Autumn | December 8, 1777 | Morning
Morven woke to the soft drumming of rain against his bedroom windows.
He sat up in bed, glanced around the familiar room, then turned his gaze outside. The heavy droplets blurred the world beyond the glass. A small, tired smile touched his lips as he drew a deep breath and murmured to himself:
"No special lessons today…"
Just as he swung his legs over the side of the bed, three sharp knocks sounded at the door. •Tak tak tak•
Morven froze for a second, then called out calmly:
"Is something wrong?"
The head servant's voice came from the other side.
"My lord, your tutor arrived earlier than usual. He didn't explain anything, only asked that I bring you to him as quickly as possible."
A wave of disappointment washed over Morven. He rubbed his temple and thought, *Can't I have even one single day free of that man?*
Finally he answered:
"Fine… tell him I'll get ready and come right away."
"Yes, my lord…"
The sound of retreating footsteps followed.
Morven gritted his teeth and muttered under his breath, "I told him yesterday to stop calling me 'my lord,' and he still does it." He pressed his palms against his eyes. "And now that idiot private tutor won't even leave me alone for a day of rest."
A few minutes later
Morven stepped out of his room with a book under his arm and started down the corridor. Suddenly he heard his tutor's voice a short distance ahead. The man stood waiting, speaking in his usual polite tone:
"Come here, Morven!"
Morven eyed him warily.
"You look irritated… I'm not sure it's safe to get any closer."
The tutor smiled gently and replied:
"If you don't come…"
He took a deep, dramatic breath and scratched the back of his neck.
"Well, there's nothing I can do. You're practically half-nobility, after all…"
Morven gave a soft, triumphant smile.
"Accept your defeat!"
The tutor lifted his head, stared at him, and let out a long:
"Haaaaaaa!?"
Then calmly began walking toward the boy.
Morven swallowed hard; his gentle smile faded into a plain one.
A few minutes later
The two now stood inside the manor's storeroom. Morven shot his tutor a look and sighed:
"You really are an idiot…"
The tutor grinned.
"Respect for your elders is very important! And secondly, is it my fault your father ordered me to tidy this place?"
Morven exhaled heavily.
"So why do I have to help? Did Father say that too?"
The tutor's smile widened.
"No… this one is so you learn to help others."
Morven gave him a pitying stare.
"And now you're going to say you're the one who needs help, right?"
The tutor laughed softly, placing a hand on Morven's shoulder.
"How did you guess?"
Morven took a deep, suffering breath.
"I think I feel like crying…"
The tutor chuckled quietly.
"Unfortunately, you'll have to keep your composure until we're finished… and work with me."
Morven lowered his head, sighed again, and whispered:
"You really are an idiot…"
The tutor glanced at him.
"Did you say something under your breath?"
Morven lifted his head innocently.
"No, not at all… Come on, let's get to work!"
He stepped into the storeroom.
The tutor followed, but as he entered he added:
"I'm pretty sure I heard a mutter."
Morven shrugged.
"You heard wrong."
The tutor took a deep breath.
"I'm certain you're lying to me, but… I have no proof."
Morven smiled calmly.
"You'll never have any… Now get to work, Mr. Needs-Help!"
The tutor laughed under his breath.
"Seriously… a kid is mocking me."
At that moment, Morven's eyes suddenly landed on an old wooden box half-buried behind some dusty furniture.
"Hey… Tutor, I just saw something back there among the old stuff!"