Chapter 4

Lady of the Asher Dukedom (Chapter 4, 4/141)

Chandler, 8 years old. Jason, 7 years old. Lilianna, 6 years old.

They were all the children of my father's half-brothers.

Chandler was the second son of the second uncle, Jason was the third son of the third uncle, and Lilianna was the youngest daughter of Aunt Michelle.

They all attended the direct lineage classes together.

Except for me.

Of course, I also attended those classes until Grandfather placed me under house arrest.

But after Grandfather was ordered by the Emperor to go to the estate, Sylvia and the family tutors gradually began to exclude me from the classes.

"Lady Letitia is not at the level to attend classes with the direct lineage third-generation."

"Why don't you try private tutoring?"

They gave very plausible reasons.

And the second aunt, who was in charge of the household, also consoled me.

"Being slow is not a shameful thing. If you study hard on your own, you can understand everything. Our Lesh is kind and smart, so you can understand, right? I'm always on your side, Lesh."

I twisted my lips, recalling the affectionate voice of the second aunt who came to the annex, far from the main house, to console me.

At the time, I believed all her words were true.

Like a fool.

Thinking of the second aunt's contemptuous expression as she looked at me, crying and begging not to be expelled after Grandfather passed away, made my mouth bitter.

"No one, no one can be trusted."

Here, I had to survive on my own.

Because only then could I save my father and myself.

Clutching my trembling fingertips with anger, I heard the mocking voices of the teachers standing behind me.

"Looks like she's nervous."

"It's supposed to be hard, right?"

"If she falls out of favor with the head of the family this time, it's over, isn't it? She must have come here with a lot of effort."

"Tsk, tsk, she doesn't even know what it means to be stubborn."

"Does she even know what 'stubborn' means?"

"Of course not."

They giggled and covered their mouths, and I turned my head toward them.

"Imperial language, Illis. Mathematics, Paul."

And Sylvia, the etiquette teacher who was the mastermind behind this situation, remained silent.

As I met their eyes one by one, Illis and Paul, who had been chattering just a moment ago, quickly shut their mouths and folded their hands in front of them.

They looked as if they had said nothing.

'I must remember these people.'

What will I do with the memory?

Of course, I will take revenge.

In my previous life, I felt so wronged for being treated like a fool, so this time I won't just sit and take it.

I will give back as much as I receive.

No matter who it is.

"You have arrived."

With the voice of a servant, the door opened, and Chandler and Jason entered with frowning faces, stopping in their tracks.

They noticed that not only Grandfather and the teachers were in the room but also Grandfather's adjutants and some vassals.

Chandler, who had bitten his lip under his slightly lowered head, glared at me as if he was about to hit me.

If there were no eyes watching, he would have certainly done so.

'You're still the same.'

After staring at his sharp eyes, I turned my head, and Bennett continued speaking to the adjutant.

"Miss Lilianna is at the viscount's house and could not come."

"It can't be helped."

Unlike Jason's grumbling voice, Chandler lifted his head.

"Grandfather, you're here?"

Chandler's eyes, which smiled with a slight crease at the corners, were different from when he glared at me.

His expression was so different that it didn't feel like the same person.

'Impressive.'

I thought I understood why, in my previous life, among the direct lineage third-generation, only Chandler went to Oner and returned to the family within a year without being expelled.

With such affectionate behavior, Grandfather must have been charmed by his cute grandson.

But—

"Yes, let's start the lesson."

Mago, who cut off the warm greeting like a knife, immediately got to the point.

During this time, Chandler's expression, which he couldn't control, was melting away.

No matter how cunning he looked, he was still a child with limits.

'He can't hide his expression.'

Chandler, who had been staring at Grandfather with a stiff face, suddenly turned to me as if he felt my gaze.

His eyes, which were grinding his teeth over a red and distorted face, looked extremely angry.

'You're dead today.'

I stared at Chandler, who silently mouthed these words, and slightly raised my middle finger.

Chandler's eyes widened like saucers at the finger I raised calmly, unnoticed by anyone.

"You!"

"Huh? Big brother, me?"

I blinked and smiled to prevent him from shouting, and everyone's attention focused on me.

Including Grandfather.

As the commotion drew their attention, Chandler, whose face had turned red, bowed his head deeply.

"See you later."

There's no one more terrifying than someone who says 'see you later.'

"Okay!"

I turned my head with a bright smile, as if I didn't care.

If it were before, it would have been a problem, but now, what does it matter?

'If I run, that's it, and if I can't run—'

I'll get hit, that's all.

Maybe getting hit would be better? I thought absurdly as I lifted my head, and Sylvia, who had been glaring at me with slanted eyes, forced a smile and raised her hand holding a magical tool.

Then, the words of the test questions floated above her palm.

"We'll start with the imperial language, shall we, Master Chandler?"

Chandler, it seemed, was indeed of the direct lineage.

I only remembered him as the one who always bullied me when I was young, and as a grown-up, he was a rascal indulged in alcohol, women, and gambling.

But seeing him read the imperial language quite well in front of me,

'He must have studied when he was young.'

But why did he turn out that way as an adult?

While I clicked my tongue, the teachers in the back continued to praise him.

"Indeed, a direct lineage master."

"Not inferior to Lord Aleph, the eldest son, right?"

"Although a few words were wrong, it's excellent for his age."

Chandler, who heard the praise from the back, puffed out his chest and looked at Grandfather, hoping for more praise.

But to Mago, this level was too ordinary, or even below ordinary.

He was cold, as if to say that with the amount of money spent on his education, he should at least be this good.

'Of course.'

He had a son called a genius.

And he himself was a genius.

But Sylvia, who couldn't read Mago's indifferent expression, praised Chandler and clapped lightly.

"Well done. Very excellent."

"Thank you, teacher."

Chandler, who didn't seem to notice Grandfather's gaze, slightly raised and lowered his double chin, looking proud.

Sylvia, who had been looking at him with a pleased smile, turned her head to the side and was startled, swallowing her breath.

But she forced a smile and turned to Jason very kindly.

"Now, Master Jason."

Since Chandler had raised the standard of the direct lineage, Jason had to meet it.

After all, the head of the family was watching.

So, with a tense face, he floated the problem on the magical tool.

"I'll give you a math problem."

In Asher, which rose to this position based on banking and trade, numbers and formulas were learned from the time they started walking.

It was something that everyone in Asher, whether direct or collateral lineage, had to do proficiently.

I thought a fairly difficult problem would come up.

Plus 3.

"..."

Hmm.

Isn't it more trivial than I thought?

"A, um."

But the bigger problem was that Jason found even this simple addition difficult.

What Sylvia thought was an easy problem.

Jason, with a tense face, glanced at Grandfather and bowed his head deeply.

He pursed his lips and unfolded his ten fingers, wiggling them, as if he didn't know how to calculate.

The murmurs of the vassals standing in the back could be heard.

"Master Jason."

"That's right."

Sylvia, who was flustered by the murmurs, leaned forward slightly.

"Hmm, Master, please think slowly."

Then, she lowered her gaze to meet Jason's and, so that only he could see, quickly unfolded one finger on her left hand and three fingers on her right hand, then clenched them.

Jason's eyes sparkled at the signal, and he swallowed.

"Three, no, 31!"

"Oh."

"Dear."

A quiet sigh came from the back.

At the short sigh, Sylvia, who had been glancing at Mago, quickly turned her head.

"Miss Letitia, why don't you try to solve it too?"

It was a clear attempt to cover Jason's mistake with my own.

'Well, I'm grateful.'

"Thirteen."

"Oh."

A small exclamation came from the back.

It seemed everyone was sure I wouldn't get it right.

I understand.

To them, I was a fool.

How surprising it must be for a fool to get the answer right.

But unlike the amazed reactions, Sylvia, who had already given the answer to Jason, thought I had seen the answer and spoke.

"Well, Miss, why don't you try this problem too?"

With the intention of pulling me down, she floated.

Plus 2.

Oh, really trivial.

"Eleven."

"Very good."

That's a piece of cake.

I can do addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, differentiation, and integration.

Even in my previous life as a Korean, I studied quite a bit.

'Have you heard of Euniversity?'

I thought the only way for an orphan like me to live properly was to study.

Addition to me?

It's too trivial and ridiculous.

I looked up at Sylvia, who, despite my calmness, was clearly flustered and didn't believe I had given the correct answer, and she floated the next problem.

"Next problem."

Multiplication by 3.

Multiplication.

Isn't it too petty to give to a 6-year-old?

But I thought she had her own reasons.

So, I opened my mouth according to my own situation.

"Thirty."

"My goodness."

And with the continuous correct answers and the exclamations from the teachers in the back, fire flashed in Sylvia's eyes.

She even looked around, thinking someone might be giving me the answers.

But no matter how she looked, there was no one in my line of sight who could give me the answers.

Confirming this, Sylvia, who bit her lip, clenched the magical tool on her palm, hiding her trembling hands.

"Well done."

"Thank you!"

But my test wasn't over yet.

"Now, Miss Letitia, let's try reading ancient language."

And as if she had been waiting for it, Sylvia, with a triumphant expression, floated ancient script, and I answered triumphantly.

"Hokk gwekke tteuransibitt!"