Chapter 27
Why did it have to be you, Benen Schleiger?
The prickliest of the original novel’s three brothers—the second son.
If it had been the Duke passing by instead, I might’ve come clean and thrown a tantrum, demanding he just let me lie down and die.
But Benen? He’d never take my side.
Gracia seemed to think the same. She replied boldly,
“Oh my, young master Benen?”
“Ah, Madam Gracia. Were you in the middle of a lesson?”
“Yes. I was teaching the lady about proper conduct.”
“But is there a reason your voices were raised?”
Benen, surprisingly, didn’t leave right away.
Wait… was he actually concerned?
Gracia, showing no signs of guilt, confidently opened the door.
“Would you like to check for yourself? Seeing a perfectly educated gentleman could be a great influence on the young lady.”
“…Then, excuse me.”
Benen stepped inside. It felt like a dorm warden had come to inspect. I stood up straighter, tense.
As expected, he didn’t pretend to be a doting older brother in front of Gracia. He just gave me a quick once-over and leaned casually against the wall.
“Madam Gracia, how can I help?”
“Oh, it’s nothing much. Just watch the lady warmly.”
“I’m not confident I can do that, but I’ll try.”
His icy blue eyes landed on me.
That’s not a warm gaze—it’s evaluative! Where’s the brotherly affection concept now?!
Unlike me, feeling anxious, Gracia seemed more relaxed now that she had backup.
“You seem close to His Grace. You talk often, don’t you?”
“I help with managing the household. Training the staff, checking on my siblings’ studies, things like that.”
“Oh my, then you’ll be reporting how hard Lady Sol is studying, won’t you?”
“I suppose so.”
He answered lightly, but I got chills from her question.
Wasn’t that basically a threat? Telling Benen how I lied about being able to read?
Now I understood why she barely appeared in Ranking 99. If she showed up often, readers would’ve rage-quit every chapter.
While I was cursing her inwardly, Gracia elegantly pulled out some books from the shelf. Judging from the covers—girls sitting at desks—they seemed like writing textbooks.
She tapped the covers and said,
“Sol, can you tell me what we’re learning today?”
“Um… how to write letters?”
“Oh my, can’t you read the title? ‘Elegant Social Parties: Starting from the Invitation.’”
Wow. That’s childish. Alright then, I’ll be childish too.
“Madam Gracia, then why did you force me to write a letter earlier?”
“F-force? When did I ever—!”
“Just now. You told me to.”
I raised my ink-stained hand from clutching the pen earlier.
“The ink hasn’t even dried.”
I had more circumstantial evidence than her. Don’t try to cheat the game.
Caught off guard, she cleared her throat.
“I simply wanted to assess your basic writing skills. Don’t nitpick like a child.”
“I am a child.”
“At ten, you’re a lady! My goodness, you still haven’t dropped those orphanage habits! Isn’t that right, young master?”
Why drag Benen into this?
I turned to him too, and our eyes met.
There was not a trace of warmth in his gaze—just analysis.
Then Benen spoke.
“…Madam Gracia, have there really been no issues with the lessons so far?”
He must’ve picked up on the tension between us.
Gracia eagerly jumped in.
“The lady is intelligent. She has exceptional analytical skills.”
“That’s good news.”
“But that’s the problem! Her intelligence is a double-edged sword. She looks down on her teacher the moment I let my guard down!”
“Did Sol really act like that?”
“Oh, don’t get me started. From the first lesson, I could sense her rebelliousness.”
Gracia sighed dramatically.
“I just asked how much she’d learned, and she replied, ‘What standard are you measuring by? Are you mocking me for being uneducated? You seem incompetent.’ I thought she’d devour me alive!”
“Madam Gracia!”
I raised my voice.
Hey, you started it! You snapped at me just because I hesitated a bit!
But before I could argue, Benen raised a hand, stopping me.
Now Gracia openly smirked, thinking Benen was on her side.
“I was terrified this little wildling would bite me! But I couldn’t report it to His Grace. What if he abandoned this poor child?”
“…I must thank you for your compassion.”
“And I’m relieved you understand. Young master, will you please inform His Grace of today’s events?”
“Yes, understood.”
Hey, Benen! Ask me too! I have so much to say!
But there was no chance. Benen bowed politely to Gracia.
“I’ll leave Sol in your care, Madam Gracia.”
“Of course! You know the kind of person I am. I’ll train this little storm cloud until she becomes a true noble lady.”
She smiled wickedly at me.
“Lady Sol, you can behave, right? That way, His Grace will hear good things about you.”
“…Yes.”
Gracia began teaching me noble speech patterns, flipping through a textbook I couldn’t even read.
Between the lines, her sharp voice pierced me.
“I’ll say it again—there was no one worth emulating in the orphanage, was there? You’ve been given a lifeline.” Flip.
“The only way to climb it is by becoming a lady. If you fall, you return to hell.”
While I let her garbage words flow in one ear and out the other, I suddenly noticed—Benen was still standing in the corner.
Why is he still here? Is he really monitoring me? But his expression is too dark for that.
Wait…
Gracia kept rambling, unaware of my thoughts.
“You should emulate young master Benen! How mature he was, even at six. Just the sound of a switch in the air made him stand up straight.”
At the mention of his name, Benen flinched slightly. But Gracia didn’t notice.
She just looked annoyed that I wasn’t paying attention.
“Sol! Focus. I told you earlier—this is the only way to stay in the Duke’s household.”
It was directed at me, but it was Benen who bit his lower lip.
Gracia didn’t stop.
“Study hard so you can be useful to the Duke. The estate has no place for the useless.”
As if a terrible memory surfaced, Benen covered his mouth.
…Ah. I recognize that expression.
It’s the look children made when they were reunited with abusive parents.
Even after they grow up, fear carved into the bones doesn’t fade.
This woman—she must have abused the two brothers under the guise of education.
It’s a common tale in romance-fantasy—but not rare in real life either.
In that moment, my frustration with Benen melted away.
He wasn’t being cold—he was tense.
But right now, I was the target.
Benen could leave anytime—it’s not like he planned to come here.
And yet… he stayed.
Maybe—just maybe—he didn’t want to leave me alone with this cruel teacher.
Maybe that’s wishful thinking, but still—
“If you don’t want to be thrown out, you’d better attend my lessons! Like young master Benen—”
“Stop threatening me.”
I wanted to protect Benen from her nonsense.
When I cut her off, Gracia didn’t immediately understand. Her sneer twitched awkwardly.
“Sol? W-what do you mean, ‘threaten’?”
“Telling a kid they only have one way to survive—if that’s not a threat, what is?”
“Wh-what? I’m not wrong, am I? If you don’t stay here, it’s back to the orphanage for you!”
“Maybe so.”
I agreed calmly. But that wasn’t the end.
“But choosing to walk that path myself is different from someone holding a knife and saying, ‘Walk this way or die.’”
“A kn-knife? Are you calling me a criminal now?”
“Yes. You bully desperate kids and enjoy it. If that’s not a crime, it’s theft—of self-esteem!”
With no hesitation, I shouted,
“The brothers who worked hard are way more mature than you!”
“Y-you! I’m going to tell His Grace right now!”
“You got the guts for it? Last time you couldn’t even move your feet!”
“Y-you really have no filter! You’d better be ready for consequences!”
Red-faced, she stormed out.
The etiquette book rolled across the floor.
Wow. She really acts like a third-rate villain.
As I picked it up and placed it back on the desk, Benen rushed over.
“Sol! Why did you do that to the teacher?”
“She had it coming.”
“A-anyway, go apologize to her right now!”
“Wouldn’t help. It’s already too late.”
From experience, people like her don’t back off. Once you clash, you have to fight to the end.
And while the odds were against me, that didn’t mean I had no options.
“Instead… Benen oppa, can I ask you for a favor? Will you help me?”
Even as I asked, I didn’t expect much.
Why would he help someone like me? I even dropped formal speech at some point.
If he kicked me out now, I’d just accept it.
“…Of course.”
“…Huh?”
“I’ll help you.”
Wait. Did Benen really just say that?
This isn’t even a time for pretending to be a loving brother!
“Sol.”
Whatever changed in him, Benen knelt on one knee in front of me and looked up with clear eyes.
“This time, let me protect you.
