CHAPTER 8: THE TUTOR

“I didn’t see Hestia…” I wondered.

“She will be here on the day of the celebration. She is having a vacation on our fief where Johann’s parents are.”

“I see.”

A servant knocked and came inside. “Marquis, Baron Gustin already arrived.”

“I see. Hebron your teacher is already here.” Johann looked at Hebron.

“But…” Hebron glanced at me. “I want to stay with Tita Leiana a bit longer…,” he said while fidgeting his fingers and feeling embarrassed.

“Hey, Tito Johann said your teacher arrive so go to study, Hebron. You are still growing so you should study well and not skip classes,” Leitz said encouraging him to study as an older brother would.

Who are you to tell Hebron growing? You, yourself also growing. I barely notice it when he is five years old but when he grows every year. I can notice vividly how mature my son is sometimes not in thinking only. As well as, how he acted and speak. Did I teach him too much for him to be so mature?

But I always made sure that he can play as another child must do. However, after that bloody night, Leitz did change. AH! Could this be the reason why he acts maturely sometimes? Does that night not only affect his sensitivity to me when I’m bleeding but also his growth?

This can’t be! He is just ten years old he must be enjoying his youth. He is spending more time with Sir Herwin in his office or with the Black Hawks on the training ground. I sighed upon remembering what I have learned and discovered with my son. He will ask my permission to step out, I thought he will play with other children outside. However, just to my surprise, he is playing with the Black Hawks.

Karl, who is the vice-captain of the Black Hawks, trained Leitz together with the other Black Hawks. The reason, why Leitz also spends more time with Karl, if not with Sir Herwin or me. I am always curious as to what they are conversing about at the counter, but knowing things, maybe it’s about their training and such. I want to stop him from doing so, but I can see on his face how he is enjoying the things he is doing. As a mother, I should let my child do what made him happy and just watch him over. As long as, it isn’t a bad thing or creepy, I will let him run free. My son is smiling like a sun that shines brightly which as well made me happy.

Who am I to stop him from radiating? Might as well watch him over and correct his mistakes. Ah, I’m such a doting mother, I guess. I hope I am not spoiling him like this.

“Can I skip class for now?” Hebron said with pleading eyes to his parents.

“Hebron, the study is important, especially for kids like you and Leitz who were growing up. It helps you to become a good man,” I explained to him gently.

“Is that so?” he said innocently.

Hebron is charming. If my son is adorable but has this indifferent aura sometimes. Hebron is a charming and innocent child. My son, why are you developing rapidly? You are making sad this mother of yours if you act maturely so early.

“Yes.” I smiled at him pinching his cheek.

“Did Leitz also study in your home, Tita Leiana?”

“Ah… Leitz? It is a shame that I could not afford to have someone teach him. However, I am doing my best to teach him the things he should learn.”

“Why don’t you let Leitz come with Hebron on his studies?” Johann suggested. “Maybe it could help him gain some knowledge while staying here?”

“Is that okay?” I glance at Johann.

“Of course. It’s a good chance for him,” Johann answered.

“Right? If Leitz will study with me then he will be away from Tita Leiana hehe…” he mumbled.

“What is it, Hebron?” I ask him since I heard him mumble but I didn’t catch it.

“Ah?” He got startled. “I-I said… That’s right Leitz! It’s good to study with someone,” he answered with vigor.

Hebron jumped off the couch and walked towards Leitz pulling his arm.

“Let’s go, Leitz!”

“I don’t wanna…” he grumbled.

“Leitz, why don’t you try it? Hm?” I pursued him.

Well, I guess Leitz isn’t that behind in basics since I taught him what I learned from my past life. Maybe I could not teach him about this world and its history. However, sometimes I caught him reading some books and Sir Herwin taught him things that I could not.

From my perspective, Leitz is such a bright kid. He could easily grasp things once you explained things to him. He can at least stack new things that he is lacking.

“But mom….”

“It’s not bad to learn some things, right? I know you love to learn new things, son,” I smiled gently.

“Okay…” he nodded his head.

“Good boy…” kissing his temple.

Leitz brightens up. “See you, later, mom!”

“See you. Have fun in learning…”

Leitz glanced at Hebron and smile proudly from being kissed on his forehead. My goodness, my son, why are you boasting about it? I chuckled. Leitz started to call me mom growing up, I guess my son is slowly becoming a man now.

Leitz dragged Hebron. But, Hebron stops in front of Vera.

“Mother….”

“Yes?”

Hebron blushed. “C… can y… you kissed on my forehead?” he asked shyly.

“Oh my… haha of course…” Vera kissed Hebron’s forehead.

Hebron beamed. He glanced at Johann. “Father?”

Johann chuckled and kissed his temple. “Feeling envious, are we?” messing his hair.

Hebron chuckled then dragged Leitz outside the room. While walking in the lobby Hebron looked at Leitz and felt strange.

[ HEBRON’S POV ]

“Why are you suddenly quiet?” I asked Leitz when he seems quiet than he should be.

“I wonder what feeling to have a father…” Leitz said casually while looking ahead.

I paused and remembered what my mother said to me.

“Mother, why did I never see Leitz’s father?”

“That’s because his father is away.”

“Does his father never come home?”

“Nope. Ever since Leitz is born his father never once came home.”

“That’s sad…”

“Leitz, do you want to have a father?” I blurted out. Oops! I should never ask that.

Leitz already is pissed off when I am teasing him about Tita Leiana. I know Leitz is possessive with Tita Leiana. I just like Tita Leiana but seeing his face, I wanted to tease him more, Hahaha!

Leitz stopped and gaze at me sharply. But I really shouldn’t say that.

“Don’t you dare marry my mother, Hebron?” Leitz sharply gazed at him.

“You still remember that?”

“Of course. You were a stupid child then…”

“That was before!”

“Then why are you still clinging to my mother?”

“To tease you? Besides Tita Leiana is like my second mother.”

“…”

“Leitz, what if your father comes?”

“I don’t know…” he answered casually.

“Did you try to ask Tita Leiana about him?”

“Didn’t... Mother never mention my father ever since. So, I am guessing that she doesn’t want to talk about him or she doesn’t want to let me know about him.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“Of course!” Leitz beamed. “As long as I have mom… there is nothing I wanted more!” Leitz said sincerely with a sweet gentle smile on his face.

He always smiles like that whenever we talked about Tita Leiana. Tita Leiana sees Leitz’s bright side, yet she didn’t know that he is raising a little monster under that mask of him.

“What a mommy’s boy…” I teased.

Leitz shrugged his shoulders. “Mother gave birth to me. She taught me things and took care of me. She always watches me over and even protected me. Whenever I am hurt, I can see in her eyes that she is more hurt than I am. She only forbids me to do such things when she knew that it would be bad for me. She may be strict but she wouldn’t be my mom if she didn’t.”

Strict huh? I can imagine. So, Tita Leiana is still giving him push up, squatting, and letting him run for a lapse in the training ground. I remember once when Leitz and I made a mistake. We ran countless lapse until we dead fell on the ground panting.

But it started when Tita Leiana is teaching Leitz how to protect himself. I once witness it and see how elegant and cool Tita Leiana’s movement was. At that time, I couldn’t help but join them. I learn a thing or two from her. I didn’t have a hard time when I started my sword lesson at the age of eight.

Every time, my mother visited Tita Leiana and stayed for a couple of days, my stamina and movements are already built up. Even the captain of our knights is amazed. He thought I was a genius since I quickly learned how to swing a sword.

“Why are you suddenly grinning?” I asked seeing him grinning.

“Nothing… it’s just my mom is the coolest and prettiest person I’ve seen!” he said proudly.

“I have the best mother too!” I insisted.

We look at each other. “Our mother is best!” we said in sync.

The two of them high-fived and laughed. They were happily walking in the lobby towards their class. Both of them arrived at the room where the baron was waiting for them. Baron Gustin looks in their direction as they sat in their seats.

“So, is that the guest that the butler mention?”

“Yes, Baron Gustin,” I answered with a smile. “He is Leitz.”

“Well, hello, Leitz. Now, let’s start our lesson for today.”

Baron Gustin started his lesson. Leitz was dozing off in his class so I nudge him.

“Leitz, wake up. Baron Gustin will get mad at you.”

“Huh?” he glances at me. “But I already knew that, it bores me. Mom taught me that many times until I mastered it. Ugh! Thinking about that… mom is the scary teacher, I guess.” He said while his face was pale.

Just how did Tita Leiana teach Leitz that his face turned pale?

“Hey, Hebron can I go outside?” Leitz whispered to him.

“What? Why?”

“Because I already knew that lesson. It’s making me sleepy.”

“What are you whispering there?” the Baron noticed us.

“Uhm… I was wondering if I could leave,” Leitz answered honestly.

I facepalm. Leitz does not hide what he truly felt if he couldn’t tolerate it anymore.

“Leave?”

“Yes.”

“You ignorant brat! Don’t you know how you should be thankful for someone like you being taught by me?”

Leitz looked at him with a calm and expressionless face. That face… if his making that it means he doesn’t like the person he was talking to and facing with. Leitz would smile at his friends but he will not be gentle unless it is Tita Leiana.

Leitz will turn into another person whenever he is with Tita Leiana. A kind, sweet, caring, and gentle Leitz will resurface. If I didn’t know Leitz since young I think my hair will stand up because of how he switches between his two faces. One thing he inherited from Tita Leiana is he could smile innocently and sweetly while saying cruel words to you.

“Uhm Leitz…” I try to grab him to stop him from whatever he is thinking.

“Just who are you that I should be thankful for? My mother already taught me what you teach me. In that case, I should be thankful that my mother was a great person to be this knowledgeable, even though she is just a normal commoner in the countryside.”

Uh-huh! Leitz already decided to unleash it. Seeing Baron Gustin’s face looking pissed, this will be a mess. Barn Gustin is one of the known teachers. However, there is also a rumor about him being harsh to his students. And those days I spent under him I can say Baron Gustin is surely full of himself.

He always praises himself whenever he can play in our class. I don’t know if I am learning from our subject or learning how to praise myself.

“If your mother is that great. You should know how to solve this kind of problem.” Baron Gustin writes on the board a problem.