episode_0002

“… It’s big.”

This was Luke’s impression as he looked around the meeting room.

The interior of the duke’s mansion was as spacious as it looked from the outside.

No one would have thought that the youngest princess would be abused in such a huge ducal household.

In the first place, people probably don’t even know about Elin’s existence.

“… … ”

The quiet meeting room is proof of that.

Luke was the only one who applied for the tutor position.

The expression on the servant’s face who guided us here was truly impressive.

-There really are applicants.

An expression that seemed to indicate that no one had supported him.

“Sorry for keeping you waiting.”

Now the servant returned to the reception room.

When I got up from my seat and checked that my tie wasn’t crooked.

“Are you the person who applied to be our youngest child’s tutor?”

A woman came in behind the servant.

My body suddenly stopped.

It was because the voice was too familiar.

-Don’t blame us too much. We just wanted you to be a worthy Berthain. So, for the last time, for our sake…

A pretentious voice that makes you irritated just by hearing it.

Luke turned his head.

… I almost frowned.

“The pillar in charge of the center. Meet the Duchess of Bertain.”

Natia Bertain.

A character who actively ignores the abuse inflicted on Elin.

She was the woman who drove Ellen to suicide through gaslighting.

“Do you know who I am?”

“How could the nobles of the empire not know?”

I desperately raised the corners of my lips.

Because expressing disgust here won’t help anything.

“But why did the Duchess come in person?”

At best, I thought I’d be interviewing the head maid or the head housekeeper.

“He is the one who will be teaching my daughter, so he should check it out himself.”

Natia smiled faintly.

It was difficult to discern what intention lay beneath the mask-like face.

“Then the interview is….”

“Yes, I will see it myself.”

Natia looked around and continued speaking.

“It seems like there are no more applicants anyway. Let’s just proceed with the interview here.”

Natia sat in front of Luke.

The servant naturally poured tea from the side.

Natia took a sip and opened her mouth.

“First, let’s hear a brief introduction and your motivation for applying.”

“I am Luke Bucklin. I would like to take the honorable opportunity to personally train the Princess of Bertain.”

“The Bucklin family… a family with many capable magicians.”

A magical school that goes to Bucklin.

It was a family that didn’t need much further explanation.

“Do you know who our youngest is?”

At least better than you.

He swallowed his words and smiled instead.

“Princess Elin Bertain. I’ve only heard the name.”

“I guess so? Because the youngest’s news is not widely known to the outside world.”

Natia flipped through the papers.

“I have confirmed the application you sent. You graduated from the Academy at the top of your class.”

“Yes.”

“What should I do with this? Actually… .”

A troubled smile appears on his lips.

“Our youngest has many shortcomings. He may not be able to keep up with the class… … .”

This means that it may not be enough to qualify as the top graduate of the Academy.

And yet, it’s obvious that he doesn’t want to let go of Luke.

“It’s okay.”

It didn’t matter what Natia thought of Luke.

I came to see Elin anyway.

“I will do my best to raise your level as much as you want.”

Let’s smile sadly and say the words that are on our lips.

Natia let out a short sigh and raised the corners of her lips.

“Actually, I already passed. There were no other applicants, and my qualifications were overwhelming.”

“Thank you.”

As expected, the interview went smoothly.

“Then, can you briefly tell me what you will be teaching in the future?”

“Yes, excuse me for a moment.”

Natia picked up the empty teacup.

“I majored in magical thinking and spatial magic.”

“Space magic… right?”

When you snap your fingers, a small subspace opens in the air.

“Yes. This is what I mainly researched.”

He put the teacup away and clenched his hands.

The subspace closed as if nothing had happened.

“Opening a space of another dimension.”

I snapped my fingers again.

Luke’s figure disappeared for a moment.

“And teleport.”

Suddenly, he appeared behind Natia.

Luke took the teacup out of subspace again and handed it to Natia.

“The two things I am most confident in.”

“… … That’s amazing.”

Natia stroked the teacup in admiration.

So much so that you don’t even notice that your mouth is open.

“Space isn’t something that just any wizard can handle… .”

“As you can see, I am not a wizard.”

“Yes. I’ve seen a lot of elemental wizards, but this is my first time seeing a spatial wizard.”

“Of course, I have the skills to teach elemental magic.”

“Hehehe… If it were up to me, I would hire you as my first daughter’s tutor.”

“Thank you for your words.”

From the magic she had just shown, it seemed like Natia had completely fallen for Luke.

I don’t need the old fox’s attention.

“Here is the contract. If there is anything strange, please let me know.”

I accepted the contract that Natia gave me.

I read it slowly and tilted my head.

“What is the nondisclosure clause?”

“Literally. It’s a clause that says what happens in the duke’s house can’t be revealed to the outside world. Is there a problem?”

Are there any problems? Of course there are.

A similar level of nondisclosure clause is common in other noble houses.

“It says that it puts a curse on the restriction of speech.”

But I don’t think there’s a place that would try to silence people by using curses.

Although not as much as black magic, curses are also considered a sorcery.

There is only one reason why they resort to curses despite the risk of being in trouble if it becomes known.

“I think we have no choice but to do it that way because if our internal affairs at Bertain were to leak out, there would be a lot of trouble.”

I’m afraid that things related to Elin will leak out.

“When do you put the curse on?”

“If you agree to the contract, I will call you right away.”

aha.

So this is why Natia came here herself.

Well, if you just look at her skills, she’s no ordinary magician.

Luke nodded and finished reading the contract.

“The contract period is until the princess becomes an adult. Is that correct?”

“Yes. And you can take care of your accommodation here for the next 7 years.”

Not a very good deal, except for the curse.

I signed without hesitation.

“Please take care of me in the future.”

“Please take good care of our youngest.”

Natia took a scroll out of her bosom.

A magic circle that has never been seen before is drawn.

As he breathed mana into the scroll, Luke’s tongue became stiff.

I rolled my tongue around in my mouth.

Is this a spell that will set your tongue on fire if you reveal a secret?

First of all, I have to be careful about what I say about Bertain.

“Then shall we go and say hello to our youngest?”

Natia said, confirming that the curse was indeed in place.

“Please give me some guidance.”

Four years after being possessed by the game, Luke got a job as Elin’s tutor.

* * * * *

“The portraits hanging in the hallway are all of the previous heads of the Bertain family. It has such a long history… … .”

Natia continued bragging about Berthain nonstop as she walked down the hallway.

“That’s amazing.”

He just gave a vague response and let it all flow away.

There’s only one thing on my mind.

It was a message I saw four years ago.

[Make her happy.]

A notification that popped up as soon as I started the hidden route.

And when I found Elin, the phrase appeared before my eyes again.

If that hidden route is to enter the game directly.

Does this mean that this time I can finally see a happy ending?

“This is the youngest’s room.”

As I was thinking about that, I suddenly found myself in front of Ellen’s room.

“This room seems smaller than the other rooms.”

It was a much shabbier room than any room I had been in before.

“Since the youngest is still small, he doesn’t need a very large room.”

Natia lied without changing her expression.

In fact, he gave me the room he was using as a storage room because he didn’t like seeing Elin.

“I see.”

He knocked on the door, beating the drum half-heartedly.

dripping.

-yes yes…!

The door swings open with a creaking sound.

“What brings you here… … Huh?”

A little girl jumped out, shivering.

The expression that had been pale soon became blank.

Could it be because my father came to me with a whistle every now and then?

“Hello, Your Majesty.”

I knelt down on one knee to get eye level.

“I am Luke Bucklin, who will be your tutor starting today.”

“… Tutor?”

Ellen took a couple of steps back.

He rolled his eyes and glanced at Natia, then opened his mouth and said, “Ah.”

I guess he didn’t know the tutor was coming today.

I looked at Elin carefully.

Lavender hair with shaggy, split ends.

Blue eyes that have lost focus and lost their light.

Dark circles that had fallen thickly covered her cute facial features.

There were traces of biting the tips of his nails.

“My youngest has been having trouble sleeping lately, so his complexion doesn’t look so good.”

Natia noticed Luke’s gaze and pretended to be worried.

What the heck are you talking about?

It’s obvious that you suffer from insomnia.

Because of my father who comes to visit me with a whistle every now and then.

“I will use this for educational purposes.”

Let’s solve sleep first.

I nodded my head, thinking about that.

“Okay, Ellen. Should I say hello to the teacher?”

“My name is Elin Bertain… … .”

“Your voice is too small.”

Natia’s voice is low and muffled.

Elin gasped, like a small animal imprinted with fear.

“Sorry, sorry… .”

“It’s okay.”

I cut off the apple.

Luke, who was looking at the trembling Elin, blurted out a thought that suddenly occurred to him.

“Can I also teach etiquette lessons in the future?”

I felt it as soon as I saw the condition.

I think we need to spend more time together, even if it’s just a little bit more.

“Oh, then we should be grateful.”

Natia smiled faintly, not knowing Luke’s speed, and checked her watch.

“It’s already this much time… . Then say hello to the teacher, Elin.”

Natia’s face, waving her hand, had a fake smile on it until the very end.

“Enter… .”

Natia walked down the hallway, leaving the stiff Elin behind.

As he turned the corner, he disappeared.

“Whoa… … .”

Only then did Elin let out the breath she had been holding.

“Huh… ?”

Then, realizing that Luke was next to him, he covered his mouth with his hand.

His already pale face turned pale.

How long must I have been paying attention to others’ feelings to end up like this?

“You can be comfortable in front of me.”

“… ?”

“I won’t tell anyone about your mistake, Princess.”

“… ??”

Ellen’s expression turns questionable.

It’s a look in his eyes as if he doesn’t understand anything.

I will explain what this means little by little.

Luke smiled as he thought about that.

“Please take care of me in the future, Your Majesty.”

It was my first day working as a tutor.