CH 33

As if Cardien were going to throw the ‘garbage’ out the window right away, Livia hastily snatched the ring back. 

“It’s not an ordinary ring! It has a special ability.”

“A special ability?” Cardien chuckled softly, clearly mocking her.

Livia’s eyes narrowed. Even if she tried to explain it a hundred times, experiencing it once would be much easier for him to understand.

“Just a moment, Your Grace. Can you lend me your hand?”

“What?” He responded to her request with a perplexed expression.

Instead of an explanation, Livia pulled his bare, ungloved hand in front of her. The moment their bare skin touched, he flinched, but Livia didn’t care.

To be honest, she was surprised by her own actions.

‘Why am I doing this?’

He was supposed to be a frightening and formidable opponent to her. Before, she would never have dared to touch him so casually.

What in the world had changed her mind…….

‘That’s it.’

She had seen his dream. Livia saw his small and fragile form, and he no longer seemed scary or intimidating to her like before.

‘And honestly, he has put up with me this far, so I don’t think he’ll suddenly kick me out.’

It was a gamble, but she had a strange sense of confidence that he wouldn’t reject her hand.

And as she suspected, Cardien flinched but did not pull his hand away from hers.

‘Wow, it’s really big.’

Cardien’s hand was so much larger than hers that it wasn’t even comparable.

‘And so pretty.’

It was covered in scars and calluses, but they were strong and beautiful, nonetheless.

Even though he looked uncomfortable as she examined his hand, Cardien furrowed his brows and persistently didn’t pull his hand away from Livia’s.

It was really strange. 

The Cardien she knew was not the kind of man who would let anyone, let alone a lowly tutor, hold his hand.

Puzzled, Livia quickly pushed the rusty ring onto his ring finger. Then, to her surprise, nothing happened.

Secretly expecting some sort of flashing effect since it was a very special ring, she looked up at him, clearing her throat slightly at the awkward silence.

“How do you feel?”

“Dirty.”

“Oh, no, that’s not what I meant!”

~ Translations by Lurelia | Editing by Valpal | Read only at moonlightnovels.com ~

Thinking he might take off the ring, Livia quickly shook her head and said, “Do you feel like your mood has improved or your head is clearer or something?”

“…….”

Cardien stared at her blankly.

Huh? Why wasn’t he denying it? Was the effect really working?

“Do I feel like my head is clearer, and my mood has improved?” Cardien repeated languidly. 

“Yeah.”

“Definitely.”

“You can feel it?” Livia questioned again, almost in disbelief.

“Yeah,” he nodded.

‘Wow, it’s really working!’

As Livia had been half skeptical, it was hard to hide her happiness when she actually saw the effect.

Cardien, who had been staring at her face, suddenly took a step forward.

Startled, Livia took a step back, and before she knew it, she was trapped between him and the door.

Ugh, this…… is strangely like a deja vu…….

“The tutor seems to have misunderstood something.”

“…… Misunderstood.? What?……”

“It seems my body feels better, but not because of this ring.”

Without a second thought, Cardien pulled the ring off his finger.

Livia’s eyes widened at his sudden move.

“I think it’s because of the tutor.”

“……Eh?”

What was he talking about?

‘He said his condition improved because of me?’ Livia thought as she looked at him incredulously.

However, there was a clear conviction in Cardien’s eyes. He really believed that she had improved his physical condition.

‘Could it be that he realized I’ve been manipulating his dream?’

Livia tensed, but she soon realized that wasn’t the case.

“I’ve noticed it before, but when I’m in contact with you, my head clears up. Last time, and now.”

“If you’re talking about last time…….”

For a moment, memories flashed through her mind.

The first was in the library, and the second was in the Night Garden.

‘No way, did he help me at that time just to confirm this?’

To confirm… this?

Livia did think it was odd.

It seemed strange at the time, as the Cardien she knew was not the kind of person to help someone who was falling.

“Tell me, Tutor. Who are you really?”

Livia swallowed her saliva and looked up at him.

At that moment, she instinctively knew. This was either a crisis or an opportunity.

Although she didn’t know exactly why things were unfolding this way, she’d seen this before in the original story.

Saint Celestina.

In her company, Cardien was able to escape his suffering.

Of course, it was probably different with her. She had to wonder if her powers had somehow affected him.

She couldn’t be sure, but regardless, this was an opportunity.

A chance to negotiate.

“…… My ability can help you, Your Grace.”

“What ability is that?”

“It’s difficult to explain, but as you’ve seen firsthand, I’m not a fraud or anything like that.”

“…….”

“I’ll help you, Your Grace, but on one condition.”

“…….”

Cardien stared at her in silence. Livia stared back at him with unflinching eyes as she swallowed her saliva.

Their gazes met at a close distance.

Livia was reflected in his pupils, and he was reflected in hers. 

The silence stretched on for a long time.

Suddenly, he smirked and said, “The tutor seems unafraid of anything. Just like when you stood up to me yesterday, and now, too.”

“That’s…….”

“Aren’t you afraid of me?”

“…….”

Caden’s gaze became even colder.  

He whispered in a low, sunken voice, “I could tie the tutor by my side without negotiating if I want to. You’re a smart tutor, I’m sure you know that.”

“…….”

“Come on, tell me you’re not scared.”

A slight smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Not one of happiness, but one of taunting and belittlement.

“I’m not scared.”

Livia’s answer, which came out without any hesitation, made him pause.

His gaze grew even more ferocious, but she didn’t flinch. She knew all too well how he had lived until now. 

Cardien Mercedes, who was not loved and was a target of ridicule and fear. 

In her eyes, he seemed to be trying to hurt others before he got hurt himself.

‘Because I had been like that once, too.’

In her past life, Livia was a twisted human being. 

An orphan, with a body that had a time limit.

She was so twisted that she used to take it upon herself to drive away anyone who tried to help her.

In hindsight, they were really there for her.

But in this life, Livia had learned to love, thanks to her father. Cardien, perhaps, had never had the chance to do that.

Of course, he had an older brother, but he couldn’t shield Cardien. 

That’s why.

“I’m not scared of you,” Livia repeated, more firmly this time.

As Cardien said, he could force her to stay by his side if he wanted to. But she was filled with confidence that he wouldn’t.

Because he hadn’t done that to Celestina.

When he didn’t love Celestina, and even when he did, he only hovered by her side, never oppressing her.

So, Livia was not afraid of him.

“…… you’re a strange woman,” Cardien muttered, but there was none of the sarcasm or spite from earlier. “I’m tired.”

He shuffled back to his chair and slumped into it.

~ Translations by Lurelia | Editing by Valpal | Read only at moonlightnovels.com ~

Although he had an attitude that seemed to suggest it wasn’t worth dealing with, his gaze remained fixed on her.

Taking a deep breath, Livia approached him.

“So, what are the conditions that the tutor is talking about?” Cardien inquired, still projecting an air of total apathy. 

“I know that what Your Grace is suffering from is not madness.”

“Hmm?”

“It’s not mania, it’s mana overload.”

“….. Were you not a tutor, but actually a rat?”

“No rat would purposefully do anything to raise suspicion.”

“……Go on,” Cardien commanded as he raised his chin.

Livia nodded and continued speaking. “Your Grace’s mana overload will probably get worse as time goes on. Your headaches will be worse than before…….”

‘And the nightmares you have will become more and more terrifying. It will gradually become difficult to distinguish between dreams and reality, and eventually, you will go crazy.’ Livia finished her thought silently. 

He didn’t need to know that part just yet.

“For a simple home tutor, you know a lot.”

“You must have noticed that the calming herbs are becoming less and less effective,” Livia continued.

“…….”

Cardien pressed his lips together. The silence was an affirmation.

‘That’s right.’

At the point when Cardien first saw Celestina, the calming herbs had barely any remaining effect. In other words, he was on the verge of going crazy.

‘Though we still have some time.’

The first time Celestina and Cardien meet is at the emperor’s birthday banquet after the baptism, which is roughly half a year away.

“I will help you, Your Grace.”

“How will you help me, Tutor?” he replied in a low, mocking voice.

“By helping Your Grace to live a normal life.”

“…….”

Livia reached out and picked up the ring he had placed on the desk. He stared at her blankly as she did so.

“I can help make sure you don’t get headaches or have sleepless nights.”

Then she put the ring back on Cardien’s finger. He looked stunned but didn’t stop her from doing so.

“Don’t take this ring off; it really is helpful.”

“……Tutor, who exactly are you?” Cardien asked with a complex and subtle expression. 

Livia smiled broadly in response.

“I’m your son’s private tutor.”