chapter 18
I thought I tamed a villain Chapter 18
[Iris]: Let’s get tutored.
[Theo]: What?
As expected, Theo’s brow furrowed in bewilderment. But I was undaunted (tl/n discouraged). I was sure Theo will do me a favor. Just like back then, in front of the children in the nursery.
[Iris]: There was a limit to how much we can study alone. I just happened to find the right person.
[Theo]: I’ll hear who it is.
That wasn’t a bad reaction. I chuckled as I thought of the positive outcome.
[Iris]: You know the priests are coming to our nursery, right? I think they visit regularly, so….
[Theo]: I hate it.
Oh? wasn’t this it? The refusal, which was so quick, left me speechless. Apparently, a few seconds ago, I had thought Theo would get an affirmative answer, so I stared blankly at Theo with my lips pursed. Then I uttered the only word that popped into my mind.
[Iris]: Why?
I just couldn’t understand it. No matter how wary Theo was of strangers, he would always do me a favor. But this time was different. Why the hell?
Theo kept his lips tightly shut and said nothing. I was frustrated. It was the first time Theo, I have seen him like this.
[Iris]: Theo, it was a huge opportunity for us. If we use it well, we might really get into the academy, right?
[Theo]: I know.
I furrowed my forehead. Theo knew. How absurd the challenge is, and at the same time how much we need to have a teacher. But even so, to say no…
‘That means he hated them to death that much.’
I looked at Theo while trying to figure out how to convince him. For now, let’s explain more.
[Iris]: There’s a priest named Frey, and I happened to know him a while ago. They said the reason they come to this nursery school is because of the evaluation. So I thought, ‘Oh, it was hard to make a living’. But that was not the point. Anyway, we talked for a while, and then we met again later in the library, and it just so happened that I was looking for a book on history.
Theo was so consistent that he ignored my words. After a while, I was immersed in my studies again, whether I was talking or not.
[Iris]: When he saw it, he talked to me. Did you like history? But you know? It’s what I hate the most. So I just answered honestly, ‘I was going to take the Academy entrance exam next year.’
Determined to convince Theo, I started talking all the way.
[Iris]: He said he would help me right away. He’s a good guy than I originally thought.
This was a lie. That “good” man was someone I would never have known again if it had not been for the entrance exam. But there was no other way to give Theo a good image of Frey.
[Iris]: So, half-heartedly, I listened to a brief explanation of history, and Oh My God, he explained it so well.
Whoops!
[Iris]: ……?
My mouth. which had been flaring incessantly (tl/n without interruption), closed with the inexorable (tl/n impossible to stop) cracking of Theo’s quill.
[Iris]: Theo?
I called Theo’s name without knowing, and he looked back at me with an annoyed face.
‘It was a big deal.’
Apparently, this is ruined. Except for the first time I was told to back off by Theo, he had never had such a bloody look.
[Iris]: Are you angry?
I timidly asked and Theo laughed as the quill made a clattering sound. He said:
[Theo]: Try more.
[Iris]: Huh?
[Theo]: I said try more.
A wry smile appeared on Theo’s lips. I was conflicted by that.
‘Are you really saying more? Or did that mean stop?’
I had lived for decades, including my previous life, but I didn’t really notice much. So whenever I was in this situation, things always took a turn for the worst.
[Iris]: …..
No matter how hard I looked at Theo, all I could see was that he was angry right now. Eventually, I decided to use the old method. With the exception of newborn babies, it was a method used by the entire nation, so it was credible.
It is…..
‘Do as you were told.’
I nodded steadily inwardly and continued as Theo instructed.
[Iris]: So I asked him to be our teacher if you don’t mind. The new hall is….
[Theo]: …..
It was ruined this time.
Before I could finish my explanation, Theo jumped out of his seat and left the classroom. Left alone, I curled up and sighed.
I tapped Theo’s shoulder with my finger.
[Iris]: Theo~
It was the first time I used a cute voice in my life.
[Iris]: Are you still angry?
But, as I half-expected, Theo was still upset by me. He didn’t answer my question, but the corners of his mouth were pressing.
‘Tsk, was it really frustrating to get some tutoring together?’
It had already been three days since Theo had been a pain in the ass. Fortunately, he didn’t disappear in front of me like before. Instead, we continued to study and eat together. He seemed to mind that I had cried before.
It was better than stomping his feet on my own, but I still feel like I was going to die for three whole days watching Theo’s eyes. When asked why he was angry, he didn’t answer, and he was using the word “I don’t know.”
Thanks to him, I was doing all kinds of jokes like a daily clown just for Theo. In fact, I still didn’t know exactly why Theo was angry. But he was obviously angry with me anyway, and I didn’t want things to get awkward between us.
[Iris]: Theo, eat this more.
I put my share of croissants on Theo’s plate that came out for lunch. Then his gaze turned to me.
[Iris]: I really, really like it, but I can give it up for you!
[Theo]: ….
Again, it was a failure. I watched Theo jerk his head away from me. If I knew this would happen, I won’t have given it to him. My efforts did not stop there. Picking a few flowers from the flowerbed that I had been eagerly caring for:
“It bloomed the prettiest today.”
I presented it with a wink. Theo’s laughter had caused a major setback in my plans to forcibly reconcile.
‘If neither this nor that works, the hole method is the best.’
In the end, I decided so. If you can’t turn it around, there’s only one way left.
Theo showed up in the common room at the appointed time today. I arrived earlier than usual, and as soon as Theo crossed the threshold of the common room, I strode in front of him. I stretched out my arms and hit the wall. With nowhere to turn, Theo was trapped in my arms.
[Theo]: What was it?
Theo’s eyes shook in surprise at the sight of me.
[Iris]: ………
[Theo]: ………
I scanned Theo’s face for a moment. He was surprised, but he wasn’t angry.
I took a few deep breaths as I watched Theo. As long as I do what I have prepared to say, there will be no problem.
[Theo]: If you have nothing to say….
[Iris]: Theo!
I shouted his name, and Theo looked at me like an alien.
[Theo]: What, what….
It was Theo’s bewildered look that I could only see a few times a year. I bit my lip and made up my mind. And….
[Iris]: I’m sorry!
I knelt with my hands and feet on the ground.
[Theo]: ……. What?
Theo asked me in bewilderment. But my attitude has not changed. I drew all the humiliation inside me and apologized to Theo.
[Iris]: I’m sorry. In fact, to be honest, I still don’t know what I did so wrong. I’m sorry if I offended you though. So why don’t you stop getting angry?
[Theo]: ….
[Iris]: I was worried about you lately, so I was not eating well and I was not studying well! I can’t play with you, so it was not fun. Yes? Huh?
If this didn’t relieve Theo’s anger, there was nothing I could do about it. So I explained my feelings as best as I could.
[Theo]: …..
I looked at Theo while I was trembling with anxiety. I wanted him to answer whatever I said.
Theo looked down at me wordlessly. Why did he hurriedly cover the corners of his mouth with the back of his hand? I frowned at the action. I didn’t know what it means.
[Iris]: Theo?
Bit by bit, Theo’s shoulders began to heave a little.
‘Crying?’