Chapter – 06
Eleanor boldly canceled all lessons on social etiquette and the refinements expected of a young lady.
There were three reasons for this. First, Cindy seemed completely uninterested in Olivia’s education, so Eleanor assumed she wouldn’t notice. Second, Olivia herself would likely feel no interest in such lessons.
And finally… Eleanor wanted to help Olivia cultivate her humanity and discover what truly fascinated her.
“What is this?”
Olivia’s gaze fell on the item in Eleanor’s hand. It was paper and colored pencils, purchased with Cindy’s permission.
When Olivia asked, Eleanor placed the paper and colored pencils on the spacious table and sat down.
“Paper and colored pencils. Go ahead, sit.”
Olivia approached cautiously like a wary cat, curiosity shining on her face, and took a seat. Eleanor opened the box of colored pencils, revealing a rainbow of colors. Seeing them, Olivia bounced in her seat with excitement.
“So many!”
Olivia’s eyes flicked back and forth between Eleanor and the colored pencils. Though they weren’t extravagant or expensive enough to be unaffordable in a ducal household, she stared as if seeing them for the first time.
“Can you count how many colored pencils there are?”
Olivia blinked at Eleanor’s question. Her own sapphire eyes sparkled like beads in the light, then clouded with faint disappointment.
“I don’t know…”
Her voice was timid and tense. Olivia was eight years old, but compared to other children her age, her development had lagged. Yet it seemed less about any inherent disability and more about what she had never been taught.
Considering that she had once wet herself in fear at her mother’s yelling, this was understandable. Cindy likely scolded Olivia when she couldn’t follow ordinary lessons, and Olivia, intimidated by her mother, would shrink in fear. That fear would eventually lead to punishment.
“Let’s start with this one, then.”
“One?”
Eleanor understood these situations well. She wasn’t surprised when Olivia’s knowledge fell short for her age.
“That’s fine. Today, we’re going to draw, so let’s learn numbers gradually.”
Olivia tilted her head in confusion. Given her short experience, she expected numbers to be the next lesson. Naturally, she was puzzled by a different approach.
But soon, excitement took over. Drawing freely was much more enjoyable than dull number drills.
“Look at this!”
Olivia pulled out pencils and scattered them across the table, drawing anything that came to mind on the paper. First the sky, then the garden, flowers, and finally a curled-up cat by the wall.
“This is the mansion?”
Eleanor asked. Olivia nodded with a wide smile.
“The colors are nice.”
Though the drawing was closer to abstract art than still life, and Eleanor knew little of art, she liked the combination of colors.
“The house is pretty.”
“Yes, and the garden too.”
“Olive likes this.”
Olivia pointed to a part of the drawing—a red rose.
“So, you were in the garden that day?”
Eleanor asked, and Olivia nodded. With Cindy absent and indifferent, and the household staff paying her little attention, Olivia had gone to the garden out of boredom, wishing to see Logan, who always treated her kindly. The sadness had made her cry.
Then Olivia noticed Eleanor moving around as if searching for something. That reminded her of Cindy’s strict orders to stay in the room. Fearful of punishment if caught sneaking out again, she cried even more.
“Right.”
Fortunately, she met Logan afterward and wasn’t scolded by Cindy. Eleanor had protected her from Cindy before and continued to let Olivia do as she wished. Olivia realized that ever since meeting Eleanor, good things had begun to happen.
Could Eleanor be an angel?
“Olive isn’t a bad kid.”
Logan had said this. Being good would lead to heaven, and angels came from heaven, so meeting Eleanor meant Olivia could never be a bad child.
“That’s right. Olivia isn’t a bad child.”
Eleanor agreed, and a radiant smile appeared on Olivia’s face—a face Eleanor had never seen before. That Olivia trusted someone she had only known for a few days showed how few people she could rely on.
Plants growing in barren soil develop abnormally and eventually wither. Eleanor never wanted to witness that again.
“Tell Logan!”
Olivia suddenly jumped up and shouted.
“Olivia, later—”
Though Eleanor wanted to reason with her, Olivia ran out before she could finish. Eleanor hastily grabbed the hem of her skirt and followed.
“Logan!”
By luck or misfortune, Olivia dashed down the central staircase and met Logan returning to the mansion. He calmly scooped her up.
“Isn’t it class time?”
Logan asked George. Eleanor, still halfway down the stairs, bit her lip anxiously, observing.
“Yes, I believe it is…”
“Ellie says Olive isn’t bad!”
Excited, Olivia interrupted George. He frowned slightly.
“You’re not originally bad.”
But Logan, instead of scolding Olivia, simply explained,
“So you need to participate properly in class.”
“Sorry, Your Grace.”
Eleanor came down the stairs and apologized. She had failed to control the child, which was her responsibility as the tutor.
“You’re not the type of child to control at once, so don’t worry,” Logan said calmly, reassuring her.
Olivia, clinging to Logan like a kitten, rubbed her face against his neck and purred.
“It’ll be lunchtime soon. Why don’t we eat first and continue class afterward?”
Knowing Olivia would stick to Logan no matter what, he suggested Eleanor join them for lunch rather than separating them.
“I’d be honored.”
“No need to be so formal every time.”
Logan lightly dismissed Eleanor, who bowed deeply, and walked past her. Eleanor followed cautiously.
“Miss Hudson, would you like a drink?”
At the long dining table, Logan gestured toward a glass of wine he had been served as an aperitif. Even with class later, a single glass wouldn’t be a problem.
“Thank you, I’ll have some.”
Eleanor didn’t refuse either. Though she felt uneasy facing her employer sober, Logan didn’t know that.
“Give some to Olive too.”
“No, she’s a child,” Logan said firmly, denying Olivia’s request. At the same time, a maid brought Eleanor’s glass of wine along with soup. Eleanor sipped to calm her nerves before even tasting the food.
“May I move over?”
Olivia hurriedly began eating across from her. Eleanor observed her and, with Logan’s permission, moved to sit beside Olivia.
“Olivia, hold your spoon like this.”
“This is more comfortable!”
“Yes, but you spill so much.”
Eleanor gestured at the stains on the table and floor. Olivia pouted in displeasure.
“I’m not saying you did it wrong.”
Eleanor immediately comforted her.
“If you spill, others will have to clean up. They’ll have to wash your clothes too.”
“…Okay.”
“If you don’t spill, none of that is necessary.”
Cindy would have scolded Olivia mercilessly, criticizing her for failing to follow etiquette even when trying her best. But Eleanor calmly guided her.
Logan watched Eleanor carefully. Her cheeks were a bit flushed, perhaps from not handling alcohol well.
“I’m not doing it on purpose!”
“Yes. You won’t do it again, right?”
Olivia nodded vigorously. If Cindy had seen this, she would have frowned at her lack of decorum.
“If you try too fast, you spill easily. Eat a bit more slowly.”
Olivia carefully alternated between her spoon and soup, her hands trembling slightly.
Eleanor quietly laughed at the sight. Even her own mother would have lost patience with her, but Eleanor found it irresistibly cute. Logan observed this silently.
She was a fascinating woman.
Sensing his gaze, Eleanor lifted her head. Their eyes met, and her gray eyes wavered, unsure of how to respond.
Eleanor blushed and gave him an awkward smile. Bright sunlight poured in through the large windows, casting a radiant glow over her head.
