In fact, what’s important now isn’t Wigen.

I lowered my gaze.

Vincent, tightly holding my hand, was trembling with a pale face.

‘Vincent…’

Seeing such a small child trembling in fear was more painful than I had imagined.

‘He must have been so scared.’

Knowing how terrifying Wigen was to Vincent made me even more concerned.

‘It’s all my fault.’

If I hadn’t left my notebook behind, this wouldn’t have happened.

My mouth tasted bitter with self-reproach.

I deliberately composed my expression and bent my knees.

When our eyes met, his ruby-colored eyes wavered unsteadily.

“Vincent.”

At my soft call, Vincent flinched and looked at me.

Looking steadily at his teary red eyes, I said.

“I’m sorry.”

“….”

“I should have come sooner.”

Vincent shook his head vigorously.

His neatly combed silver hair had already become disheveled.

Clutching my clothes tightly, Vincent hastily exclaimed.

“It’s not Tutor Via’s fault!”

“Vincent…”

“Rather, b-because of me, you…”

“….”

Vincent sobbed as if he would burst into tears at any moment.

I looked at him with sympathetic eyes.

This reality is too burdensome for a mere 10-year-old child.

At an age when he should only receive love, it’s not easy to bear such explicit and n*ked hostility.

‘As much as I’d like to hide him away completely…’

That’s not something I can do.

And it wouldn’t be for Vincent’s benefit either.

‘Is this the fate of Mercedes?’

It seems that both Cardien, the current Duke, and Vincent, the future Duke, have too many hardships to overcome simply because they inherited the blood of Mercedes.

For me, who only thinks about changing their futures, their reality hits too heavily.

‘What can I do for him?’

What can I, as a tutor, do for this small child standing so precariously?

I was thinking this when…

“I wondered what was happening when you didn’t come.”

Startled by the sudden voice above my head, I turned around.

“Ca… Your Grace?”

I almost reflexively called out his name, but quickly corrected myself.

He scoffed softly and said.

“Why don’t you just call me by my name, tutor? You’ve already done so plenty.”

“Ahem.”

Feeling awkward, I cleared my throat.

As if he wouldn’t frown if I actually called him ‘Cardien.’

No, more importantly.

“What brings Your Grace here…?”

Usually at this time, Cardien would be busy working in his office.

Winston was also beside him.

When I gave a slight nod in greeting, Winston bowed his head.

I turned my gaze back as I heard a voice.

“Do I need to explain why I’m wherever I want to be in my own house?”

“….”

He has a point.

‘Wow, he really knows how to speak annoyingly.’

I grumbled inwardly.

‘How strange.’

From the moment Cardien appeared, my anxiety, which had been jumping all over the place, calmed down surprisingly well.

How should I put it?

‘It feels like a strong backing has appeared.’

With my poor vocabulary, this is the best way I can express it.

“But-“

Cardien’s expression turned cold.

“Something seems to have happened.”

“Ah.”

Cardien’s gaze fell on Vincent.

Vincent’s eyes were red.

Anyone could see he had just been crying.

This situation couldn’t be overlooked without an explanation.

For me, it might be better to speak now.

I took a slight breath and said with a hardened face.

“We encountered the Head of the Council of Elders.”

His eyes grew rapidly colder.

Suddenly, I wondered.

‘Does Cardien know how Vincent has been treated?’

The current Cardien might care, but the past Cardien? I’m not sure.

“…He tried to use violence against Vincent.”

It feels like I’m tattling, but I don’t care.

If it means he will be properly punished.

Standing up, I faced Cardien and continued.

“I managed to block it with my body, but if I had been a little later-“

“Wait.”

“…?”

Cardien, who had suddenly interrupted, approached with a frightening expression.

“Blocked with what?”

“Pardon?”

Momentarily confused, I blinked and carefully parted my lips.

“With my body…?”

At that moment, Cardien’s brow furrowed deeply.

Is it my imagination? Even the flow of air around us seems to have changed.

“…Where?”

Cutting off the end of his words, he glared at me with terrifying eyes and asked.

“Where were you hit?”

“Uh…”

Is it okay to tell him?

I’m not sure, but right now Cardien…

‘He seems extremely angry.’

I was the one who tattled, but somehow I feel like I’m the guilty one, making me hesitate.

That’s when.

“Her head!”

The answer burst out.

But it wasn’t me who answered.

I looked down with a surprised expression.

Vincent was looking up at Cardien with determination in his eyes.

Vincent continued shouting.

“She was hit on the head while protecting me. I, I saw it!”

Vincent, who shouted with the intensity of a warrior, bit his lower lip firmly.

This emphasized his chubby cheeks, but rather than finding it cute, I felt a wave of sympathy.

Soon, with slumped shoulders, Vincent held back his sobs and said.

“It’s because of me. Because I’m weak, I made Tutor Via get hurt.”

“No, that’s not-“

I tried to say it wasn’t like that.

But with Vincent’s next words, I couldn’t continue.

“I hate being weak.”

“….”

Cardien silently stared at Vincent.

Vincent looked at Cardien with wavering eyes, then slowly said.

“I’ll go back to the academy.”

“…!!”

“Young master! Do you really mean it?”

Winston, who had been keeping a low profile, jumped out in shock.

It was behavior completely unlike the usual Winston.

That’s how shocking Vincent’s statement just now was.

“Yes.”

Vincent nodded with a resolute expression.

Then Vincent’s gaze turned toward me.

I stared blankly at Vincent and quietly asked.

“Are you sure? You don’t have to force yourself.”

Vincent’s return to the academy is certainly good news.

But still, worry came before joy.

Isn’t he pushing himself too hard?

I didn’t want to doubt Vincent’s determination, but I was concerned that he might be making an impulsive decision he would later regret.

As if reading my mind, Vincent answered firmly.

“I want to be like Tutor Via.”

“Huh? Me?”

At the unexpected words, I asked with a surprised face, and Vincent nodded with a serious expression.

“Tutor Via is strong and shines brightly.”

“….”

I slowly closed my lips.

Vincent’s expression gradually became more resolute.

“I want to be like Tutor Via, no.”

Vincent shook his head.

“I’ll become even stronger and protect Tutor Via.”

“Vincent…”

I never expected Vincent to have such thoughts.

When did he start thinking this way?

I thought I knew Vincent well, but without my knowledge, he had been continuously growing.

“I won’t run away.”

Vincent stands before Cardien.

Small Vincent and tall Cardien.

The sight of these two similar yet different people facing each other evoked subtle emotions.

“Then can I become strong too?”

“….”

“Can I become strong… and protect Tutor Via, protect what’s precious to me? Please tell me, Duke.”

Vincent, who always shrank before the Duke of Mercedes, is now looking straight at him, seeking an answer.

Cardien looked down at Vincent with his usual emotionless eyes, then slowly parted his lips.

“Well.”

“….”

“If you think you’ll become strong just by deciding to return to the academy you ran away from, that’s excessive greed.”

“….”

A cold and insensitive answer.

But…

“Still, it’s better than before.”

“…Ah.”

Vincent’s eyes widened.

Cardien added with an indifferent face.

“If you want to become strong, think for yourself. How you should protect what’s precious to you.”

“….”

Difficult words.

They’re difficult even for me, let alone for Vincent.

After pondering Cardien’s words with a serious expression, Vincent nodded.

“I will become strong.”

“Good.”

“Thank you, Duke.”

“….”

Watching Vincent bow, Cardien turned his head and spoke.

“Butler.”

“Yes, Master.”

Winston, who had been watching from behind, approached with a warm smile.

Looking at Winston with annoyed eyes, Cardien said.

“Take Vincent to his room.”

“Yes.”

“And immediately move the Head of the Council’s room to the north annex.”

At those words, Winston said with a shocked face.

“B-But the north annex is an unfinished building with no heating…”

But Winston couldn’t continue.

Because Cardien’s purple eyes, as he turned around, were so cold.

Realizing his mistake, he hurriedly bowed his head.

Looking at him with cold eyes, Cardien said.

“Tell him this. If he touches what’s mine one more time, I’ll make him regret not killing me long ago.”

“…I will follow your orders.”

“Go now.”

“Yes. Young master, shall we go?”

“Ah, yes…”

Vincent, who had been blankly watching the situation, held Winston’s hand tightly and looked at me with wavering eyes.

I waved my hand toward Vincent.

Soon, Vincent left with Winston’s hand in his.

Immediately, I turned sharply toward Cardien.