"Eris!!"
"Yes!!"
The old man and the young girl, though sitting close, shouted at each other as if they were meters apart. Their voices broke Hilda's train of thought, pulling her back to the dining table.
Sauros turned to Eris, a smile finally appearing on his face.
"This morning was the new tutors' first lesson. I heard from Lilia that when she and the maids brought you snacks, you were studying very diligently. Well done!"
"Yes, Grandpa! I was very diligent!!"
As Rudeus's mouth twitched, Sauros raised his eyebrows in satisfaction.
"Oh? That's rare. I thought you would have beaten them and chased them away by now."
Hearing this, Eris's eyebrows shot up, a perfect mirror of Sauros's expression. She declared proudly,
"No! Why would I hit them? I like Alan and Sylphie! In reading class today, I learned how to write Ghislaine's name!"
After Eris's triumphant declaration faded, Sauros's expression clearly faltered. He looked surprised as he glanced at the three young 'tutors' across the table.
"Reading? You learned to write Ghislaine's name?"
"Yes!"
Feeling that 'displeased' glare, Rudeus instantly felt a chill run up his spine. After all, teaching Eris to write just one name in two hours didn't exactly make him seem like a reliable teacher. He began to panic that he might be fired.
First off, Alan, due to his status, certainly wouldn't be fired. And Sylphie, being well-liked by the young lady, was also unlikely to be dismissed.
So, the problem was…
If he was the only one to return to Buena Village in disgrace, how would Paul react?
A father wouldn't mock his son during his time of failure, would he?
Well, most fathers wouldn't.
But Paul?
He would! He very well might!!
Rudeus panicked and was about to make an excuse when he heard Sauros's voice.
His tone was surprisingly cheerful, filled with doting affection.
"Oh, my little Eris is so clever!!"
Rudeus looked up, astonished. Before him, Sauros's face was wrinkled into a smile, like a flower. The stern, imposing look from moments ago had vanished, replaced by the kind, amiable expression of an elderly man.
So he wasn't displeased…
No, wait, who is this guy?
Where did the strict and dignified lord from a moment ago go??
As Rudeus's expression shifted, Sauros reached out and patted Eris's head.
"Anything else?"
"I also learned division!"
This time, even Philip couldn't hold back his surprise. His usually squinted eyes widened as he turned to Eris in disbelief.
"Division?"
"Yes! 1 ÷ 2 = 1/2!"
Hearing Eris actually utter a fraction, Sauros let out an impressed "Oh."
"Excellent! It seems Philip's previous teaching methods were complete nonsense. Bringing in peers is clearly more effective."
Philip, caught in the crossfire for no reason, could only manage a wry smile.
"…You are right, Father."
At that moment, whether because he had personally dealt with Darius's meddling or because he was pleased with Eris's progress, Sauros was in high spirits. He kept smiling at Eris, nodding repeatedly.
Then, a strange glint appeared in his eyes.
"So, have you properly thanked your new tutors?"
Eris's proud expression instantly vanished, her face stiffening.
"Huh? Do I have to thank them for something like that?"
Sauros's smile disappeared in a flash, and he deliberately furrowed his brow.
"'Something like that'? Is that any way to talk about the teachers who taught you arithmetic and reading?"
"I…!"
"Hmm?"
"…whimper…"
Eris made a sound like a young animal whimpering. She looked up at the three people across the table, her gaze shifting from Alan to Rudeus, then to Sylphie. Her face grew redder and redder, her expression a mix of helplessness and a struggle with her pride.
Hilda, smiling beside her, reached out to pat Eris's head. She glanced at the expectant looks on Sauros's and Philip's faces and sighed helplessly but said nothing.
Across the table, Rudeus and Sylphie were stunned by this illogical turn of events, having no idea what this grandfather and granddaughter were up to.
Praising one moment, scolding the next.
What were they trying to do?
However, Alan, who had been sitting beside them with a calm expression, suddenly jolted and looked up at Eris.
Could it be!
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Eris sat in her chair, her expression a mixture of seven parts humiliation, two parts conflict, and one part barely-there shyness. She slowly raised her hands, her fiery red hair cascading through her fingers.
She lifted her two pigtails.
Her breathing became ragged.
Her fingers trembled.
Then, her eyes suddenly darted around, and she quickly dropped her pigtails, jumped off her chair, and performed a standard noble lady's curtsy.
"Thank you!"
She then hopped back onto her chair, her expression instantly returning to one of pride, as if she were very pleased with this quick-witted method of thanks she had come up with.
One had to admit, the saying that mathematics makes one meticulous was not without merit. After just two short hours of 'high-pressure' learning, she was already able to figure out how to avoid embarrassment and choose a more 'appropriate' way to express her gratitude.
Even if it wasn't the scene Sauros had been hoping for.
The air was silent for a moment.
Three sighs sounded simultaneously.
They came from Alan, Philip, and Sauros.
After sighing, the three generations of Boreas men glanced at each other, seeing the same look of regret in each other's eyes.
Alan now understood. In the original story, Sauros and Philip didn't ask Eris to beg Rudeus just because they approved of him and wanted to win him over. That wasn't the only reason they had her perform the famous "Please teach Eris magic, meow!" scene.
It was because…
The grandfather and father simply wanted to see it for themselves!
How did he reach this conclusion?
Because a deep-seated instinct, a call of the bloodline, had filled him with the same sense of anticipation.
A cute little sister/daughter/granddaughter combined with the beast-girl persona.
For any direct male descendant of the Boreas family, it was an irresistible temptation.
As expected, Sauros sighed again, listlessly. However, as he sighed, he shot a very subtle glance at Alan.
"Alright, since Eris has given her thanks, let's eat!"
Under the table, Alan patted a still-shocked Rudeus, who couldn't get over the fact that 'the young lady actually knows how to say thank you,' and picked up his spoon to continue stirring the vegetable soup in front of him, avoiding Hilda's gaze.
Lunch ended quickly.
As soon as he finished eating, Sauros left in a hurry, completely disregarding table etiquette.
Afterward, with Eris's insistent pulling, Ghislaine was also successfully brought to the table to eat. After she devoured her food like a whirlwind, the meal was over.
Alan, Rudeus, and Sylphie paid their respects to Philip and Hilda before leaving.
"My lord, my lady, thank you for the meal."
Amidst their parting words, Philip simply smiled and nodded.
But Hilda seemed dazed.
Curly brown hair.
Dark gray pupils.
The same bloodline reaction as the Boreas family.
A single lunch, just half an hour…
She felt her thoughts were as light as the wind. Her hand moved through the clouds, feeling as if she had faintly grasped something…
But after Alan's parting words, "my lady," his retreating figure suddenly pulled her down from the clouds, her feet landing solidly on the ground.
At this moment.
She felt again.
As if she hadn't grasped anything at all.
The sound of footsteps faded.
Pushed by a maid, the large dining room doors slowly swung shut.
The dimness of the corridor and the brightness of the dining room were gradually separated, with only a narrow gap between the doors connecting them.
In that instant.
Someone turned around.
Reddish-brown eyes and slightly dim, dark gray eyes met.
With a soft thud.
The door closed.
Extinguishing the light from the floor-to-ceiling window.
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