Dylan's face looked dark for a moment. His eyes looked nervous too. His misstep wouldn't have been spotted if he was an adult but fortunately, this boy was only fourteen years old. She could slightly feel the clear wariness. However, his true character was soon covered up by his skillful control of expression.
Even though his acting skills were still only progressing, it was almost perfect. At least it seemed her plan to throw a small rock has succeeded. She did not avoid eye contact with him. She smiled more brightly after they made eye contact. He seemed confused.
"A goldfish can speak the human language? That's strange?"
It was a surprise like this.
"I don't understand…. I don't understand, My Master."
His solid wall came back up again but he never could hide a strange feeling that has indwelled into his calm blue eyes. It doesn't mean his blue eyes looked lifeless like it was just now. His eyes just twinkled suddenly. It was so clear that it was in plain slight. It was clear that he was curious about her. She smiled softly.
"Is that so? Anyway, the class is over for today."
Charlize stood up lightly, loosening the tension. A lacy dress draped over the ground. Her ash blonde hair ruffled. She could feel his attention was on her. His eyes seemed to be persistently following her.
He didn't stop her. Charlize was gone elegantly like a butterfly. Three days passed since then. The 13th prince would have believed the world he observed was perfect but she was something exceptional from all the rules.
'I'm doing good so far.'
They both tried to catch each other's attention for the time being. They've observed each other without showing their heart. It was like water and oil that could never be mixed. They never truly conversed with each other even though they were together.
She pretended to be calm but she was sure that he was observing her behavior closely. When she looked back, that feeling of someone watching it would always be him.
"I am happy you also like making diffusers. My hobby is actually making fragrances."
The maid named Mary told her. At first, she was afraid of Charlize. Now, she opened her heart towards Charlize's warm behavior.
"Is this 'Chanspink' that you've made? It is casual and delicate."
"Cha… Chanspink. It's only a gauze but it sounds luxurious when you said it. I am still an amateur, My Lady."
It was a fresh scent. It would be popular if it was sold to ladies from the royal family as it was quite feminine but it would take about ten years for it to become a trend. Mary blushed out of shyness of being praised. Charlize earnestly smelled the diffuser that Mary gave her. The pink colored liquid was adorable.
"I've just thought you might be a genius."
"Oh! You… you are too kind, My Lady!"
"What a pity…"
Charlize tilted her head.
"If I had some capital left, I would have started a perfume company and hired you as the perfumer."
"Huh? I don't know those complicated terms. I, I am only sensitive to scents because my family is running a flower shop… Thank you!"
Mary happily twirled her body. Charlize wasn't someone who would praise others without a reason. She was rich enough to live a life that didn't need to flatter others for love. A luxury merchant targeting the royal family was always a business that could benefit greatly.
"I don't know why everyone misunderstands you. You are always so kind, My Lady."
Marry unintentionally blurted out the words coming from her heart. Initially, the maid didn't like her in the beginning.
'She's a cursed child who killed her own mother.'
Charlize Ronan was infamous. Of course, she was attractive. According to her blood lineage, her status was just right below the princess. However, she never had any similarities with Dylan.
'She looks too n.o.ble.'
Charlize dressed in fancy dress didn't suit the shabby building of the 13th prince. Because Mary was intimidated, the maid made up with rumors about Charlize. People said that Charlize was evil, incompetent, immature, and that she was cursed.
'Why is she here?'
At first they didn't understand. Although he was an abandoned prince, how could he have such a disqualified master? They thought it was an insult and they were mad. But as Mary spent time with Charlize, she started to regret what she did. She had treated her with prejudice.
'She is such a soft and kind woman.'
All the rumors were false.
Charlize smiled:
"Thank you for telling me that."
As Mary witnessed her smile, she was mesmerized for a moment. Charlize was shining. Although Charlize wasn't wearing any makeup, she looked absolutely elegant. Mary understood why she had the rumor of luring others. Charlize was just amazingly beautiful. At first, Charlize looked just a doll with no expressions. Now, she looked more human and had various expressions on her face.
I… I am sorry."
Mary's face flushed and took a bow. As Charlize was surprisingly generous, she didn't even ask for the reason for the apology. She would just grin as if she could understand everything. Because of it, Mary was ashamed even more.
"Then… Then have a nice day, My Lady!"
"Alright, thanks for the gift."
Charlize thought as she watched Mary running out of the room.
'Mary must be not be used to compliments.'
She didn't do much to earn the admiration from her maid. She would talk softly to the maid who brought water to bathe in the morning. Charlize asked her maid what she liked with an innocent face.
It was a piece of cake for her to lure people. It was as easy as making a person hate her. She was worried if she lost the charm, she wouldn't be able to win Dylan's heart. After testing this on Mary, this was the result.
'I absolutely don't have any problems.'
She realized this by staring at the diffuser. She tried hard not to be desperate. Of course, she never needed hurry now. The time was on her side. She placed the diffuser underneath her bed. She began to relax smelling the scent and closed her eyes.
The next day, she went to library as soon as she woke up. Because the text books were delivered for a week, she was limited to only teaching him swordsmanship every single day. Text books were necessary.
'I've seen him from somewhere.'
She felt like she saw the librarian from somewhere. It was an obligation for members of the royal family to memorize all the family genealogy. She could identify the librarian right away.
'Duke Robert.'
He was wearing a silver-rimmed horn-rimmed gla.s.ses and looked intelligent. She crinkled her eyes as soon as she saw the librarian. She remembered now.
He was the man who was unpopular among the daughters of the royal families despite his handsome face. It was because he said he hated stupid women. Even though he was a Duke, he has been unmarried for a while.
'The text book hasn't arrived after a whole week.'
Not that it hasn't arrived, they never wished to give it to her. She realized the situation right away.
As soon as Robert saw Charlize, he hid the books under the red blanket. It was a famous textbook on being a king and was written by Adelio. Of course she knew about this book. She was the magical sword that belonged to the royal family for four hundred years.
"Excuse me, Sir."
Charlize came up to Robert. Robert pretended like he was doing something else.
"I am Charlize Ronan from the palace of the 13th Prince. I applied for the supply of text books one week ago but none of them arrived."
"The library hasn't prepared for the text books yet."
It was a pretext that was prepared. She pointed at the red blanket and asked
"What's the book underneath that blanket?"
As Robert a.s.sumed she wouldn't be able to guess, he looked embarra.s.sed.
"That is…."
"It's the text book of 'Being a King' written by Adelio."
There was a moment of silence. The Duke looked at Charlize. The look in his eyes told her he was full of hatred centering on her. She already knew her reputation. She was an honorary knight that was considered incompetent and unskilled.
The villain of the Duke's family.
A woman who strangely applied for being the Master of the 13th prince. She had every element that Robert hated.
He didn't answer.
"Why won't you give me the textbooks even though it is already prepared? I have gone through proper formalities and I feel like I am not getting recognition as an honorary knight."
"You really don't know why?"
"Yes."
Duke swept his hair. It was silent for a while. Robert sighed.
"Then, I will tell you why as you've asked. It's because you won't be able to fully make use of the textbooks. My faith is that books should only be used by proper masters."
Robert glanced at her. Most ladies would have wept as they wouldn't be able to bear the insult.
"You are unenlightened. Do you feel like you can make use of those complicated books that are used to teach the royal families?"
"Is that the only reason?"
She didn't cry. Instead, she stared directly at him with cold eyes. Robert was intimidated after looking at her.
"What? You were raised like a flower…"
As if he could feel that she was the one that was called the sword master.
"You mean this book is only for few people?"
She didn't show him any respect anymore. Books are used to help a person who is lacking and is needed to be read to people without integrity. His logic was wrong. Even though her smile was bright, her eyes weren't smiling.
Since Robert was intimidated, he shouted.
"Giving you this is an insult to this book! How would Mr. Adelio buried under the tomb feel if he saw you reading this book? I can never give you this book!"
"Is that so?"
Charlize smiled mockingly. Charlize and Robert never had any disputes before her return. As he was known as an intelligent person, she thought highly of him. Instead, he a.s.sumed she wasn't qualified for this book. His love towards books was praiseworthy but he was dealing with the wrong person.
"Listen to me. The qualifications you had mentioned…"
I'm about to show my qualifications to you right now. How stupid it is to make your own qualifications for a reading a book. She began to talk.
"Chapter 1. The lord should never be hated. He should be admired by his subordinates."
It was a perfect pronunciation and accent that could only be said from royal families.
"The second page."
The writings were full of futility. She was nothing compared to his love for books. Robert tried to snort after thinking like this But he just couldn't. He was enlightened after he heard this.
'That is…'
It was the textbook written by the author Adelio. How did she know this? Robert started to have goose bumps. He widened his eyes.