Chapter 9
9
How long had I been eating absentmindedly?
Feeling full, I put down my utensils and let out a satisfied sigh.
'It's almost a shame to be full.'
Just then, Chelsea came in and cleared the trolley.
Meanwhile, I brushed my hair and changed into my activity clothes.
"The butler is waiting for you."
At her words, I widened my eyes and asked.
"Am I allowed to go out?"
I was referring to the confinement order Winston had given me yesterday.
Chelsea nodded.
"Yes, the knight will soon withdraw it as well."
'So the suspicion has disappeared.'
I swallowed a sigh of relief.
It was only natural that the suspicion would be lifted since I hadn't done anything to Vincent.
'But I was secretly anxious.'
Soon, I was led by Chelsea to Winston's room.
Mercedes Manor, seen on a clear morning, felt different from yesterday.
Yesterday, it had a more solemn and imposing atmosphere.
'So I thought, as expected of the Dark Power Family.'
But the manor under the warm sunlight felt warmer and more mysterious.
'They say a house usually resembles its owner.'
I thought of Khadien, whom I had encountered last night.
Silver-gray hair and pale skin that seemed to have absorbed only the dark parts of the moonlight, and...
'Purple eyes that didn't seem to feel any human emotion...'
The thought of those eyes made me shudder.
They were eyes that would have been more fitting for a doll or a corpse.
'He seemed much more human to the female lead.'
Hmm, is the expression 'human' even right?
Anyway, she clung and obsessed, so you could say she was emotional.
'Somehow, I can't quite imagine it.'
As expected, there was a big difference between seeing it in a book and seeing it in person.
In the meantime, Chelsea's steps came to a halt.
"This is it."
Then she knocked on the door.
"Butler, I have brought the teacher."
Then, instead of an answer, the door slid open.
Winston greeted me with a happy expression.
"Teacher, welcome. Did you have a peaceful night?"
It was as if nothing had happened last night.
I felt a little wronged, but I smiled as if nothing was wrong and replied.
"Yes, thanks to you. Breakfast was very delicious too."
This was sincerity multiplied by sincerity.
Then Winston smiled as if relieved and led me inside.
"Come in. Another teacher is already here."
"Ah."
'Finally, I get to meet her, the original tutor.'
Passing by Winston and entering the room, I could immediately spot an orange-haired back of the head sitting on the sofa.
But that back of the head... is it just my imagination?
'It looks familiar somehow?'
As I was staring blankly, wondering if it was just my imagination, Winston introduced me to the woman.
"Teacher, this is the new teacher I told you about."
Then the orange-haired, curly-haired woman stood up from her seat and turned to look at me.
The moment I saw her face, I froze on the spot.
'Anna Lever?'
Why are you here?
Anna Lever.
To explain the relationship between me and Anna Lever, I would have to go back a long time.
But it is also a relationship that can be summed up in one short sentence.
'The daughter of the creditor and the debtor.'
Furthermore,
'The main culprit who turned my life into a nightmare.'
Anna's cat-like eyes widened as much as I was surprised.
"Livia Plington?"
I stared at Anna, who spoke my name, with a cold gaze.
At that moment, Winston asked with a surprised expression.
"Do you two know each other?"
Before I could even answer, Anna jumped up from the sofa and suddenly hugged me tightly.
"Livia! I never thought I'd meet you in a place like this!"
"……!"
Did she eat something wrong?
I only rolled my eyes and looked down at the top of Anna's head, who was hugging me and burying her face in me.
Soon, Anna pulled away from me and looked at me with trembling eyes before turning to Winston.
"Livia and I have been friends since we were young. We even went to the Academy together."
"Oh, I see. What a coincidence. It must be fate."
"Yes, really..."
Trailing off, Anna looked at me.
Unlike her words that we were friends, only negative emotions swirled in her crimson eyes towards me.
Anna forced the corners of her lips up and smiled.
"It's a tenacious bond. Isn't it, Livia?"
That sly smile that only those who know, know.
I, who knew that smile better than anyone else, held my breath for a moment before smiling brightly and replying.
"I know. It's a really tenacious bond."
To the point of being sick and tired of it.
Anna and I were smiling at each other, but a strange atmosphere lingered.
Soon, following Winston's guidance, Anna and I sat side by side on the sofa.
We went straight to the point.
"I think it would be best to divide the class time into three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon."
I nodded. It was because having three hours of class each, with lunch in between, was the most efficient.
"Then I will..."
It was then.
"But, Butler, I'm worried."
Suddenly, Anna made a sweet voice and wore a worried expression.
Winston asked with a puzzled expression.
"Teacher Lever, what are you worried about?"
"Well~ As you know, Butler, Young master has a strong animosity towards tutors. Because of that, I haven't been able to conduct a proper class yet."
'Oh ho?'
Anna may not have intended it, but the information that she had not been able to conduct a proper class yet was fortunate news amidst misfortune.
Winston's expression darkened as he recalled the hardships of the past.
"Yes, that's right."
"Even I, who moved in first, haven't gotten close to Young master yet..."
Swish, Anna's gaze swept over me once.
A smile of certainty was on her lips.
'I can see right through what you're thinking.'
I was about to interject, but I stopped.
Because Anna wouldn't get the result she wanted anyway.
"I'm worried about whether Young master will accept a new tutor. Of course, I know how good Livia is, but the reality isn't so easy."
Anna covered her lips and wore a pitiful expression.
Seeing Anna's triumphant expression as if saying, 'You're done for,' I smiled instead.
"……?"
Just as Anna was feeling puzzled by my appearance, Winston said.
"You don't have to worry about that."
"……Yes?"
Anna blinked blankly at Winston's unexpected answer.
Winston's gaze turned to me for a moment.
A strange emotion dwelled in his eyes.
Soon, his gaze returned to Anna.
"Vincent Young master already knows Teacher Plington."
"Knowing and accepting are..."
"He has accepted her."
"……!!"
This time, Anna's eyes widened as if they would burst.
"Wh, what does that mean..."
Anna sent a look demanding an explanation, but Winston didn't bring up the matter any further.
I took advantage of Anna's dazed state and interjected.
"As Teacher Lever said, since there is a teaching method that Teacher Lever and Young master have been using, I think it would be good for me to take on the afternoon class in a way that I naturally join in."
"What? Wa, wait a minute!"
Anna, who belatedly came to her senses, tried to object to my opinion, but Winston was already nodding.
"Yes, I agree with Teacher Plington's opinion as well. Teacher Lever, are you okay with that?"
At Winston's question, I turned to look at Anna.
Although she was skilled at managing her expressions, it seemed that she was having difficulty hiding her expression this time, as she was biting her lower lip tightly.
I looked at Anna's face with a strange gaze before turning my head.
After deciding on the class schedule, subjects, and the frequency of progress reports, we were nearing the end.
"Classes will begin the day after tomorrow."
We were given plenty of time to prepare for the classes.
After the meeting, I was about to leave Winston's room when Winston suddenly called out to me.
"Teacher Plington, would you spare me some time?"
The first to react to those words was Anna, who was leaving the room.
Anna's head snapped around at Winston's words asking only me to spare him some time.
Her eyes were shaking wildly.
