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"ERIS!!"
"YES!!"
The booming voices of an old man and a young girl—though seated close, they might as well have been shouting across a field—snapped Hilda's attention back to the dining table.
Sauros turned to Eris, his stern expression melting into a grin.
"Today was your first lesson with the new tutors, wasn't it? Lill told me she saw you studying hard when she brought snacks. Good!"
"Yes, Grandpa! I worked really hard!!"
As Rudeus' eye twitched, Sauros raised his brows in approval.
"Oh? That's rare. I thought you'd have chased them off by now."
Eris mirrored his expression, her pride unmistakable.
"Nope! Why would I? I like Allen and Sylphie! Today, I learned to write Ghislaine's name in literacy class!"
The moment her triumphant declaration faded, Sauros' face froze in genuine surprise. He glanced at the three young "tutors" across the table.
"Literacy? You learned to write Ghislaine's name?"
"Yes!"
Rudeus, misreading Sauros' stunned pause as disapproval, felt a chill crawl up his spine.
Teaching Eris to write one name in two hours hardly makes us competent tutors…
Panic set in.
Allen's status protects him. Sylphie's well-liked. That leaves…
Me.
If I'm sent back to Buena Village in disgrace, what will Paul do?
Most fathers wouldn't mock their sons for failing, right?
But Paul isn't "most fathers."
He absolutely would.
Just as Rudeus opened his mouth to stammer an excuse—
"Wow~! Our little Eris is so clever!!"
Sauros' voice was dripping with doting pride, his earlier威严 gone without a trace.
Rudeus blinked.
…Wait, who's this?
Where's the stern lord from a minute ago?!
As Sauros ruffled Eris' hair, Phillip—usually unflappable—stared at his daughter in disbelief.
"Division?"
"Yeah! 1 ÷ 2 = 1/2!"
Hearing fractions from Eris' mouth, Sauros whistled.
"Impressive! Guess Phillip's old teaching methods were garbage. Peers work better."
Phillip sighed. "…As you say, Father."
Whether it was the satisfaction of crushing Darius' schemes or Eris' progress, Sauros was in high spirits—until his eyes gleamed mischievously.
"Did you thank your new tutors properly?"
Eris' grin vanished.
"Huh? Why would I—"
"'Why'? Is that how you speak to those who taught you?" Sauros scowled, though the glint in his eyes betrayed his act.
"I—!"
"Hmm?"
"…Uu."
Eris let out a whimper, her face burning as she glared at the trio across the table. Her pride warred with reluctant gratitude, her fingers twitching toward her twin braids—
—only to abruptly drop them, leap off her chair, and execute a flawless noble's curtsy.
"Thank you!"
She vaulted back onto her seat, smugness restored.
Math really does sharpen the mind.
Two hours of "high-pressure" learning had taught her to dodge humiliation with a more "dignified" approach.
Even if it wasn't what Sauros wanted.
A beat of silence.
Three synchronized sighs rang out—from Allen, Phillip, and Sauros.
The three Boreas men exchanged glances, their shared disappointment palpable.
So this is why.
Allen finally understood.
In the original story, Sauros and Phillip hadn't just encouraged Eris to beg Rudeus for magic lessons out of pragmatism.
They wanted to see it.
Why?
Because the primal Boreas bloodline demanded it.
A daughter/granddaughter + catgirl mannerisms = an irresistible spectacle for any male Boreas.
Sauros sighed again, this time shooting Allen a covert look.
"Well, since Eris 'thanked' you… Let's eat!"
Allen nudged the shell-shocked Rudeus under the table and resumed stirring his soup, avoiding Hilda's gaze.
Aftermath
Lunch ended swiftly.
Sauros left as brusquely as he'd arrived, manners be damned.
Eris then dragged Ghislaine to the table, where the Sword King devoured her meal with single-minded intensity.
As the group prepared to leave, they bowed to Phillip and Hilda.
"Thank you for the meal, Lord, Lady."
Phillip nodded warmly.
Hilda, however, stared.
Curly brown hair.
Steel-gray eyes.
The same instinctive pull of Boreas blood.
For thirty minutes, her thoughts had floated weightlessly—
—until Allen's polite "Lady" and retreating back yanked her back to earth.
Had she grasped anything at all?
Footsteps faded.
The dining hall doors creaked shut, severing the light from the corridor.
But in that final sliver of space—
Someone turned back.
Amber eyes met steel-gray.
Then—
Thud.
The door closed.
Darkness swallowed the light.
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 195 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 70 power stones I will publish the next chapter.