Growing up as the prince, Theodore had a decent amount of experience with dealing with nobles, including the ones aiming after their family's reputation.

He could not count the number of times he was kidnapped by their enemies, or received threats detailing how his death would be executed by those opposing them.

The first time it happened was when he was three years old. He remembered the horrible feeling of being locked up in the dark as if it was a memory from yesterday.

The inability to save himself...he hated it.

"Hey, Leo, what are you thinking?" the boy tapped his friend's forehead, smirking, "You're gonna get wrinkles one day if you keep thinking too hard."

"Shut up, Kyle. Why're you here?" the eight-year-old Theodore grumbled, reorganizing the papers on his desk. He stared blankly at Kyle when the boy in question looked at him, eyes filled with expectation. "What?"

"Didn't you promise to visit that lady again?" he shrugged casually, ignoring the glare Theodore send him, "She was waiting for you to come...alas, it's become a tragic story. Poor lady, she must have been very disappointed in you."

He frowned. Among his peers in the aristocratic society, Kyle was one of the few he could tolerate. Now, he was feeling the sudden urge to kick the boy out of the room.

"Kyle, why do you care so much about her anyway? You even said I'll see something interesting if I went to visit the Corbet House."

Kyle grinned. "You did, I was referring to Lady Adelina," he leaned his elbow against the wooden table, earning another glare from his friend, "What did you think of her?"

A memory of her sleeping face flashed in the back of his mind.

Theodore closed his eyes, his thoughts wandering elsewhere as he mumbled out a reply.

"She's just a normal girl."

--------

Brown eyes curiously stared down at the small red-haired girl.

"You must be the new student. I'm Ginna," said the middle-aged woman. The two of them were sitting inside one of the study rooms in the Corbet House, having their first meeting as tutor and student. Adelina nodded respectfully.

"My name is Adelina. I'll be under your care."

"Likewise."

Ginna shuffled out some papers on the desk and handed one to the girl.

"Now, for starters, let's do some basic calculations. Have you done multiplications before?"

To her surprise, Adelina nodded.

Ginna glanced at her watch.

"You have thirty minutes to complete the paper, starting...now."

--------

She couldn't mask the surprise on her face when her student finished the questions within minutes and handed the paper as if she'd just taken a walk in the park.

The questions were set from the easiest to the hardest; including questions that require intelligence higher than Adelina's estimated level. Contrary to what Ginna said earlier, the test wasn't supposed to be easy. It was made to give her student a challenge, to find out her potential. But this...there was no way she could have finished that quickly. Not unless she knew what she was doing.

Ginna scanned the paper again, checking for any error in her answers.

All correct.

"Miss Ginna, how did I do?"

When she didn't hear a response, Adelina lifted her gaze to meet her tutor's eyes. The woman appeared baffled as she looked at the paper and then at her student back and forth, her eyes getting wider as time passed. Ginna exchanged glances a couple of times and rubbed her temple, studying the paper with furrowed eyebrows. Adelina titled her head.

"Is there something wrong?"

Other than hearing directly from her brother, she doesn't know much the education system here, or the level of education that is considered normal.

She planned to study enough to stay within the average level. And if she's lucky, she can study ahead of her peers. She knew she wasn't someone considered 'smart' in her previous life, but she could take advantage of the knowledge and skills gained from her past. Surely, all those tests and exams she'd suffered through had to be worth something.

A few moments later, Ginna was the first to break the silence.

"You're a pretty smart girl. Have you ever thought of entering the academy early?"

Adelina shrugged. "I wouldn't exactly say I'm smart, just slightly knowledgeable," she paused a bit before completing her sentence, "The possibility of graduating from the academy early hasn't crossed my mind."

Ginna leaned back in her chair while drumming her fingers on the table, distracted. She turned to view her student again.

"Adelina, how old are you?"

"Six-year-old."

"Six? That's a bit earlier than I thought," she mused, resting her elbows on the table. "I've only ever taught two students that young."

Adelina smiled cheekily, "I might be the third."

She raised an eyebrow. "Be honest with me, is math the only subject you have studied?"

Adelina could have lied and said no. Memories of her studying in high school as Emily helped her until now, but there was a sinking feeling in her stomach that told her she wouldn't be able to explain why she possessed such knowledge at a young age. There is obviously a limit to how much she could get away with saying she was self-taught.

And she was supposed to improve her learning progress, not discourage it.

"I've read books about geography, language, and a bit of history." She replied warily, "But my political knowledge of our kingdom is still lacking."

"That won't be a problem," Ginna said confidently, meeting her student's eyes, "Because you have me as your tutor."

Adelina cracked an amused smile. "Is that something you are allowed to say?"

Ginna noted the way the girl in front of her spoke with enthusiasm and energy-expected of a normal child. Yet, there were signs of subtle intelligence beneath her childish front, as if she was holding back on her capabilities. She underestimated her student and that was her mistake.

A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She'll have to thank the person who recommended her for the job, because she may have encountered someone who surpassed her expectations.

If word got out that the duke's daughter was in fact, a genius, people would be running here and begging to be her tutor.

Upon this realizing this, she thought back on the conversation she had with Duke Corbet this morning.

--------[Flashback]--------

Before meeting her student, Ginna walked towards the direction of the duke's study room and knocked on the door twice.

A few seconds of silence, and then a low voice answered, "Come inside."

Once she entered, she noticed a tall, brown bookshelf standing on the right side and a comfy looking sofa on the left. The duke sat on a chair, his hands resting on the wooden table in front of him. Opposite of the table, there was a set of two identical chairs. Ginna walked closer to the chairs and greeted him.

"Duke Corbet, a pleasure to meet you."

"Thank you for coming. Please, have a seat." When she did, he continued speaking, "I'm sure you know the reason why you are here."

"Yes, I was hired to teach your daughter, lady Adelina."

He nodded, softening his features. He acted differently from the duke she was used to seeing in official events; her faint memories of his cold-faced expression falling apart. She instantly understood how important his daughter was to him. "My daughter is...rather enthusiastic in her studies. She might behave differently from the other kids, but please take care of her."

She blinked once, then twice. "Was that all you wanted to tell me?"

At the blank expression on his face, she straightened her shoulders and answered him seriously. "Um, yes, there is nothing for you to worry about, Duke Corbet. I will do my best to teach her."

--------[Flashback ends]--------

She grinned. Looks like her work just got a lot more fun.

--------

author's note:

I've changed his age to eight, sorry for the minor edit! 

-theorangelover