Chapter 3
Time flowed quietly for Tericia, who had returned from death.
After falling ill not long after coming back, the days slipped by without her doing much of anything.
It wasn’t until nearly a month had passed that she realized—her sixteenth birthday had only recently gone by.
“Young Lady, Madam said you’re to resume your lessons as soon as your health allows.”
“Ah.”
Mandy, who had been hesitating like she had more to say, finally spoke up.
If it was the kind of lesson her mother insisted on…
Tericia could already guess what that meant, and a sigh slipped from her lips.
“When did those lessons begin again?”
“It’s been about a month, excluding the days you were sick.”
“A month…”
If Mandy was right, then it really had only been shortly after her sixteenth birthday.
And if Tericia was sixteen… then Rashid would soon turn fourteen.
She remembered—after Rashid’s tenth birthday, the Duke had planned to assign him a royal tutor to begin his education in statecraft.
Lady Boren had seized the opportunity.
Claiming her role as the boy’s mother, she took control of the tutor selection and intentionally ruined Rashid’s education.
The tutor she appointed had been the worst of them all.
Proper lessons were never held, and in the end, the man fled the ducal estate like a thief in the night.
It had taken quite a bit of effort to fix the damage he left behind.
The teacher who replaced him back then had been…
“What’s Rashid doing now?”
“He’s the same as always. Probably in the library, reading.”
Mandy’s indifferent response bothered her,
but it was the truth—Rashid’s reality.
The Duke’s heir, but ignored by everyone.
A successor whose position could be taken away at any moment.
If Lady Boren’s family had held just a bit more influence,
Rashid’s place as heir would’ve been in danger long ago.
It had caused quite a stir when the Duke took as his wife a woman from a baron’s house—especially one with a child—and went as far as recognizing her daughter as a noble lady.
She later learned that her calling the Duke “Father” had become a point of gossip among the staff.
Apparently, the Duke—who normally would’ve rejected such a thing outright—had remained silent. That silence alone had caused a shock.
It even gave rise to baseless rumors that Tericia might be his illegitimate child.
“If the Young Lady had black hair or golden eyes, wouldn’t the Duke have openly declared her as his daughter?”
That whisper she once overheard came to mind, but Tericia brushed it off indifferently.
“…Maybe I’ll go see Rashid.”
“You’ve been thinking about him a lot lately, haven’t you, Young Lady?”
Mandy responded to the words that had accidentally slipped from Tericia’s lips.
“Me?”
“Yes. Since that day, you’ve mentioned Young Master Rashid more often.”
‘That day’—Mandy was referring to the early morning Tericia had run barefoot to find Rashid.
“Of course I would. Rashid is my younger brother.”
“I don’t think Madam sees it that way.”
That’s probably true.
Her mother would never want to acknowledge Rashid.
But even so—
That wasn’t something a maid should be saying out loud.
“You’re speaking too carelessly, Mandy. That’s not your place to comment.”
“Ah—I’m sorry, Young Lady.”
Mandy flinched at Tericia’s cold tone.
“Speaking recklessly won’t end well—for you, either.”
“…Yes, ma’am.”
Mandy quietly reflected.
The Young Lady had changed.
She had always been kind, but had constantly watched Lady Boren’s mood. Now, it felt like she was no longer afraid of anything.
If anything, she was more imposing than Lady Boren herself.
“I think I’ll take a walk.”
Tericia murmured, her eyes drifting toward the clear blue sky outside the window.
＊＊＊
Education in the House of Hespelt was divided into three major areas.
The first was general education—history, culture, literature, arts—covering broad subjects in the pursuit of refinement.
The second was martial education—swordsmanship, combat training, and strategy.
And finally, the third—an exclusive path reserved only for the heir to the Dukedom— Royal Studies.
Royal Studies, typically begun after a noble child’s tenth birthday, was a specialized education reserved only for the heir of a ducal household.
Rashid had also started his royal education right after turning ten.
“The tutor’s a disaster.”
Roben Heinz, Captain of the Hespelt Ducal Knights and renowned across the Empire as its greatest swordsman, sighed deeply as he muttered.
“He’s a complete wreck. Where on earth did they find a man like that?”
“……”
“They even interviewed him, didn’t they? Did they choose him on purpose?”
Though phrased like a complaint, Heinz was fairly certain of it deep down.
“Sigh… Seriously.”
“Can you give it a rest?”
Adler, unable to take any more of it, snapped at the man who had slumped over the table, grumbling nonstop.
“Adler, who else can I say this to but you? I’m just too frustrated!”
“Haah…”
“And why on earth did they leave such an important decision to Lady Boren? It was obvious she wouldn’t handle it properly!”
Adler took a deep breath to keep calm.
“And now she’s even forcing her daughter to undergo the third-tier education? That’s reserved for the heir!”
Just one more time. Just tolerate it one more time, then kick that tutor out.
“Our poor young master. The one and only heir to a ducal house in the Empire…”
“Yes, yes. He brought in a useless fool, he’s a mess, it’s enough to make you cry! You’ve said it a thousand times!”
“I wouldn’t be this upset if you were just a little bit—wait, what?”
“……”
“Oh.”
Suddenly, Roben Heinz stood up with a jolt. The speed was surprising for a man who had looked so defeated just moments ago.
“Of course! You!”
“…What?”
Heinz’s eyes began to gleam with a strange light.
“How about it? You become our young master’s tutor.”
“…What?”
“I forgot you were right here all along!”
Adler shuddered.
The gleam in Heinz’s eyes was anything but normal.
“You were expelled, sure, but you’re still the genius of House Reissfeld—the family known for producing the brightest minds in the Empire.
And you specialized in Royal Studies! You’re perfect!”
“Get out.”
“Adler! Please!”
“Out!”
“Adler!!”
Just as Heinz was about to leap at his mortified friend, the door burst open with a loud bang, and a junior officer came rushing in.
“Captain!”
“What now?!”
“The Young Lady…!”
“What?!”
“The Young Lady is asking to see you, sir!”
…Who?
Heinz blinked in confusion, then quickly recalled someone. His face turned uneasy.
“…Lady Tericia?”
“Yes, sir. She said she wishes to speak with you personally.”
Heinz and Adler exchanged glances.
Tericia Hespelt.
To them, that name brought nothing but discomfort and uncertainty.
A teacup was placed in front of the large knight.
“Please, have some.”
It wasn’t every day a noble lady personally poured tea for someone.
Heinz lowered his head politely, trying to hide his awkwardness.
Was she always this composed?
He had assumed she was just someone trapped under Lady Boren’s thumb, doing whatever she was told.
Cautiously, he spoke.
“I heard you wished to see me.”
“Yes.”
Tericia poured herself a cup of tea and took a sip.
“Are you surprised that I sought you out?”
“You may speak informally if you wish.”
“No, it’s only proper that I show the commander of the Hespelt Knights the respect he deserves.”
Heinz was taken aback.
That was not something he expected to hear from Tericia.
Noticing the surprise on his face, Tericia offered a faint smile.
“You’ve probably heard quite a few things about me, haven’t you?”
“…Only that His Grace holds you in very high regard.”
That remark, hinting at her involvement in Royal Studies, made Tericia nod slightly.
“Yes, the Duke kindly permitted me to take part in the third-level education as well.”
‘The Duke?’
Heinz felt a subtle unease.
As far as he knew, the young lady had always called the Duke Father—as though she were his own daughter.
The current Duchess, Lady Boren, often boasted about it.
She would proudly say that her daughter was loved by the Duke, and that’s why she called him Father.
Those who knew the Duke’s cold, stoic nature were often stunned by such statements.
They believed it must be his way of showing affection.
A stepdaughter more loved than his own son.
That was how people described Tericia—and it was believed she was proud of that, too.
But the girl sitting in front of him now gave no such impression.
“May I ask the reason you wanted to see me?”
Sensing his thoughts beginning to wander, Heinz brought the conversation back on track.
As expected of Roben Heinz—direct and straightforward, like any true knight.
Tericia found his unpretentiousness comforting.
Even before her return to the past, he had been unwavering—always dedicating everything he had to Rashid and the House of Hespelt.
He had stayed by Rashid’s side to the very end… even giving up his own life for him.
That’s why she believed—he was the only one who could help her now.
“I need you to find someone who can become Rashid’s tutor.”
“His… tutor?”
“I want to replace the person currently in charge of Rashid’s third-level education.”
The very topic Heinz had been grumbling about in Adler’s home.
“I heard the current tutor is a graduate of the Imperial Academy.”
“Yes. He may have the title, but whether he has the ability to match is another matter entirely.”
Her mother had deliberately chosen someone like that.
“…Do you realize what you’re saying?”
“I do.”
Tericia lifted a silver spoon and gently stirred her tea.
The clear liquid swirled once around the cup.
Heinz frowned slightly as he watched her.
“Do you have someone in mind?”
Instead of answering immediately, Tericia raised the teacup and stared into it.
Her reflection on the surface felt unfamiliar.
“Adler Reissfeld.”
“What?!”
“I heard you’re close friends.”
She didn’t even take a sip—just quietly placed the cup back on the saucer.
“I want him to become Rashid’s new tutor for Royal Studies.”
“Adler…? You mean that Adler?”
“Aren’t you friends?”
“We are… but…”
“Then perfect. Please arrange a meeting.”
The famously stern-faced Commander of the Hespelt Knights sat frozen, his mouth hanging open.
Tericia offered a gentle bow and smiled again.
It was a genuine smile—unforced, and warm—making her look her age.
Ah… right. The young lady is still only sixteen.
To Heinz, she suddenly looked much younger—just a girl who hadn’t even had her coming-of-age ceremony yet.
“Lady Boren won’t like this.”
“I know. That’s why I want to appoint the hidden genius of House Reissfeld. If it’s him, Mother won’t suspect a thing.”
He was a disowned son, after all.
Her mother would never believe a man like that could be a brilliant teacher for Rashid.
Heinz couldn’t understand it.
Most nobles remembered Adler Reissfeld, the third son cast out by his family, as nothing more than a reclusive eccentric.
So how did Lady Tericia know him?
“You seem surprised that I even know who he is.”
“Well… yes. That friend of mine doesn’t exactly have a good reputation.”
Tericia’s lips curved into a soft smile.
“They say the wind carries whispers to the right ears. But that’s not what matters right now, is it?”
“……”
“Please arrange the meeting. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“…Understood.”
Heinz agreed to the young lady’s request.
After all, this was something he had been hoping for himself.
If Adler became the young master’s tutor, the neglected heir education that had dragged on without direction would finally start moving in the right direction.
“…May I ask you something?”
In the end, Heinz couldn’t hold back and asked Tericia.
“Go ahead.”
“Why don’t you want your mother to find out?
No—why are you trying to help Young Master Rashid?”
At his question, Tericia tilted her head slightly.
“That’s a strange thing to ask.
Why would giving Rashid the rightful chance at an education be something to question?”
“…You know what the third-tier education represents.
And you must also know why the Madam wants you to receive it…”
“Sir Roben Heinz.”
Their eyes met.
Heinz instinctively looked away from the piercing clarity in hers.
“Rashid is the rightful heir of House Hespelt.
What’s so strange about wanting to help him reclaim what is his?”
Her posture was flawless. Her gaze, unwavering.
Heinz saw, in this sixteen-year-old girl, the very image of his lord—the Duke of Hespelt.
She possessed the kind of authority that only those born to rule could have.
“Whether it’s medicine or poison—
Is this really the time to be questioning a gift just because it’s unexpected?”
Tericia smiled gracefully as she spoke.
After the meeting, Roben Heinz returned to the knights’ quarters.
“What did the Young Lady say?”
The aide asked curiously as Heinz entered the office, wearing a far more conflicted expression than when he’d left.
“…Haa.”
Heinz let out a long sigh instead of replying and slumped into his chair.
Why was she suddenly so concerned about the young master?
He knew—she was right. They had to follow through with this.
But what is she really thinking?
He simply couldn’t understand Lady Tericia.
