Chapter 10
The moment Irene held Karlos’s hand, a sharp pain shot through her chest.
Immediately, her strength drained, and standing on her two legs became difficult. As she braced herself on the table with her other hand, the pushed-over utensils clattered to the floor.
Clang!
The loud noise echoed through the dining hall, but no one paid any attention. No one entered through the doors.
Irene’s violet eyes, reflecting her own image, stared blankly. She wanted to escape but couldn’t—she felt like a fragile herbivore caught in a tightly woven trap.
Just as the fear that she would be devoured by him rose to her throat, the violet eyes holding her gaze finally broke away.
Karlos released her hand and took a step back.
“This is really serious.”
Muttering to himself, he covered his contorted expression with his hand.
Snapping back to reality, Irene tried to stand upright without bracing herself on the table but wavered, leaning back against it.
“Sit down.”
Karlos gently pressed her shoulder and guided her into a chair, then began picking up the utensils from the floor.
“I-I’ll do it.”
“Forget it. You can’t even stand properly.”
…But isn’t it because of you that I’m like this?
The words rolled around in her mouth, but she couldn’t say them. She was still too afraid of Karlos.
He placed the picked-up utensils on one side of the table.
“I should get some new ones.”
“No, that’s not necessary.”
They weren’t being used anyway. The fork and knife she had been using sat neatly on her steak plate.
Karlos looked at them, eyes narrowing in curiosity.
“That’s a fish knife.”
In other words, she had been using the wrong utensils. Irene’s earlobes turned slightly red, and she carefully set the knife beside the plate.
“And you’ve been using a salad fork for the steak.”
“….”
“And you’re cutting the steak wrong, too.”
Repeated criticisms made Irene’s face turn as red as a ripe tomato. She lowered her head, fumbling out an explanation.
“I-I’ve never formally learned table manners… so I just used whatever.”
“Do you want to learn?”
At the question, Irene lifted her head again. His indifferent eyes, devoid of emotion, met hers.
Strangely, just looking into them created a small space in her chest that had been clogged with fear.
“…If I say I want to learn, will you teach me?”
Encouraged to speak, Irene asked. Karlos nodded.
“If you want.”
Until now, Irene’s life had been full of coercion.
Her violent father, her kind but overbearing mother—no one had ever given her real choices, only commands.
It was the same with Karlos. Rescuing her from death as a witch, bringing her to the Esper territory—it had all been his will, not hers. He had never asked what she wanted.
She was grateful to him for saving her life, of course, but that gratitude was overshadowed by the fact that he had forcibly brought her here. Her mind was full of doubts, unease, and a desire to run.
“Do you want to learn?”
“….”
Suddenly having a choice felt confusing to Irene. It felt almost like a choice was being forced on her again.
“If you don’t want to, you don’t have to.”
Karlos seemed to sense her hesitation.
His calm voice eased her anxieties slightly. Her eyes flicked to the utensils, recalling all the mistakes he had pointed out.
The decision didn’t take long.
“Yes. I want to learn.”
That way, she wouldn’t be ignored by Karlos—or by anyone else.
“Good. I’ll tell Dewey.”
Hearing Dewey’s name, Irene recalled the man she had seen earlier at the knight training quarters—the twin of Dewey. She still didn’t know his name.
“Is there anything else you want to do?”
I want to run away, Irene thought, but quickly folded the idea away. Saying such a thing would be like provoking a sleeping lion.
Should she say she wanted to tour the territory?
No, she hadn’t even finished exploring the castle. Asking to go out now would seem strange—and even if she left, there was no chance of escaping yet. She needed more time.
“…Can I tell you later? Right now, there’s nothing I particularly want to do.”
“That’s fine.”
She expected him to refuse, so she was relieved that he accepted her answer.
“Then I’ll leave now. Finish your meal.”
Just as suddenly as he had appeared, Karlos left.
Alone in the large dining hall, Irene picked up her partially eaten steak.
“It’s hard.”
Cold and tough as a stone, it was difficult to chew, but she ate it anyway, hoping she could handle future challenges just as she did this one.
“Arrange for a manners teacher.”
At the sudden command, Dewey, holding Karlos’s discarded clothes, asked:
“A manners teacher?”
“Yes. She will learn.”
“You mean Lady Irene, correct?”
Only then did Dewey understand why Karlos said that. He hesitated and asked again:
“If we’re to bring a human into the castle to teach her manners… is that acceptable?”
“No.”
Karlos said firmly.
“Select from the underground residents.”
Of course. Dewey smiled awkwardly.
“Most underground residents are ignorant of human etiquette.”
“There will be someone who knows. Find them.”
“Understood.”
Dewey agreed, but he was unsure where to begin. None of the underground residents in Esper territory knew human manners well.
Should he request help from another territory? That would bring its own problems.
Scratching his head, Dewey thought of an idea and asked Karlos:
“What if you personally taught Lady Irene?”
Karlos paused while fastening his pajama buttons. His violet eyes glinted with curiosity at Dewey.
“Why should I do that?”
“Because you are the underground resident who knows human etiquette best.”
“You know it well too.”
“I’m too busy to spare the time.”
Karlos raised an eyebrow at the absurdity.
“Then I’m not busy?”
“Of course you are. But meeting her frequently will help you bond, so I suggest it.”
“Bond with her?”
“Yes. So she won’t try to run away and will grow attached to this place.”
Dewey sighed quietly.
“Previous visitors never bonded and tried to escape. Many died, which caused serious problems… So it’s best to help her bond quickly.”
While Dewey’s reasoning was sound, Karlos hesitated. Was it really necessary to make the effort to bond with her? Surely she could grow attached to the place even without him.
“It might also help her open her heart to you, which could aid in lifting the seal.”
Hearing this, Karlos’s resolve shifted.
“Fine. I’ll teach her myself.”
Dewey smiled, satisfied, ready to inform Irene.
“He… will teach me personally?”
Before bed, Irene asked in a trembling voice. Jesse smiled and nodded brightly.
“Yes! He will teach you for an hour each day, starting the day after tomorrow.”
The news was overwhelming. Irene staggered, and Jesse quickly supported her.
“Are you alright, young lady?”
“…No.”
Normally she would have said she was fine, but not this time. She wasn’t fine at all. The thought of learning from Karlos made it hard to breathe.
She had agreed to learn etiquette to avoid being looked down on—but never imagined this trial would come so soon.
Should I refuse now?
Since he said she didn’t have to if she didn’t want to, maybe it would be okay.
“Are you scared to learn from him?”
Jesse hit the nail on the head. Irene lowered her head in response.
“Oh dear.”
Jesse comforted her, rubbing her trembling back.
“Don’t worry too much, young lady. Despite appearances, he’s kind.”
Kind? That word didn’t fit Karlos at all. Irene lifted her head to protest, and Jesse made an awkward face.
“Hmm, maybe ‘kind’ isn’t right. Gentle? Calm?”
“…None of those seem right.”
Irene denied it, and Jesse laughed softly.
“Exactly. None of these words suit him. But he is affectionate. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have saved us.”
“…He saved you, Jesse?”
“Of course.”
Jesse smiled.
“If he hadn’t saved me, I wouldn’t be here.”
Irene felt a connection—she was in the same position.
“So don’t dislike him too much.”
“…I don’t.”
Regardless of the reason, Karlos had saved her. He hadn’t harmed her and had even shown unexpected kindness. She only felt fear.
“Now, sleep well, young lady.”
“You too, Jesse.”
After Jesse left, Irene buried her face in the soft pillow, covered herself with the cozy blanket, and closed her eyes. Sleep wouldn’t come; her mind was too full.
Her greatest worry was… having to learn etiquette from Karlos.
‘Should I refuse?’
She could claim being too busy as an excuse. Then he might find another teacher.
She thought it a reasonable excuse… but unfortunately, it wouldn’t work on Karlos.
