MLCP 01

Chapter – 01

The Hudson Marquisate was a symbol of a declining noble family.

While the Kingdom of Redon underwent rapid industrialization, the family had repeatedly made choices that left them behind. Their arrogance ruined everything. The pride they once took in the title personally bestowed by the king blinded their eyes and deafened their ears. And Charles Hudson, the teenage marquis, relied only on a tiny estate and the small amount of money his father had left in the bank.

“Damn you, Liam!”

But the world changed faster than their assumptions or convictions. Iron bridges connected cities across rivers, explosives and firearms advanced, and machinery drastically increased the productivity of the textile industry.

Even those who had once tilled the land desperately for a meager living abandoned the estate for the nearby cities. His little land turned into ruin.

“That bastard took all my money today, too!”

Charles Hudson’s pride as a noble had no match against the rising power of capital. With his thoughtless spending, all he had left were debts and land he could still farm—and even that small piece of land had to be sold.

“Elinor! Elinor Hudson!”

Had he at least waited for a buyer willing to pay a fair price, he might have had some funds. But buried under mountains of debt, he sold the farmland at a pittance to clear it immediately. The buyer was the very kind of emerging capitalist he had once despised and scorned.

“That wretched girl—where did she go when her father came?”

Charles stomped the table leg in frustration, sending the basket of bread teetering. The bread inside was somewhat dry and stale.

“I’m here.”

Just as Charles glared at the bread and was about to throw it to the floor in anger, Elinor descended the staircase from the second floor.

“How many times have I called you? And now you finally crawl out?”

“I was organizing my lessons.”

“Do you think you’re a teacher? Your job is to find a suitable match to lessen our burden, not organize lessons…”

Elinor let out a small sigh as she picked up the crumbs from the floor.

“I’ve become the private tutor for Olivia, daughter of the Duke of Claven.”

Would her careless father even recognize the significance of this? She was sure he wouldn’t.

“What? What did you say?”

“I am Olivia Claven’s private tutor.”

Everything had become tiresome now. The dilapidated house that was falling apart, her father constantly drunk and causing a scene, the ever-growing gambling debts—all of it. She just wanted to run away.

“A private tutor! That’s something for lowly commoners!”

Charles’s face turned red as he shouted.

“The Hudsons are such a venerable family—how dare you sully our name!”

“….”

“A private tutor? How can you? The Hudson name, ruined and reduced to beggary, and yet the head of the house gambles daily, barely eating. Is that what you call nobility?”

Charles’s broad, heavy hand finally struck Elinor’s cheek. She braced herself, managing not to fall.

“You crazy girl! Even if you insult your family, there are limits!”

“What use is a title when reality is like this? Nobility isn’t worth more than commoners.”

Elinor lifted her chin. Her unusually clear, pale skin left a bright red handprint, yet she felt no desire to appear weak in front of Charles.

“I fed you, I sheltered you, and this is your gratitude?”

“….”

“You have no right to stay in this house. Pack your things and leave immediately!”

“That’s exactly what I was planning to do.”

Elinor’s words were exactly what she wanted to hear. She went upstairs, retrieved her pre-packed belongings, and came back down. Charles gave a dismissive chuckle as he watched her.

“Take care of yourself.”

“You’ll be fine as long as I’m not around, so just get lost!”

Elinor bowed deeply to Charles and opened the door to the outside world. Behind her, her father’s curses—filthy, shameless, pouring out like a flood—echoed in the empty house as she stepped out.

Her memories of leaving home were bitter, yet she quickly regained her composure. She loved the land she had grown up on, but she had no desire to live like this. She had to do something, if only to protect the memories of her mother.

It was early summer, and even with a wide-brimmed hat, the sunlight burned her skin. The wind stirred the green leaves, creating a rustling noise that tickled her senses.

Elinor stepped forward with a resolute expression. Her steps, initially heavy, grew almost like a run as she approached the train station.

“One third-class ticket to Southern, please.”

The station attendant handed her a worn ticket as she panted slightly. Elinor clutched the Southern-bound ticket and moved toward the platform.

Kent, where she had grown up, was a quiet rural town, and the train platform was mostly empty. Elinor sat on a creaky wooden bench and waited.

“Excuse me. Has the train to Southern departed?”

A handsome young man with bright blond hair and violet eyes leaned forward with a fresh smile.

“No, not yet. I’m waiting, too.”

“Oh, good. I ran over here worried I’d miss it.”

Perhaps because of the heat, his shirt fluttered slightly in the wind. Instead of smelling of sweat, he smelled of clean soap. His slightly playful demeanor didn’t feel annoying at all.

“Why are you going to Southern?”

“For work.”

“Ah, I see. Southern has developed well, so it’s a good place to work.”

Elinor knew a little about the Duke of Claven, the lord of Southern. Though regarded as a serious and mature man in his thirties, he was actually just a year older than Elinor—nineteen when he became head of the house, now only twenty-four—and he was her employer.

“The police aren’t the only ones keeping order; the Duke has his own security, so it’s safe here.”

“You know Southern well,” she replied, and he smiled.

“May I sit next to you?”

Elinor nodded, sensing that he was trustworthy.

“From Dove to Southern takes at least five days, and it’s exhausting. Sitting too long hurts my backside.”

She nodded in agreement.

“So I’m taking a day to rest in Kent.”

“That’s a good idea, except there’s nothing to see here.”

“All the better for a rest, then.”

Everything about him seemed genuine, with no hidden malice.

“The train is coming.”

With a clatter and puff of smoke, the train entered the platform. Elinor stood, waiting for it to stop, and bowed slightly toward the young man beside her.

“I’m in third class, so I’ll go over there.”

“Ah, I see. It was nice meeting you.”

The young man blinked, nodding, and Elinor turned without hesitation to her compartment.

“My name is Usher Fitzman.”

Before she could reach her seat, Usher blocked her path. She looked up, startled.

“When we meet again, please call me by my name.”

His violet eyes sparkled like amethyst under the sunlight. Elinor nodded almost instinctively.

“The train is about to depart. Please board!”

Hearing the bell, Elinor finally snapped back to reality and hurried into the compartment. Usher didn’t stop her.

Once on the train, she impulsively looked back.

“Wait! I’ll be right on!”

Usher grinned mischievously like a playful child and quickly went to his own seat.

He was cheerful. Elinor thought so as she finally settled into her cramped third-class seat.

Through the grimy window, the greenery of Kent receded. Even as she left her hometown, she wasn’t particularly sad. She only thought she might remember him whenever she heard the bright, clear chime announcing the train’s departure.