# 26
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‘Such issues will not be useful even if they are resolved.’
Bad-tempered professors often raised questions in this manner.
I didn't know who the teacher was here, but he was definitely very bad.
“But, young master, why are you studying in a place like this and not in your room?”
Elinor asked quietly as she wrote down the steps for the solution.
Why exactly here, where my plan to explore an escape route was disrupted? This is what I meant.
Tidian said, chewing the tip of the pencil.
“I usually practice fencing at this time.”
“This late?”
“Yes. A dueling competition will be held in the fiefdom soon. I aspire to win it this time.”
Elinor's gaze turned to Tidian's sword.
A real sword, not a wooden sword.
It was not a sword that had been used for a day or two, its hilt was unexpectedly corroded.
"But while I was immersed in training, I forgot that I have a homework for tomorrow. I have to do the homework. The new teacher my older brother appointed is a bit strict."
So, the person who appointed this teacher who raised such bad issues was Matthias.
Elinor curled her lips softly.
"I finished!"
After a long effort, Tidian finally succeeded in completing his duty.
Normally, he didn't understand anything at all, but today he understood half of the matter.
He was very satisfied.
“You, I'll spare you just this once. If you steal again, not only will I end up expelling you, but I'll hand you over to the guards.”
After completing the duty, his mood improved, so he released Elinor.
With a warning to return the clothes she wore without permission to their place.
“Haa.”
Elinor returned to the Separate Ward after her separation from Tidian.
Her face was a little pale after she closed the corridor.
“I'm tired.”
Even though she snuck in and was responsible for the baby, she didn't achieve her goal and completely wasted her time.
“Who would have thought that the place connected to the secret passage would be the training ground!”
The training ground had more people than other places.
There were knights like Tidian who trained until late, and others who trained early in the morning.
The reason Elinor returned immediately after her separation from Tidian was because she was afraid to face another knight who had gone out for morning training.
“Looks like I'll have to go out again tonight...”
She had to find a way from the training ground to outside the Grand Duke's Palace.
Or at least, get a map.
The task will not be easy.
* * *
Tidian Hilliard, the youngest son of the Grand Duke Hilliard family.
At the age of thirteen this year, his dream was to become a great knight like his older brothers.
Matthias, the eldest brother, was especially his role model and admirer.
‘The Duke won the first jousting competition he participated in at the age of ten.’
'I'm older than my brother's winning age, yet I've never stood in the finals once.'
‘Ah, young master, the Duke was particularly exceptional. Usually, even adults find it difficult to win a fencing competition. Isn't winning it one of the knights' goals?'
‘But my brother won and he is younger than me.’
‘You are also doing well. Didn't the Knight Commander praise you that you're improving day by day?'
The servant praised his accomplishments, but Tidian was not satisfied.
He wanted to catch up with his older brother as quickly as possible.
Therefore, he immersed himf in dueling training as soon as he opened his eyes, but Matthias was not satisfied with that.
'Teddy, have you completely cut off your studies?'
'I will become a knight. So I don't need to study.'
‘Not everyone who is good at swinging a sword becomes a knight. You must constantly learn tactics, geography and law to become an excellent knight. If you really want to become a knight, you have to study hard.'
Concerned for his younger brother, Matthias appointed him a tutor.
It was a man named Wiert, who was said to have always been first in the Imperial Academy.
'Ha, having to teach a kid who doesn't know anything.'
'I'm not a child!'
'First, call me Master.'
Wirt, who everyone praises for his intelligence, was solid from the first meeting.
‘You are the son of Grand Duke Hilliard’s family, but before that, you are a student receiving my education. If you show a lack of seriousness in studying, I will not hesitate to report it to the Duke. And of course, if your grades are poor too.'
'What...?'
'Honestly, I don't have time to pay attention to your studies. I'd rather not do that.'
Who welcomes someone who shows his disdain openly?
But Tidian had to be polite with him.
Because…
‘The Duke said that you are an intelligent and proud brother, and asked me to devote time to teaching you. If it wasn't for a direct request from the Duke, I wouldn't have taken the time.'
'Did my brother really say that? That I'm smart and proud?'
'Yes. He said he expects a lot from you in the future. But if you're neither smart nor proud, there's no reason for me to care about you.'
Because his older brother, his role model, said he expected a lot from him.
Tidian wanted to be in Matthias' opinion.
So he did his best.
Even if he is being treated unfairly by the other party.
Scratching sound.
Tidian stood politely, his hands together, in front of Wiert, who was correcting his homework.
He was always nervous when taking lessons from Wirt.
Was he different because he was the first in the academy?
His desk was always piled with thick, heavy books.
If he were in his place, he would never think of reading such books of his own volition.
It is said that he obtained a patent as soon as he entered the academy, so is that why he studied so much?
“Hmm… You did your homework correctly today.”
Wyrt examined Tidian's homework and made a surprised expression.
“I thought you wouldn't bring it.”
“…I do my homework every day.”
“Oh, I said it wrong. I thought you couldn't do it.”
Tidian's face reddened a little at Wiert's words. He felt the other's contempt for him.
But Tidian said nothing.
Because Wiert's assessment of him will be reported to Matthias.
For Tidian, Matthias was an absolute figure.
Tidian clenched his fists, trying to restrain himf.
Wirt laughed sarcastically.
“But, were you really the one who solved it?”
Tidian shuddered for a moment and pulled his shoulders.
The maid he met yesterday was the one who solved the issue.
But she explained it to him, and now he knows how to solve it.
Doesn't that mean he was the one who solved it in the end?
Tidian said in a low voice:
“Yes, right.”
"Really? Lying isn't good."
Wirt rapped his knuckles on the desk.
Next to him was the birch stick which he always brought during lesson times.
Tidian felt a stinging pain in his legs for a moment.
He was deliberately wearing baggy pants to avoid being hit, but it still hurt.
Tidian bit his inner lip hard and said:
“I solved it. Really.”
“Hmm, is that so? Then you can solve a similar problem easily.”
"What?"
“I will give you a new homework for tomorrow.”
Wyrt leaned back in the chair quietly.
“If you can’t solve it, I will have to seriously discuss whether it was you who solved today’s assignment with the Duke seriously.”
“No, this is…”
“And of course, you will have to bear the penalty for lying as well.”
Wyrt smiled as he looked at the terrified Tidian.