The Time-limited Extra Is Disguised as a Tutor in a Villain’s House

‘I’m a commoner who has to bear the brunt of the two of them,’ Livia thought in exasperation. ‘And I’m also a terminally ill patient!’

Of course, the two men didn’t know that she was terminally ill. 

Even if they did, Livia didn’t think they would spare her life. 

“What is this……”

As Eden was about to argue with Cardien–

“–cough!” 

Livia coughed harshly, unable to handle the two of them.

A startled and surprised Eden turned to look at her.

Immediately realizing his mistake, he quickly snatched away his outstretched hand with an “I’m sorry.”

Livia held up her hand.

“………It’s okay.” 

Actually, it wasn’t okay. It was fortunate that she didn’t cough up blood.

She supposed that was good, then.

Eden was looking at her apologetically, and then turned his resentful gaze to Cardien.

In the meantime, Cardien already retracted his strength.

Honestly, that part was a surprise. Livia didn’t think he’d be able to withdraw the force he’d thrown at Eden so easily.

“Hasn’t an innocent person been harmed by the duke’s sudden behavior!”

Then Cardien grimaced, one corner of his mouth lifting. It was an unmistakable sneer.

“Wasn’t it you who scattered the lives of those who stood up to you? And now you’re blaming me. You’re a temple dog, and you look just like your master.”

“Duke!” Eden shouted, angry at Cardien’s blatantly insulting tone. 

Livia was just as flustered.

Cardien was a lot more straightforward than she thought.

 It wasn’t just a snide remark. There was a clear and impure intent to humiliate.

Was it this bad in the original?

She didn’t think so.

~ Translations by Lurelia | Editing by Valpal | Read only at moonlightnovels.com ~

Lost in thought, Livia suddenly felt a tug on her wrist. 

The next thing she knew, she was being pulled to Cardien’s side.

‘Huh? What is this……’ 

Eden was also staring at her in a daze, perhaps confused or angry at the unexpected situation. 

Unperturbed by the two people’s bewildered looks at his actions, Cardien spoke up. 

“I detest the touch of another’s hand on what is mine. And everything within the Mercedes duchy is mine.”

“……..?” 

“That includes the tutor.”

“……..??”

‘Excuse me……? What are you talking about……?’ Livia thought, bewilderment morphing into disbelief. 

 Was it always this hard to understand what someone was saying?

She reflexively looked for another listener, wondering if it was just her who was so taken aback.

‘Oh, thank God.’

Apparently, she wasn’t the only one who didn’t get it.

Eden was also looking at Cardien with a look that seemed to say ‘what the hell is going on?’

“So,” Cardien interrupted, pulling Livia a little closer to him, “Don’t touch her.”

Eden’s voice perished in his throat at the obvious hostility. 

Livia looked up at the man who was as confused as she was.

 ‘Duke Mercedes has a special place in his heart for those who belong to the House of Mercedes.’

A passing dog would have laughed at that. 

In the first place, Cardien loved no one except the female lead, Celestina. Even his son, Vincent, was a mere afterthought.

And yet, he cared so much for the common people of his estate that he wouldn’t let someone else lay even a finger on them?

‘I would rather believe that the sun has risen in the west,’ Livia snorted, knowing Cardien Mercedes better than anyone.

 But Eden Aquilium was a little different.

“……I’m sorry, my apologies.” He bowed before Livia and Cardien.

He was the leader of the First Holy Knights! 

If anyone in the Temple saw this, they would immediately declare war against the duchy.

He was the Temple’s very identity.

He was upright and decent, which is why he was willing to admit his error and bow his head in the face of Cardien’s ridiculous insistence. 

“I’ll let this one slide.”

Cardien responded with his head held high, as if receiving this insane apology were a matter of course, and then proceeded to stare arrogantly at Eden Aquilium.

Caught in the middle, Livia felt increasingly disorientated.

What the hell was going on here?

~ Translations by Lurelia | Editing by Valpal | Read only at moonlightnovels.com ~

Eden raised his head and looked at her. His gaze was steadfast, not wavering in the slightest, even as he lowered his head down to Cardien.

Livia felt a small surge of admiration for him.

‘Even if the temple is rotting and festering inside, at least Eden Aquilium is still intact.’

It was exactly as she had seen it in the book. Perhaps that was why he had been given the honor of standing by the female lead’s side until the end. 

Even as a sub-male lead.

‘Unlike anyone else…….’

Livia’s thoughts eventually landed on Cardien Mercedes.

 But she couldn’t help it; he was the man who held her life in his hands.

However, the thought didn’t last long. Eden’s voice interrupted her.

“Lady.”

At the sound of his clear, even voice, Livia turned towards him.

Light blue hair the color of the sky and piercing blue eyes. Even his features were as perfect as his personality.

A sub-male lead, but one who will stand by his female lead to the end of his days.

“Thanks to you, we were able to find evidence of Akavan. We had suspicions of smuggling, but no hard evidence. All thanks to you, Lady.”

“…….”

“I will repay this favor one day, so please……..” He smiled warmly, resembling the sky. “Will you tell me your name?”

For a moment Livia was at a loss for words. And she had to wonder if it was just her mood at the time, but…

The darkness, pushed aside by the light, was staring at her as if it would consume her.

***

“Captain!”

Eden exited the building, and the lieutenant who had been waiting immediately rushed over.

He was worried because he had left his captain alone with the Duke of Mercedes and no one else.

“Is everything okay……?” The lieutenant asked cautiously.

Eden smiled weakly at his concerned question.

“I’m not fighting a battle, I’m not searching a mansion – I’m just arresting a criminal, so what could possibly go wrong?”

“But……..”

It was the Duke of Mercedes, not someone else.

The lieutenant could barely get the words out of his mouth.

Eden wondered if he didn’t know what he really wanted to say. 

Still, the lack of a response was an unspoken command not to bring the uncomfortable feelings to the surface. 

Eventually, the lieutenant shut up.

“And the prisoner?”

“She was being rebellious, so I knocked her out for a while.”

“Good. Let’s set off, then.”

“Yes!”

The lieutenant, who was reluctant to stay at the Duke of Mercedes’s residence for even a moment longer, immediately prepared for departure.

Soon they were ready to depart, and Eden took a moment to look back. 

The Duchy of Mercedes, in all its splendor and old-fashioned majesty.

His eyes looked past that, to the room beyond, where a woman would be. After gazing at the room for a moment, Eden spurred his horse into motion.

The First Order of the Holy Knights, carrying their prisoner, quickly left the Duke of Mercedes’s mansion.

Leaving behind a strange, salty aftertaste in Eden’s mouth. 

***

Late at night, after reporting to the High Priest, Eden returned to his chambers, removed the armor that had been restraining him all day, and sank into a chair.

His blue eyes were dark with fatigue.

‘I’m tired………’

Despite the fact that today’s schedule hadn’t been too demanding, he felt an unusually strong sense of fatigue.

As much as he wanted to sleep right now, Eden couldn’t.

~ Translations by Lurelia | Editing by Valpal | Read only at moonlightnovels.com ~

He still had work to do as the First Sword of the Temple and leader of the First Order of the Holy Knights.

 Normally, he would have gone straight to work, but today was different.

“……”

Wiping a hand across his face, Eden turned his head to stare out the window.

In the direction of the Mercedes manor, to be exact.

Naturally, the events of the day came to mind. That is, the dark-haired, amber-eyed……. 

It was then. 

Knock, knock.

“Lord Eden, may I come in for a moment?”

Eden jumped to his feet.  There was an unexpected visitor.

 Recognising the voice, Eden quickly opened the door. 

A woman, white as snow, smiled at him.

A beautiful woman, with hair as white as the untrodden snow on a snowy mountain, skin as white as snow, and pale eyes as blue as the new spring sky. 

Eden’s lips parted in a low murmur.

“Saint…….”

“I’m sorry for barging in on you – you’re not mad, are you?”

“Of course not, please come inside.”

“Excuse me, sir.”

With a cute little bow, Celestina walked into Eden’s room. Naturally, Celestina sat down on the sofa and Eden quickly set out refreshments.

Celestina, who had been looking around the room, looked up as the refreshments were placed in front of her.

Eden poured tea into her teacup.

Sip.

“It’s chamomile.”

“Chamomile?”

 “Yes. I’ve heard reports that you’ve been having trouble sleeping lately, so this might help in a small way.”

“……..”

 Celestina stared at him and smiled at Eden’s thoughtfulness.

“Thank you. Sir Eden is the only one who thinks of me after all.”