Chapter 25
“Aiden, what brings you here?”
“I asked why you’re doing laundry. That’s not supposed to be your job.”
Aiden’s voice was tinged with anger. His eyes were dark, and his expression was fierce.
“Damn it.”
Aiden muttered under his breath, just loud enough to be heard.
Sophy, sensing the tension, answered in my stead.
“It’s my fault. I’m sorry, Duke.”
“I offered to help. This isn’t Sophy’s fault.”
After shaking off the water from his wet hands from doing laundry, Aiden stood up and pulled Sophy toward him.
When I hid Sophy behind me, Aiden’s eyes narrowed.
“I just wanted to do something. Sitting idly isn’t in my nature.”
“You’re responsible for my studies, aren’t you?”
“After the lessons are over, there’s nothing to do, and it gets boring. I wanted to move around, and it was nice to chat while helping out.”
It felt strange to explain myself to Aiden, but with the way he was acting, it seemed inevitable that Sophy would be scolded.
Sophy hadn’t done anything wrong. It was me who had nagged her to rest.
“If you need someone to talk to, you can always call for someone…”
He trailed off. There were so few servants in this mansion, calling for help was hardly an option.
“I, a humble student, will be your companion. You should rest in your room, Teacher.”
“Aiden, you as a companion?”
He looked a bit embarrassed, his face turning red after his own words.
“There’s something I don’t know, and I think you should check on it. So let’s leave the laundry and go inside.”
Aiden turned abruptly. As he led the way to the study, Sophy whispered to me softly.
“Go ahead. I’ll finish the laundry.”
“Ah, okay.”
“Hurry!”
Aiden shouted as he walked ahead. When I entered the study, he immediately asked,
“How many people does a mansion of this size usually need?”
“Are you thinking of hiring people?”
Had he already made up his mind in just half a day? He must have read my thoughts, for he explained defensively.
“If you’re helping Sophy with chores, it seems like we’re short on hands.”
He sighed heavily and continued sarcastically.
“It’s a crumbling mansion, so what’s the point of taking care of it, but damn it, a tutor doing laundry… I can’t deny it, though. Damn.”
“…You noticed.”
“If you didn’t, your head… never mind.”
His words were harsh, but Aiden clenched his eyes shut, finishing his thought.
“It’s probably because I’m an idiot.”
“Please don’t scold Sophy. I’m the one who insisted.”
“I figured that. You’re a good person, Teacher… wait, what am I saying?”
It hadn’t been long since I met him, but he spoke as though he knew me well.
Did he see me before we met at the palace?
I thought, then answered him.
“At least five more people will be needed. You’ll need a gardener, mansion staff, maids, and servants.”
“Really? It sounds like you’ve managed a household before. I’m not mocking you; I’m genuinely curious.”
“There was no lady in charge at the Estarion Count’s house, so naturally, I took on that role.”
“You handled everything, then?”
“Something like that.”
“Well, good. Then you’ll lay the groundwork for this mansion, Teacher.”
“Excuse me?”
His request caught me off guard, and I widened my eyes.
Aiden sighed and scratched the back of his head.
“Instead of doing laundry, it’d be better if you handled paperwork and managed the staff, right?”
“But I’m just a tutor… it’s not that I don’t want to. I’m just looking for something else to focus on besides teaching you.”
“After you finish teaching me and leave, teach me about managing the household. I’ll hire a butler, but I’ll need to know the basics too.”
“…”
“Looking at it this way, it seems like this is also part of the tutor’s job. Teaching me how to manage people and run this big mansion.”
Aiden squinted his eyes and spoke with a teasing smile, but there was a mischievous glint in his eyes. His eyes were tender, like a young boy, and his gaze was unexpectedly innocent, leaving me speechless.
“I hope I can be of help.”
“You can manage the house however you want. Hire people, burn the house down with the servants… whatever you do, I’m leaving it all to you.”
“I won’t burn the house down.”
“I’m just saying.”
“Thank you for trusting me. I’ll do my best to repay your trust.”
“You don’t have to work too hard, just don’t overdo it. I’m counting on you, Teacher.”
Aiden stepped closer to me. His dark eyes came a step closer, and I could clearly see the scar on his cheek. I could also feel his faint breath.
In a serious tone, he spoke.
“I hope you get better soon. You’re so weak.”
“I’ll get better. I’m eating and sleeping well.”
It was a little unusual to see such sincerity from someone I had known for less than a month, but it wasn’t bad.
Even if he was worried about me because I was useful to him, it had been a long time since someone had cared about me, and it made my heart race.
It felt like finding a tiny spark in a snow-covered field.
“Then, Teacher, please go rest. Leave the laundry to Sophy.”
Despite his light words, his black eyes were serious as he insisted. His gaze was heavy, like that of a predator with the skill to easily hunt its prey.
“Ah… I will…”
“Good. I need to review today’s lessons.”
Aiden passed by me as he left. As he brushed past, I caught a faint scent of his body, and once his footsteps faded and his scent disappeared from the air, my tension finally eased.
‘To be so serious about taking a rest.’
Sighing deeply, I saw Sophy entering with the laundry.
She would be thrilled to hear that we were going to hire people.
I quickly walked over to her and spoke up.
“Sophy, there’s something you need to do.”
My voice was unexpectedly lively, and Sophy looked at me with wide eyes.
“Go to the employment agency and hire a butler, two maids, two servants, and one gardener. Right away.”
Sophy seemed stunned and asked in a trembling voice,
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Really. Go quickly.”
“Oh my goodness. I’m so happy you’re here! How did you manage to convince him?”
It was hard to answer, so I shrugged my shoulders.
“This mansion is going to change completely.”
The tutor of the Calypso family has special qualities.
