I Refuse To Be A Character In A Novel - Chapter 14

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“You missed a note there. Start over.”

Pointing to a specific spot on the sheet, a young man stood besides Jonas and instructed him.

Jean Vusterch.

A commoner who built a presence among nobles through sheer talent.

Normally, nobles would refuse the idea of hiring a commoner as an instructor. However, Jean had become so famous that they were even competitive about who could hire him first.

Light blue hair with shades of grey and soft blue eyes as calm as the ocean.

Delicate tall fingers unlike the rough hands of knights or mercenaries and a friendly face.

Skills aside, the charming appearance of the young bachelor increased his favorability among the noblewomen.

Contrary to his youthful appearance that made people think he was a fresh youngling, he was actually in his early thirties.

Of course, Erna only chose him because she heard that his teaching skills were top notch. He was also willing to travel all the way to the north to teach the young master of Argentine.

“I understand.”

Even though Jonas was distracted by other thoughts, his small fingers moved on the piano keys as smoothly as water flow.

‘Why don’t we practice together?’

‘It was one of my favorite classes.’

Mother likes playing the piano.

Jonas noted.

But it was strange, he never heard her play it before.

The piano in their mansion wasn’t used by anyone until his mother suddenly decided to bring him an instructor.

When she first mentioned it, Jonas didn’t like the idea, so he only nodded his head out of respect.

‘Why would I practice with mother if she had already hired a teacher?’

But after he spent more time with her, he started looking forward to it.

Yet his mother never mentioned it again.

‘Is she already tired of me?’

She also didn’t ask him to sleep with her since that day.

Not that he wanted to.

She was the one who was afraid of the dark.

Jonas was mature enough to sleep on his own.

He hadn’t even slept with his nanny ever since he was 3 years old.

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“Excellent, Petit maître”

Clap~

“You have great talent, we made a big improvement in just a few classes.”

“Of course, our Jonas is good at everything he does”

Stepping forward from her seat, Catherine clapped her hands with a warm smile.

“Then, I’ll take my leave for today.”

Jean bowed his head in a greeting and added after straightening his posture,

“Don’t forget to practice, the key to great skills is practice and not talent.”

‘Hmm … My sword master said the same thing.’

“I will”

Jonas answered politely.

After watching the piano teacher leave the practice room, Catherine approached Jonas whose mood seemed sullen for some reason.

“Is there something wrong?”

“Is mother back yet?”

Catherine opened her eyes wide at the question that came from his mouth.

“W-what?”

Alarmed by her reaction, Jonas followed his words quickly,

“Ah-I only asked because father was looking for her.”

Jonas felt even more ashamed of himself for having told a white lie.

He never lied before, but he didn’t want his nanny to be disappointed in him.

The day after the night he spent with his parents, Catherine told Jonas that only newborn babies sleep with their mothers.

And that it was not a behaviour befitting the heir of the Argentine family and a member of the royal family.

She sounded like his mother when she talked about the importance of being an heir.

But at least Catherine cared about him more.

‘Since when did the duke look for the duchess? First Jonas and now the duke … She has been acting unlike her usual self ever since she got sick last winter.’

Unaware of the internal conflict Cathering was having, Jonas got off his seat and approached her.

‘It seems like mother isn’t back yet.’

“Then, shall we finish that book from yesterday?”

Jonas asked in an attempt to appease his nanny who had a stiff expression.

‘It doesn’t matter what she’s planning, Jonas still sees me as his mother.’

“Of course”

Catherine firmly held his hand and gave him an affectionate smile.

‘I raised him all these years, i can’t just lose him to a whim of a spoiled duchess’

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Warm company my foot.

What happened to her?

Last time I saw her she could barely say anything, why does she sound so confident now?

It’s more like she returned to how she was when we were young, putting up a mature air while still boasting like an immature child.

Have a close relationship with Zachary?

Heh!

I know from my own maid who’s a friend to one of the servants there that the duke is rarely home, and even when he is, they rarely see each other.

What a waste of position.

I was supposed to be the duchess…

It was only befitting for Duke Weiten’s eldest daughter to be the next Duchess of Argentine.

However, I let my guard down thinking she had a thing for Klain.

Eventually she chose a title over him, just like her mother.

Anyhow, now that I think about it, I’m glad I’m not in her shoes, I wouldn’t want to crave affection from a man as cold as his territory.

I might’ve had a political marriage with Edgar but at least he treats me well.

Alexie sipped on her tea in a perfectly graceful manner that didn’t reflect  her inner thoughts.

Her loose red hair fluttered along the passing breeze like fire that burned as intensely as her spirit.