Chapter 4
Lately, things around Rashid felt unsettled.
Nothing had changed on the surface, but the atmosphere was different.
People in the ducal household had always been indifferent toward him—whether it was the Duke, his own father, Lady Boren, the Duchess, or even the servants.
None of them were particularly unkind, but none of them looked after him warmly either.
Except for one person—Tericia Hespelt.
“Rashid. My little brother.”
“Rashid, come with me. I’ll stay by your side.”
He tried to push away the soft voice that lingered in his ears.
Ever since Tericia began following Lady Boren’s will and competing with Rashid, the distance between them had grown beyond repair.
But then—that morning. That desperate cry.
“Rashid!”
Her face had been pale, her voice trembling as she called his name.
She hadn’t even been able to approach him, frozen in place and shaking like she was about to cry.
Without saying a word, she had turned and gone back to her room.
Rumor had it she fell ill right after and only recovered recently.
Since then, Rashid had found himself thinking about her from time to time.
Her pale face, her tousled hair—such unlike her usual self—it kept replaying in his mind.
She’d looked like she wanted to say something, but in the end, she had said nothing and walked away.
What had she wanted to tell me?
“Young Master, would you like a snack?”
His personal maid, Sarah, must have noticed he hadn’t turned a page in a while.
That was another thing that had changed.
Sarah had always been diligent, but she wasn’t the type to speak so gently.
Lately, though, she’d started observing him more closely, speaking kindly when she felt it was needed—almost like someone had asked her to.
“…No. I think I’ll take a walk.”
Rashid closed his book and stood up.
He felt like reading any further would be pointless.
The garden had turned a deep green, showing signs that summer was near.
The Hespelt estate’s annex garden was so overgrown it could easily be mistaken for a small forest.
So dense that even in broad daylight, people sometimes got lost inside.
Rashid liked it there—walking alone helped him sort out his thoughts.
He took a deep breath, the cool scent of grass filling his lungs.
“I’m glad I came out…”
Just as he thought that—
“Rashid?”
There she was.
“…Sister?”
The very person who had occupied his thoughts only moments ago was now standing right in front of him.
“Out for a walk?”
“…Yes.”
She smiled on the outside, but inside, Tericia was filled with turmoil.
She didn’t know what to say.
She’d gone out for some air, trying to clear her head, but ended up in the annex garden.
Only when she realized how close it was to Rashid’s residence did she consider turning back.
But then—there he was, standing right in front of her like fate.
She hadn’t expected to meet him like this. Her lips moved silently.
Has he lost weight?
She remembered the last time she’d seen him—a small, fragile boy.
But the image burned into her mind wasn’t from now.
“Sister.”
The last time they spoke before everything fell apart.
His cold, expressionless face when he said goodbye.
“Did you not wish for my death, Sister?”
Tericia staggered as her blood seemed to drain from her body.
“Sister!”
Rashid stepped forward, thinking she was about to collapse, but she managed to steady herself by leaning against a nearby tree.
“…I heard you were unwell.”
He was standing beside her now.
His hand hesitated in the air, as if he meant to help her.
“I’m alright now.”
Tericia smiled faintly.
Even before returning to the past, Rashid had been like this.
Even when things between them had been at their worst, he still worried for her.
Even when she treated him coldly, he’d only smile bitterly—and still worry about her.
It was her who failed to accept that sincerity.
“I had forgotten… You always believed I hated you.”
No, Rashid. I just…
“You look pale, Sister.”
Her heart sank.
His voice—slightly softer than before—overlapped with the one from her memory.
It sent a chill through her.
“I’ll escort you to your room.”
“…It’s alright. I can go alone.
When you’re a little older, then you can escort me.”
Rashid’s face stiffened. She had refused his hand. It stung his pride. But he wasn’t so immature as to say so aloud.
“I’ll go on ahead.”
Tericia turned away, pretending not to notice.
“Ah—”
But after a few steps, she stopped, turning back as if something had come to mind.
Rashid looked at her, sensing she was about to say something.
Leaves rustled quietly in the wind.
“Rashid, I…”
Her lips parted several times, as if searching for words but nothing came out in the end.
“…Get some rest before coming in.”
With a bitter smile, Tericia turned away again.
And somehow, she looked especially lonely.
Was Sister… was Tericia always like that?
Rashid stared for a long time in the direction where Tericia had disappeared.
He couldn’t bring himself to move.
What was she about to say?
That was what weighed on his mind the most.
＊＊＊
Adler Reissfeld had been led to the drawing room in the main residence—Tericia’s private parlor.
A stepdaughter living in the main house and the heir residing in the annex…
Adler let out a dry chuckle, folding his arms as he leaned back in the ornate chair.
Lavish furniture, extravagant decorations.
Everything screamed of a taste far too excessive for his liking.
He already didn’t like the person who owned this space.
No doubt someone spoiled, someone he wouldn’t be able to reason with.
If it weren’t for Roben Heinz’s persistent request, he never would’ve set foot in this room.
He’d wanted to ignore it altogether,
but if he turned it down, Heinz would probably park himself at his house for days.
“…Should’ve just agreed from the start. What a hassle.”
Click.
While he was still lost in thought, the door to the drawing room opened.
In walked Lady Tericia Hespelt.
“Apologies for keeping you waiting.”
Adler, who had been expecting a haughty, overdressed noble girl to match the lavish room, was taken off guard.
The young lady who appeared was composed and graceful.
Her golden-brown hair, which could’ve easily looked flashy, was neatly tied back.
Aside from matching earrings and a simple necklace, she wore no other jewelry. The minimalism made her elegance stand out all the more.
“Not at all. I arrived early,” he replied, standing to offer a polite greeting.
“I’m Adler Reissfeld.”
“Please, have a seat.”
Tericia Hespelt was nothing like the extravagant noblewoman he had imagined.
In fact, she looked too modest to be the owner of such a space.
“I was told you requested to see me.”
“Yes.”
She dismissed her maid and personally poured tea into his cup.
The gesture was simple, but sincere—genuinely respectful of a guest she had invited.
Adler’s brows lifted slightly at the unexpected behavior.
“I heard you’ve been focusing solely on your research at the academy.”
Tericia was the first to speak.
“Yes. It suits me perfectly.”
“I see.”
She wasn’t wrong. Adler Reissfeld had never enjoyed teaching.
Praised as a genius from childhood, he had little patience for those who couldn’t grasp what seemed obvious to him.
His difficult personality—brilliant in only what he wanted to do—eventually led to his estrangement from his family.
It was one of his professors at the academy who had taken him in afterward.
“Then it seems I’m about to propose something you hate.”
He had a rough idea of why he’d been called.
Though he had expected her to ask for personal tutoring, it turned out to be something else entirely.
“There are plenty of good tutors at the academy.”
I don’t want to do it.
Even if he was here because of Heinz’s request, that didn’t change the fact that he had no interest in teaching.
“Yes, there are. The problem is that none of them are the teacher I’m looking for.”
“…That’s vague.”
A vague answer to a vague statement.
“Please meet with my younger brother, Adler Reissfeld.
Just meet him. You can decide afterward.
And if you do become his tutor and successfully complete the third-tier education for House Hespelt, I’ll make sure you’re properly compensated.”
“You may be the Lady of Hespelt, but I doubt someone without Hespelt blood can offer a reward worth considering.”
Tericia fell silent.
She understood the intention behind his words—and ignored it.
A pointless provocation.
The old her might’ve been angered, but now, it didn’t even rattle her.
It wasn’t untrue, and besides, it didn’t matter.
What mattered was this: She was the Lady of House Hespelt.
“Just as I said—even if I don’t carry Hespelt blood, I am still the Lady of House Hespelt.”
Tericia’s voice was calm and composed.
“But I wasn’t raised so carelessly that I can be judged at a glance.
It seems you trust the gossip of idle tongues more than what you see with your own eyes, Sir.”
“…That was out of line. I apologize.”
“I accept your apology.”
Adler quietly adjusted his impression of her.
She wasn’t someone easy to read.
Her words—and the weight behind them—were anything but light.
She had clearly understood the intention behind his comment and refused to fall for the provocation.
Sixteen, was it?
There was a level of maturity beyond her age, something seasoned and deliberate in her bearing.
If all sixteen-year-olds were like her, the world would be dreadfully boring—Adler nearly chuckled at the thought.
“Rashid is a clever child. It’s just that… because of my mother…”
A subtle crease formed between her brows.
“…he hasn’t received the education he deserves. I want to restore that to him.”
“So I assume this isn’t something Lady Boren is aware of.”
Tericia said nothing. She simply sipped her tea.
Adler’s mind spun. Why is the Lady turning against her own mother?
“What’s your plan?”
Despite the brevity of the question, Tericia understood immediately.
“We’ll see. I’m sure a way will appear.”
It was an evasive answer, but Adler knew there was no point pressing further.
After all, it was Tericia who had invited him. His job was simply to meet the young master, just as she—or rather, Heinz—had asked. Everything else was beyond his concern.
“I’ll test him.”
“Please do.”
“If he doesn’t meet my standards, I’ll reject him.”
“Of course.
Though I don’t believe that will be the case.”
Now that Adler had shown a hint of acceptance, Tericia decided to speak plainly.
“I have only two requests. First, that you take full responsibility for my brother’s third-tier education. And second…”
“Second?”
Tericia gave a subtle, playful smile.
“I’ll tell you the second once you become his tutor.”
“…Very well. I assume you’ll arrange the meeting?”
“Yes. I’ll send an official invitation soon.”
It bothered Adler—this nagging feeling that he’d walked into some kind of trap—but he decided not to dwell on it.
In the end, no matter what others said, he’d only take on a student he personally deemed worthy.
Arguing now wouldn’t change anything.
He stood, glancing around the parlor once more.
It struck him again how mismatched it felt from its current owner.
Noticing his gaze, Tericia gave a small, sheepish smile.
“The room doesn’t suit me, does it?”
“You’d be better off changing it as soon as possible.”
It was Adler’s own awkward way of offering a compliment. And from the way she smiled, she understood it that way too.
“I won’t be here for long, anyway.”
“…Pardon?”
“There’ll be renovations. Not for me—this space will be redone to suit Rashid.”
“Then…”
“A legitimate heir kept in the annex while a stepdaughter resides in the main house—
Isn’t that laughable?”
It was hard to disagree.
“I don’t intend to play along with that kind of farce.”
With that, Tericia stood.
The meeting was over.
“You’ll like Rashid once you meet him.”
There was quiet confidence in her voice. She nodded politely and left the room first.
Adler found himself intrigued—not by the heir of House Hespelt, but by the girl who wasn’t.
If the one she calls ‘clever little brother’ is as sharp as she claims…
Then maybe it’s worth meeting him after all.
