ISTV 04

Actually, all the answers I wrote for him were a complete mess.

Would it be okay to turn in answers like that?

It didn’t matter at all.

‘The homework I’ve done for him so far was all wrong anyway.’

Philip was just a minor supporting character, assigned as Garen’s personal tutor.

Such minor characters were usually designed by me, which meant it became the job of the “Dad’s son.”

‘Is it okay for an employee to make the boss work like this? At home, no less? Do I not deserve a work-life balance?’

‘I’ll make you ramen with green onions later.’

‘The boss wants to work.’

‘I’ll even add an egg.’

‘The boss is busy, that’s why he’s the boss.’

At the time, “Dad’s son” had set Philip’s character as:

[An extreme efficiency maniac.]

I almost reported him like that.

Luckily, I caught it at the last minute and changed it to “a magician who pursues extreme efficiency.”

Anyway, Philip had recognized Garen’s talent long ago.

Garen was specialized in “combat magic utilizing the body,” and Philip knew well that studying something like math would be of no help to him.

‘He only assigns homework—he never actually checks it.’

It was just a formality to get Garen into Somarfi Academy.

A purely symbolic act that held meaning only in being submitted.

Even if it were to be checked by some chance, it wouldn’t be a problem.

Philip also believed he needed to get Garen into Somarfi Academy to boost his own career, so he would never make an issue out of the homework.

“Do it yourself from now on.”

“B-but…”

“You’re gonna say all you know is the black is letters and the white is paper?”

“When did you learn mind-reading magic?”

“What matters is doing it. Don’t give up.”

“That’s not true. What matters is doing it well.”

That was the culture of the Duvernons.

Doing something wasn’t what mattered. You had to be good at it for it to mean anything.

That’s why no matter how much effort Sayla put in or how kind she acted, she was always ignored.

“It’s okay to be bad at it. What matters is that you try.”

“This is the first time I’ve heard anyone say that.”

“If you don’t understand, come to my room. I’ll help you.”

I reached out and patted the kid’s head.

Since we hadn’t had our coming-of-age ceremonies yet, there wasn’t much of a height difference between us.

In this world, people grow a lot right after that ceremony.

“I’ll prepare cookies and cocoa next time.”

“Really?”

“But you have to be polite and ask nicely. Only then will I help you, Brother.”

“Yeah. I’m noble, after all.”

Garen beamed brightly.

After disciplining the kid, I suddenly felt hungry.

Maybe it was because I had grown younger, but I was hungry all the time.

I picked up a small bell from the desk.

It was the bell used to call servants.

‘When was the last time I used this thing?’

According to Sayla’s memories, she had never used it.

She was the kind of kid who did everything herself and tried not to trouble anyone.

‘I should enjoy the privileges I’m entitled to.’

As a noble from a prestigious family, not enjoying the privileges I deserved was more of a flaw.

Jingle, jingle—

I shook the bell, but no one came.

‘Wow, seriously? No one?’

I shook it a bit more aggressively.

Still no sign of any servant who should’ve been standing by nearby.

‘So that’s how it is, huh?’

I grabbed the bell and stepped out into the hallway.

There weren’t many people on the third floor, so I went down to the second and shook the bell vigorously.

Jingle jingle!

Jingle jingle!!

Jingle jingle!!!

I walked down the long hallway, ringing the bell.

Maybe because calling a servant wasn’t considered undignified behavior, my body moved easily.

One of the startled maids came running over and grabbed my arm.

She was so flustered that she gripped my arm a bit too hard.

“Miss! What are you doing? Young Master Damian is still asleep!”

She was scolding me, but whispered it, clearly not wanting to wake First Brother Damian—a wonderful contradiction.

“And what exactly do you think you’re doing?”

I lifted my head to look her in the face.

There was a name tag on her chest.

“Julie. Who gave you permission to lay hands on me?”

Unfortunately, young Sayla’s way of doing things was wrong.

A noble daughter from a prestigious family must act accordingly.

Sayla’s way was sweet, and many romance-fantasy heroines behaved similarly, but it didn’t suit this harsh world.

I lightly brushed Julie’s arm away.

Julie looked at me like she’d just been slapped.

“You may consider yourself dismissed. Permanently.”

“W-what?”

—Are you deaf?

“When I speak, listen properly.”

“Excuse me?”

Time to inject some discipline into the slackened atmosphere of House Duvernon.

“Bring me the head steward.”

The head steward, Teikan, was born the eldest son of a now-fallen noble house.

He had made a name for himself in the Continental War 20 years ago as a master swordsman and soldier.

A comrade of House Duvernon’s lord, DePelto, he had retired after injuring his right arm while saving him in the Battle of the Red Desert, and was later recruited as Duvernon’s steward.

He was one of DePelto’s most trusted people and had managed the household inside and out for over a decade.

Because of that, he was not an easy person to deal with.

‘Don’t overthink it. Just say it simply.’

—Steward, weren’t you a total legend?

“I’ve heard you were once called a demon on the battlefield, Steward. A flawless swordsman without a single weakness. The enemy feared you greatly.”

Oh? Did I just say it like that?

“What is it you wish to say, my lady?”

—Then why does such a perfect man let the staff treat me like garbage?

“I don’t believe you’re unaware of how the servants have treated me. Their negligence is your responsibility as head steward.”

Oh wow, she really said it like that?

—They completely ignored me! I’m the daughter of this house, aren’t I? I’m just thirteen! Shouldn’t the steward protect someone like me?

“Regardless of my capabilities, the fact remains I am direct blood of the Duvernon line. You will be held accountable for your negligence as steward and must correct everything you’ve mishandled.”

So that’s how it came out. I was honestly impressed by how powerful “dignity” was.

Even when I said something crude, this body and its nobility filter made it sound polished.

‘Teikan is an extreme rule-follower.’

And at the same time, someone who held a mild disdain for the weak.

Not that he was a terrible person—it’s just that in this world of <Her and Him>, that mindset was common.

A world where the strong were respected and the weak ignored—especially among nobles.

‘He saw Sayla—born of noble blood yet living without privilege—as pathetic and even detestable.’

But at the same time, he was someone who, if she behaved “as a Duvernon should,” would stand firmly on her side.

Teikan paused for a moment, then nodded.

“You seem… different somehow.”

“Apologies should come before sentiments.”

The middle-aged man in a spotless suit and white gloves bowed politely.

“My apologies. It is entirely my fault for failing to properly manage the staff.”

Julie turned pale.

Teikan wasn’t called a demon just on the battlefield.

Even within House Duvernon, servants whispered the nickname behind his back.

Because he was terrifying—like a demon.

“S-Steward, I-I was just…!”

“Say it yourself. What offense did you commit against the Third Lady?”

“I-I was just trying not to disturb Young Master Damian, since he slept late last night. That’s all! That’s really all I meant!”

Teikan looked over at Sayla.

“My lady, is what she says true?”

Sayla took a step closer to Julie.

She gently took Julie’s right hand and raised it.

“This hand touched me without permission.”

Then she placed it on her own shoulder.

“And she scolded me like I was a misbehaving child.”

The blouse near her shoulder was wrinkled, as if someone had gripped it tightly.

“If I did anything wrong, it was shaking this bell too hard. But I had to—none of the servants were anywhere to be seen, no matter how much I rang.”

Sayla handed the bell to Teikan.

It jingled clearly.

“This one seems broken. Please dispose of it and bring me a new one.”

“…Understood.”

“Personally, if you will.”

Julie’s face turned ashen, and her whole body trembled.

Leaving her behind, Sayla walked off with a calm and graceful pace.

She didn’t walk like someone always shrinking back, desperate to be liked.

“Oh, by the way, Steward.”

Sayla turned back toward Teikan.

“This blouse I’m wearing originally had a blue jewel on it. But it’s gone now. I wonder if there’s a rat lurking about.”

Oh? I thought that word would get filtered, but “rat” went through just fine?

‘Maybe because it doesn’t violate the dignity of a noble too much!’

Apparently, cursing like a noble was perfectly acceptable.