/
Chapter 23
“There’s always a first time for everything.”
“
..So, what are you going to call me?”
“Kal?”
“

.”
The pitiful sight of Kalcion flashed before her eyes.
“That’s 3 letters from your name.”
“

.”
She couldn’t just give up at once.
“What about Zion?”
“It’s the name of the prince of a neighboring kingdom.”
‘Then, we can’t go with that. Not Kal, not Zion either
..’
“On?”
“What’s that.”
“
..Nevermind. Hmm, what can it be?”
This seemed to have been rejected as well. Unfortunately, it was not an easy job to make a nickname for a cold person like him. Selena mumbled more to herself than speak to him.
“If it’s a nickname, there should be something adoring about it

”
Kalcion smiled, quietly listening to her murmuring a number of possible nicknames for him. A flicker of life shone in his face. However, Selena did not stop.
“Kalcion, Mr. Kal, Cion, Ci–”
“Why don’t you quit?”
She suddenly raised her head as if she had forgotten about his presence. When he unexpectedly met her surprised grey eyes, he felt his soul being sucked out of his very existence.
“Do you have anything in mind?”
“

..”
His lips parted, but they could not utter anything as they urged to touch hers. Selena’s smile deepened as she spotted his wordless lips.
“Yeah? What? Did you get something? Come on, say something.”
“

..”
She was completely amused at playing with Kalcion’s demeanor.
“Dear Cion

.Would you like it if I call you that?”
“


”
“Wouldn’t you stop me?”
He quickly turned his head, unable to face Selena, who was smiling brightly beside him.
One of the hands of the cold Northern Duke was resting in its place at the backrest of the sofa behind Selena, while the long fingers of his other hand moved to cover his face. His earlobes were slightly red. Even if he did his best to hide them, she didn’t miss it.
If not now, when else could she make fun of the Northern Duke? Opportunities should not be lost. Selena became more and more excited, reducing the gap between them.
“So? Do you like it? Why aren’t you answering me? Or is that too sour? Should I keep poking you?”
“

Do as you please.”
Kalcion got up, unable to stand her quips.
“I’ll find someone so that we can start with the liberal arts classes right in the afternoon.”
Then, his feet hurried over toward the path to his office. Selena, who was watching him intently, burst into a fit.
“Alright, I’ll work hard, dear Cion~!”
Of course, she wasn’t expecting a reply. However, Kalcion did not deny it as he walked away.
‘You’re quite the cutie.’
Like all the cranky men worldwide.
Genius
“From this day onwards, I will tell you about the basic knowledge, manners, and rules of the society as a whole.”
Surprisingly, her tutor was Mrs. Janet.
‘Why did it have to be her of all people?’
She wasn’t very friendly to Selena right from the beginning. Even now, she was acting all heedful towards Selena.
Although Mrs. Janet did not show her disapproval towards her directly, she didn’t intentionally stop neglecting Selena.
Except for the fact that she sometimes gave her a look of contempt.
“Your Duke is going to learn some social language as well.”
“That’s after Miss Selena’s basic education.”
“You’re not basic, are you?” That’s what her stern look said. Had she not been stranded in this place, she would not have suffered being that intimidated.
Selena asked with an all-knowing tone.
“I wasn’t expecting Mrs. Janet to come as my teacher.”
“His Excellency has given his orders.”
Selena’s question intended to mean, “Do you deserve to be a teacher?” to touch her pride, but it could not hurt a hair on her.
Mrs. Janet didn’t even react with anger. As Selena watched her straight posture and steady eyes, she straightened her back.
‘Is she really a socialite?’
“I thought you had other jobs here. It’s very hard to believe you spent some time out there.”
“I was born as the second daughter in Baron Erin’s family and have stayed in the capital society for a while. Since then, I’ve been attending various gatherings with the late Her Highness, the Duchess, so I believe my social etiquette wouldn’t be insufficient.”
Although she was a Baron’s daughter, it would be Selena who’d enter the capital. Mrs. Janet’s eyes sharply rose after her introduction.
“So, please do your best not to discredit the Duke of Renbird.”
It was more of a friendly suggestion. In other words, even if she studied for a whole week, it would not suddenly become something that she’d have to get used to all her life. Instead, she’d just have to point out the topic of conversation appropriately and get out of the way.
“What if I don’t do enough and discredit the Duke of Renbird?”
When Mrs. Janet kept staring at her blankly, Selena did not avert her gaze. She was really curious.
“I’ll do my best to teach you not to let that happen.”
“What if it doesn’t work?”
Mrs. Janet took a deep breath as if she was trying to calm down herself.
“I’ll do my best to take care of it.”
She did not elaborate. It could mean a stricter class or a change in the way of teaching.
‘Or

’
It could mean that it could even be solved by getting rid of the small rats dirtying their castle. With that, only a single cliff would be waiting for her arrival with no wall for safety.
‘Wow, very nice and thrilling!’
Selena nodded, smiling bitterly.
“Alright. I’ll be in your care, then.”
However, she was quite dubious of how Mrs. Janet could handle her. But as she promised Kalcion, she tried her best.
***
“I heard Miss had a class with Mrs. Janet today?”
Selena shifted her gaze from the steam rising from her bathtub towards the looming maid.
There were nearly 300 maids and servants working in the castle of Renbird, but this maid was the one she was familiar with.
At first, they thought they’d take turns in serving Selena, but she denied it. This maid was so passionate when she forced Selena to wear a thousand pieces of garments that it became a sweet memory for her.
“Oh, did the word spread out that much?”
“Everyone is interested in Miss Selena.”
After delivering a gentle smile, she moved to put perfume on Selena’s hair. The maid worked so diligently that it seemed she was doing her best to decorate Selena, but Selena frowned.
‘Why?’
Why was the maid being so careful and gentle to her?
Selena wasn’t a Duchess who would gain power soon nor did she have any money to offer. It was suspicious to give excessive care to a woman who had nothing to provide. Also, it felt a little strange how Mrs. Janet was acting today.
Selena stared at the maid. The maid, who tied her brown hair tightly together, looked simple and her face was neat.
Either way, it could be a possibility.
The possibility that she was looking for a way through Selena to aim for Kalcion’s tactics. And the possibility that she was under someone’s orders to monitor Selena.
‘If you want to dig any further, you’ll have to be careful, darling.’ Selena grinned like a cat.
“Oh, really? What do people say?”
“What do you mean? You’re so pretty, Miss. That is the reason His Excellency is falling for you. That’s what they all say.”
“Wow! Hahaha.”
“Hahahaha.”
Selena chuckled excitedly at the word “pretty” and the maid joined her.
“Oh, but, Mrs. Janet doesn’t seem to trust me.”
“Oh, my. Why is that, Miss?”
“She said, ‘I’m not going to let you do anything that’ll dishonor the Duke of Renbird’


”
“Ah! How could she say that to Miss Selena?!”
The maid gasped.
“That’s what she always says to us. If you have done anything, it must honor the Duke of Renbird. Don’t discredit the Duke, he should always be honored.”
“For Mrs. Janet, the honor of the Duke is really important.”
“I know. I don’t know how she could stay beside the late Duchess.”
Selena’s ears perked up at it.
“Why? What about the Duchess?”
“She was from a noble family, but

in Mrs. Janet eyes’, the Duchess seemed to have a lot of shortcomings. She kept following the Duchess everywhere and always nagged behind her. Sometimes, she even hit her.”
“Eek. Is that even allowed?”
“The late Duchess had an amazing personality. But, Mrs. Janet couldn’t stand it if she didn’t go her way.”
She even acted mean to such a great figure, the grand Duchess. What would happen if Selena, herself, got hit by her someday?
‘What if I get caught?

..No, I don’t know anything yet.’
The maid deliberately brought up the story, but Selena couldn’t figure out whether she was intentionally leaking it to her or she simply liked to chat.
“Well, it seems like no one here is free from Mrs. Janet’s nagging.”
“I don’t think there’s anyone else except for His Excellency?”
“Wow, then it’s Mrs. Janet’s fault that the Duke hasn’t been married so far.”
The maid just chuckled.
There wasn’t one person who wasn’t on Selena’s watchlist. Although almost everyone was gentle to her with a few words, no one seemed to have anything to say about the death of Irelle – the prospective fiancĂ©e of Kalcion. Suddenly, the atmosphere subsided as if someone had spilled cold water in the bathroom.
“Hmm, I’d like to put on a more flowery perfume today.”
Selena, who was worried a little about the eerie silence, said. The maid, who was to prepare the perfume, looked at the bottle before she asked.
“But this is all I’ve prepared. Shall I bring another one?”
“Yes, please.”
The maid left.
Only
“I’m very tired today, so bring me some comfortable sleepwear. Not like that other one.”
“Ah, then I’ll go and look for it.”
Another maid went out of the door, leaving Selena and the maid who was unusually friendly to her.
“So, it’s just the two of us, huh?”
Selena said, smiling at her reflection in the mirror.
“Oh, by the way, what’s your name? It’s better to call someone by their name who’s about the same age as me, so I can call you the next time if I need anything.”
“Ah, yes. My name is Juna.”
“Well then, Juna, let’s get close in the future.”
“Yes, tell me if you need anything or if you feel uncomfortable about something. You can also call me when you need someone to talk to.”
Selena smiled and nodded at her.
‘Time to find out how close we’re going to be.’ Selena pretended to look around as she lowered her voice and spoke carefully.
“By the way, are you

”