~Chapter 24~
Ruby was actually the one who was surprised by the unexpected answer.
“Is it really okay?”
She blinked her eyes and looked up at Duke Lux.
“Do as you wish.”
Ruby tried hard to read his expression. But his face was as expressionless as ever, making it impossible to know what he was thinking.
Cautiously, she asked,
“Then… will you cancel Calix’s swordsmanship lessons?”
“No, I won’t.”
“Why not?”
“Do you want me to cancel them?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Then it’s fine.”
He was not only letting them replace the tutor but also keeping Calix’s swordsmanship classes. Ruby was so stunned she didn’t know what to say.
Balt stepped in between them to handle things.
“Then we will immediately dismiss that tutor and quickly find another etiquette teacher.”
“There’s no need for that.”
“Then what should we do?”
“Tell the etiquette tutor who is currently teaching Ruby to also teach Calix.”
“You mean Baron Mark Lania?”
The Duke’s gaze shifted from Balt to Ruby.
“How was your etiquette teacher?”
“He was a good man. I also think it would be best if Teacher Mark could teach Calix too.”
“Then proceed that way.”
With just one word from Duke Lux, the situation was settled.
Ruby even felt relieved. She had worried that if a new etiquette teacher came, the same thing might happen again. If they learned together under the same teacher, such incidents would be less likely.
“Thank you, Grandfather.”
Ruby couldn’t tell if he had calculated everything this far, or if he had just brushed it off to avoid trouble. His blank face gave away nothing. Still, she bowed deeply in thanks.
“Even if that tutor is good, if your brother’s attitude is poor, you will be held responsible.”
Before she left, Duke Lux added a condition.
“Yes. I’ll make sure he attends lessons sincerely and take responsibility for it.”
For Ruby, it was far better to take responsibility herself than to risk Calix losing his swordsmanship lessons. Even if he was immature, she wanted to help him learn as much as possible.
“You may leave now.”
The Duke dismissed her curtly.
Ruby bowed again.
“Grandfather, thank you for not canceling Calix’s swordsmanship lessons and for replacing the tutor.”
“Hmph.”
Instead of answering, Duke Lux coughed and lowered his gaze back to the papers on his desk.
Balt opened the study door and guided Ruby outside. Once the door was closed, he knelt down on one knee to match Ruby’s eye level.
“My apologies, Lady Ruby. We hired that tutor believing she was good, but I never expected such a thing to happen.”
“It’s fine. Balt, you couldn’t have known she would use corporal punishment.”
“Still, I should have looked into it more carefully. I will make sure to warn Baron Mark Lania not to use any kind of physical punishment on Young Master Calix.”
“Thank you, Balt. You’re always looking out for us.”
“This is simply my duty. If there’s ever anything else you need, please let me know.”
“I understand. Then I’ll go back to Calix now.”
“I must handle some matters with His Grace, so I’ll see Young Master Calix a little later.”
“Yes. See you later.”
Ruby gave him a polite farewell and walked away toward Calix’s room. Balt watched her retreating figure, then returned to the Duke’s study.
As soon as Duke Lux noticed Balt, he asked,
“She’s gone?”
“Yes, she returned to Young Master Calix.”
“I see.”
The Duke didn’t lower his eyes back to the papers but instead asked,
“The tutor who hit the child—she’s gone?”
“Most likely, yes.”
“Why was such a tutor chosen?”
“My apologies. I heard she was popular among many parents and thought she would be suitable, but I never expected she would do such a thing.”
Balt bowed deeply, almost touching his forehead to the floor.
“Raise your head. Every teacher has different methods, and some parents do prefer tutors who use the cane.”
Balt raised his head and looked at him. For the first time, the Duke’s brow was furrowed.
“How strange. I must have used the cane myself when I disciplined Mary as a child.”
Calix’s troublesome nature hadn’t appeared from nowhere. Sometimes, when the boy misbehaved, he reminded the Duke of his daughter Mary in her mischievous childhood.
Back then, how had he handled her? He remembered using the cane at times. A hazy image of his daughter crying from the pain passed through his mind. And overlapping with it now was the vision of Calix with a tearful face.
Throb.
Suddenly, his chest tightened.
“Why does this feel so unpleasant?”
Hearing this, Balt gave a faint smile.
“Perhaps it’s because you’re worried, Your Grace?”
“Worried?”
His cold voice made it sound as though the word had nothing to do with him.
“When Lady Mary was young, even you found it hard to punish her with the cane. And now, hearing that Young Master Calix was struck by someone else—it must pain you even more.”
“You’re saying my heart aches because the boy was hit?”
The Duke scoffed, but unconsciously rubbed at his chest where it had throbbed earlier.
“They say that sometimes, emotions a parent never noticed while raising their own child can suddenly surface when they see their grandchildren.”
“Nonsense.”
Duke Lux immediately rejected the idea.
He had only taken the children in because they were necessary to him. If they hadn’t been of use, he would have thrown them out regardless of being Mary’s children.
He didn’t believe in judging matters by something as sentimental as family.
But still… it wasn’t as if he wasn’t angry at the tutor who had hit Calix. He didn’t want to think about why.
“That tutor—”
“Yes?”
“Make sure she keeps her mouth shut. We can’t afford any rumors.”
If word spread, no tutor would want to teach Calix. Etiquette was fine—Mark could cover that. But Calix still had to learn many other subjects, and tutors might avoid him.
“And make sure the tutor pays the price for hitting him.”
The Duke’s eyes gleamed sharply.
“Yes, understood.”
Balt knew what that meant. That tutor might never work as a private teacher again.
“And from now on, never tell the tutors about the children’s weaknesses.”
“Of course.”
He had only hinted at Calix’s dislike of lessons so that the tutor might manage him better. He hadn’t expected it to be used against the boy.
The Duke put down his quill and thought deeply.
“How badly is the child hurt?”
“I’ll find out right away.”
“When he recovers…”
Duke Lux paused, then added,
“I’ll personally teach him swordsmanship.”
“Truly?”
“Yes.”
It had been a long time since Duke Lux taught anyone directly. The last had been his daughter Mary, before she left the mansion. Since then, he hadn’t passed on his techniques to anyone. That was one reason why continuing the Lux family’s swordsmanship had been so difficult.
“Young Master Calix will be thrilled when he hears this.”
“Don’t tell him yet. He’ll make a fuss about starting right away. Wait until he’s fully healed.”
“Yes, that’s wise. I’ll inform him once he recovers.”
Balt smiled softly.
Seeing that smile, Duke Lux frowned.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
“It makes me glad, Your Grace. It seems you’re beginning to understand the young lady and young master better.”
“I only do this because it’s necessary.”
“Yes, of course. But both Ruby and Calix will certainly grow to be great assets to the Lux family.”
“Hmm.”
The Duke cleared his throat repeatedly and picked up his quill again.
“Go and find out exactly how badly the boy is injured.”
“Yes, I’ll hurry.”
Balt bowed and left the study.
Duke Lux stared at the closed door and muttered softly,
“Why do I feel so uncomfortable?”
He rubbed his chest again,
puzzled by the strange tightness there.
