She intentionally arrived a little early today, but she seemed to have missed the mark by a hair’s breadth. On the table were the untouched tea set and Rosaline’s teacup. In other words, Duke Levi attended Rosaline’s class quietly.
“Is this child making a distinction between a protagonist and a supporting role?”
Elena was well aware that theology was the subject Duke Levi hated the most, so she wasn’t particularly shocked. Having read Duke Levi’s theology class schedule in a book, Elena understood his feelings.
Throughout the class, Sister Genevieve used her peculiar and nagging tone to point out Duke Levi’s shortcomings. No, it was more like she scolded him as if he were not an eight-year-old child, but a grown adult.
When Duke Levi couldn’t answer a question, she would chastise him, saying, “How do you not know this yet?” and teach using advanced words that were difficult for a young child to understand.
If the previous teachers had taught like Sister Genevieve, it would have been natural for Duke Levi to feel a sense of rebellion.
Sister Genevieve taught according to Duke Levi’s dignity, but he was only eight years old. How could he listen when she scolded him without consoling or comforting him? It was incredibly frustrating to read the book.
Thinking various thoughts, Elena smiled as she looked at the empty seat on the opposite side. If he doesn’t come, then thank goodness.
Looking at Elena, Ilya cautiously spoke up.
“Um, Sister.”
“Is the Duke’s health deteriorating again?”
“Well, um… ”
If she gives another excuse about not feeling well, Elena might immediately come to the sickbed. Worried about that, Ilya couldn’t say anything.
“I’ll sit a little longer and then go up.”
There was nothing particularly important to do in the room right away. Still, she felt that sitting for the duration of a lesson would alleviate some guilt about receiving a salary.
“Ilya, may I ask for a cup of tea?”
“S-sure.”
From Elena’s perspective, it was just a request due to boredom. But Ilya perceived it slightly differently.
‘Does it mean that she will wait for the Duke until she finishes her cup of tea?’
Ilya’s face fell as she reluctantly gave her the cup of tea. Afterward, she was embarrassed and unable to stay seated, pacing in and out of the parlor, stopping by the kitchen where dinner was being prepared, and ordering servants to do their work.
Meanwhile, Elena sat in her usual seat and only drank the tea. And when the regularly scheduled lesson time had almost passed, she quietly stood up from her seat. Ilya, who saw that, hastily approached her.
“Will you continue to do this in the future?”
Isn’t that how it should be. Elena asked.
“….”
Once again, Ilya had no answer. It was a silence that signified consent.
“I hope His Highness will come tomorrow.”
Elena uttered those words and went up to her room.
As she threw herself on the bed with the snug comforter, Elena smiled happily. She endured another day like this. Just the thought of leisurely melting away her fatigue in the bathtub attached to the bedroom tonight made her burst into laughter.
On the other hand, Ilya’s face darkened as she watched Elena’s back going up the stairs.
Telling lies to Lord Shin was truly painful. Somehow, it felt like Lady Rahan would punish me severely. Moreover, when I had to tell Duke Levi, who appeared so kind and generous, that Lord Duke Liva was sick, it felt like a needle pricked my throat.
Having confirmed Elena’s entrance into the room, Ilya quickly made her way to Duke Levi’s bedroom located on the third floor.
Knock, knock.
“Your Highness, it’s Ilya.”
As she opened the door and entered, she saw Duke Levi reading a book with a plump face on the bed. The book he was engrossed in was the Dragon and Warrior series.
“Once again, she returned to her room while waiting.”
“It seems like she has quite a dense head, don’t you?”
“Oh, Your Highness. Until then…”
Ilya asked with a tearful voice, and then Duke Levi’s gaze sharpened as he glared at her.
“I won’t attend theology classes anymore!”
“But, but…”
“Every time, the dull and tedious scriptures are filled with nonsensical words that don’t make any sense, and when I dare to ask questions to understand them, they look at me as if I’m pathetic.”
Duke Levi shuddered. The faces of the various priests who had ignored him came to mind, and Duke Levi burst out in laughter.
“Sitting there to learn such things is a waste of time, a waste of time!”
The priests never had anything good to say. The new priests who arrived this time were no different.
If I refuse to attend classes like this for a few more days, I will be excommunicated. They were the kind of people whose faces turned pale or flushed with anger at the slightest disrespect, chanting blasphemy.
“Ah, Your Highness!”
Although there shouldn’t be anyone else in the duke’s bedroom, Ilya constantly looked around.
“But if you continue to refuse to attend classes like this, you will surely receive a punishment…”
“Me? From whom?”
Duke Levi is the only younger brother of the Emperor. No one dared to provoke him. Duke Levi, who knew it well, had no fear.
“If His Imperial Majesty finds out, won’t he be angry…?”
At the mention of His Imperial Majesty, Duke Levi’s small shoulders twitched. But after a moment, Duke Levi, who proudly sniffed and snorted, unfolded a book and spoke again.
“My brother is busy. He probably doesn’t even care what I’m learning.”
His brother, who ruled over the Great Ifern Empire, didn’t pay any attention to his young brother. Burying his nose in the bookshelf again, Duke Levi puffed up his cheeks.
“But, Your Grace. The Duke is so scared of His Majesty…”
There was no one in the palace who didn’t know about Duke Levi, who trembled in fear whenever he saw the emperor. When his condition was mentioned, Duke Levi flared up in anger, as if he had been stabbed in a sore spot.
“I’m hungry! My mouth is bored! Bring me something to eat!”
“But dinner will be served soon…”
Ilya tried to argue, but there was no way she could win. She quickly had to leave the Duke’s room, shrinking under his even more intimidating gaze, and hunched her shoulders.
There was nothing sweeter than a cake to calm Duke Levi’s anger. Although she knew that ordering a cake for the duke before the meal would lead to a scolding from Jake, the tired cook in the palace kitchen, who could resist the powerless nursemaid? She walked briskly toward the palace kitchen.
As Ilya turned the last corner to enter the kitchen, he heard the voices of apprentice chefs working under Jake.
“Duke Levi made the new instructor suffer again today.”
“Again today? Oh, poor instructor. He used to at least attend the lessons regularly.”
“It seems like this new instructor really annoys Duke Levi.”
Indeed. It seemed that the rumor of Duke Levi refusing the theology lessons spread quickly in the palace. Ilya purposely cleared his throat and made a fake coughing sound as he entered the kitchen.
“I-Ilya!”
Two servant girls engaged in a conversation and lowered their heads towards Ilya with frightened expressions. Although Ilya appeared perpetually weak in front of Duke Levi, as his nursemaid, her authority was not insignificant.
“Bring me a piece of cake to give to His Highness.”
But Ilya did not scold the maids who couldn’t stand up straight. The eyes of the maids, who thought they would receive a severe reprimand, widened.
“What’s the matter? Hurry up.”
“Yes, yes. Miss Ilya!”
One maid with neatly tied brown hair swiftly ran into the kitchen. Ilya inwardly let out a sigh while observing her retreating figure.
The reason she didn’t scold the maid children was not only because she knew they didn’t spread their words recklessly, but also because, more than anything else, even Ilya herself had nothing to say this time.
If it were a case like when they attended classes and caused trouble, dismissing the theology teacher, it would be understandable. But in the current situation where he completely refused theology classes, not only these two maids but the entire palace was sure to be in an uproar soon.
“Whom should I blame…”
The Duke, who had been an orphan at a young age, felt endlessly lonely and bitter. Moreover, after nearly being killed by intruders in the middle of the night, he developed a condition that made him averse to people.
Having gone through such experiences, nursemaid Ilya also had a tendency to be lenient and weak towards Duke Levi. Furthermore, because of his status as the sole blood relative of the emperor, no one could act recklessly towards the duke, which further worsened the situation.
Ilya’s shoulders were tense as she received a slice of cake from the maid and headed towards Duke Levi’s bedroom.
“I hope this passes without incident…….”
