"Eris!!"
"Yes!!"
A shout from the old and a response from the young—though they sat close, it sounded as if they were calling across ten meters. The voices rang through the dining room, dragging Hilda's drifting thoughts back to the table.
Sauros turned his head to look at Eris, and a rare smile broke across his face.
"This morning was the first private lesson with your new tutors. Lir told me that when she brought snacks with the maids, she saw you working very hard. Not bad!"
"Yes, Grandpa! I worked really hard!!"
Rudy's mouth twitched as Sauros raised his eyebrows in satisfaction.
"Oh? That's rare. I thought you might've scared them off."
At that, Eris raised her brows—looking exactly like Sauros—and replied loudly with pride:
"Nope! Why would I hit them? I like Allen and Sylphy! In today's reading and writing class, I learned how to write Ghislaine's name!"
As Eris's high-pitched tone faded, Sauros visibly froze, surprised, and glanced at the three young "tutors" across the table.
"Reading and writing? Learned to write Ghislaine's name?"
"Yes!"
Feeling the old lord's suspicious glance, Rudy was suddenly struck by a cold chill. After all, teaching Eris to write a single name in two hours didn't exactly make him look competent.
Panic crept in—was he about to be dismissed?
Allen, with his status, clearly wouldn't be let go. Sylphy, deeply favored by Eris, was also untouchable.
Which left…
Would he be the only one sent packing back to Buena Village?
How would Paul react?
Surely a father wouldn't mock his son at such a low point?
Most fathers wouldn't.
But Paul?
He would! He absolutely would!!
Rudy panicked and was just about to speak in his defense—
When he heard Sauros's voice again.
Surprisingly cheerful. Even indulgent.
"Ohhh~ Little Eris, you're amazing!!"
Rudy looked up in disbelief.
Sauros's face had scrunched into a smile, the stern aura from before completely gone. He now looked like a kindly old man.
So… not angry?
Wait—who even was this guy?
What happened to the strict and imposing lord from earlier??
As Rudy's expression contorted, Sauros reached out and patted Eris's head.
"Anything else?"
"I also learned division!"
Even Philip couldn't maintain composure anymore. His squinted eyes flew wide open as he turned to Eris in shock.
"Division?"
"Yeah! 1 ÷ 2 = 1/2!"
Hearing Eris confidently speak a fraction, Sauros let out a surprised "Oh!"
"Not bad! Looks like Philip's old education approach was total garbage. Getting peers to teach works much better."
Philip, randomly caught in the crossfire, could only force a bitter smile.
"…Yes, Father. Your words are wise."
Whether it was because he had cut off Darius's creeping influence with his own hands, or because he saw Eris's academic progress, Sauros was clearly in excellent spirits. He nodded repeatedly while smiling at Eris.
Then, a peculiar light flashed in his eyes.
"Did you remember to properly thank your new teachers?"
Eris's proud expression vanished. Her face froze.
"Huh? Do I have to thank them?"
Sauros's smile vanished immediately, and he frowned deliberately.
"What do you mean 'do I have to'? Is that the attitude you should have toward the people teaching you reading and arithmetic?"
"I…!"
"Hmm?"
"…Ugh…"
Eris let out a whimper like a scolded cub. She looked across the table at the three: first at Allen, then Rudy, and finally Sylphy. Her cheeks grew red, her face contorted with conflict—between pride and uncertainty.
Beside her, Hilda gently reached out to pat her head. She glanced at Sauros and Philip, who were both watching Eris expectantly, and sighed helplessly but said nothing.
On the opposite side, Rudy and Sylphy were completely bewildered by the whiplash of praise and scolding. They had no idea what this grandfather-granddaughter duo was trying to do.
One minute praising, the next scolding.
What's going on here?
But Allen, who had remained mostly indifferent, suddenly jerked his head up to look at Eris.
Could it be…?
In full view of the room—
Eris sat on the chair, her face showing 70% humiliation, 20% internal struggle, and 10% of what barely counted as shyness. She slowly raised her hands, letting her fiery red hair cascade between her fingers.
She held up her twin braids.
Her breathing quickened.
Her fingers trembled.
But then, her eyes flicked sideways—she abruptly dropped her braids, hopped down from her chair, and gave a textbook-perfect noble lady's bow of gratitude.
"Thank you all!"
Then she leapt back onto her chair.
Her expression instantly reverted to smug satisfaction, as if very pleased with her last-minute recovery.
It had to be said: math does make people smarter.
After just two hours of "high-pressure" study—
She had already learned how to avoid shame and choose a more "appropriate" way to express thanks.
Even if this wasn't the scene Sauros had wanted to see.
Silence hung in the air for a moment.
Three simultaneous sighs echoed through the room.
Allen, Philip, and Sauros—three generations of Boreas men—exhaled in unison.
They glanced at one another and saw the same disappointed look reflected back.
At that moment, Allen understood.
In the original story, Sauros and Philip weren't just trying to win Rudy over when they asked him to teach Eris magic and created that classic "Please teach Eris magic, meow!" scene.
No—
These two, as grandfather and father, simply wanted to see it.
Why did he realize this?
Because a primal impulse stirred in his own blood as well—an anticipation born from deep within.
A cute little sister / daughter / granddaughter with beast girl energy—
It was a temptation no direct male descendant of the Boreas family could resist.
Sure enough, Sauros sighed again, but this time he subtly glanced toward Allen.
"Well then, since Eris has said her thanks, let's eat!"
Under the table, Allen lightly patted Rudy—still in shock from "Eris actually gave thanks"—and resumed stirring his wild vegetable soup.
Avoiding Hilda's observing gaze.
Lunch quickly ended.
Sauros, finished eating, strode out in his usual whirlwind fashion, unconcerned with table manners.
Afterward, thanks to Eris's relentless insistence, Ghislaine also came to join the meal.
And after the storm of eating—
The meal concluded.
Allen, Rudy, and Sylphy stood and respectfully addressed Philip and Hilda.
"Sir, Madam, thank you for the hospitality."
As the polite voices faded—
Philip kept smiling and nodded in return.
But Hilda seemed distracted.
Curly brown hair.
Deep gray eyes.
The exact same bloodline reaction as the Boreas family.
Half an hour, one lunch—
She felt her thoughts light as wind.
Her hands moved through the clouds, as if she had grasped something—
But then Allen, with his parting "Madam," turned and walked away.
That departing figure yanked her down from the clouds, her feet landing firmly on the ground.
And at that moment—
She felt again.
As if she hadn't grasped anything at all.
Their footsteps faded into the distance.
The dining room doors slowly closed under the hands of the maids.
The light of the dining hall was gradually severed from the dimness of the corridor.
Only a narrow gap remained.
In that instant—
Someone turned back.
Reddish-brown eyes met dim gray ones.
Thunk.
The door shut.
The light from the floor-to-ceiling windows was snuffed out.
(End of Chapter)
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