Chapter 3
“Liette, I hope you can become good friends with Evan.”
“Eek!”
Liette grimaced instantly. Despite her blunt reaction, Duke Croyt smiled.
“If you don’t want to, I understand. But what if I offer you something in return?”
“…What would you give me?”
Liette asked cautiously, her guard up.
“You said earlier that you wanted to become a duchess, right?”
“Yes.”
“As I said, it’s not easy for a woman to become a duke.”
“I know that.”
Liette nodded solemnly, her eyes still fixed on the duke.
“But I can help you.”
It was an enticing offer. Liette hesitated.
“How?”
“I’ll teach you what I know. Believe it or not, I graduated top of my class from Truto Public Nobles’ Academy.”
Liette’s eyes widened.
‘What?!’
The Truto Public Nobles’ Academy was a prestigious school where only the brightest minds from across the country gathered.
She knew her father, Duke Meren, was intelligent—but to graduate at the top of that academy?
And now she could be tutored by someone like that?
“What do you say, Liette? About my offer?”
Liette realized something.
He was a master negotiator. He knew exactly how to move people.
Calling her over to read books was probably all part of the plan.
Narrowing her eyes, Liette asked, “You planned this from the start, didn’t you?”
“Haha. Maybe so, but I really do like you, Liette.”
Should she believe that or not?
Either way, Liette was already swayed by his tempting offer.
As for Evan… well, she could just tolerate him a bit, right?
“Alright. I’ll help make Evan stronger.”
“That’s wonderful to hear.”
The Duke nodded in satisfaction, knowing Liette had fully grasped his intentions.
In truth, his proposal was a great deal for Liette.
Sure, Evan was a frustrating mess now, but he was the male lead after all.
So even if she did nothing, Evan was destined to grow and change.
‘I don’t know what triggers it, but still.’
There was no reason to refuse this offer, which was practically free for her.
Liette hid her devious thoughts behind a smile.
“But in return! You have to keep your promise.”
“I promise.”
Alright then, she thought, I’ll milk this for all it’s worth. Liette stared at the Duke with eyes full of ambition.
“Oh! Then, uh… Miste—”
She had been about to ask about his schedule when the nickname she usually used in her head slipped out loud.
The Duke, however, already seemed to catch on.
“Liette.”
“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to…”
She scolded herself inwardly.
That’s why you need to be consistent with how you address people—whether in your head or aloud.
Calling a duke “Mister”… seriously.
Just then, his gentle voice reached her ears.
“You can call me ‘Mister’ when we’re alone. But it’s our secret from your father.”
“Really…?”
“I like how it feels familiar.”
His eyes softened kindly.
That gentle smile told her he meant what he said.
Pretending to consider it, Liette replied quickly, “Alright, I’ll call you Mister then!”
“Ha ha, please do.”
The Duke laughed and tousled her hair.
“What were you going to say earlier, Liette?”
“Oh, I was going to ask when I should come again.”
“I’m usually at the palace on weekdays, so weekends work anytime.”
So I’ll be seeing Evan’s face every weekend now…
Still, Liette’s sour mood quickly faded. She was genuinely looking forward to the lessons with the Duke.
It felt like she had taken one step closer to her dream of becoming a duchess, and her heart fluttered with excitement.
Holding that feeling, Liette headed to Duke Croyt’s mansion.
This was already her fourth visit.
The more she saw him, the smarter he seemed. It was clear his position and the power of his family weren’t just for show.
His lessons were so good, she could tolerate even being stuck next to Evan.
He didn’t just dumb things down for kids—he observed Liette’s reactions and raised the level when he thought she could handle more.
Liette admired the Duke’s thoughtfulness every time.
‘He really is the perfect adult.’
To her, he was the very image of the ideal grown-up she had dreamed of becoming in her past life.
‘And being handsome is a bonus.’
Full of anticipation to see him again, she arrived at the mansion today.
But—
“Hello—what the?”
“Hi, Liette!”
Evan came running over to greet her. Liette didn’t respond and looked around.
“Where’s the Duke?”
“Father had an urgent matter at the palace, so he said he couldn’t teach us today…”
“What?!”
Disappointed, Liette glared at Evan.
“But he said if we work on the assignments he left, he’ll give us a reward…”
Fuming, Liette’s gaze dropped—and she noticed Evan holding a book and some papers.
“He left these problems for us and said we should find the answers in the book and write them down.”
“…Really?”
Liette thought about just going home but glanced at the sheets. They looked full of hard words.
And if they did the work, there’d be a reward too…
“Follow me.”
“O-okay!”
Liette confidently walked through the bookshelves like it was her own home and flopped down at the table on the terrace attached to the study.
It was her favorite spot in the mansion, where sunlight streamed in and birds chirped softly in the distance.
“But before we start…”
Evan hesitated, not handing her the paper.
“I wanted to say thank you to you, Liette…”
Liette blinked.
Huh? Thank me for what? All I’ve done is yell at him.
“I wanted to say it before, but you always talk to me so harshly…”
“What are you talking about?”
Evan’s ears turned red.
“I was really happy when you said my mom’s death wasn’t my fault… It always made me feel guilty.”
“…”
“And… lately Father has been kind to me too. Liette… you told him something, didn’t you?”
He asked hesitantly. Liette made a grumpy face.
“Nope.”
“Huh?”
“I said no, you idiot!”
Then she snatched the papers out of Evan’s hand.
“Why would a father hate his own son for no reason? Stop talking nonsense and start solving problems!”
“O-okay…”
The two sat at the table, looking at the assignments.
Ugh… Did Mister not want to give the reward or something?
Otherwise, the problems wouldn’t be this hard.
While Liette glared at the sheets like she might burn them with her eyes, Evan quietly began writing with his pencil.
Watching him, Liette’s eyebrows twitched.
“What the heck?”
“I read it all in the book before…”
What…? Did Mister give him easier problems just because he’s his son?
“You studied this ahead of time, didn’t you?”
“No, I just read it once before.”
Once? And he remembers it all perfectly?
“Don’t lie! You memorized this in advance!”
“It’s true… I remember everything I read once…”
Evan looked genuinely upset. His wide, black eyes seemed to say he really meant it.
“Then I’ll give you a question. Try answering it.”
“Okay…”
Liette threw him a tough one from last lesson—write down the genealogy and achievements of the emperors of Truto.
Truto had over a thousand years of history, and all the emperors’ names were super hard. Even Liette hadn’t memorized them all yet.
But Evan immediately started writing, his pencil moving fluidly across the paper.
Liette watched, stunned.
After about five minutes, Evan set the pencil down.
“All done.”
Liette picked up the paper and checked.
Even at a glance, it was all correct. He even wrote the reign periods without being asked.
So the male lead really is the male lead… But this kind of ridiculous ability…
‘…makes me even more annoyed!’
She threw the paper aside.
“Liette, are you mad?”
Evan glanced nervously at her scary-looking face. Liette flopped onto her back.
“Ugh, let’s not study today.”
“Why…?”
“Why do you think?! You solved all the problems Mister gave us by yourself!”
“Oh… I see…”
Evan mumbled. Then he crept a little closer.
“Liette… Are you going to leave now?”
This kid! Just a little while ago he couldn’t even meet her eyes—now he was right up in her face.
“Get back!”
Liette waved her hand, and Evan, startled, grabbed her sleeve.
“Can’t you… play with me today?”
Evan’s voice sounded so sincere, Liette hesitated.
After all, she had made a promise with Mister.
He wanted her to help Evan overcome his frustrating personality.
Honestly, if the story followed the novel, Evan would eventually undergo a complete transformation anyway.
So Mister’s concern was unnecessary—but a promise was a promise. She should at least pretend to help.
Liette thought for a moment, then answered.
“Fine.”
