TMOWM~11

Chapter 11

The Duchess’s anxiety turned out to be completely justified.

Taibern was a source of turmoil in the ducal household. He arrived at the dinner table that evening with Hider in tow.

Dressed in fancy clothes for the first time, Hider looked just like a young nobleman. Standing confidently beside Taibern, he even looked like the heir of the household.

Kiera, flustered, forced a smile.

The Duke, pale-faced, greeted his father.

“Father. It’s been a while.”

His face didn’t show the slightest sign of pleasure. And with his sharp instincts, there was no way Taibern would miss that.

Taibern sneered coldly.

“What? Were you hoping I’d freeze to death up north?”

“Of course not.”

“Tsk. Whatever. At least try to smile when you say that. Everyone, take your seats.”

He gave Hider a light pat on the back.

“You sit too.”

Hider hesitated. He hadn’t expected to eat here unless Taibern had returned.

Until Rani had stepped in, Hider’s meals had always been rotten, spoiled, or moldy. To survive, he had to pick out the edible parts and force himself to eat.

Taibern’s brow furrowed. Hider’s hesitation struck him as odd.

I told them not to discriminate with food…

An odd tension filled the dining room.

Especially the Duchess, Kiera, who stared at Hider with a nervous face. If Hider spoke the truth here, Taibern would not let it slide.

Taibern valued ability over bloodline. Whether it was Kartena or Hider, both were equal grandchildren in his eyes.

That brat with no roots—why protect him?!

Kiera clenched her teeth.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing, Grandfather.”

Hider shook his head and went to sit at an open seat.

At that moment, Kiera glared at him furiously, but Hider didn’t flinch.

Damn brat! Why won’t he just die already?

That tenacity—just like Taibern.

Taibern took the seat at the head of the table.

“Everyone, eat.”

“Father, may I ask how long you’ll be staying?”

Kiera couldn’t hide her anxiety any longer.

“I’m also curious about the matters in the north.”

“Judging by your face, you’d like me to leave immediately. Tsk.”

“That’s not it…”

“I’ll be staying for a while. I promised to teach Hider swordsmanship.”

Taibern glanced at Hider, who sat up straight and ate properly.

“And I have to report to His Majesty the Emperor as well.”

“…I see.”

“If you’re so worried about the north, why don’t you go instead?”

He gave Kiera, who awkwardly laughed in response, a dissatisfied look and began eating.

Kiera believed that disaster would strike if she ever left the capital. Her children, Sornea and Kartena, were no different.

Seeing such weak children made Taibern sigh inwardly.

While he was staying here, he intended to whip some sense into Kartena as well.

“Kartena. Be at the training grounds at six in the morning. Don’t tell me you don’t even know where it is?”

Kartena froze like an insect pinned with a needle.

Taibern called out quietly.

“Kartena.”

Kiera, who was watching nervously, quickly jumped in.

“Father, about Kartena’s training…”

“What’s the problem? Don’t tell me he hasn’t learned swordsmanship yet. Is the blood of Catieron scared of a sword? He’s past ten—he should’ve at least completed the basics by now. Anyone who isn’t a knight cannot succeed the Catieron name.”

Even the current Duke, incompetent as he was, had once been a knight.

Kiera responded to Taibern’s sharp tone.

“He’s doing well, Father. Kartena already has a fine teacher.”

Her tone implied that Taibern’s lessons were unnecessary. Taibern replied indifferently.

“Is that so? Then I’d like to see that swordsmanship for myself. I’m curious about his progress. Don’t tell me you’re not going to show me that either?”

“…Of course not, Father. I’ll have him ready in the morning—”

“U-ugh!!”

Suddenly, Kartena bent over and vomited everything he had eaten. Kiera paled as she stared at her son.

Kartena looked down at the ruined table for a moment, then stood up abruptly.

“I-I told you I didn’t want to eat with Grandpa!!”

He ran out crying.

In the wrecked dining room, the only one who continued eating calmly was Hider.

Phew. So there was such a nice room available this whole time, and they made him live in that filthy place?

That fox of a woman. Her heart’s as small as her title is big.

I quickly swept, cleaned, and organized the room.

Now that the head of the house had returned, Hider could finally live in a decent space. Taibern really is a savior.

Thanks to my skill buff, cleaning up the attic was a breeze. I kept anything useful and moved it to the new room.

“This is more like it.”

I felt satisfied looking at the well-prepared room.

But now I was curious about this Taibern. There hadn’t been much information about him in the novel. I figured I’d sneak a peek—just for fun.

With my Stealth Skill, it wouldn’t be hard to secretly observe him.

By now, he was probably done with dinner and having tea.

Using the stealth skill, I slipped out of the room. The other maids thought I was still cleaning, so they wouldn’t be looking for me.

I strolled casually through the halls.

“Agh, I swear, every time Lord Taibern shows up, it’s chaos!”

The maids were scurrying around. Even the family doctor was here.

Did something happen?

Hider’s new room wasn’t far from Kartena and Sornea’s rooms, so I could hear the commotion.

Kartena was screaming and crying while the Duchess flustered around him.

Tsk tsk. That brat.

He turned out like that because they spoiled him so much.

“How could you act like that, Kartena? Don’t you know how upset your grandfather must be?”

“If he says we have to eat together again, I-I’ll just die!”

“Kartena!”

“I hate you too, Mom! Go away! Get out!”

Just what kind of person was Taibern to cause all this?

After watching Kartena’s tantrum with amusement, I headed downstairs to the White Room on the first floor. That’s where they usually had tea.

Luckily, the door was open, so I slipped inside.

I didn’t have a wall-phasing skill, so I had to go the long way around. As soon as I entered, I saw someone who must be Taibern.

Oh. So that’s him.

A white-haired gentleman who looked like a dragon came into view. Hider resembled him more than the Duke did.

While I was enjoying the view—

Suddenly, a screen popped up.

Would you like to register as an assistant?

Name: Taibern Hugo Catieron
Status: Mild poisoning (poison progressing)
Y/N?

Poisoned…?

First, I was shocked that I could register Taibern as an assistant. Then I was stunned again by the fact that he was poisoned.

While I was hesitating, Hider and I locked eyes through the translucent status screen. He looked at me, pale with shock.

Looks like stealth doesn’t work on him. Don’t worry, he’s the only one who can see me.

I gave him a reassuring smile and turned my attention back to the status window—when suddenly.

Our eyes met.

Those sharp, icy-blue eyes stared directly into mine.

Taibern was looking at me—really looking at me—with a strange expression.

What the hell? Did the stealth turn off?

Panicking, I fumbled with the status screen.

[Stealth skill is too low to affect this target.]

No way… You couldn’t have told me that earlier?

Cold sweat poured down my back.