Chapter – 05
After finishing her bath, Olivia entered her bedroom with a much clearer complexion, though her eyes were still slightly red. Eleanor, who had been waiting for Olivia while sitting in a chair, stood up.
“I’ll take care of it, so you can leave now.”
Eleanor naturally received the towel that had been wrapped around Olivia’s hair from the maid. The maid, seemingly happy to pass off the tedious task, left without a single refusal.
“Hello, Olivia.”
Olivia, seeing Eleanor’s face for the first time, glanced at her hesitantly through the mirror. She seemed to think she was acting secretly, but her blue eyes—so like Logan’s—kept moving, studying Eleanor continuously.
“From today, I’ll be your teacher.”
“…….”
“My name is Eleanor Hudson. You can just call me Eleanor.”
Eleanor gently brushed Olivia’s hair. As the towel absorbed more moisture and became damp, Olivia’s lips twitched slightly, as if she wanted to say something but was hesitant. Eleanor didn’t push; she waited.
Even as Olivia’s hair was nearly dry, she still hadn’t spoken. Suspicion lingered in her eyes.
“You must be tired today, so instead of a lesson, shall we just introduce ourselves?”
Olivia nodded slightly.
“Let me introduce myself again. I’m Eleanor Hudson, and from tomorrow, I’ll be having lessons with you.”
Eleanor calmly repeated her introduction.
“…Eli?”
“Yes. You can call me that too. Will you introduce yourself to me, Olivia?”
Encouraged by Eleanor’s gentle voice, Olivia slowly opened her mouth.
“Ol… Olivia Clar…ben…”
“How old are you?”
“E-eight years old.”
She seemed unfamiliar with conversation; every time she tried to speak, hesitation was clear. Eleanor felt a pang as she watched Olivia, likely raised in strict isolation, unsure of even simple words.
“Today, I’ll just observe how you spend your time. Tomorrow, we’ll do something you like. What would you like to do?”
At Eleanor’s question, Olivia blinked as if moisture had gathered in her blue eyes, though she wasn’t crying.
“Don’t you want to do anything?”
“…I don’t know.”
Olivia muttered with a gloomy expression. It was obvious she’d only been told what not to do, never given a choice. Even though she was born in a good household, she was like a bird trapped behind bars. Syndie didn’t even plan to let Olivia out of her room, let alone beyond the courtyard wall.
Of course, Logan seemed to care for Olivia. But even if he doted on her, he couldn’t stay with her all day. And he couldn’t interfere in family matters like Syndie could.
“Tomorrow, we’ll figure out what you want to do together.”
At Eleanor’s suggestion, Olivia narrowed her eyes suspiciously. Eleanor was reminded of Logan in that moment—the way he would glance at someone, trying to read them.
“Lies.”
“Really.”
Despite being only eight, she spoke with a skepticism born of constant deception. Eleanor couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.
“Nothing unusual at the harbor. It’s just the usual tension between the two nations.”
Usher bounced a shiny apple in the air a few times as he spoke. Logan leaned against the window at an angle, the cigar in his mouth resting between his fingers as he exhaled slowly.
“There’s been more military supply movement. It’s not something we can ignore.”
More military supplies had moved, yet there was no provocation, which seemed suspicious. The two things didn’t make sense together.
“I told them to keep monitoring, so we’ll see.”
Usher replied casually and offered the red apple to Logan.
“What is this for?”
“An apology for returning empty-handed.”
Logan chuckled at the playful gesture. Taking the apple, he continued puffing on his cigar, amused by Usher’s antics.
“Do I need to be grateful?”
Usher tilted his head with an uncertain expression. Logan watched the odd behavior and raised an eyebrow.
“On the way back from Dove, we stopped by Kent to rest.”
Ah, so the gratitude was for letting him rest. Logan listened without expectation.
“Anyway, that’s that.”
It was just idle talk, and Usher laughed to himself, seemingly entranced.
“By the way, why was a private tutor suddenly hired for Olive? Wasn’t the plan to send her to public school?”
The topic had shifted suddenly, but Logan answered obediently. He had no need to hide anything from Usher, who already knew the circumstances.
“Olivia wasn’t ready.”
Of course, it wasn’t that Logan feared Olivia would be harmed by the Clarben family, but he couldn’t predict what might happen out of sight. To Logan, Olivia was just a younger sister, but to others, she was different. Syndie used that as leverage to persuade him.
A troublesome woman. Logan rose from his slanted position on the window ledge, flicking the ashes of his cigar into the ashtray.
“So, school is off the table?”
“We’ll see. If she can reach the point where she can attend school within a few years, we’ll pay eight years’ worth of wages upfront and terminate the contract.”
It was an unprecedented offer, one Eleanor had no reason to refuse. Less work, but full payment.
“How did you even know about her tutor?”
Logan looked at Usher curiously; he hadn’t mentioned Eleanor to him.
“She had a little tantrum earlier. I caught her ghost-like self draping a white sheet over Eleanor’s head.”
“…Eleanor?”
“I met her on the train to the Southern estate.”
Usher giggled as he explained how he knew Eleanor.
“…Why that look?”
At that moment, Usher froze, noticing Logan staring at him with an unreadable expression.
“Remember what I always say.”
Logan had instructed him not to interfere with the estate staff. None of the household staff should ever be hurt because of him. Even a close friend like Usher couldn’t escape this.
“She’s not a maid.”
“Are you trying to play word games with me?”
Logan tilted his head sharply. Usher explained with a helpless expression.
“She’s part of a noble household.”
Eleanor wasn’t like ordinary servants. While her family’s wealth had faded, the Hudsons were still a titled family, granted by the king.
Yet for Eleanor, who came here to work, this wasn’t an ideal choice. She likely wasn’t experienced in romantic freedom, having lived under her father’s gaze her entire life.
“Don’t interfere if you can’t overcome everyone’s opposition.”
If Eleanor ever met someone, marriage would naturally be considered. But Usher had only just met her; he wouldn’t have such intentions yet. And even if he did, the Fitzman household wouldn’t welcome it.
“Sir, are you secretly Eleanor Hudson’s family?”
“I’m obliged to protect my employee, that’s all.”
Logan said firmly. Eleanor had come as Olivia’s tutor. He had a duty to protect her while she stayed here.
“It’s absurd for an employer to control a servant’s love life.”
Usher argued, incredulous.
“Have you ever seen me meddle with the staff at the duke’s estate? Like this…?”
“Fine.”
Usher didn’t seem to give up easily. But the key factor was Eleanor’s feelings, not Logan or Usher’s. Eventually, Logan sighed and spoke.
“If Hudson doesn’t want it, back off without complaint.”
“I’m not a jerk who clings to a woman who says no. I won’t act rude either.”
Usher replied obediently.
“But even if you had opposed it to the end, I wouldn’t have cared,” Logan added.
Then, teasingly, Usher whispered:
“I felt fate the moment our eyes met.”
As Logan frowned, Usher muttered to himself. His violet eyes were warm, yet carried a strange, unfamiliar heat. Only then did Logan realize his friend had grown into a full-fledged young man.
A true summer of youth had arrived.
