands with a moved expression.

“Is it really alright to accept this…?”

“Of course it is — I’m giving it to you. No one dares say anything against it.”

Mary clutched the brooches tightly in both hands, buried her face, and cried.

“I never expected something like this to happen in my life! Madam! Thank you so much!”

“Oh, Mary….”

I hugged the tearful Mary tightly. Then Mary wiped her tears and said,

“I will serve you with even greater loyalty from now on. Thank you so much for bestowing such a grand gift upon a mere maid like me, Madam.”

Seeing Mary carefully tuck the brooch into her pocket as if holding something precious, I briefly considered giving her a more expensive blue sapphire instead.

“I’ll help you change clothes right away.”

“Alright.”

I changed clothes and went to Sikar’s room. On the large table in Sikar’s room sat all the jewel boxes he had bought today.

Sikar, now comfortably dressed, pointed at the boxes as if to show off.

“They’re all yours. Pick out which ones you’ll wear to Gillian’s wedding, one by one.”

Seeing the jewel boxes piled high on the table, Sikar suddenly didn’t look like a villain — he looked like a hero.

“Are these really all mine?”

“Of course. I picked only the most expensive ones, thinking you’d want to impress me.”

Fine. Just for these jewels, I’ll accept whatever you say to me today.