To be honest, I deliberately avoided detailing Claire’s character. I omitted the specifics of her beauty, whether she was a sweet girl, or if her name was as lovely as her face. 

I knew Eric would be dying for those descriptions, but because I didn't fully understand her yet—her personality still occupied a gray area in my mind—I felt it best to keep those observations to myself for now.

Instead of filling the pages with details about Claire, I provided only a brief update at the very end. The report consisted of a massive block of text followed by a mere two lines about her, finished with a warm, formal greeting.

The thought of Eric’s enthusiastic face turning sour when he realized the entire letter was filler, save for those two lines, made me laugh out loud.

I folded the letter into fourths, slipped it into a brown envelope sealed with the Dominique crest, and rose from my chair to grab the dark brown coat hanging behind the door.

As I opened the door, I found a girl with flowing black hair and sparkling eyes standing right in front of me. Her right hand was raised, caught mid-air. she had been about to knock just as the door swung inward.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Harrie" Claire greeted me with the wide smile she had been wearing so often lately.

I pulled the door shut, gripping the letter as I stepped past her, effectively ignoring her in the doorway. I had overlooked the most vital part of our arrangement. 

That ridiculous deal had done nothing to change her behavior. instead, it had become a persistent trap. When Claire first proposed the agreement, as a teacher of high integrity. thought, it was a productive first step toward guiding her into becoming a dignified noblewoman and a proper Duchess.

I had forgotten one crucial fact. this girl, ten years my junior, was a cunning creature full of guile. No sooner had I agreed to the deal than she began to haunt my every waking hour—even my days off. 

She constantly used the 'educational' clause as her shield. She would steal my lunch hour to ask about things that had nothing to do with our curriculum. 

She would invade my holidays to pepper me with strange questions that grew more intrusive by the day. To her, 'education' apparently covered every random curiosity that crossed her mind. Like.. 'Why is there morning and night?'

'Why is the sky blue?' 

'Why does the moon follow her when she walks?' Half of her questions felt less like science and more like riddles or nonsense.

And today, she had arrived yet again on my day off.

"Hah..." I exhaled a long breath, wiping the sweat from my brow. Despite the autumn chill, these situations often provoked a cold sweat.

I walked down the long, empty hallway with hurried, sweeping strides. I refused to look back because, even without seeing her, the rhythmic clicking of her shoes echoed right behind me to the end of the hall.

At the far end, Rei was dusting the paintings along the wall. She greeted me cheerfully.

"Oh My. you look very sharp this afternoon, Mr. Harrie" Rei walked toward me with a giggle.

"What is the occasion? Do you have a date?" she teased, smiling widely. I straightened my collar and gave her a thin smile. 

"Thank you for the compliment, Rei. But I am merely heading to the post office to send a letter to Duke Dominique"

"Oh? Why not give it to me? You shouldn't have to trouble yourself going out in this cold weather"

I shook my head. "That won't be necessary. I prefer to send this one personally. Besides, the afternoon air seems quite refreshing" I glanced toward Claire before looking back at Rei.

 "As you know, I’ve been feeling a bit... suffocated lately" I wasn't sure if Rei caught my meaning, but judging by the way her eyes flickered to the person behind me, she understood perfectly.

"I suppose you're right, sir" she said.

"Well then, I’ll be out for a while. If the Countess looks for me, tell her I’ve gone to post a letter" Rei nodded and stepped aside, allowing me to walk toward the great doors at the end of the hall. 

I could hear the rhythm of footsteps quickening behind me as I neared the exit. Just as my hand reached for the handle, Claire called my name, her voice rising to a slight, piercing pitch. "Mr. Harrie!"

I was reluctant to turn around, but I knew it would be perceived as a height of rudeness. With a long, weary breath, I looked back and raised an eyebrow. "What is it, My Lady?"

A grimace was etched onto Claire's face. She stomped toward me as if to physically broadcast her anger. "Where are you going, Mr. Harrie? Why are you ignoring me?" she asked sharply.

I glanced toward Rei, who simply shrugged and beat a hasty retreat, leaving the two of us alone at the main entrance. Claire stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at me. To be honest, seeing her this angry did not frighten me. It only reminded me of one of my former students who would grow resentful if they did not receive constant attention.

"I am not ignoring you, My Lady. However, I have every right to decline your requests on my day off"

"If you wish to speak with me tomorrow, I will surely answer. But not today"

Claire rolled her eyes. "At the very least, you should not have pretended not to see me standing in front of your room"

"You did not even give me a chance to speak" Her eyes flickered to the brown envelope gripped in my hand. 

"What is that letter?"

The question made me instantly wary. I reflexively hid the envelope behind my back.

"This is..."

"Is that not the Dominique family crest? 

“What are you actually planning?"

My gaze darted away. I was unsure if telling her would be a wise move or a disaster. Eric had been explicit about keeping these weekly reports a secret from everyone, especially Countess Winston. I did not know the true reason for such secrecy, but revealing it to Claire offered no advantage..

"Nothing"

Claire crossed her arms. "Are you certain, Mr. Harrie? If you are not planning anything, then why did you hide it the moment I saw it?"

"I am not hiding it. Furthermore, this is none of your business. Excuse me"

My hand found the door handle behind my back, and I stepped out of the room quickly. I felt that if I stayed there any longer, she would begin to pick apart my behavior and movements. 

I walked with long strides across the vast courtyard, where dry leaves fell from a large tree to form mounds of brittle gold. The autumn wind grew colder by the minute.

 It seemed winter would arrive earlier than expected this year. I stood at the edge of the estate, preparing for a long walk. While the Winston residence was in the capital region, it was still a twenty minute journey on foot to the central post office.

Tap

    Tap

        Tap

"Mr. Harrie!"

The sound of footsteps grew more intense as she drew closer.

"Mr. Harrie!" Claire stood behind me, her breath coming in short, ragged gasps.

I let out a sigh before turning to face her. 

"What is it now, My Lady?"

"Allow... allow me to come with you"

I frowned. "For what reason? It will be dark soon"

"Moreover, I am not taking a carriage. I am walking there and back"

Claire exhaled, clutching her chest. "That does not matter"

"I am used to walking to the city center"

"But what about the Countess? She might go looking for—"

"She will not. Not as long as I am with you instead of being on my own"

"So, please. Let me come along"