Chapter 11
Was I too blunt?
He just stared at me silently, then looked away. His eyes looked a bit hurt, like he didn’t expect that answer at all.
I was more surprised than him. I thought he would just laugh it off like usual.
Hurt? Seriously? That word doesn’t even match him.
Did that César Valdeon really get hurt by what I said? That’s impossible. He’s supposed to be cold, calm, and ruthless—like a hidden villain.
But his reaction made me feel like some rich mother-in-law who’s trying to get rid of a daughter-in-law she doesn’t like. Only, I didn’t even bring an envelope of money.
Sitting in the heavy silence, I started picking at my nails and watching him.
Thinking back, he actually had been kind to me.
He smiled a lot, acted gently, and liked quietly enjoying the garden. He was no different from Arno—a regular boy.
If only he wasn’t a villain… But then again, whether he was good or evil didn’t really matter.
Even if he was the righteous hero, I’d still die trying to help him. That’s just how this story works.
Honestly, it all started with the Imperial Family.
If the old emperor hadn’t died so suddenly, and the Duke of Valdeon had become emperor instead, César might’ve grown up in peace and become a kind ruler.
A pen and paper suited his soft-looking hands much more than a bloodstained sword ever would.
But what do all these “what-ifs” matter now? He’s already too dangerous for Arno.
Still… looking at his face like that made me feel a bit guilty. My thoughts were jumping all over the place.
Even his normally neat hair was just hanging straight today, making him look like a sad puppy that got abandoned.
Why did he have to make that kind of face and mess with my feelings?
Ah… this isn’t good…
“Then what about me instead of Arno?”
I blurted out something weird without thinking.
I glanced at César’s face and quickly tried to think. If what he needed was someone from House Franteya, I could work too, right?
He looked up at me, clearly confused.
“…What?”
“You suit me more than Arno. I’m better than him at everything. So… do it with me instead. Whatever it is.”
I really should think before I speak, like I told Arno. But my brain seemed to be on vacation.
Even I didn’t know what I was saying anymore.
“Do anything with you?”
He narrowed his eyes like he was trying to guess my thoughts.
“Arno’s like a rock. But I’m… at least gold, right? So together, we’d be like a diamond ring. That’s a pretty good match. Could even sell for a high price.”
“Agnès, was that… a proposal?”
His eyes sparkled for a moment. Then, just like usual, he laughed and even acted touched, putting a hand to his mouth dramatically.
I grabbed his hand and pulled it down, trying to calm him.
“That doesn’t make sense. You’re way too—uh, I mean, think about our age difference.”
“Did you just say I’m old?”
He gave me a sharp look for the first time. I flinched, and he quickly relaxed his expression.
“I meant you’re always… so good at everything.”
My voice got quieter and quieter.
“You said we’re a good match and that you’d do anything with me.”
“I didn’t mean literally anything. Only normal, reasonable things… definitely not stuff like marriage.”
“Reasonable things, huh…”
“So just do with me whatever you planned to do with Arno. Are you going to marry him or something?”
I meant your revenge plan, not something weird!
He laughed, clearly amused, and suddenly pulled both my cheeks and stretched them out.
“Agnès, are you messing with me?”
“Iy ayen’t.”
“Where did you even learn to say stuff like ‘do anything with me’?”
“Fwom a book?”
“You can’t say that to just anyone.”
“Oway…”
“What could I possibly do with a child like you?”
“I can hewp!”
He finally let go of my cheeks after I started squirming. I groaned and rubbed them—ouch. I really meant well!
He looked at me and laughed again.
“I didn’t get why Arno kept talking about his little sister…”
He gets it now? That kid’s weird, so of course it’s hard to understand him.
“But I think I do now. You’re definitely not boring.”
Was that… a compliment?
“I have no idea what you’re thinking.”
Okay, maybe not a compliment. Should I get mad? Or keep going with the conversation?
“I don’t always know what I’m thinking either.”
He laughed again. He seemed to be in a much better mood now.
“You’ve got a test tomorrow, right?”
“Yup! Finally!”
Goodbye, George I to George XX!
“I wonder how my first student will do.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“If you don’t get a perfect score after all this effort, that’s impressive in its own way.”
“Don’t judge everyone by your own standards. Try thinking like an ant for once.”
People who are born geniuses really think everyone can do the same. It’s a problem.
“If you pass, I want a reward too.”
“A reward?”
“Don’t tell me you used me for free?”
That’s true. After all he did, I should give him something in return.
“You can ask Sophia for anything—except for my life or heart, maybe.”
“What makes you think I’ll ask for those?”
“What do you want then?”
“Would you give me this castle if I asked?”
This old place? Is he into real estate?
“Wouldn’t it be better to build a new one? This one gets drafty.”
“I’m fine with the cold.”
“How about buying a shop in Rua? I know some properties—”
He covered my mouth before I could finish.
“I’m serious—mmph!”
He’s going to regret not listening later! That area’s land value is about to explode!
“If you pass the test, just take me on a city tour. I was going to go with Arno, but he’s always busy.”
“That’s really all you want?”
“Yup.”
“That’s weird.”
Oops. I said that out loud. But seriously, that’s not a fair trade! I was offering him insider property tips!
He flicked my forehead gently.
“Thinking weird stuff again?”
“Nope.”
“Do well on your test tomorrow. Keep your promise.”
He held out his pinky.
He’s really going to regret this. That real estate tip was gold. But still, I linked my pinky with his and shook it.
* * *
My heart was pounding, and my hands were sweaty.
Mr. Hermann was grading the test one question at a time, and I was nervously watching him.
Circle. Circle. Circle. More circles!
Everything was going great. Just one more correct answer, and it’d be a perfect score!
But then, he stopped at the last question and went “Hmm…” while frowning.
Did I get it wrong?! I bit my lip.
Sir, suspenseful pauses are not allowed. Just grade it!
I stared at him hard.
He stroked his chin and finally finished marking the last one.
Circle!
Perfect score!
“Woohoo!”
I broke into a big smile.
“How did you do it?”
“I studied really hard!”
“You’ve got amazing determination,” he said, clapping for me.
“You’re doing so well, I think I’ll give you even harder questions next time.”
My mood dropped immediately. Ugh, I should’ve just barely passed.
I looked like a dead fish for a second. He quickly said it was a joke.
Sir, that kind of joke can ruin a person’s life. I sent him a mental warning.
As soon as class ended, I grabbed my test paper and ran to César.
It was like he’d been waiting for me—his door wasn’t even closed. When he saw me running in, he smiled brightly.
Even though he was standing in the shadow, for a second, that smile looked dazzling.
“César! I got a perfect score!”
I spun around in front of him, unable to hide my excitement.
“Good job.”
“I know, right?!”
He stopped me from spinning, said I was making him dizzy, and gently fixed my messy hair.
This test paper’s going straight to the middle of Arno’s desk. He’s going to be so shocked!
I couldn’t stop humming from happiness.
