Hestia told him that he would try it out for about a week before deciding whether or not to continue tutoring her. Melvin thought for a moment and ultimately decided to accept her offer.
There were several reasons for this decision. Firstly, he was surprised that a ten-year-old girl, rather than an agent or servant, had come directly to him. The offer of a cabin was also appealing, making him hesitate. At the time, the Frost family and Byron were gaining a reputation, and he was curious about what kind of people they were.
Eventually, Melvin stayed with the Frost family for just a month, with mixed feelings of suspicion and curiosity.
The salary, the new cabin, and the atmosphere in Byron all matched his ideals.
But more than that, what truly captivated him was none other than Hestia.
“I’ve taught many children, but I’ve never encountered anyone like Hestia.”
Having been a teacher for a long time, he had encountered prodigies, troublemakers, and future great figures among his students.
But Hestia was different from all of them.
Melvin appreciated her not for her grades but for the person she was. She was wise beyond her age, mature, and had a genuine sense of humanity that set her apart from the nobles. It was the kind of humanity everyone should have. And Hestia had that.
Even though he had helped many talented people, he had long stopped feeling any attachment to them. They saw him as a way to get ahead, just like he viewed them as a means to boost his own reputation.
And it wasn’t just Hestia; the entire Frost household shared a similar atmosphere.
It was fascinating to see a harmonious noble family, unlike the usual static aristocratic households.
He found himself thinking, “This is what family is.”
He understood Hestia’s desire to be with her family, and he felt honored to be part of their lives.
To Melvin, Hestia was his most cherished student, almost like his own beloved granddaughter.
Even though he could only teach her for five years because she would soon assist Derrick, he felt he understood what she wanted to express now.
“Are you curious about what you need to be careful about moving forward?”
“That’s right. Is there anything I should be cautious about as a guardian?”
“Well, since you’re quite clever and capable, I don’t have much advice to give you…”
“I’m not overly worried about that part. But just because I’m doing well doesn’t mean I’m fulfilling my duties as a guardian.”
Melvin blinked for a moment, then broke into a hearty laugh.
“Haha! Just approach people sincerely, like you’ve done with others, and act accordingly. People will naturally follow you. Just look around Byron; there are many who cherish and follow you.”
Flattered by the praise, Hestia scratched her cheek, blushing.
“But… adapting to a new place is another matter. How was the Duke’s household when you visited?”
“Um… other than being a bit larger, it was no different from any typical noble household.”
It had the usual air of formality, with servants taking pride in their work, completing their tasks well but keeping their distance.
If the Frosts had a family-like atmosphere, the Duke’s household was strictly divided between public and private matters.
“Of course, I may have only seen a small part of it. And since it was larger than most noble families…”
“It’s a perfect place for cockroaches to hide.”
“What should I do? Should I eliminate the pests right from the start?”
“Leave them be.”
“What?”
“The current owner of the granary is absent. The new owner will be too busy inspecting other areas to pay attention to the pests, allowing them to flourish.”
On the table, crumbs of cookies attracted ants and flies.
“And there might be a variety of pests, too. The dog that used to guard the granary might even be one of those pests.”
Initially, the pests hovered around the crumbs warily, but soon, they seemed to relax and began to feast on them.
“Wait, wait, wait.”
In addition to the two insects, more began to gather gradually.
“After waiting for a while—”
Melvin flipped a glass over to cover the crumbs.
Startled, the insects scrambled to escape, but they were already trapped under the glass.
“You can catch them all at once.”
“Whoa…”
The two shared a knowing glance, narrowing their eyes in understanding.
“To harvest something bigger, you need a time of patience.”
“You truly are a master, aren’t you? I was short-sighted.”
“Getting things done quickly is good, but you might miss something important without realizing it, so keep that in mind.”
“Yes, Master.”
“And one more thing.”
Melvin lifted the glass he had placed over the crumbs. An ant that had been clinging to the glass hurriedly made its way out.
Melvin watched to see where the ant would go.
The ant crawled down the table, around the floor, and into a small hole.
“Sometimes, leaving a gap can help eliminate the root cause altogether.”
The small hole led directly to an ant nest. Pouring water into it would likely wipe out the ants entirely.
“Just like weeds; it’s best to pull them out rather than cut them.”
“Exactly. You truly are my prized student.”
This was the most crucial advice for Hestia.
Before coming here, she had realized that there was a spy from Count Humphrey in the Duke’s household.
“Your words are true. I shouldn’t rush.”
If she stirred things up right from the start, she might end up not only failing to catch the spy but also earning the disdain of loyal members of the Duke’s household.
For now, if she intentionally created gaps, her opponent would likely let their guard down and fall into her trap.
“And this might just be my old worry…”
Hestia looked up.
“Be cautious of the Imperial Family.”
“Pardon? The Imperial Family?”
“If you take on the role of guardian, you’ll naturally become connected to the Imperial Family. Generally, there shouldn’t be any major issues, but don’t trust them completely. I know you won’t let your guard down easily, but still…”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
The Imperial Family. Was there something happening between Winston and them?
But Winston was more likely to be close to the Imperial Family than to oppose them.
“Or perhaps you’re worried about interference from the Imperial Family?”
If that was the case, it made sense.
Currently, only collateral families could qualify as guardians, and since Count Humphrey had caused trouble before her return, it made sense for her to be cautious of them.
But many would be eager to covet the now-empty Duke’s household without a master.
If she looked at it from a broader perspective, the Imperial Family was indeed a potential target of interest.
“Thank you, Master. This advice is truly helpful.”
“I’m glad my old wisdom has aided you. Honestly, I have no worries at all.”
“Excuse me?”
“The little girl who barged into my home and boldly asked me to be her teacher is you. I don’t think someone like you will be intimidated by the local customs there.”
It was hard to tell if that was a compliment or an insult, and Hestia blinked in confusion.
“Hahaha! Just do what you want! If you could convince me at ten, you’ll do just fine!”
Seeing her teacher laugh heartily, Hestia couldn’t help but chuckle as well.
* * *
“Isn’t this enough? I think I’ve been decorated enough.”
Hestia looked at Anna and the maid, who were both preoccupied with grooming her. They were so focused on making her look presentable.
“Come on, today is your day!”
“Ah! Miss, don’t move! Your hair will get messed up!”
Sighing, Anna glanced at her daughter, who was pouting in annoyance.
“Ugh, at this rate, I wonder if you’ll ever get married.”
“…Why are we suddenly talking about marriage?”
“This is the most crucial time for you! You’re suddenly going to be a guardian to a young noble! And it seems like you have no interest in love or marriage at all, which is why I’m saying this!”
“Ah! Mom! That hurts!”
Hestia twisted away from the sudden slap that came out of nowhere.
“If I had known it would be like this, I would have just arranged your engagement with Sir Luciard back then.”
“Ugh, that’s a terrible idea.”
“Terrible? What do you mean? It seems marrying young is the trend these days!”
“If I had actually been engaged back then, I’d probably be stuck in a situation where I couldn’t choose either way. I wouldn’t even be able to become a guardian!”
“That’s exactly my point! Your father shouldn’t have pushed you like that, but rather prevented you from getting involved! I should have been the one there!”
“…Are you saying you don’t want me to be a guardian? Or are you worried that I won’t get married?”
“Of course, it’s both!”
It was like she had been feeling the pressure of marriage ever since she came of age, and now that she was a guardian, it seemed to have ramped up even more.
“Every time, it always comes back to marriage,” Hestia thought, feeling like she would get used to it at this rate. Yet she couldn’t help but understand her mother’s concerns.
The typical marrying age is around 18 to 23. Being a guardian is an honorable position, but as long as she holds that title, marrying would be complicated. It might even seem like she was colluding with her spouse to take over the Winston Duke’s estate.
“…Mom’s just worried.”
Hestia was startled when she saw her mother, Anna, looking in the mirror with a sad expression.
“Mom, are you crying…?”
Anna’s eyes glistened with tears. “You’re still my baby, and sending you off to the Duke’s estate alone is weighing heavily on me.”
“Ah…”
Despite all the scolding and shouting, it all stemmed from her mother’s concern.
“If I could, I’d follow you myself.”
“Come on! Who would look after the kids? Do you really think Dad can handle all those little troublemakers alone?”
“…What if we all moved to the Duke’s estate together, leaving Dad here?”
“Absolutely not! Count Humphrey or Lord Harbor would use that to their advantage. They’d treat me as if I couldn’t manage without adult supervision, and I’d be constantly under their thumb.”
“…”
“Mom, who am I?”
With a grin, Hestia bared her teeth at Anna.
“I’m Hestia Frost, the eldest daughter of Anna Frost!”
She had raised three younger siblings for twelve years alone in an alternate timeline. That meant she had the ability to adapt quickly, even in unfamiliar surroundings.
“Are you sad that I’m leaving? Yet you keep bringing up marriage,” Hestia teased.
“Marriage and this situation are entirely different.”
“I think if I do get married, Mom, you’ll cry more than Dad.”
“…Are you teasing me now?”
“Ah, you caught me!”
Seeing her daughter giggle, Anna momentarily felt a mix of disbelief and amusement, then reached out to stroke Hestia’s face.
Memories flashed through her mind—holding her daughter for the first time, witnessing her first steps, and the day they introduced her to Derrick.
“When did you grow up so fast?”
Her precious daughter, Tia, was now stepping forward with confidence, ready to face the world without her parents’ help. It was both commendable and bittersweet.
