Chapter 14
“Ailey! This time, try and catch me!”
“You think I can’t catch you?”
Loud voices echoed through the garden.
Rubbing my eyes, I watched the scene before me in disbelief.
“Hahaha! Can you climb up here?”
“I’m an excellent climber! Wait there!”
What kind of conversation was that?
I wasn’t sure if I had hired a governess or a playmate.
And it seemed I wasn’t the only one who thought that.
“…Who is that person?”
Leighton, wearing light clothing as if for a stroll, asked me.
“The new governess.”
He let out a small, disbelieving cough.
It was the first time I’d seen him frown since the last time.
“His name is Aaron Taylor. He’s Ailey’s governess.”
“Not a playmate?”
“Do you really see him that way, Marquis? Oh, really…”
I glared at Aaron, but he seemed completely unaware of our presence.
“Kya hahaha! Got you!”
“Oh dear. Now let’s change the game! Let’s walk like cats—delicately—without falling off the edge of this flowerbed!”
What the…?
And now he wanted to start a different game?
I had hired him for his confidence that he could teach anything, but I was starting to feel uneasy.
It might be too much to expect instant results, but was this really “education”?
As I crossed my arms and looked on with growing displeasure, I heard Leighton mutter softly.
“Ailey looks happy.”
His words hit me like a bell.
I quickly glanced at Ailey’s expression—and indeed, she was enjoying herself.
“And it doesn’t seem completely meaningless either.”
“You mean the game?”
I asked, confused, and Leighton rubbed his chin and nodded.
“While it’s called walking like a cat, it seems she’s practicing walking elegantly as well.”
“Is that so?”
Now that he mentioned it, it did seem that way.
‘…And according to Hyle, he really is incredibly cost-effective.’
Aaron had requested to stay at the Bennet estate instead of commuting from his own home, and Hyle said he was performing his duties properly.
He helped with cleaning like a maid would, assisted with gardening, and generally contributed more than expected.
Hyle, who had been struggling after all the household staff quit at once, rated him very highly.
And I couldn’t ignore Hyle’s satisfaction.
‘And now, hearing Leighton’s assessment, Ailey seems to be enjoying herself too.’
If she was merely having fun, it might be a problem—but perhaps it was just a different teaching method.
It had only been a week since Aaron began teaching Ailey.
There was no need to worry about results yet, but when it came to Ailey, I was easily on edge over even small things.
“Selena.”
A breeze swept through, fluttering my hair.
Leighton carefully tucked a strand behind my ear and spoke my name.
“Yes?”
“Do you trust me?”
“Hmm? Of course.”
There was no question of trust.
Leighton would be the person to love Ailey more than anyone else.
My confident answer made his eyes twitch slightly.
“…Do you really trust me?”
“Yes. I trust you.”
“Even if I am truly a monster, will you still trust me?”
…What on earth?
I frowned and glared at him.
Even if the whole world called him a monster or a villain, I knew he wasn’t that kind of person.
But hearing him call himself a monster was unpleasant.
Why did he insist on devouring himself with such self-deprecation?
“Marquis, what answer do you want from me?”
He stepped back a pace at my question.
“…I… don’t know.”
“Then just memorize it.”
I looked into his wavering eyes and spoke.
“Leighton Zains is a precious person to Selena Bennett.”
Precious indeed.
Since he accepted the role of her guardian, he had been part of my family.
I took a step closer to him.
“Did you memorize it?”
Leighton was just living an ordinary day.
Life at the Bennet estate was no different from life at the Zains estate.
He reviewed the Marquis Zains household affairs that Oliver, his aide, reported, and listened to the daily matters of the Bennet household.
It was a life so ordinary it almost felt boring.
So ordinary that he wondered if he deserved such a life.
His past, living amid blood-soaked battlefields, now felt distant.
“…Blood. I crave blood.”
No wonder demons mutter about their longing for blood.
“Shut up.”
He had snapped at the wriggling demon inside him, but he felt no relief.
Sometimes, even he found this calm life boring.
And he hated that about himself.
Perhaps it was because the full moon was approaching.
More than ever, violent, horrible instincts were surfacing.
‘Damn it.’
After finishing his work, Leighton stood from his chair.
He felt as if darkness would swallow him whole.
The demons within were stirring wildly at the darkening energy.
‘I might as well swing my sword.’
It had been a long time since he last wielded his sword, busy with the affairs of both households.
As he set off for the training grounds, he passed through the garden.
His gaze fell upon the golden-haired figure that had lately been occupying his thoughts.
‘…Selena Bennett?’
Seeing her small form standing alone in the corner, he walked straight toward her.
No hesitation.
He didn’t think about becoming “closer only as needed.”
Her slender shoulders sagged slightly, as if burdened by worries.
Sure enough, her concern was about Ailey.
She seemed worried whether the new governess could teach her properly.
He wanted to comfort her.
To ease even a little of the burden on her shoulders.
‘…Damn it. How do I even comfort her?’
No words came to mind—nothing that could melt someone like Selena with a single phrase.
He swallowed every weak and clumsy thought.
It was best not to say anything unnecessary.
If she ever discovered his true identity, she might consider any shallow consolation from a monster meaningless.
Yet as he tidied the strands of her hair fluttering in the wind, he still spoke the clumsy words:
“…Even if I am truly a monster, will you still trust me?”
He immediately regretted saying it.
‘…Crazy. Why ask that?’
Selena’s expression changed instantly.
Anger? Or perhaps disbelief?
He shrank back slightly, uncharacteristically.
‘I should have just kept walking.’
He had disturbed the already complex emotions of someone troubled.
He stepped back a pace.
But the distance didn’t last long.
Selena, her eyes blazing, stepped forward and spoke:
“Leighton Zains is a precious person to Selena Bennett.”
Unexpectedly, he heard her words.
Just like always.
“Did you memorize it?”
At that moment, he realized.
No sudden epiphany or ringing in his head—just the sight of her mysteriously glowing violet eyes.
‘…Ah, so this is comfort.’
Why he had sulked like a child asking if she could trust a “monster.”
And that he had hoped she would step closer by as much as he stepped back.
‘Perhaps… I wanted comfort from Selena Bennett.’
But why?
Selena Bennett was supposed to be nothing more than a tool.
Now, she was a pitiful, striving girl trying to stand on her own.
Why would he want comfort from a mere tool?
Leighton bit his lip against the unknown fluttering in his chest.
Since that day at the hamster tea house, his mind had been restless.
But he could think no further.
He focused on the gaze of Selena, arms crossed, staring intently at him.
Then he realized he hadn’t yet answered her question about memorizing the phrase.
He didn’t want her to see his thoughts get tangled. He smiled gently, as he usually did, and placed a hand over her head.
“Uh… why are you patting my head, Marquis?”
“I memorized it.”
“Well done. But what does that have to do with patting my head?”
“Since you praised me, it counts as a compliment.”
Leighton smiled softly.
It was a more natural, relaxed smile than ever.
Seeing her large eyes tremble, he whispered quietly:
“The words that Selena values Leighton… will not change, right?”
Even objectively, her innocent, dazed expression was utterly endearing.
He ignored his filthy, fallen conscience and calmly whispered a lie.
“So from now on, I will also do my best. To cherish you, Selena.”
