Chapter 79

Misfortune tends to arrive just when you’ve forgotten it exists. While it wasn’t exactly a natural disaster, Aunt Liliana’s request was certainly troublesome.

Mornings were spent studying with my brothers. On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, we had riding lessons. For some reason, I was still stuck participating. Occasionally, Sir Saries would drop by for swordsmanship instruction. On those days, I’d prepare a delicious snack. Talking with Sir Saries is fun—I get to hear stories about the Order that neither I nor the original Patience ever knew. He said Sir Eugene is in the Royal Guard. How dashing! He’s just like Lady Oscar from The Rose of Versailles. But I didn’t have time to daydream about that anymore.

My father, wearing a dark expression, informed me, “Countess Northcote will be visiting tomorrow.” He seemed even more uncomfortable with her than with Aunt Amalia. The mood in the house turned gloomy before she even arrived.

Aunt Liliana Northcote was the most beautiful of the three sisters. Well, she is the youngest, after all. But it wasn’t just that; she seemed exceptionally skilled at dominating the room. She didn’t send probing gazes like Aunt Amalia or Aunt Charlotte. Instead, she greeted me with a smile. These are the types of people who are truly scary.

“My, Patience. How you’ve grown. I haven’t seen you since you were born.”

That smile is terrifying. Indeed, I don’t think I’ve seen her since I was a baby.

“I heard from Sister Amalia that you are very reliable, so I have come, albeit embarrassedly, to ask a favor.”

So, this is the “trouble.” I wonder what it is.

“I want you to oversee my foolish son’s studies. He is the heir to the House of Northcote, but because he is the youngest, we’ve spoiled him. At this rate, he will embarrass himself at the Royal Academy.”

So I’m to be a tutor? If she pays me a part-time wage, I’m game… Let’s hear the terms.

“Um, what is your son’s name and age? Also, I cannot handle swordsmanship or horsemanship.”

Aunt Liliana, smiling brightly, looks very young. She looks several years younger than my father, who does nothing but sequester himself in his study. Wait, Aunt Liliana isn’t talking to Father at all. Is she just ignoring him?

“He is ten years old, and his name is Samuel Northcote. He enters the Royal Academy this year, but at this rate, he’ll drop to B-class next year.”

Ah, the ability-based class system might have actually been my father’s idea. Aunt Liliana is likely angry about that. That’s why she won’t speak to him.

“But surely the House of Northcote can afford to hire a tutor…”

Aunt Liliana’s smile deepened. Of course, they could hire as many tutors as they wanted. It just means they all failed. Tutoring my cousin Samuel, huh? Good grief.

“Sister Liliana, isn’t that a bit too heavy a burden for Patience’s shoulders?”

At Father’s words, Aunt Liliana’s smile became so profound she looked like a Hannya mask.

“Are you suggesting I expose my family’s shame to the public!?”

Whoa, what intensity. If even this level of pressure couldn’t make him study, it might be a lost cause.

“Auntie, I don’t know if I can do it, but I will accept. All students from high-ranking noble families are terrified of dropping to B-class.”

Good. She returned to a normal smile. But I was naive. I was as “sweet” as an isekai cake.

“Wonderful. Then, Patience, come to the mansion at once.”

Whaaaat! What about my winter vacation with my brothers? I looked to Father for help, but it was useless. He just shook his head. Instead, Aunt Liliana, acting as if she still owned her childhood home, rang the silver bell on the table to summon Wyatt.

“Patience will be staying at the House of Northcote starting now. Have a maid bring her luggage later.”

Wait, what about saying goodbye to my brothers? It was handled so briefly in front of the entrance. I want to cry.

Isn’t this basically kidnapping and confinement? Is cousin Samuel really that much of a hopeless case? Aunt Liliana must be truly desperate.

It was a magnificent Northcote carriage, but it felt like we arrived the moment I sat down. Wow, what a luxurious mansion. Even though they lived this close, they didn’t offer any help during our hard times. I’m starting to feel a bit resentful.

“Now, Patience. Let me introduce you to Samuel.”

She completely ignored my feelings. Resigned, I followed behind my aunt toward the nursery.

This mansion was also warm from the moment we entered the front door. But the nursery was so hot it felt like the fireplace was overfilled. What a waste. Maybe “global warming” doesn’t exist in this world, but heating a room unnecessarily is just a waste of resources.

“Samuel, this is your cousin, Patience Granger. Study together with her.”

Ah, I’ve found the spoiled child. Samuel had curly blonde hair, grey-blue eyes, and was quite chubby. I’m a shotacon, so I don’t mind a plump physique. However, continuing to eat sweets while ignoring his mother when she speaks to him is a no-no.

“Lord Samuel, good day. I am Patience.”

I sat beside him and spoke. He finally stopped eating.

“Are you the new tutor?”

His tone was weary. He must have been pushed so hard that he developed a visceral rejection of studying.

“Heaven’s no. I’m your cousin, so I just came to play. Though I do oversee my two younger brothers’ studies at home.”

Oh, he seems to have taken an interest in boys his age.

“How old are they?” His tone is condescending, but I’ll endure it for now.

“Nasius is nine, and Henry is seven.”

“Hmph, they’re just kids then.”

I can’t say it out loud, but Nasius is a hundred times smarter than you. You’re probably losing to seven-year-old Henry, which is why I was called in, isn’t it? Well, maybe not quite.

“Lord Samuel, you’ll be entering the Royal Academy after the New Year, won’t you?”

Ah, he hates that topic. He turned his head away. Oh my, isn’t he cute? A sulky, chubby boy is actually quite charming. My “shota” strike zone is surprisingly wide.

“Patience, I leave Samuel in your hands.”

With that, she dumped the responsibility on me and left the nursery. Well, fine. I have my thoughts about Aunt Liliana, but I’m kind to young boys. Once Samuel can study a bit better, I’d like him to become friends with Nasius. It’s my “Increase the Shota Population” plan.

At this moment, I thought that first-year elementary curriculum at the Royal Academy would be a piece of cake. I was wrong!

“Samuel, what are you studying? Show me.”

The nursery was equipped with a magnificent desk and chair, and even a chair for a tutor.

“I’ve been told to memorize the books here.”

I flipped through them. Yeah, they’re easy. Which means Samuel is in a truly dire state. He really is below Henry’s level.

Samuel looked like he hated even looking at the books. Since his situation is this bad, the House of Northcote must have hired all sorts of tutors already. That probably just made his hatred for studying even worse.

“Samuel, what are you good at?”

I’ll save making him do the hated studying for later. Let’s let him do something he likes.

“I like riding.”

Well, our hobbies don’t match. Next.

“What else?” Oh, Samuel smiled. That smile looks just like Aunt Liliana’s.

“You’re bad at riding, aren’t you?”

He saw right through me. Hmph, don’t underestimate me.

“I am a lady. It is no problem for me to be poor at riding. More importantly, is there nothing Samuel is talented at?”

Samuel laughed happily.

“Riding is necessary even for a lady. What will you do if you are invited to a hunt?”

“We have no horses at my house. Therefore, we are never invited to hunts.”

He looked shocked to hear we had no horses.

“Why are there no horses? How do you manage a carriage without horses?”

“Horses eat fodder, so we don’t keep them. When we need a carriage, we rent the horses.”

He probably knows nothing about the life of a poor noble. He’s stunned.

“Whoa… is your house poor?”

It’s true, but how rude.

“Samuel, the House of Granger is proud and maintains honorable poverty. Therefore, unnecessary heating is unheard of.”

I moved the unburnt firewood away from the hearth.

“You’re interesting. The tutors never said anything. I thought it was too hot, too.”

Samuel might hate studying, but he doesn’t seem stupid. Well, he is Aunt Liliana’s child, after all.

“So, is there nothing else you’re good at besides riding?”

“I like music. But my father and mother do nothing but tell me to study.”

Well, if he’s only at a first-grade level, parents of high nobility would definitely panic. But I think he’ll be fine. If he isn’t stupid, he just needs to learn the “knack” for studying.

The nursery was stocked with instruments as well. A Hanon book, a lute, and a flute. Today, let’s play music together.

“I’ll play a new song I composed.”

Samuel listened intently. Then, he played it back on the lute.

“My, Samuel, you are blessed with wonderful talent.”

Are you Mozart? He can play it immediately after hearing it. He seemed to realize I was praising him from the heart.

“Your new song is wonderful. I want to hear more.”

We’ve closed the distance between us significantly.

“It is not ‘you.’ It is Patience.”

“Patience, play another song.”

He’s younger than me but addresses me without a title, but oh well. I played a few more songs for him.

“Patience, you have talent. Are you perhaps in the Music Club?”

Maybe Samuel wants to join the Music Club.

“Yes, since I am Princess Margaret’s lady-in-waiting, we are in the club together.”

“That sounds nice. I want to join the Music Club too, but when I asked Mother, she said it would be difficult.”

The Music Club seems to be by recommendation only. But if it’s Samuel, President Albert would surely approve. He is a pure music idiot, after all.

“Say, Samuel, if I said I’d recommend you for the Music Club, would you study with me?”

The moment he heard “study,” he showed a visceral rejection. Just how strictly was he treated? This looks like it will be difficult. At this rate, my fun winter vacation with my brothers will vanish. I have to do something!