Chapter 17
“Hmm... It seems the young master still hasn’t gotten up...”
“Uh... W-what is it? We’ll let you know when the meal is ready.”
“Oh, it’s nothing. I was looking for someone. Sorry to startle you.”
I’d looked around the grounds and the study, but I still couldn’t find Aiden, so I even opened the door to the dining room. Inside, there was only a maid setting out the food; Aiden was nowhere to be seen.
I apologized to the maid, who seemed more than a little startled by my sudden entrance, then quietly left the dining room.
It seemed Aiden had slept in today and was still asleep.
Since it was already 7:30, I got up to go wake him.
“Hmm... I think the young master’s room is the second door on the left on the second floor... So this must be it.”
Knock, knock—
Even though I thought he was probably asleep, I gave the door a light knock just in case.
That, too, was a courtesy meant to show consideration for one another. If I wanted to teach someone manners and help them become part of his everyday life, I had to practice them properly myself first.
I gave a light knock and waited by the door for a moment, but I heard nothing from inside, so I cautiously placed my hand on the doorknob.
‘...Should I go in? Breakfast is important, and the maids wake him for that reason, so I suppose it’s all right?’
I hesitated for a moment, standing outside with my hand on the doorknob as I thought it over.
Maybe Aiden was washing up and hadn’t heard me knock?
Or perhaps he didn’t want me to come in?
There was no one I could ask about any of that, so I cautiously gripped the doorknob and began to turn it.
In the end, I wouldn’t know unless I woke him up and experienced it for myself at least once.
Creeeak—
“Um... Please excuse me for a moment...”
As the door hinges creaked softly, the room came into view—and it was messier than I’d expected.
I didn’t know whether he simply didn’t care much for keeping things tidy, or whether tidiness was a sign of maturity I shouldn’t expect from a nine-year-old.
At least, the room before my eyes didn’t look particularly neat.
Pens and stacks of paper were scattered across the desk.
Clothes and various odds and ends lay on the floor. Beside them was a snow-white bed, where Aiden slept innocently, unaware of anything.
When his eyes were open, he could look quite sharp, and his words weren’t particularly gentle to begin with, so he hardly seemed soft. But now, he looked like an angel.
Carefully closing the door so I wouldn’t wake him, I went over to the bed and gazed at him.
“You’re sleeping soundly... Hmm...”
Somehow, innocent children looked truly adorable when they were asleep.
Unlike when he was awake, there was no trace of worry on his face, nor any hint of dissatisfaction.
He simply seemed happy, enjoying the warm blessing of sleep in a soft cradle made of blankets and a bed.
Unfortunately, it was time for him to wake up, so I watched him quietly and spoke in a soft voice.
“Young master, it’s time to get up. Breakfast will be ready soon.”
“Mmm... Yaaawn...?”
Aiden slowly yawned and rubbed his eyes as he heard me. Then he saw me, his eyes widened, and he hurriedly sat up.
“W-what? Why are you here?”
“Ah, I just came to wake you since it’s almost time for breakfast. Please don’t worry; I have no intention of hurting you.”
Smack—
I slowly straightened up from my crouch and gently reached for Aiden’s hand to help him up, but he snatched it away as if in a panic.
A faint sting lingered as I stood there in a daze, staring at my hand. Aiden cautiously came closer and looked at me.
“I-I mean, why did you come in for no reason? I can go get breakfast myself, so y-you should eat first. Tell Father I’ll be there within five minutes.”
“...Understood, young master.”
I watched Aiden head straight into the washroom for a moment, then quietly stepped out of his room.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“...Sigh, why on earth is that person here instead of Melia...?”
I’d heard a soft voice in my sleep, and had fallen into a deeper slumber than usual today. I’d opened my eyes thinking the head maid had come to wake me.
But instead of silver hair, what I saw before me was sky-blue hair and eyes like a lake.
Then there was her distinctive posture and figure, which drew my gaze.
I’d woken so suddenly, and so much information had flooded in all at once, that I’d panicked.
Even though I was the young master, being rude was still being rude, as Father had told me time and again. I’d have to apologize later for swatting her hand away.
She and I were both people, after all.
Father had always taught me to remember that nobles weren’t superior to anyone. We worked for the people of our domain, and in return received fame and honor.
I would never disregard the words of the person dearest to me—my father. Even if I found the tutor who’d come here bothersome, I thought I should apologize.
Of course, the image of her standing there in a daze, looking startled when I swatted her hand away, kept running through my mind.
Seeing someone who always seemed so cheerful standing there, flustered and stunned, had left me feeling unsettled, too.
How should I put it? It felt like watching someone I’d thought could never break suddenly crumble.
Maybe she was cautious around me because she didn’t know me well. I didn’t know her well, either, so perhaps I’d treated her too carelessly.
Or maybe she’d simply been caught off guard. I didn’t want to give myself a headache thinking about it any longer.
All I had to do was wash my face, go out, eat the delicious meal they’d prepared, and enjoy a peaceful day.
And I could simply put this incident out of my mind.
“Yaaawn...”
I slowly looked in the mirror, yawned, and turned toward the washroom door.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
“Ah, there you are. Are you feeling more awake now~?”
I was sitting at the table, slowly cooling my mushroom soup, which had a few croutons in it, and had just taken a spoonful or two when Aiden came over after washing his face and sat down.
He still looked a little tired, perhaps not fully awake, but I smiled as he walked over and sat down, then took a small bite of bread.
He still seemed reluctant to talk to me, but Aiden also seemed to know he couldn’t ignore me forever, and quietly looked my way.
“There’s a head maid here, so why did you go in yourself?”
“They were busy cooking, and I had nothing else to do, so I went in instead~ Besides, it’s better to eat breakfast, and fresh-baked bread is nicer than bread and soup that have gone cold, don’t you think?”
“...That isn’t something you need to concern yourself with. Your role here is to be my tutor, not my nanny.”
Although he still didn’t seem to trust me much, this was enough for now.
I thought this was better than him not wanting to be around me at all or even speak to me.
“Hmm... That may be true, but tutors can also help out a little with everyday things, rather than simply teaching.”
As I watched him chew on bread spread with jam, looking as though he understood what I meant but didn’t want to, I finished my soup.
It was good, but I did wish there’d been a little more soup. Still, this was much better than having none at all.
Complaining about the portions would be greedy in this world, and I thought it best to show at least basic courtesy, so I quietly reached for the last piece of bread.
Tap—
“...Oh, sorry. Please go ahead and enjoy it. I’ve already eaten plenty~”
My hand brushed Aiden’s as he reached for the bread, perhaps because he was still a little hungry. I smiled awkwardly and withdrew my hand. His green eyes fixed on me for a moment, then he took the bread.
I didn’t know what his stare meant, but if he said later that I’d made him uncomfortable, I intended to apologize.
“I’ll see you at teatime in a little while. Enjoy your meal.”
“...I’m still eating. Is there somewhere you need to be in a hurry?”
I’d stood up after saying goodbye, but Aiden spoke quietly, so I stopped and looked back at him.
Maybe he didn’t dislike me after all.