Chapter 13
“What about becoming a private tutor?”
“A private tutor?”
Emilia’s eyes widened slightly at the unexpected suggestion.
“The child you saved wants to learn the Imperial language. Thinking about it now, I believe you’re the perfect person for the job. Of course, room and board would also be provided.”
Emilia lowered her gaze in thought.
What a coincidence…
In truth, the very first time she’d received her meager weekly wages, she’d used them to buy a Hiphrian language textbook.
Even in the capital, books on the language were scarce, so she’d gone from one bookstore to another before finally finding one.
Objectively speaking…
Studying Hiphrian was completely useless for her current situation.
And yet…
Whenever she remembered Ivan hugging her and thanking her that day, she found herself opening the book from time to time, even after coming home exhausted from work.
Glancing at Kaiden, she thought,
He couldn’t possibly know any of that.
Besides…
Teaching people is actually something I’m pretty confident in.
After all…
It had practically been her profession for the past several years.
And if the position came with room and board…
There was nothing she could ask for more.
“I’ll do it.”
After a moment’s consideration, Emilia nodded.
“Excellent.”
“In that case, starting tomorrow, come to my estate—”
“Wait!”
Emilia suddenly looked up.
“Ivan is staying at your estate?”
Kaiden blinked, puzzled by her reaction.
“Is there some reason the child shouldn’t be living at my estate?”
“…No, not exactly.”
She trailed off awkwardly.
Working as a tutor at Kaiden’s estate…
That means I’ll end up getting involved with the male lead…
For a brief moment, she considered refusing.
She had never wanted to become deeply entangled with Kaiden—or any of the novel’s major characters.
But Kaiden, completely unaware of her thoughts, continued,
“If there aren’t any special objections, we’ll sign the employment contract immediately.”
His intention was to hire her into House Valen…
And later compensate her generously under the pretext of severance pay.
That was far better than simply handing her a recommendation letter and sending her away.
“Come directly to my estate.”
“I’ll send a carriage to your house.”
Otherwise…
Who knew where she might disappear to this time?
“Ah… no, that’s…”
Emilia’s expression became awkward once again.
“I think… I could probably come there myself…”
“And why is that?”
Kaiden’s voice stiffened ever so slightly.
For a moment, he genuinely wondered whether she was planning to disappear again.
Emilia glanced at him.
That would cause quite a commotion…
If an aristocratic carriage appeared where she was currently staying…
The entire neighborhood would undoubtedly erupt into gossip.
Feeling rather embarrassed, she finally decided to explain the real reason.
“…Actually.”
“I don’t have a home.”
“…Wait.”
“Explain that properly.”
“Well…”
In the end, Emilia told him everything that had happened.
After listening in silence, Kaiden slowly ran a hand through his hair.
“So…”
“You’re telling me you’ve been sleeping on the streets this entire time?”
Then he summarized her situation in one brutally concise sentence.
“…You didn’t have to put it quite so bluntly.”
Emilia protested timidly.
She had deliberately tried to describe it more gently.
Yet he’d somehow managed to make it sound even worse.
“Could you please show a little consideration for the victim’s feelings?”
“It’s not like I’m literally sleeping out in the open.”
She thought of the temporary tent she’d been staying in.
“A home only really needs a roof to keep out the rain and somewhere to lie down.”
Granted…
The conditions were terrible.
But for the time being, she was simply grateful to have even that much.
Kaiden clicked his tongue inwardly.
What a reckless way of thinking.
Then again…
She was a reckless woman.
She had thrown herself into danger to save a complete stranger she’d never even met.
“If something like that happened…”
“You should have come to me immediately—”
The words almost left his mouth.
But Kaiden abruptly stopped himself.
He had a feeling…
The thought of seeking him out had never crossed her mind in the slightest.
“…Never mind.”
In the end, he simply shook his head with a complicated expression.
Seeing him cut himself off mid-sentence, Emilia tilted her head curiously.
But his expression seemed oddly conflicted.
So she decided not to ask.
“Were you injured?”
“Hm?”
“Were you hurt when the building collapsed?”
Emilia smiled sheepishly.
“No.”
“Fortunately, I happened to be out when it happened.”
Kaiden quietly studied her face.
She looked unmistakably exhausted.
And she’s calling that fortunate…
“The capital isn’t nearly as safe as you seem to think.”
“Kidnappings happen here frequently.”
“Kidnappings?”
Emilia’s eyes grew round.
“That’s right.”
“Every year, several hundred people disappear in the capital alone.”
“Oh…”
Her expression darkened.
She clearly hadn’t known.
“I’d rather not begin the process of hiring a private tutor by filing a missing person’s report.”
“So…”
“We’re going to my estate immediately.”
Taking advantage of the moment, Kaiden decisively settled the matter before standing up.
“Come with me.”
“W-Wait!”
Still dazed, Emilia hurried after him.
* * *
They soon arrived at a quiet street not far from the central square.
A single carriage stood waiting there.
Just then—
The carriage door flew open.
“Your Grace!”
“Where in the world did you run off to so sudde—”
“…Huh?”
Inside sat Harold, the thoroughly bewildered aide who had apparently been abandoned without explanation.
He had been ready to complain about his master suddenly jumping out of the moving carriage and disappearing.
Then he noticed the young woman peeking out from behind Kaiden.
His eyes widened.
“You’re…!”
“The young lady from before!”
“Hello.”
Emilia smiled awkwardly.
“It’s nice to see you again.”
“Move.”
Kaiden gave the order while casually pushing aside Harold’s raised hand.
“Ow!”
“That hurts!”
Harold clutched his fingers, glaring resentfully.
Ignoring him completely, Kaiden nudged Harold aside and took the seat beside him.
“Please.”
He gestured for Emilia to get in.
She was about to climb aboard when she hesitated.
The two grown men were squeezed together on the same seat.
Harold was fairly slender…
But still—
Wouldn’t it make more sense for me to sit beside Harold instead?
Why are two grown men crammed together?
Then she simply shrugged.
Well…
If they’re comfortable with it…
The moment Kaiden personally closed the carriage door—
The carriage immediately set off.
Hmm…
Even so…
The sight of two adult men sitting shoulder-to-shoulder felt strangely awkward.
“I knew you were traveling to the capital that day…”
Harold smiled.
“But I never imagined we’d meet again like this.”
“I know.”
Emilia smiled back.
“It’s quite a coincidence.”
The two of them chatted pleasantly for a while.
Then—
Kaiden’s low voice suddenly interrupted.
“So…”
“Where is it?”
“Huh?”
Emilia turned toward him.
“The place where you’ve been staying.”
He paused briefly.
“I mean…”
“The place where you’ve been—”
He noticeably corrected himself before finishing.
“…living.”
“Oh!”
“Well…”
“There’s an empty lot behind the central square…”
She was fairly certain he’d been about to say sleeping on the streets again.
For now…
She decided to let it slide.
