I opened my mouth as soon as the door was completely closed. Thanks to meeting the only worthwhile candidate from yesterday until today, I was in high spirits.

“Your Grace, I think we should go with this person. He has a lot of experience handling children, can create a suitable plan for Elodie, speaks sincerely, and is handsome to boot. He’s just perfect…”

I was chattering excitedly when I inadvertently looked at Duke Baniche and immediately closed my mouth.

‘What’s this?’

It was because Duke Baniche was staring at the door with a completely expressionless face. In the past, I would have been confused about its meaning, but now I could understand. Right now, Duke Baniche is in a very uncomfortable state. As if to prove that my guess was correct, the Duke slowly shook his head.

“No.”

I opened my eyes wide. Although I had no intention of defending someone I had just met today if the Duke disliked him, I didn’t expect him to show such obvious dislike.

‘There wasn’t much reason to dislike him… What’s going on?’

Did I show too much surprise? The Duke didn’t even try to hide his displeasure as he immediately called for the next candidate.

“Come in.”

The candidate who entered hesitantly was far inferior to James Kist in every aspect. As soon as he left, not even lasting three minutes, I turned to the Duke.

“Your Grace, I think the candidate just before this one…”

“There’s still one more person left.”

The Duke retorted in a tense voice.

“Besides, I don’t like that fellow either. What does Miss Bertin find so good about a man who’s only decent in appearance but lacking in everything else?”

I opened my mouth, then closed it again. My mind went blank for a moment from the shock. What did this person just say…?

***

To cut to the chase, the interview ended successfully. Fortunately, the last candidate, ‘Tena Salamander’, was a perfect tutor without any flaws.

A middle-aged woman in her forties, all her experience was as a tutor. She had taught children from various social classes over the past ten years and had even lived abroad for a few years, so she seemed like she would be a good teacher for Elodie, who lacks a lot of experience.

‘Although today was tough, I’m glad we could find a good tutor. It’s a bit of a shame about Mr. Kist, though…’

Still, since James was also an outstanding individual, I thought he might end up working for the Duke’s family even if not as Elodie’s tutor. After all, hadn’t we seen several people yesterday and today who came aiming for positions in the Duke’s household rather than as a tutor?

“Your Grace, I’ll be taking my leave now.”

I briefly greeted the Duke.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Seeing the Duke’s gentle smile, it seemed his mood had completely improved thanks to Mrs. Salamander.

“It’s a shame we couldn’t choose the candidate Miss Bertin liked, but Mrs. Salamander is the right person for the job, so it can’t be helped.”

…Is he serious?

I suppressed the urge to keep casting suspicious glances and calmly replied.

“Not at all. I’m happy that Your Grace and I agree on a candidate. In fact, I think Mrs. Salamander is better suited as Elodie’s tutor.”

The reason for choosing Mrs. Salamander wasn’t just because of her experience and abilities. With a daughter already close to adulthood, she earnestly promoted herself, saying she understands well the growth process of young girls.

‘Yes, this is the kind of person I needed.’

Although Elodie seems to think of me as her mother, there was still a lot I didn’t know about raising a child completely as my own. And I couldn’t keep troubling Mrs. Devaka, who was already busy taking care of her own children. Mrs. Salamander would excellently fill in the gaps that I and Duke Baniche had.

“…As Elodie’s tutor, you say…”

The Duke frowned.

“Then does that mean there’s a better area for Kist?”

“Your Grace, what I mean is…”

The Duke waved his hand, not even trying to listen to my answer.

“It’s getting late. Didn’t you say you were leaving? Elodie must be waiting.”

I desperately wanted to reply, “That’s because Your Grace kept talking,” but I knew I had to discern what to say and what not to say to the Duke. I quietly nodded.

“Will you be joining us for dinner?”

The Duke hesitated for a moment.

“…I’m sorry, but it will be difficult today. I’d appreciate it if you could tell Elodie that I’ll definitely come tomorrow.”

“I understand. Then I’ll invite Mrs. Salamander for dinner. Personally, I’d like Elodie and her to become close quickly.”

“Is that so.”

The Duke spoke in a strangely bitter tone. As I seemed to understand the reason, I swallowed a sigh.

‘He thinks I’m going to hand Elodie over to a nanny or tutor and disappear.’

It wasn’t unreasonable. Hadn’t Count Jacob been earnestly worrying about me too? Asking if I was okay with spending all my youth raising Elodie. But…

‘Neither the Count nor the Duke knows what Elodie means to me.’

Until I met Elodie, my life was just about surviving. A respectable cafe owner. Even that dream was about earning money and making a living honestly as a young woman, not a dream I had for finding meaning in myself.

“Duke Baniche.”

I looked at him straight on. The Duke seemed a bit surprised but didn’t say anything.

“Let me tell you one thing. I won’t abandon Elodie. I absolutely won’t leave this place until Elodie no longer needs me.”

They were certainly words full of conviction when they came to mind, but as they left my mouth, the ends of my words trembled slightly. I bit my lip. This would only further diminish the Duke’s trust.

‘Get a grip, Aria Bertin! What if you completely lose the Duke’s trust and get kicked out, unable to stay by Elodie’s side?’

As I was scolding myself and trying to gather my thoughts, I heard the Duke say something.

“…I believe you.”

What?

I blinked and saw the Duke’s stiffly set face. A faint sigh escaped the Duke’s lips.

“I trust Miss Bertin, so there’s no need for that expression.”

What expression am I making right now?

As if he had read my thoughts exactly, the Duke shook his head.

“Seeing that face makes me feel like I’ve become the world’s worst villain.”

Confused by his incomprehensible words, I asked him back.

“What kind of face am I making?”

The Duke looked at me for a moment with a strange expression.

“A face you shouldn’t carelessly make in front of others.”

***

“Young lady, are you enjoying the story?”

“Yes!”

Elodie’s eyes sparkled as she lightly tapped the table with her small fist.

“Now, now.”

Mrs. Salamander gently admonished.

“No matter how happy you are, you shouldn’t hit the table. At times like this, you should clap your hands, like this.”

“Like this?”

Elodie tilted her head, then immediately imitated Mrs. Salamander, clapping twice.

“Yes. Well done.”

A broad smile spread across Elodie’s face. My worry that Elodie might be shy and not get along with Mrs. Salamander was short-lived. Elodie was quickly captivated by Mrs. Salamander’s skilled storytelling.

‘To think they’d become close so quickly.’

Mrs. Salamander smiled gently and spread several cards face down in front of Elodie.

“Since the young lady has followed my words so well, I’ll tell you another story this time. Now, please pick a card.”

Elodie stared at the cards for a long time. It was hard to understand what she was so earnestly choosing when only the black backs were visible.

“I’ll choose this one.”

“You’ve chosen well.”

Mrs. Salamander elegantly picked up the card and showed the front to Elodie.

“You’ve picked the sea.”

“The sea…”

Elodie touched the card.

“It’s all blue.”

“Yes. Have you ever been to the sea, young lady?”

“No.”

Elodie shook her head with a gloomy face.

“Is there really that much blue water? More than a big pond?”

“That’s right. The blue water stretches out to the end of the land.”

Elodie’s mouth fell open.

“There must be a lot of ships too.”

“Of course.”

Mrs. Salamander skillfully drew something in her notebook, and then showed it to Elodie. It was a large ship with a mast.

“They look completely different from the boats that float on rivers.”

“Have you been on one, teacher?”