“But you need to be able to read and write first before you can study anything else...”
“Do you really want to learn?”
Sain hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
“Yes, I want to learn.”
“Really?”
Ahwin, staring blankly into the air, clicked his tongue in apparent disinterest.
Penelope, observing their conversation, felt a strange sense of unease. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was bothering her, but something seemed off.
Squinting slightly, Penelope pondered deeply.
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‘Why did Ahwin single out the Imperial language lessons? Sain is also learning swordsmanship.’
Eventually, her expression turned serious. Something about the situation felt wrong, but she couldn’t quite figure out what it was.
‘I heard Sain is learning Imperial from the tutor. The tutor, the tutor...’
“Ah, the tutor!”
Penelope’s sudden exclamation startled everyone in the room.
She had received an education from a tutor when she was young. If someone asked her whether she had fond memories of it, she would shake her head without hesitation.
“Sain, how does your tutor teach you?”
“Uh, well, they teach me everything step by step.”
Sain replied without hesitation. Penelope, feeling somewhat bewildered, scratched her neck and then gently took Sain’s hand. Sain flinched at the unexpected touch.
“Sain, if there’s ever a time you don’t want to learn from your tutor, just let me know. I’m thinking of enrolling you in an intermediate school. Learning with other kids might be a lot more fun.”
“...”
Sain’s face darkened instantly.
Penelope hid her surprise and forced a smile to her lips.
“If you don’t want to go, you don’t have to. Everything depends on you. If you don’t like it, I won’t send you. Got it?”
“...Yes.”
Sain nodded gloomily, his head hanging low.
‘Does he dislike the idea of school?’
Penelope felt a wave of frustration. She couldn’t fully understand what was going on in the child’s mind.
“How about we go have a snack, then?”
“Oh, okay!”
Sain perked up at the mention of snacks, his expression brightening. As he bowed and left the office, Penelope felt relieved at his sudden change in mood.
“Something’s bothering me, but I can’t figure out what it is.”
Muttering to herself, Penelope turned sharply to look at Ahwin, who shrugged.
“You know something, don’t you?”
“Who knows? All I can say is that the tutor doesn’t seem particularly skilled.”
“Not skilled? Isn’t that true of most people by your standards?”
“That’s fair, but corporal punishment is a different matter entirely. It’s not a method I like.”
Penelope’s mouth dropped open in shock.
“Sain’s tutor uses corporal punishment?”
“Isn’t that common among tutors for noble households?”
Ahwin answered as if it were nothing out of the ordinary. Penelope felt the blood drain from her face.
Memories from her childhood resurfaced. When her grades were low, her tutor would sometimes use a rod. It had driven her to study relentlessly until she made no mistakes on her tests.
‘I know that kind of tutor is common.’
But for Penelope, who remembered her previous life, corporal punishment was an outdated and barbaric teaching method.
‘They’re hitting Sain? What part of him do they think is okay to hit?!’
Grinding her teeth, Penelope felt her anger ignite, burning fiercely within her.
***
The next day.
Sain's usual routine began.
He cleaned himself thoroughly, ate breakfast with Penelope, and attended lessons with his tutor.
“Today, you made four mistakes.”
“...Yes.”
Sain felt deeply disappointed in himself. Despite studying late into the night to avoid any mistakes, he had still made four.
‘I was determined to get everything right today.’
For some reason, being in front of the tutor made his heart pound and filled him with nerves. Even words he knew seemed to slip from his memory.
“Sain, if there’s ever a time you don’t want to learn from your tutor, just let me know. I’m thinking of enrolling you in an intermediate school. Learning with other kids might be a lot more fun.”
Penelope’s words suddenly came to mind.
But Sain didn’t want to go to an intermediate school. He was afraid of being bullied by other children. Memories of being beaten by his older brothers held him back.
“Everything depends on you, Sain. If you don’t want to go, I won’t send you. Got it?”
Tears threatened to well up in Sain’s eyes. He adored Penelope for her warmth and kindness. If there was one person in the world he didn’t want to disappoint, it was her.
‘I just need to try harder. If I can avoid making any mistakes, the tutor will be satisfied. I’ll show her I can do well without going to school.’
“Why are you so distracted today? Honestly, I suppose blood will always tell.”
“...”
“Because your noble blood isn’t pure like the lord’s, you were dumped in that orphanage where worthless commoners end up. If you don’t want to bring shame to the lord, you’ll have to work harder than anyone else. Understood?”
“Yes...!”
“Then come here and roll up your pants. You’re getting four strikes today.”
The tutor picked up the switch, and Sain stepped forward, rolling up the hem of his pants with his eyes squeezed shut.
At that moment, the door burst open.
The tutor looked up in shock. Standing in the doorway was Penelope, her face flushed red with rage, practically trembling with fury.
The tutor greeted her with a bright expression.
“My lord? What brings you here?”
“What... exactly did you just say to Sain?”
“I’m not sure what you mean, my lord,” the tutor replied, looking genuinely confused.
Penelope was so angry she nearly cursed.
“You said he was dumped in an orphanage for worthless commoners because his noble blood wasn’t pure? Did you really just say that?”
Penelope crossed the room in quick strides and immediately lifted the hem of Sain’s trousers. His calves were marked with vivid, dark red welts.
“How dare you raise a hand against the child who will be my successor? Who gave you permission for this?”
The tutor looked bewildered.
“Permission? Why would I need permission? Corporal punishment is the most effective method for correcting students.”
Penelope clenched her teeth, overwhelmed by rage and on the verge of tears.
Sain glanced up at her, his face filled with unease.
Suppressing her emotions as much as possible, Penelope spoke in a low, firm voice.
“My successor does not need anything like corporal punishment. Do you understand me?”
“My lord, you must understand. Sain is twelve years old and still hasn’t mastered the Imperial language. He is, quite frankly, a failure as a student. Corporal punishment is essential to push such a student to achieve faster results.”
“I understand perfectly.”
The tutor looked relieved, thinking Penelope had accepted her reasoning.
Penelope spoke coldly.
“You’re fired. I sincerely hope we never meet again.”
“M-my lord... You can’t mean that...!”
The tutor’s face turned ashen.
“I’ve said all I need to. Now get out.”
Penelope’s icy glare bore into the tutor, who glanced around the room for support but froze. The lord’s knights stood at the ready, their expressions equally cold.
Placing her hands on her hips, Penelope addressed the tutor with a sharp edge in her voice.
“Oh, and one more thing. Sain hasn’t mastered the Imperial language yet because he simply started later than others. That is in no way his fault. Calling him a failure because he’s behind? I can’t even fathom what sort of vile thoughts occupy your mind.”
“I only meant to—”
“To satisfy your own ego, no doubt. By belittling this child and triggering his insecurities, you can convince yourself your life is somehow better.”
Penelope’s gaze was like a blade, cutting through any pretense the tutor might have maintained. The tutor’s face went pale.
Penelope warned her coldly.
“It would be in your best interest to stay far away from me from now on. You should know that the ‘noble blood’ you so revere is capable of far more than you think.”
“...”
Only then did the tutor realize who she had dared to cross. Penelope was the lord of this territory. Having fallen out of her favor, there was no place for her here anymore.
“If you understand, then leave. Now.”