2 Chapter 2: The Tutor

As Astrid began to look around, she noticed the astonished expressions on the faces of the maids. 'Right, I'm a child... It doesn't matter how many thousands of years I lived as a dragon, I am a child and should remember they don't have skills like these. Shit.' Astrid thought.

She walked over to one of the maids. "I would like to speak to my father, when is the soonest I can do that?" Astrid asked.

"W-would you like to show him what you have made?" She asked.

"No, that is not the purpose of me asking for a presence. I would like to make a request." She said in a direct manner.

"I-I see. I will go ask him now." The maid said as she exited the room. A few minutes later, Athel and the maid arrived in the playroom. Athel walked to Astrid and crouched next to her.

"What do you desire?" He asked.

"I wish to learn how to read. These toys are rather boring, I assume immersing myself in books would be more entertaining, for that, I require the ability to read." She said as she turned around and faced her construct.

"Did you make that?" He asked.

"Of course I did, who else would dare touch the objects in this room?" Astrid asked. Athel chuckled.

"I see, you've done well." Athel said as he patted Astrid's head.

"O-of course I have, I am me after all!" She said as she held her head high. 'Why is it that such simple praise affects me so much?' Astrid asked herself. "Moving on, what is your answer to my request?" Astrid asked.

"Yes, yes, I will hire a tutor soon, however, I will let you know now, once your lessons start, you must pay attention." Athel said.

"I know this already, I am not ignorant to how much work it requires to learn a system of writing." Astrid said as she crossed her arms.

"Alright, well, with that settled, I'm going to get back to work, do your best in all your projects, okay?" Athel asked as he stood up.

"I do not know the word for when you do something and do not succeed." Astrid said.

"It is called failure, and you should avoid it." Athel said with a slight chuckle.

"I know! I was trying to tell you that I do not plan on failing and will always succeed!" She said as she quickly turned around and yelled at Athel. Athel laughed as he left the room. Astrid crossed her arms.

'If he was not required for my plans, I would not speak to him ever again!' She thought angrily as she stomped with her left foot as if affirming her position. She spent the next few days preparing for her lessons, and after five days, her tutor arrived and everyone ate dinner at the table.

"Is she not a bit young?" The tutor asked. Astrid sighed.

"In case you are unaware as most humans are ignorant, I requested your services." Astrid said.

'Humans?' The tutor thought.

"It is as she says. She said she is bored of her toys and wants to read, so here you are, Isaac." Athel said. Isaac sighed.

"Alright, but if I deem her to be unready, then you must wait at least one year before trying to hire me again." Isaac said.

"Deal." Athel said.

"I want my first lesson to be after dinner." Astrid said.

"It will be in the morning." Isaac said.

"That is not what I said." Astrid stated.

"I think it would be best to start in the morning." Athel said.

"It does not matter much if you think it would be better to start at that time, I wish to start as soon as possible so that I may read as soon as possible." Astrid said.

"Young lady, your father has spoken, you should not speak against him." Isaac said.

"Why? Does it not matter how logical my reasoning is? Are you saying that I should just do things without question? Do you know that people who do what they are told without question are susceptible to committing atrocities? Well, what's your answer?" Astrid asked.

"The reason is that he holds the authority in this situation." Isaac said.

"Really? You did not seem to care mere moments ago when you were the one speaking against him, however, when I started to speak up, suddenly you did, why is that?" Astrid asked.

"Th-that is because you are only a child!" Isaac said.

"What does age have to do with anything? If I have shown the cognitive ability to debate on par with an adult, then what is the difference other than physical attributes?" Astrid asked. Athel laughed.

"Isaac, it seems she is rather determined to start tonight." Athel said with a warm smile. Isaac sighed.

"After dinner, it is, then." He said with a defeated tone.

"Good. We are on track, then." Astrid said as she continued eating. Once she was finished, she was quickly brought to the study and given lessons on reading and writing. At the end of the lesson, Astrid had stood up and walked over to Isaac. "I believe that it would be best to have lessons in the morning and evening." She said then left.

'Fucking brat.' Isaac thought. In the morning, she had more lessons, and from just the first lesson, Isaac could see a drastic improvement in her reading proficiency. "At the very least she isn't all talk." He mumbled.

"And when she w-w-wa-walked down the steps of the..." Astrid paused her practice reading as she squinted at a word. "C-ca-cath-cath-cathe-cathedral, she w-waved at the man in the carrage." She finished the practice passage.

"Carriage, not carrage." Isaac said.

"Right. Well, at the very least I got most of it right and did not have to sound out very many words." Astrid said flatly.

"That is true." Isaac said. 'This child's ability is astounding. If she finds out, she may become even more of a brat...' Isaac thought. After a few more practice passages, the lesson had ended and she went to eat lunch in the playroom.

"Athel, she is extraordinary." Isaac said as Athel continued to do paperwork.

"I am aware." Athel said. "Do you want to know what she had accomplished before she told me that she was bored of her toys?" Athel asked.

"What was it she had done?" He asked.

"She had made a replica of the capital palace." Athel said.

"Out of what?" Isaac asked.

"Woodblocks." Athel answered.

"I see... I think I understand why you chose to accept her as one of your own..." Isaac said.

"I had different reasons. I do not plan to use her for political reasons." Athel said as he glared at Isaac.

"I do not understand you, Athel." Isaac said.

"You do not have to. Just do your job." Athel said bluntly.

"R-right." Isaac said as he exited the study.

"Ugh, it is so boring in here." Astrid said as she searched the room looking for something to do. "You, maid, what else is there to do?" Astrid asked as she pointed to a maid. The maid flinched.

"I am sure there are many things you could do, lady Astrid." She said as she avoided the question.

"And that is why I am asking you for ideas. Really, it is not that hard to understand." Astrid said as she walked up to the maid.

"I will request permission to bring you to the garden." The maid said.

'The garden? I had no clue we had one, that would be nice.' Astrid thought. "Yes, you do that, in the meantime, I will find something to occupy myself." Astrid said dismissively.

"Yes, lady Astrid." The maid said as she left the room. Soon, she returned and was escorted outside into a garden. The garden has many flowers and trees. It also has a path to guide people through the sights.

"These flowers are taken well care of, not only that but the shape shows expert level pruning. This garden has my approval." Astrid said as she observed a rose bush.

"You are quite knowledgeable." The maid said.

'I really need to learn to shut up... Well, actually, now that I think about it, they seem to be getting used to it...' She thought. They continued walking around and Astrid noticed a few individuals who were walking around. "Who are they?" Astrid asked as she pointed to the small group.

The maid searched in that direction for a moment. "We should go this way." The maid said as she pulled Astrid by the hand leading her away from the group.

"Why?" She asked.

"I just think you will like it more, is all." The maid said.

"Maid, tell me your name." Astrid said. The maid froze.

"I couldn't possibly do such a thing, that would..." She trailed off.

"I demanded something of you." Astrid said. The maid looked at Astrid with a slight amount of fear.

"My name is Nora, my lady." She said reluctantly.

"That was not so hard, now was it?" Astrid asked as she got her hand free from Nora's grip. "Now, Nora, would you please tell me who those individuals are and why you are avoiding them?" Astrid asked.

"They are... Your siblings, my lady." Nora said.

"I see. Are they children of the mistress or a concubine?" Astrid asked as she observed a few plants.

"One of them is the child of the mistress, the others are the children of concubines." Nora said. Astrid waved for Nora to come closer. She walked over to Astrid and crouched. Nora pet her head.

"Thank you for telling me. Now let's go and speak with them." Astrid said.

"A-are you sure, my lady?" Nora asked. Astrid brought her hand back.

"Yes, I would like to know where I stand with them." Astrid said flatly as she began walking in the direction of the group from before. They are sat at a table with an umbrella attached to it.

Each of the individuals in the group are between the ages of six and eight. "Tell me, how many children does my father have?" Astrid asked.

"Fifteen." Nora responded.

"Of those children, how old is the oldest?" She asked.

"Ten." Nora said.

"How old was my father at the time of that child's birth?" She asked.

"Seventeen." Nora stated.

"Thank you for the information." Astrid said as she approached the children. "Hello, I am Astrid. It is a pleasure to meet you all." Astrid said as she smiled gently. The children looked at Astrid.

The oldest of the group stood from their chair and walked past Astrid. "Let's go guys." He said as he waved them over. "We should go get a snack from the kitchen." He added as the rest of the group got out of their seats and ignored Astrid.

Once all five of the children had left, Nora began speaking. "I'm sorry for their behavior, but the mistress and the concubines do not like you and so their children pretend that you don't exist." Nora said solemnly.

"I see, so that is my current standing. Not far from what I was expecting. I will have to see about changing that." Astrid said.

"You seem unaffected by their behavior..." Nora said with slight confusion.

"Well, yeah, why would I let it bother me?" Astrid asked.

"I see. I misjudged you, my lady. I apologize." Nora said.

"It is fine. I believe that I can trust you. Do not betray that trust." Astrid said as she began walking back inside.

"R-right. Thank you, my lady." Nora said as she followed her.

'I believe that behaving as a normal child would is a lost cause as of now, so may as well slowly show my true self more and more over time.' Astrid thought. After another hour or so, Astrid's evening lessons began and after her lessons, she ate dinner.

"Father, why is it that we are the only ones who eat together?" Astrid asked.

"It will not be that way for very much longer. Here in a week, one of your brothers will be joining our dinner every night." He said.

"That does not tell me why, it just tells me it will not be that way for too much longer." Astrid said. Athel sighed.

"It is so you may get used to each of your siblings one at a time and acclimate to normal life again. You were recently involved in an accident, so we are being careful." Athel explained.

"I am satisfied with that answer, but I am curious about something else." Astrid said.

"what is it?" Athel asked.

"Why is it that I am treated as a member of the mistress's line?" She asked. Athel nearly choked as he heard Astrid's question.

"That is..." Athel attempted to think of a way around the question.

"If you do not answer me I will ask elsewhere until I get an answer." Astrid said.

"I will tell you when you are a bit older, but until then I want you to be patient, okay?" Athel asked. Astrid sighed.

'Do I accept? I am curious, however, it does seem he really doesn't want to talk about it. Not only that, but the mistress looks like she might pop a blood vessel. Well, I guess I can wait a few years. After all, a few years for a dragon like myself is nothing more than a mere second.' She thought. "After much deliberation, I have decided to accept your offer." Astrid said.

Athel nodded. Dinner proceeded as it would normally and after dinner, she went to bed.