Seven years ago, when 3-year-old Vincent had just arrived at Mercedes.

Though he was just a baby then, Vincent still has clear memories of that time.

Cardien brought Vincent in without informing anyone, acting on his own.

And before anyone could stop him, he immediately announced Vincent as his heir.

Everyone from the branch families to the elders was thrown into uproar, and they stormed into Mercedes like a tidal wave.

Agen Sanjes, the head of the Council of Elders, was their leader.

He strongly opposed Cardien.

Pointing at tiny Vincent, he shouted that they couldn’t make some rat of unknown origin the heir to Mercedes.

Winston hurriedly covered Vincent’s ears and left the place, but it had already become one of the memories Vincent would never forget.

Afterwards, whenever he encountered Vincent, he would glare with eyes full of contempt and disgust.

After learning that Vincent couldn’t tell anyone, he began to openly spew words of curse.

To Vincent, Wigen was an existence worse than a nightmare.

Therefore, on days when Wigen visited the Mercedes mansion, Vincent would stay still in his room with Winston’s help.

For fear of encountering him.

But now, of all times, to face that nightmare.

And in this manner.

Vincent trembled while tightly clutching Livia’s notebook in his hand.

His appearance was like that of a young mouse caught in a trap.

Wigen clicked his tongue again.

‘To think someone like this is the heir to Mercedes.’

A contemptuous gaze scorned Vincent.

Over the trembling figure of Vincent, the image of a young Cardien overlapped.

Vincent and Cardien resembled each other in many ways.

The one difference was that Cardien wasn’t recognized by Mercedes until he became the head, while Vincent was fortunate enough to become the heir right away.

A worm-like fellow with a body of unknown origin who forced his way in, claiming to be of Mercedes blood and eventually seized the position of family head.

While the branch families and other elders gradually began to acknowledge Cardien, Wigen could never, even if it cost him his life, recognize Cardien as the head of Mercedes.

Even if it meant staking his entire life, which he had devoted to Mercedes and risen to the position of head of the Council of Elders, he would drive out those vermin from Mercedes!

‘This is good.’

A bitter smile formed on Wigen’s lips as he looked down at Vincent.

All this time, whenever he appeared, Vincent would hide here and there, so they never had a chance to meet.

Since they’ve encountered each other like this, it would be good to make him know his place.

Wigen’s lips parted.

“Utterly pathetic.”

Flinch.

At the coldly flowing voice, Vincent trembled and slowly raised his head.

Wigen spoke with an openly contemptuous expression.

“To think that someone who lives as a parasite on Mercedes can’t even properly fulfill the duties they should!”

“….”

“Imperial Academy.”

“…!”

Vincent’s eyes widened at the words ‘Imperial Academy.’

In contrast, Wigen’s eyes narrowed.

“It’s not like much was expected, but to think you can’t even attend school and are instead shut away at home like this.”

“T-That’s…”

“Well, I suppose it would be difficult to adapt to a place that doesn’t suit your origins from the start. Still, if you had any sense of shame, shouldn’t you have died trying at the academy rather than giving up?”

“….”

“I heard you even drove away all your tutors. Not knowing your place.”

“….”

“No doubt this tutor, that woman, won’t last long either before running away. Livia Pellington, was it?”

“…!”

When the name ‘Livia Pellington’ was mentioned, Vincent looked up at Wigen with widened eyes.

A flash of defiance gleamed in his eyes.

‘Oh?’

This was the first time Vincent had looked at Wigen like this.

A rat daring to not know its place!

“Do you really think that woman stays with you because she likes you? What a grand delusion. That woman is just parasitizing on the ducal family-“

But Wigen couldn’t continue.

Vincent, who had suddenly rushed forward, butted Wigen with his head like a bull.

Caught off guard, Wigen stepped back.

Vincent raised his head sharply and cried out with tear-filled eyes.

“D-Don’t insult my tutor!”

“…What?”

Wigen’s expression turned grim.

But Vincent didn’t back down and glared back at Wigen.

That properly triggered Wigen’s temper.

“You… lowly thing…!”

Just the fact that Vincent dared to defy him made Wigen unable to contain his anger.

He raised his hand high.

And just as he was about to bring it down in one swift motion.

Swish-!

Thud!

His hand struck a suddenly appearing dark brown head.

Wigen’s expression showed surprise at the unexpected appearance.

Then…

“What… do you think you’re doing?”

Between the disheveled dark brown hair, amber eyes, frozen with coldness, gleamed fiercely.

***

‘This… trash.’

I glared at Wigen with murderous eyes while tightly embracing Vincent.

My jaw trembled from clenching my teeth so hard.

I could see Wigen flinch slightly at my appearance.

I looked down at Vincent, who was trembling in my arms.

‘Fortunately, he doesn’t seem to be hurt…’

He must have been quite shocked, as his eyes were bloodshot.

“T-Tutor Via…?”

“Yes, it’s me. Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”

Nod, nod.

Vincent nodded slightly and looked up at me with trembling eyes.

Then, drop.

Shedding a tear, he asked.

“Are you okay, Tutor? T-That…”

Vincent couldn’t continue, but he seemed to have realized that I had been hit.

I deliberately smiled brightly and answered.

“Of course, I’m fine. As long as Vincent isn’t hurt.”

“Sob…”

When I gently patted his head, Vincent shed tears.

He seemed unable to control his emotions.

I slowly stood up.

And turned to Wigen.

When our eyes met, he flinched slightly.

“…No matter.”

“….”

“No matter if you are the head of the Council of Elders, to try to use violence against the young duke who will lead Mercedes in the future. You know better than anyone that this isn’t a matter that can be easily overlooked.”

My voice was so cold that even I was surprised.

But just thinking about what might have happened if I hadn’t realized I’d left my notebook behind makes me feel like my insides are being torn apart.

“I will report this matter to His Grace the Duke.”

It’s frustrating that even for a warning, I have to borrow Cardien’s name, but this was the maximum measure I could take as a tutor.

Wigen is too big a figure for me to meddle with on my own.

‘It’s infuriating, but Cardien has changed.’

He might not have cared before, but the current Cardien is different.

The current Cardien would take appropriate measures.

‘First, let’s take Vincent to a safe place.’

Continuing this situation would only cause fear for Vincent.

Just as I was about to take Vincent’s hand and move away.

“How dare a mere tutor lecture me!”

Wigen shouted angrily.

I slowly turned to him.

Wigen was glaring at me with blazing eyes.

I had tried my best to suppress my anger when speaking, but even that seemed to have offended Wigen.

He pointed at Vincent and exclaimed.

“You’re just a temporary nanny for that cowardly rat! Try as hard as you want to teach him. Base blood doesn’t change.”

“….”

I stared at him, feeling my blood slowly cooling.

“You seem quite arrogant, trusting in the Duke, do you perhaps want to take the position of Duchess?”

He sneered.

“How foolish. Do you truly believe that man is the rightful master of Mercedes?”

Even without saying directly, I could tell who he was referring to.

He was looking at me with a face full of contempt.

I slowly parted my lips.

“Then, who do you think is the true master of Mercedes, Head of the Council?”

My emotionless voice settled heavily.

“I can’t reveal that to an outsider.”

“I see. But…”

Trailing off, I smiled sharply at him.

Wigen frowned.

Did you think I wouldn’t know your true intentions?

Head of the Council of Elders, Wigen Sanjes.

The first person to lead the betrayal against Cardien when he fell into ruin.

A big figure?

‘Give me a break.’

He was the one who kept provoking first.

“This outsider would like to say just one thing.”

I smiled sweetly and spoke.

“Even if Mercedes were to lose its master, you would never get your hands on it. So don’t indulge in such gut-wrenching greed.”

“…!!”

Wigen’s eyes widened.

He glared at me with trembling eyes.

In contrast, I bowed my head to him with a more relaxed attitude than ever.

“Then I’ll be going now. Let’s go, young duke. His Grace is waiting.”

“Ah, y-yes…”

“Stop right there…!”

Wigen shouted hysterically from behind, but I walked straight ahead, holding Vincent’s hand tightly.

However, as soon as we turned the corner, my legs gave out and I almost collapsed.

Leaning against the wall to barely support my body, I pressed down on my pounding chest.

‘I-I went too far.’

I had intended to avoid provoking Wigen if possible, but in the heat of the moment, I ended up provoking him without realizing it.

‘But he started it first…!’

How could I stay calm when he was insulting both Cardien and Vincent right in front of me?

‘Yes, I did the right thing.’

Anyway, Wigen probably won’t pose an immediate threat to me.