The ball was not over.
At least, the music was still playing.
The nobles were still laughing, the servants were refilling glasses, and the chandeliers shone tirelessly.
But for me, something had already ended once.
Eveline Rosette’s first ruin route.
The duel incident.
That route had just collapsed.
`Ruin Route: Duel Incident — Cleared`
It felt as though that line from the system window still lingered before my eyes.
When I first fell into this world, I had been a tutorial teacher destined to die in a week.
Eveline had been the villainess who would push me to my death.
Yet now, in the middle of the grand ballroom, she had performed a swordsmanship demonstration without holding a sword.
She had received applause.
She had smiled.
And she had asked to resume our lessons.
Even having cleared the original game seven times, I had never seen a scene like this.
Of course not.
It had never existed in the original story.
"Leon."
Eveline called to me quietly.
"Yes."
"People keep staring."
"Yes."
"It feels awful."
"Because you won."
Eveline turned her eyes toward me.
"Why would they look at me like that when I won?"
"They expected you to lose, and you did not."
She fell silent for a moment.
Then she gave a very small laugh.
"That does feel nice."
"Save your smiles."
"Why?"
"You still have to make your exit."
Eveline’s expression immediately soured.
"Is leaving part of the lesson too?"
"Yes."
"You really make me do everything."
"At an aristocratic ball, everything is remembered—from the entrance, conversation, dance, and demonstration, to the exit."
I looked toward the inner part of the grand ballroom.
Arsene Berhardt was watching us from afar.
Seria Blanc was smiling behind her fan, while Liana Bell was still glancing at Eveline.
Kaiden Astrea had disappeared from the second-floor balcony.
The fact that he had disappeared bothered me more.
An observer you cannot see is the most exhausting kind.
"You cannot leave right away as if you are running away."
I spoke.
"Running away?"
Eveline frowned.
"Why would I run away?"
"Exactly. So you must not make it look as though you are."
"Then how am I supposed to leave?"
"Offer your farewells, make an excuse, then leave with a smile at the end."
"Smile again?"
"You should put what you learned today to use."
"I came here to learn swordsmanship."
"Today, you even gave a swordsmanship demonstration with a handkerchief."
"You were the one who made me do that."
"You did well."
Eveline’s lips stopped for a moment.
"...Say that again."
"You did well."
"Fine."
She turned her head away.
The tips of her ears were red.
She really was difficult to handle.
She liked praise, yet the moment anyone noticed that she liked it, she seemed ready to bite their head off.
Still, this was better than before.
The old Eveline would have craved praise while suspecting the person who praised her.
Now, at least, she asked to hear it again.
That was major progress.
"Who do we greet first?"
Eveline asked.
"The host of the event."
"Arsene?"
"Yes."
Her face stiffened at once.
"I do not want to."
"Then you lose."
"You said I won today."
"You have to leave while still winning."
"This is so irritating."
But she did not refuse.
We walked toward Arsene.
The path opened naturally before us.
It was different from when we had first entered the grand ballroom.
Then, people had viewed us as a spectacle.
Now, they saw us as an unpredictable variable.
The unruly young lady had not suddenly fallen apart.
The commoner teacher had somehow survived.
Whenever the two of us were together, things went off script.
It was the kind of rumor nobles hated most and loved at the same time.
Arsene smiled as we approached.
A perfectly composed smile.
As though he did not know that three of his plays had just been ruined.
"Eveline," he said.
"You were truly impressive today."
"Thank you."
Eveline’s response was brief.
Cold and steady.
"I never knew you could display swordsmanship without a sword."
"Neither did I."
I flinched inwardly.
Eveline continued.
"I learned it today."
Good.
Honest, but not weak.
Arsene’s gaze shifted to me.
"From Teacher Cart?"
"Yes."
Eveline did not evade the question.
"He is my private tutor."
For the briefest moment, Arsene’s eyes turned cold.
Then he smiled again.
"I see. You have an excellent teacher."
That was not praise.
It was confirmation that I intended to remain by Eveline’s side.
I lowered my head.
"You flatter me."
Arsene addressed me.
"Tonight must be memorable for you as well, Teacher Cart."
"It is."
"The ball, the verification of the duel, even a conversation with His Highness the Prince."
He spoke gently.
"That is rather excessive for a commoner private tutor to experience in a single day."
A blade.
`You are excessive.`
`You do not belong here.`
`Everyone will question why you are here.`
He had merely said it politely.
Eveline’s hand began to move.
I spoke first.
"That is correct."
Arsene’s smile froze.
"It was excessive."
I said,
"That is why I learned so much more today."
"Learned?"
"Yes. How to fight at an aristocratic ball without hurting anyone."
Several nobles nearby turned their attention toward us.
Arsene’s eyes narrowed.
I added,
"House Berhardt’s ball was an excellent lesson."
Beside me, Eveline caught her breath very softly.
She seemed to be holding back a laugh.
Arsene watched me for some time.
Then he said,
"You speak dangerously, Teacher Cart."
"I learned to in order to survive."
"I feel as though I have heard you say that several times tonight."
"It is something I need to say often."
Arsene smiled.
But his smile had grown a little thinner.
Eveline stepped half a pace forward.
"Lord Berhardt."
"Yes, Eveline?"
"Thank you for the invitation today."
Her words were polite.
Yet somehow, they were sharp.
"Thanks to you, I learned many valuable things."
Arsene was silent for a moment.
Then Eveline smiled one last time.
A practiced smile.
And, for the first time today, a smile completed by her own will.
"I will do even better next time."
It was not a simple farewell.
It was a declaration of war.
Arsene understood as well.
He inclined his head slightly.
"I look forward to it."
We passed him.
Eveline did not turn her back on him, rotating at a proper angle as she walked away.
Beatrice would have praised her if she had seen it.
I spoke quietly.
"That was good."
"I know."
"You are admitting it right away this time?"
"I think I did rather well today."
An astonishing thing to hear.
Eveline Rosette had stated her accomplishment as fact rather than a boast.
I nodded.
"Yes. You did well."
She did not answer.
But she did not crumple her handkerchief.
On the way to the grand ballroom exit, Liana followed us.
"Lady Rosette."
Eveline turned around.
"What is it?"
Her voice was cold, but it no longer stabbed like before.
Liana clasped her hands together.
"Thank you so much for today."
"You already said that earlier."
"Still, I wanted to say it again."
Liana glanced at me once, then looked back at Eveline.
"I think I had not understood anything at all."
"That is true."
"My lady," I said quietly.
Eveline shut her mouth.
Instead, Liana smiled faintly.
"It is all right. She is right."
Eveline looked flustered.
Apparently, she was not used to people accepting her bluntness.
Liana spoke carefully.
"If it would not be presumptuous, could we speak more about what happened today sometime?"
Eveline looked at me.
Those were eyes asking for help again.
I did not answer.
She needed to do this herself too.
After considering it for a moment, Eveline said,
"You are coming to Lady Blanc’s tea party, are you not?"
"If I am invited."
"Then we can talk then."
"Really?"
"But do not get any strange ideas."
Eveline lifted her chin.
"I am not inviting you because I like you."
Liana paused, then smiled.
"Yes. Still, I am happy."
Eveline’s face froze.
She clearly had not expected that response.
"You are strange."
"Me?"
"Yes."
"Lady Rosette is a little..."
Liana trailed off.
Eveline’s eyes narrowed.
"A little what?"
As though summoning courage, Liana said,
"You are a little strange too, but you seem kinder than I expected."
Silence.
I held my breath.
Eveline stared at Liana for a long while.
Then she said quietly,
"Do not say things like that to just anyone."
"Pardon?"
"You will attract strange people."
Liana tilted her head.
Eveline pointed in my direction.
"People like that one."
"Why am I being dragged into this?"
"Because you are the strangest one of all."
Liana laughed softly.
It was a very small laugh, but she laughed.
It felt like the first time Liana had laughed comfortably in the grand ballroom.
A system window appeared.
`Liana Bell’s tension has decreased.`
`Eveline Rosette — Liana Bell relationship: Cautious Curiosity`
Good.
This was enough.
They were not friends yet.
They did not need to be.
It was enough that they were not enemies.
For now, that was significant.
After Liana withdrew, Seria Blanc appeared as though she had been waiting.
Her timing was impeccable.
Her fan hid her mouth.
"Are you leaving?"
"Yes," Eveline replied.
"I have seen enough now."
"I would like to see more."
"That is Lady Blanc’s concern."
Seria smiled.
"Very well. Let us leave it at that for today."
She took out a small envelope.
Blue wax.
The white swan emblem of the Ducal House of Blanc.
"A formal invitation."
Fast.
Very fast.
She had likely prepared for several possible outcomes even before coming to the ball.
Or perhaps she had made it right here on the spot.
Either was possible.
Seria handed the envelope to Eveline.
"Three days from now, in the afternoon. I plan to hold a small tea party at the greenhouse in the Blanc estate’s annex."
Eveline accepted the invitation.
"Small?"
"Yes. Very small."
Seria’s eyes smiled.
"Lady Rosette, Miss Liana Bell, Teacher Cart, and myself."
"That is rather small."
"Though the scale of the incident may not be."
I looked at Seria.
"Is that something you say in an invitation?"
"If I tell you beforehand, you will be less surprised."
"It is not particularly reassuring."
"I was not trying to reassure you."
As expected, she was exhausting.
Seria looked between us.
"Tonight, Lady Rosette betrayed people’s expectations."
Eveline raised an eyebrow.
"Do you mean that in a good way?"
"This time."
Seria folded her fan.
"Then next time, it will be my turn to betray people’s expectations."
Those words caught strangely in my mind.
Betray expectations.
Seria Blanc’s original ruin had been a false accusation of attempted poisoning.
An incident that destroyed her because everyone thought she might truly have done it.
If she wanted to betray their expectations, it was not merely a prank.
It likely had to do with her reputation itself.
Seria turned her gaze to me.
"Teacher Cart."
"Yes."
"You said you dislike tea, did you not?"
"I said it depends on the circumstances."
"Then try to like it three days from now."
"I will try."
"And make sure to check the aroma before you drink it."
She smiled as she said it.
As though it were a joke.
But it did not sound like a joke at all.
The warning from the strategy board resurfaced in my mind.
`Do not drink the tea.`
Seria Blanc had given me a warning along with the invitation.
Why?
Did she instinctively know that her ruin route was tied to tea and poison?
Or was she simply testing me?
I could not tell.
That was what made Seria frightening.
Seria left after her farewell.
Eveline looked down at the envelope.
"That woman is really strange."
"Yes."
"Stranger than you."
"That is quite a harsh assessment."
"It was not a compliment."
"I know."
At last, we left the grand ballroom.
This time, it did not look like we were fleeing.
We had offered farewells, made an excuse, and smiled at the end.
It had not been perfect, but it was enough.
The moment we entered the carriage, Eveline leaned back against the seat.
Her face was relaxed now.
Some of her usual ferocity had faded.
A tired seventeen-year-old young lady.
Her dress was heavy, her feet hurt, and she had spent all day fighting herself.
That was how she looked.
"I am dying," she said.
"You are alive."
"Do not talk back."
"Yes."
The carriage began to move.
The lights of the Berhardt villa faded behind us.
The capital’s nighttime streets passed beyond the window.
Eveline said nothing for a long time.
Then she spoke quietly.
"Today..."
"Yes."
"I really did not ruin everything?"
I looked at her.
It was not a light question.
Tonight, she had received applause.
She had forced Arsene to back down, defeated Klaus, avoided becoming enemies with Liana, and even succeeded in a swordsmanship demonstration without a sword.
Yet she still asked.
Whether she had truly not ruined everything.
She had heard for so long that she would.
Brat.
Defective product.
Destined for a broken engagement.
The problem child of House Rosette.
Those words had been lodged inside Eveline for far too long.
I answered.
"You did not ruin it."
Eveline lowered her gaze.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Then..."
She took out her handkerchief.
The handkerchief she had held all day.
The edge was slightly folded, but it was not crumpled.
"This did not get ruined either."
"No."
"What about me?"
I was silent for a moment.
Then I said,
"You did not either."
Eveline did not say anything.
She turned away, pretending to look out the window.
But her face reflected in the glass looked as though she might cry.
She did not.
Instead, she folded the handkerchief very carefully.
Like someone ending the day without breaking something for the first time.
A system window silently appeared.
`Eveline Rosette’s first private tutoring result has been confirmed.`
`Duel Incident Route: Cleared`
`Eveline Rosette’s key changes:`
`1. Developed tolerance for defeat`
`2. Acquired the basics of self-control`
`3. Formed trust in Leon Cart`
`4. Created a goal beyond the ruin route: Pass the Academy entrance exam`
I stared at those lines for a long time.
At last, one.
I had truly changed one thing.
But then the next line appeared.
`Next private tutoring candidate: Seria Blanc`
`Danger Type: Information warfare / false poisoning accusation / collapse of trust`
`Recommended preparations: Record evidence, inspect food/tea, secure conversation logs`
I swallowed a sigh.
I had dealt with a sword, and now I had to suspect tea.
This world truly had the worst educational environment.
"Leon," Eveline called.
"Yes."
"The tea party."
"Yes."
"We are going, right?"
"We have to."
"I do not want to."
"Neither do I."
"But we have to go?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
I thought for a moment.
Seria’s ruin route.
A false accusation of attempted poisoning.
A villainess no one believed because she had failed to earn their trust.
I could not tell Eveline all of that yet.
So I said this instead.
"Because I think Lady Blanc was taught the wrong things too."
Eveline looked at me.
"Are you really going to teach just anyone?"
"Not just anyone."
"Then who?"
"Only people who look like they are going to ruin themselves."
Eveline stared at me for a long time.
Then she snorted with laughter.
"So you taught me because I looked like I was going to ruin myself too?"
"Yes."
"You are honest."
"I thought you would see through me if I lied."
"That is right. I would have."
She looked out the window again.
After a moment, she said very quietly,
"Still."
"Yes."
"I am glad you taught me."
I did not answer.
Those words were meant for me, but they were also words she was saying to herself.
The carriage raced toward the Rosette estate.
And I knew.
The first villainess was not finished yet.
Eveline Rosette would get angry again, make mistakes, and try to crumple her handkerchief again.
But now she knew how to rise again.
That was enough.
The problem was the second one.
Seria Blanc.
She would bring not a handkerchief, but a teacup.
And most likely—
She would ask with a smile.
`Teacher, where should one begin to suspect poison?`
My head already hurt.
Late that night, when we arrived at the Rosette estate, the butler was waiting to greet us.
He looked at Eveline, then at me, and finally at the intact handkerchief in her hand.
After a very brief silence,
the butler bowed his head.
"I am glad you returned safely, my lady."
Eveline replied,
"Yes."
Normally, she would have said, `Do not state the obvious.`
Today, she simply said yes.
The butler’s eyes trembled just slightly.
I was not the only one who had noticed.
The people of the estate were watching too.
Watching Eveline slowly change.
And watching that change alter the atmosphere of the estate itself.
The moment I returned to my room, I collapsed onto the bed.
The last thing I saw before falling asleep was the system window.
`Part 1: Private Tutoring Arc — Eveline Rosette’s First Correction Complete`
`Time remaining until the next event: 3 days`
`Ducal House of Blanc Tea Party`
`Warning: Check the aroma before drinking tea.`
I closed my eyes.
Honestly.
The next lesson was going to be far more exhausting than a sword.
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