Chapter 3

The man in front of Eleanor was undoubtedly Duke Claven, who had hired her. Eleanor quickly greeted Logan after grasping the situation. However, Logan’s blue eyes, tinted by the lamp’s crimson light, held a question for the unknown person.

“I am Eleanor Hudson, hired as Miss Olivia’s tutor.”

“Oh, Miss Hudson. An unexpected meeting, but… nice to meet you. I’m Logan Claven.”

Logan, unconcerned with his sister’s disheveled appearance, tidied her hair and briefly kissed her temple to soothe her.

“You’re okay now, Olivia. Don’t cry.”

“Logan, Logaaaan…”

Olivia clung to Logan’s neck with her short arms, whimpering.

“I came out for a walk because I wasn’t feeling well, and heard a sound in the garden where I found Miss Olivia.”

Fearing he might think she had harmed Olivia, Eleanor hurriedly added an explanation.

“Olivia often sneaks out without the servants noticing. Don’t worry, there’s no misunderstanding.”

Logan shook his head and tucked Olivia’s messy hair behind her ear. Her thin, sweat-drenched hair was difficult to tidy with his large fingers, but he did his best.

“Has Mother gone out?”

“Yes, she hasn’t returned yet.”

Butler George, who had noticed the owner’s arrival, hurriedly ran out and answered his question. Eleanor quickly realized the situation was different from what she knew.

“Olivia was left alone in the room?”

“…Yes.”

George answered cautiously. Logan’s brow twitched with displeasure.

“So she hasn’t even met Miss Hudson?”

“She said she’d meet her after returning.”

“Sure.”

Logan sighed and muttered sarcastically. Olivia, who had been crying sadly, seemed reassured in her brother’s arms, her eyes now drooping.

“Tell the maids to prepare Olivia’s bathwater.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

George bowed and responded to Logan’s order before retreating. Eleanor quietly observed the series of events and turned to leave. Or tried to.

“Miss Hudson.”

“Yes?”

Logan’s low voice called Eleanor’s name. She turned to him with wide eyes in surprise.

“I apologize for not having a proper conversation until now.”

“No, Your Grace. I’m not someone who deserves special treatment.”

Eleanor replied with a formal smile.

“If you’re Olivia’s teacher, you deserve to be treated well.”

The response was unexpected. Logan’s voice was firm, insisting Eleanor shouldn’t belittle herself as Olivia’s teacher. Logan seemed to care deeply for his much younger sister.

“Please get in the car. It would be better to leave Olivia with the maids and have a conversation.”

Though she wanted to avoid being in an enclosed space with her employer, Eleanor had no reason to refuse Logan’s words. She cautiously followed Logan into the car. As she adjusted her skirt, she glanced at Logan, who was still comforting Olivia, whose face was buried in his neck, asleep.

Considering he was a soldier accustomed to hierarchy and had a somewhat sharp appearance, it was an unusual sight. It contrasted with the slightly spicy scent emanating from him. However, Logan’s actions in soothing the child seemed very familiar.

“Tell the maids to wash and put Olivia to bed. Make sure to watch her until she falls asleep, as she might suddenly run away.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“And please bring tea for Miss Hudson and me.”

Logan spoke as he entered the mansion, taking off his jacket and draping it over his arm. Although he was in a position more accustomed to giving orders, Logan naturally used the word “please.” It was far from the typical impression Eleanor had guessed.

“Miss Hudson, this way.”

Logan gestured as he opened the door to the drawing-room. Eleanor followed him closely.

“Sorry for the delayed conversation.”

It was already the second apology. It was different from what she thought, expecting him to suppress her with authority and power. She felt sorry for misunderstanding. Logan gestured to Eleanor’s seat. After sitting, Logan loosened his tie and unbuttoned his cuffs, rolling up his shirt sleeves a couple of times.

Though the atmosphere relaxed, the shirt wrapped around his arms was tight, and the rolled-up sleeves exposed thick veins on his wrists and hands.

He was a male Eleanor had never met before. A strange tension arose.

“I’m really alright, Your Grace.”

Eleanor swallowed hard. Just as she felt her seat was uncomfortable, a maid brought a teapot and cups.

“Thank you.”

Eleanor expressed her gratitude and carefully lifted her cup. Her movement was feather-like, without a sound. Logan’s gaze followed her actions meaningfully.

“I imagine you were surprised to meet Olivia unexpectedly.”

Logan calmly began the conversation. Since Olivia’s appearance, supposedly out with Cindy, was sudden, Eleanor didn’t deny she was startled.

“Whether you accepted the job knowing this or not, you’ll find out anyway, so I won’t hide it. Olivia is a bit different from ordinary people.”

Logan’s low voice made Eleanor blink in surprise. It was unexpected. Due to her old friend Lily from the Billwood Earldom introducing the job, Eleanor knew little about Olivia except her age, gender, and frail health.

“Mother is very ashamed of this fact.”

In Ledan, disabilities existed but were erased from society. In noble families proud of their lineage, it was even more so. Though unknown, it wasn’t uncommon for parents to starve or beat their children to death within the walls.

“She seems to plan to marry her off to anyone once she’s of age…”

Logan sighed softly.

“I don’t want a tutor who teaches how to express things with a fan in social circles.”

Cindy Claven was Logan’s stepmother. The former Duke Claven had died in an accident. Olivia was Logan’s sister but was Cindy’s biological daughter, only a half-sister.

“Olivia may seem dull usually, but she’s said to have strong focus on things she’s interested in.”

It meant Logan paid close attention to Olivia despite being busy with his own affairs.

“Since I entrusted the task of hiring a tutor to Mother, I don’t know much about you, Miss Hudson. But I hope you’re someone who doesn’t ignore Olivia and can discover and teach what she’s interested in.”

However, Logan seemed to genuinely cherish Olivia as his real sister.

“If you’re not confident in teaching Olivia, you may leave now. We won’t blame you for not informing you of the problem. I promise no harm will come, Miss Hudson.”

This was a test. By revealing Olivia’s condition, Logan gauged Eleanor’s reaction and expressed his intention to dismiss anyone who didn’t meet his standards. Even if Cindy Claven hired her, Logan Claven was the true master of the Duchy.

“Just remember, the Claven Duchy’s ears are everywhere.”

Logan leaned his elbow on the armrest and smiled. Goosebumps rose on her skin. Only his lips drew a curve; his coolly settled eyes weren’t smiling at all. Logan didn’t say more, but Eleanor could guess what he meant.

“I don’t want to hear malicious stories about Olivia crossing the Claven Duchy’s walls.”

The threat that he wouldn’t let anyone reveal his sister’s secret to those beyond the Duchy’s walls and make Olivia a target of ridicule was as sharp as a blade.

The pressure Eleanor felt when first facing Logan made her heart sink. Even though she hadn’t planned to gossip about Olivia, it did.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong with Miss Olivia.”

But she couldn’t appear frightened. Eleanor straightened her back and spoke. She had a reason to work at the Claven Duchy.

Moreover, there was no reason she couldn’t teach Olivia due to a disability. If Olivia truly had a disability, Eleanor wanted to teach her even more. It reminded her of her sibling who had vanished years ago.

“I don’t think Miss Olivia is different from ordinary people. Even if I’m fired for being unsatisfactory as a teacher, I won’t speak nonsense about Miss Olivia.”

At Eleanor’s response, Logan tilted his head slightly, assessing her. Eleanor felt like a rabbit before a lion, waiting for Logan to speak.

“Mother may not have intended, but it seems she found a good teacher for Olivia. Please take care of Olivia.”

It was done. Eleanor swallowed a sigh of relief.

“I’ll do my best since you’ve trusted me.”

Eleanor expressed her determination as calmly as possible.

“You may leave.”

Logan nodded once, indicating she could go. Eleanor bowed to Logan, her real employer, and quietly withdrew.

“Ha…”

As soon as she closed the door, a sigh of relief escaped her lips. But her heart was beating faster than usual.

Logan was a gentleman and didn’t treat or act aggressively towards women. But Eleanor wasn’t foolish enough not to understand his indirect expression that she must show trust through proper actions since he didn’t trust her.

He knew how to elegantly warn rather than destroy things and curse like Charles when drunk. That made him scarier. Eleanor thought so, glancing around the drawing-room before fleeing up the stairs.