✩ Chapter 2 ✩
The mansion of the Duke Kellyu was so magnificent that it couldn’t even be compared to the Swan Baron’s estate.
Even from inside the carriage, Rachel could already feel how enormous it was.
As Rachel swallowed nervously, the coachman opened the carriage door.
“We’ve arrived.”
When she stepped out, the towering walls surrounding the estate looked even more intimidating. They were far taller than a grown man.
If a duke’s mansion is this huge… just how big is the Imperial Palace?
Rachel shook her head, forcing herself not to feel overwhelmed.
A few days earlier, she had asked Colo to send a letter to Duke Kellyu.
The letter said she wished to discuss her father’s debt.
Once she met the Duke, she planned to introduce her idea for running the Swan Knight Academy and see how he reacted.
There was a reason she had chosen Duke Kellyu as her first target.
It was because of the well-known situation within his family.
While she was thinking, a woman’s sharp voice suddenly pierced the air.
“Just when is that child ever going to grow up?!”
Rachel quietly peeked through a gap in the wall.
A furious noblewoman stormed across the garden while several maids hurried after her in panic.
“Yerdin der Kellyu! You’re sneaking out of the mansion again without learning your lesson?! Maybe I should just remove your name from the family register!”
This was exactly why Rachel had chosen Duke Kellyu first.
Yerdin der Kellyu.
The youngest son of Duke Kellyu.
According to Colo, the Kellyu family had three sons.
The eldest and second sons were exceptionally talented.
With a wealthy father and a mother passionate about education, both were on the path to brilliant futures.
If only the youngest followed in their footsteps…
Their family would have been perfect.
Unfortunately,
that hope had long disappeared.
The Duchess had hired famous teachers from all over the country.
But Yerdin had no interest in studying.
All he ever did was cause trouble for his parents.
And if he had quietly played alone, it might have been manageable.
The real problem was that his closest friend happened to be the Third Prince.
That alone drove Duke Kellyu crazy.
Normally, any father would be happy if his son was close to a prince.
But the Third Prince himself was infamous for causing trouble.
Even the Imperial Family had practically given up on him.
The Duke couldn’t exactly tell his son not to associate with a prince.
Eventually,
he quietly left all educational matters to his wife.
Now the Duchess was under overwhelming stress because of her youngest son.
“My Lady… please calm down…”
One of the maids carefully tried to comfort her.
Unfortunately,
it only made things worse.
“How am I supposed to calm down?! Even the teacher I worked so hard to hire finally quit! Where am I supposed to find another teacher like that?!”
The Duchess repeatedly pounded her chest.
She had spent her whole life living as an elegant noblewoman.
Without a doubt,
her son’s rebellion was the greatest hardship she had ever faced.
“Bring Yerdin back immediately! If he isn’t home before sunset, none of you will escape punishment!”
“Y-Yes, My Lady!”
“I’m cutting off his allowance too!”
Still unable to calm herself,
the Duchess stomped back into the mansion.
Every family has its own problems.
Though theirs is nothing compared to mine.
Compared to someone constantly chased by debt collectors,
their situation was definitely better.
Still,
Rachel didn’t envy them.
The Duchess is surprisingly human.
Especially the part about cutting off his allowance.
Rachel had imagined someone like her calmly waving a fan while elegantly lecturing her child.
Instead…
She sounded just like an ordinary frustrated mother.
I’d like to meet this boy.
Perhaps it was her teacher’s instinct.
Rachel suddenly wanted to talk to Yerdin herself.
But she quickly shook that thought away.
She had come here for a reason.
Meeting the Duke came first.
“…Hm?”
Just then,
someone suspicious entered her sight.
A thief?
That was Rachel’s first thought.
Someone was trying to climb over the Duke’s wall.
The person desperately struggled to climb a wall twice his own height.
Still,
he hardly looked like a thief.
With those climbing skills,
he would have been caught long ago.
Besides,
a proper thief would wear dark clothes that didn’t stand out.
This terrible thief was wearing fancy clothes and expensive accessories,
as if he wanted everyone to notice him.
Could it be…?
There was only one person bold—and clumsy—enough to climb the Duke’s wall at this hour.
Rachel quietly walked closer.
“Excuse me…”
“Eek!”
The child sitting on top of the wall nearly jumped out of his skin.
Startled,
he lost his balance and fell to the ground.
“Are you okay?”
Rachel hurried over and helped him to his feet.
“You’re Yerdin, aren’t you?”
“W-Who are you?!”
Yerdin looked at her with obvious caution.
Rachel had expected that reaction.
She smiled gently.
“I’m Rachel Swan. I heard the Duchess was looking for someone to teach the young master, so I came here to discuss it… and then I found you.”
Yerdin relaxed slightly.
But the moment he heard the word teacher, he frowned.
“If you’ve come to see Mother, then go ahead. Just don’t expect an easy life by becoming my teacher.”
He brushed the dirt off his clothes and started walking toward the front gate.
Rachel delivered her trump card.
“If you go back now, you probably won’t be allowed outside for a long time. I also heard your allowance is being cut off.”
The moment he heard the word allowance,
Yerdin froze.
He slowly turned around.
“…How do you know that?”
“I overheard your mother saying it.”
She smiled.
“It doesn’t seem like this is your first time sneaking out. Did something happen between you and your family?”
“……”
Yerdin only pouted without answering.
It was obvious he had something difficult to talk about.
“You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
Rachel took a step back.
There was no point forcing someone to reveal painful feelings.
She quietly waited.
Yerdin nervously bit his fingernails before muttering,
“…My allowance can’t be cut.”
Rachel watched as his expression became increasingly gloomy.
A young master of the Duke’s family shouldn’t have any real need for allowance.
The fact that he desperately needed money meant only one thing.
He was secretly doing something without his parents’ knowledge.
“Can you tell me why you need the money?”
“Maybe I can help.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Why not?”
“You’ll just tell my mother everything.”
“I can’t blame you for thinking that.”
Rachel nodded honestly.
“If I were in your position, I’d probably think the same.”
How can I earn this child’s trust?
Building trust was always the most important step.
Only after understanding each other’s hearts could real conversations begin.
“Um…”
“Yes?”
Rachel answered with a warm smile.
The fact that he spoke first was already a good sign.
“Why are you trying to help me?”
“We’ve never met before.”
“You don’t have to.”
Rachel answered without hesitation.
“If the little strength I have can become a great help to someone else, then there’s no reason not to help.”
Those weren’t empty words.
It was the very belief that had led Rachel to become a teacher in her previous life.
“I believe the world changes through small acts of kindness. No matter what other people think… that’s what I believe.”
Rachel smiled softly.
Yerdin stared at her face for a long time.
Silence hung between them.
Finally,
he slowly opened his mouth.
“…Can we talk somewhere else?”
* * *
The two of them talked for a long time at a cafeteria.
Fortunately,
Yerdin decided Rachel was someone he could trust.
He honestly told her everything.
After listening,
Rachel realized that Yerdin wasn’t simply a rebellious child.
Once she reassured him,
they returned to the Duke’s mansion together.
By then,
the entire estate was in chaos because the young master still hadn’t returned.
The moment Yerdin appeared at the front gate,
the guards were shocked.
They immediately escorted him to the Duke’s office.
“Yerdin! Where has your common sense gone?!”
The Duchess began scolding him the instant they entered.
She was about to continue her endless lecture,
but then she noticed Rachel following behind.
She blinked in confusion.
Who is that?
Yerdin stood straight before his parents.
With a determined expression, he spoke.
“Father. Mother. I’ve never said something like this before, so I don’t know what you’ll think… but please listen to me.”
“Enough!”
The Duke slammed his hand onto the desk.
“You’re forbidden from leaving the mansion from now on! And don’t expect another allowance!”
He cut off Yerdin before the boy could finish.
Even Rachel could tell this wasn’t an atmosphere where anyone could have a serious conversation.
Perhaps his parents had never truly listened to him.
If this continued,
Yerdin, who had only just begun to open his heart, would close it again.
This was Rachel’s chance.
“Greetings, Duke Kellyu. Duchess.”
“I’ve been wondering who you are.”
The Duke looked at her sharply.
“Surely you weren’t the one who encouraged my son to sneak outside?”
The suspicion that had been aimed at Yerdin was now directed toward Rachel.
Rachel calmly bowed.
“I am Rachel Swan, the headmaster of Swan Knight Academy… and I believe I am the right person to educate your son.”
