I Became the Teacher of the Imperial Family’s Bastard

080. Grand Duke Tibria (3)

Historia ate her meat bun while observing Tibria.

The more she did, the more she was filled with astonishment.

She was so surprised when she was summoned to Pharos’ mansion.

When she was called because someone needed treatment after a pillar of fire shot up, she thought some crazy person had invaded Pharos’ mansion.

But it turned out to be the Grand Duke.

She was first shocked that someone who was too busy with northern affairs to even attend the founding festival had come, and then she was shocked again that he was here to engage in a life-threatening duel.

Indeed, when Tibria first arrived, he was in such a state that his whole body was like a rag.

If it weren’t for her, he wouldn’t have recovered so quickly.

Anyway, she could roughly tell that he was a bit unhinged, and it became even clearer now.

“Haha! My mind is so scattered! How embarrassing!”

He had even forgotten why he came here.

But putting that aside, she thought.

‘What could it be?’

What could have brought the Grand Duke, who was practically glued to the north, all the way here?

Knowing what had happened in the capital, a sense of tension filled Historia.

Why did she feel like the Grand Duke might have caused some incident under the influence of a demon?

She hardened her expression and listened to his next words, and the answer she received was this.

“My son hasn’t been coming out of his room lately. Is he going through puberty… He even put up a barrier in front of his door, and I don’t think breaking it down would be good for his mental health. So I came to ask for some help.”

“?

“I thought he might meet with kids his age, so I came down to ask you to visit the north. I heard you’re teaching His Highness these days? I was wondering if you had any educational strategies.”

“???”

He came all this way for parenting advice?

Historia blinked.

But Yuren’s reaction to those words was this.

“…Seclusion.”

A very serious expression.

Historia seriously wondered if her understanding was off.

* * *

On the surface, it seemed like an ordinary parenting consultation for a mother with a teenage son.

But since the speaker was the Grand Duke, it felt like it was nothing special.

However, I knew what kind of trouble the Grand Duke could cause.

And there was one more thing.

‘Why did he come to the capital, which he never visited before the regression? Was it because of me?’

The Grand Duke was seeking my advice as a Taesa.

Perhaps, before the regression, he had no one to ask for such a favor, so he tried to solve it on his own.

That’s why there were no incidents of the Grand Duke coming down to the capital.

All my curiosity was resolved, and it was in my favor.

If the Grand Duke took me directly to the north, there would be no need to find an excuse to go to the north during the cold wave season.

It meant I had an excuse.

“About a year ago… Do you remember that my son was attending the academy back then?”

“Yes, how could I not?”

That was how he met Rebecca, so how could I not know?

The Grand Duke majored in alchemy at the Imperial Academy in the capital.

For that reason, letters asking him to be friends with my son came to our mansion… but my sister was busy leading the family, and I was busy drinking.

There was no direct connection, but I knew how the Grand Duke was in the capital.

“He was well-behaved. He never caused any trouble.”

“Yes, in the past 200 years, Heiron is the first to graduate without a single disciplinary action!”

“I heard he had good relationships with his peers. He was always surrounded by people.”

“Yes! Heiron is the first in 400 years not to curse at others!”

“I heard he graduated at the top of his class in the alchemy department.”

“He is the only one in Heiron’s history to be the top in written exams!”

“……”

Does he want to tarnish the Grand Duke’s name?

No, seeing his genuinely proud face, it seems he really wants to boast.

With a beaming smile and sparkling eyes, I nodded for now.

“Yes, well. I understand he was an exemplary student.”

“He takes after his father. He was physically weak, but he was very smart!”

“Is that so.”

“Ah! I remember him! If only he had been a bit healthier, he wouldn’t have succumbed to the cold snap so easily! How absurd! Haha!”

It was too cruel a joke to laugh along with.

Is this the aunt’s sense of humor?

“Spicy. So spicy.”

I said, sticking out my tongue.

“…Anyway, what about that academy?”

“Oh! Right, I got sidetracked again. Back to the main story, after my son graduated, he locked himself in his room and wouldn’t come out. I wondered why, and it turned out he was infatuated with some girl and wanted to return to the capital!”

“Ah.”

“I know.”

The duke sighed.

“They said that woman was a demon. His Highness the Crown Prince even wrote a letter himself, so we were cautious.”

I nodded.

Among the various measures taken after killing Rebecca, informing the duke was one of them.

I figured the mother of a man who was bound to cause trouble would keep an eye on him.

But, hearing what followed, I couldn’t help but regret that decision.

The duke avoided my gaze.

“…I told him. That the woman he was so obsessed with was a demon~.”

“Oh my goodness…”

“A man has to experience pain at least once, doesn’t he? I thought he would quickly recover from the shock and get back on his feet! Ah, my son is so smart!”

“Well, um…”

Suddenly, the duke burst out in anger.

“But that boy, just like his father, is so petty! He locked himself in his room, insisting it couldn’t be true, and won’t come out! I know he’s in there, but that brat…!”

Bang!

The duke slammed his fist on the table.

His eyes were blazing.

“He doesn’t even respond to his mother’s words anymore…!”

My head started to ache a bit.

“…So, you don’t know what he’s doing in there?”

“Right. At least he’s eating. I can sense movement inside. So I’ve left him alone for now, but how can I keep doing that?”

It’s fortunate that he hasn’t come out of the room yet.

The trouble he caused began in earnest as he climbed the snowy mountain.

‘I can’t delay it, but the deadline is secured… No, is this uncertain too?’

The trouble he caused in the past was when Rebecca was still alive.

This time, I can’t guarantee that he will cause the same trouble.

Above all, the problem is how the Order of Fate from the outer realm will move.

There is a possibility that they are moving directly, just like during the time of Igrosia.

At least, they are not coming out of the room, and there are people monitoring them, so there is less worry about contact.

It seemed easier to handle than before.

“Yes, I understand what you mean. Of course, it’s something I should help with.”

“Hmm! Just like Hilla’s son, you are straightforward! Ah, Cecilia! Would you like to come and see the north too?”

“No, I’m fine.”

My sister said in a slightly tired voice.

Tibria flinched at that.

Ah, of course, she should.

“…I know that the young master is fighting a tough battle. When I first learned that it was related to demons, I really wanted to tell him to stop. But, as a Pharos, how could I do that? If it’s a duty, I have no choice but to support it. However, apart from that, I don’t want to see the young master getting hurt.”

It was a euphemistic expression of how much more he intended to show her getting hurt right in front of her eyes. The duke shrank.

“No… It’s just… persuading my son…”

“It’s fine. I’m weak, so I would only hold you back from the journey to the north.”

Has my sister ever given such pressure to someone?

Even though she was speaking as if she was just tired, it was suffocating.

But it was a rather interesting experience. Maybe because the criticism wasn’t directed at me.

“…I will protect Yuren as much as possible so that he doesn’t get hurt.”

“Yes, since you are the godmother, I believe you won’t put your nephew in danger.”

As expected of my sister, she was full of dignity even when turning people around.

I wanted to applaud, but I held back.

Because Historia was also there.

“Ah, before you leave, you should have an audience with His Majesty. It’s a courtesy as a vassal.”

“I was going to do that…!”

The duke, who appeared full of confidence, sank in front of my sister.

* * *

That day, the Grand Duke slept at the Pharos mansion.

The next day came, and the breakfast table was quite heavy.

Then they departed for the imperial city.

It was then that the Grand Duke spoke.

“…Cecilia has grown up to be quite sharp.”

“Yes, she has been supporting the family alone.”

“I have realized something. There are ways to intimidate people other than with fists.”

The Grand Duke, who had become quite subdued overnight, muttered lowly.

“She will make a good wife. Whoever her husband may be, he will be tightly held. Ah, but does Cecilia have no thoughts of marriage? She should be of age by now.”

“Indeed.”

She could find her own happiness by now, but she always gives the same answer regarding that topic.

―How could I marry before the young master? If you have an heir, I will consider it.

She says she will marry only if she has a son.

Suddenly, I thought, maybe my sister wants to live alone.

Why, by then, she would be well past the age of marriage, and if she still doesn’t want to, one could suspect.

‘If you don’t want to, you don’t have to.’

She loves Pharos so much, if that makes her happy, let her be.

I can only guess that she is being evasive, thinking about the impact it would have on me.

Lost in such thoughts, the Grand Duke asked.

“By the way, if we have to find a match for Cecilia, do you have anyone in mind?”

“Well, wouldn’t she decide for herself? If she finds a good person, she will marry.”

“Ah, let me give you some advice from someone who has been through it. If you don’t consider the conditions, it will be a big problem later. Look at me. I married a weak person and became single again after five years.”

It was too spicy.

I was at a loss for words, my lips flapping for a while, and I barely regained my composure and fell into thought.

“…Yes, they must be healthy.”

Along with that, a few other things were needed.

First, they must be intelligent enough to match my sister, know how to take care of a family, and never utter a curse word.

Poverty makes character harsh, and character comes from the environment one grows up in.

They should come from a moderately wealthy family, have received a good education, and have enough wealth to pass on to their children.

Ah, one must have strength too.

Shouldn’t one have the ability to protect their sister in unforeseen situations?

I listed these things one by one.

Then the Grand Duke pursed his lips and looked at me.

“…Why are you doing this?”

“Do you have any intention of sending her off to be married?”

“If my sister wishes, I will send her off anytime.”

“……”

“Why are you really doing this?”

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His gaze could pierce through a person.

Why does he look at me as if I am disgusting?

I roughly know what he’s thinking.

“I’m not asking for complete satisfaction. But shouldn’t the basics be met?”

“If that’s the case, then it’s fortunate…”

“As long as there are no major flaws. So…”

Before I knew it, we had arrived at the imperial city.

I got off the carriage and looked towards the palace.

Someone was approaching from afar with a bright smile.

I said,

“…As long as it’s not someone like His Highness.”

“Grand Duke! Come quickly!”

The Crown Prince strode over.

In fact, if you only consider the conditions, he would be the best match, but knowing his true nature, I could never accept him.

“Hmm, isn’t the Crown Prince the best match?”

“No. Even if my eyes were filled with dirt, no.”

“…What if Cecilia wants it?”

Well,

“Hmm? Yuren, why do you look like that? You look like you want to kill someone.”

“I don’t think I need to kill anyone just yet.”

“Hmm?”

“…Not yet.”

Either I will bite my tongue and die, or the Crown Prince will die.

Whatever happens, one of the two will become reality.