We’re Going to Love Each Other Anyway
Wait, is he upset? Why?
I thought I lived a pretty decent life.
Past memories flashed through my mind. How carefully I had lived, trying to change the original story. Most of the time, I endured like a fool, only to die for absurd reasons. Even if he had some grudge in a past life, there’s no way he’d remember it now.
I had given Dave a name and promised to meet again in the next life, but honestly… I wasn’t confident I’d remember Dave. Looking back on my previous lives, I knew I wouldn’t. There were faces I had once hated bitterly and others I had loved desperately. But now, I had forgotten them all.
“Sepiana, what is the duke saying? Did you really help the young master that day?” The butler asked me, looking flustered.
“Well.”
At this point, there was no reason to hide it anymore.
“As you already know, young master is very smart. If he meets the right environment and a suitable tutor, he will grow into a fine head of the Everet family.”
Thankfully, the butler had seen over the past few days how well Dave, who was as prickly as a cat, had begun to follow me.
“If you trust me, I won’t disappoint you. As I said when you first brought me to the main house, I’m good at everything. So, I’m confident I can do well this time too.”
Thinking about it, it wasn’t a bad offer for me—in fact, it was an excellent one. Being a tutor would allow me to stay close to Dave, which is much better than being a maid.
I’ll become Dave’s tutor. In other words, I’d gain the authority to educate the male lead. Raising him properly was a crucial point in changing the original story. This was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. Although I was a little uneasy about Duke Richard, who had suddenly inserted himself into the situation…
Come to think of this, he’s been quietly helping me all along, hasn’t he?
I glanced over at Richard.
He doesn’t exactly have the vibe of a villain. Maybe this was what they called a ‘face buff.’. He was too good-looking to be used as a despicable villain like Viscount Rawls. If I didn’t know the original story, I might have mistaken him for the male lead.
“Even if you don’t trust the maid, you can trust my judgment, right, Butler?” Richard addressed the butler. “Now that my family is guarding him, the education of the young count is no longer someone else’s business to me.”
“…Yes, I suppose that’s true.” The butler’s face was still full of concern.
“Trust my judgment. At least within the capital, no one will be able to touch Everet.”
As Richard said this, his expression brightened.
“We would be honored if Your Grace helps us.”
Even if the butler didn’t trust me, he couldn’t help but trust Richard. Moreover, the actual authority of the Everet family is now held by Richard. Even the butler had to follow his words.
“I will entrust all matters related to the young master’s education to Your Grace. If young master grows to be as outstanding as you, I could ask for nothing more.”
With Richard involved, everything was becoming easier. Every time he intervened, things seemed to go smoothly. But there was still one thing…
Richard is definitely helping me.
Why was he helping me? That was the only question that remained unanswered.
“Alright, then let’s take the young count to my townhouse in the capital,” Richard said, looking around the Everet mansion. “He’ll learn much more there than in this small estate out in the countryside.”
Huh? Richard’s townhouse? I barely had time to wonder what he meant before he added.
“It’ll also be more advantageous for him when he eventually steps into high society.” Richard’s gaze landed on me. “And of course, it will be more beneficial for this Sepiana as well.”
What did he say?
I could accept becoming a tutor, but that was under the assumption I’d stay in this mansion.
“Isn’t that where Your Grace resides?”
If he meant what I thought, then Richard, Dave, and I would all have to live together! And obviously, I would have to stay by Dave’s side as well!
“This place was too stifling for you anyway, wasn’t it?”
At this point, I began to wonder what exactly Richard thought of me. Unless he somehow knew my past, why was he overestimating me so much?
“No, Your Grace.” I quickly shook my head. “The young master is still very young, and such a sudden change in environment might not be good for him. He’s never even been to the capital before.”
Being a tutor was one thing, but living with the mysterious Duke Richard was another. Had I known this would happen, I never would have agreed!
“It would be best if he stayed here until he turns fifteen…”
“Sepiana.”
But Richard cut me off.
“Your young master isn’t as young as you think.”
“…What?”
“He’s only about ten years younger than you, isn’t he?”
Why was he bringing this up all of a sudden? I couldn’t understand what he was getting at.
“Don’t you think you should be more aware? This is a world where even a couple of hundred years of age difference can lead to love.”
A couple of hundred years of age difference falling in love? Wait, did he just say love? Was he implying something romantic between me and Dave?
Does he think this is some kind of reverse age-gap romance? I was too flabbergasted to even be outraged.
“I don’t know what Your Grace is thinking, but between young master and me—” But I couldn’t finish my sentence.
“Hey, kid. You heard all that, didn’t you?”
Richard turned his gaze to Dave, who was standing nearby. I could feel the tension between them.
“You’ll be heading to the capital tomorrow, so go pack your things. With your own hands.”
“Hmph!” Dave scoffed and turned away after Richard’s cold command.
I had always thought of Dave as a grumbling kitten, but I didn’t expect him to have such a bold side.
“See? All that shy behavior in front of you was just an act.” Richard shrugged and spoke to me.
As if it wasn’t enough for an adult and a kid to fight, now the current strongest and future male lead are at it.
This novel is really going off the rails. All I could do was shake my head quietly.
I had barely managed to fend off Viscount Rawls, who was trying to swallow up the Everet family, and now Richard had entered the scene. What was going to happen next?
* * *
And so, we left the Everet mansion and headed to the capital.
“We have the dignity of the Everet family to uphold, so make sure not to cause any trouble. Everyone, move quickly and efficiently.”
The butler, who had come along with us, looked extremely busy from day one. He had to manage all the servants who had followed Dave from the Everet estate.
“Butler, is there really nothing I can do to help? Should I at least move some of the luggage we brought from the Everet mansion?”
“No, no. Tutor, feel free to rest and explore the mansion.” But the butler waved his hands in refusal, even calling me ‘tutor’ now instead of addressing me like the other servants.
“But our young master, I mean, Count Everet himself is carrying his own luggage.”
Ever since Richard appeared, everything had been a series of abrupt and baffling moments. But among all of them, this situation was the most confusing. Why won’t they let me lift a finger? Since we arrived, I hadn’t been allowed to do anything.
“Ah, I heard they’ve prepared a special art gallery for you. How about going to take a look?”
“…Huh? An art gallery?”
What kind of conversation had taken place between Richard and the butler?
“What kind of art gallery?”
“It’s behind the greenhouse. Just follow the rose garden path.” The butler occasionally gave cryptic smiles and remarks like this.
An art gallery?
But with everyone else so busy, I couldn’t ask anyone for more details.
Isn’t this making things more complicated?
I couldn’t just stand around doing nothing.
Sigh, at least it’s better than being sold off to Viscount Rawls.
After a brief moment of hesitation, I headed toward the greenhouse. Walking through the lavish rose garden, I eventually opened the door to a hidden room.
Huh?
Inside the dimly lit room, there was a single painting illuminated by a small light.
“What is this…?”
It was a painting of a blonde woman standing, looking out at the sea. The sea… Without realizing it, I found myself staring at the painting for a long time.
“It’s one of my favorite paintings.”
A voice came from behind me.
“Do you know where that sea is?”
It was Duke Richard.
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