I’ll Become the Tyrant’s Tutor - chapter 32

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Prim put down her paint brush that she had brought, just in case he noticed her gestures.

“Why?”

Reynsis asked while furrowing his perfect eyebrows.

“You are really focused today, Your Highness.” (Prim nervously grinned)

“Yes.”

Reynsis nodded lightly. It was a simple yet sincere gesture but Prim felt dissatisfied.

‘I really wasn’t fit to teach anyone.’

She felt like crying. She blamed herself for her lack of skills as she held the brush tightly.

A few days ago, the Emperor ordered that Reynsis would be moved to the Imperial Palace along with the servants. The people who resided in Belles Palace were extremely happy with the news.

She was happy to help the servants with moving and packing up things inside the Palace. It was a tough job to move out so suddenly like today’s occasion.

But Reynsis caught up to her and made a sudden request.

“Teach me how to paint.”2

Painting..

He didn’t expect how stunned she was when she heard his sudden request to learn how to paint.

Prim had a slight problem with teaching him since she originally didn’t have any talent or skill in painting before she came to this world. Despite her refusal, Reynsis was so persuasive about how he couldn’t identify colours after being colorblind. How could she explain the Prince’s lack of fundamentals in color theory after they arrived in the Imperial Palace?

In the original novel, he never had any interest in painting. That was why he killed the real Prim first.

‘And now he wanted me to teach him about painting?’

When she first heard about his request, she bombarded him with so many questions and excuses. But Reynsis was a tough opponent. Prim had no choice, but to bring a set of blank canvases and basic necessities for painting.

Then her thoughts suddenly hit her,… maybe Reynsis was trying to test her ability in arts!?4

—

“Let’s just learn how to differentiate colours first.” (Prim)

Reynsis nodded. She prepared some pigments for the watercolours that she had brought here and gestured at them.

“Blue. This is blue. You can describe an ocean or sky with blue in colour. Your Highness’s eyes are blue too.”

Then the blue colour soaked into the hairs of the brush after she mixed it. Prim started to swash it onto the canvas followed by the next colour and then the next.

The colours began to become lighter after she dabbed more water several times showing different tints. Mixing different colours of watercolours resulted in different hues of primary and secondary colors for comparison.

“Like this..” (Prim)

She was a bit hesitant to show the colours differently.

Reynsis wasn’t even looking at the canvas. The cool sea blue eyes were persistently staring at her.6

A cold sweat broke into her forehead.2

‘Ahh~ Did he see through my skills because of how I handled my brush?’

Suddenly Elena’s image came into her mind. She was busted when Elena was thoroughly observed her.

Prim suddenly stopped her sloppy handiwork.

“Why are you stopping?”

Reynsis asked as he sat more comfortably than before and arched his eyebrows. Prim laughed awkwardly at his question.

“My, look at the time! Our class ends here then, Your Highness.” (Prim)

“May I ask why?” (Reynsis)

“You don’t seem to be concentrated today in class. Besides —” (Prim)

“I’m concentrating enough.” (Reynsis)3

“…..” (Prim)

“…Is it because I can’t really distinguish colours?” (Reynsis)

His face drooped down as his voice became saddened. He acted as if Prim didn’t want to teach him because he cannot differentiate the colours after his vision came back.6

“No! That is not the reason, Your Highness!” (Prim)

Prim shook her head, strongly denying his assumption.

“I’ll do it! I will teach you about painting!” (Prim)7

“Goodness, really?” (Reynsis)

How could she hate him when he was smiling so brightly.

Prim picked up her brush again while crying internally. And their lesson on color theory continued on until this till the sun set.

Prim wanted to tell him the truth.

Of course, it is a bit peculiar for a painter to be so bad at arts. That is the truth anyway, but..1

‘Can I just tell him that I don’t want to draw because it will get messy and dirty?’

That kind of answer would never satisfy the Prince. Her sense of shame started to get a little sharper nowadays.

Prim tried to come out with a good reasoning so that the Prince could buy her cheap excuses.

She suddenly got goosebumps as her back stung with ominous pressure. Reynsis had been staring at her too much these days.

That is why she was hesitating to turn her head around. His eyes were always on her, not on the canvas.4

Prim started to speak while feeling awkward.

“Your Highness, no matter how much I paint this myself, it will not reach you.” (Prim)

“But thanks to you, I feel like I’m getting better in studying.” (Reynsis)

“… Umm of course it’s my honor to teach you. Why don’t we paint together?” (Prim)

“I’m not quite sure about that. Why don’t you give me a demonstration?” (Reynsis)2

“…..” (Prim)

“You can’t..?” (Reynsis)1

My goodness! How can she say no to that cute face as if he was pitying his current condition.

Now, should she tell him the truth? That she can’t paint?

Prim was seriously contemplated.

But after that, she remembered the countless lies that she told to him to get out of art class.

…. Prim thought she should be as keen as mustard*

[*To be enthusiastic about something.]

Prim’s eyes glistened, and puffed her chest up with a serious look on her face.

“Then, you should listen properly. The study of arts is a hard subject. If you miss it, then it’s your loss. Am I clear?” (Prim)

“Yes. I will concentrate.”3

Reynsis answered calmly. Prim started to lift her brush again as she was hiding her exasperation.

A spontaneous yet skillful hand. Her concentrated eyes. Everytime she moved her hands, colours began to appear on the white canvas.

Reynsis reached out his hand.

The red flaming hair that entangled in his fingers are smooth as always.2

He loved it if he could spend time alone with her like this. To make her paint her favourite things without distractions.3

He wanted to learn painting and colours through her. The colours that she only showed to him.

Reynsis kept her in his eyes for so long. The sight of her was warm like in his dream.1

***

Today, Prim was carefully watering the plants inside the Prince’s room.

“…..”

Reynsis asked her after looking at her sullen’s face.

“Do you really like the flowers that much?” (Reynsis)

“Yes! I love them.” (Prim)

“…..” (Reyn)1

Prim’s eyes were fixed on the flower pot as she spoke.

‘It would be nice if you see me with that kind of gaze.’3

She was the one who told him to speak to others while meeting their eyes. But she was still avoiding eye contact with him.

Reynsis glared at the little blue Forget-Me-Not flowers. It was obvious that the flowers were gifted by that gardener. Then, Reynsis started to speak in his usual grumpy voice.

“Are those flowers really so precious?” (Reynsis)

“Of course.” (Prim)

“Why?” (Reynsis)

“Hmm…” (Prim)

That was when Prim finally looked at him in the eyes. His face was full of annoyance and sorrow.

‘Did something bad happened to the Prince today?’

Prim opened her mouth after staring at his face.

“This flowers, it is similar to your eyes. The moment I saw it, I immediately thought of you.” (Prim)12

“…..”

Reynsis was speechless. Prim smiled lightly after seeing him flustered like that.

‘I think this is a good idea.’

She cleared her throat.

“I am the one who always thought of you all along.” (Prim)

“….That’s nonsense.” (Reynsis grumbled)

“I’m not bluffing! Won’t you believe me?” (Prim exclaimed)

Prim smiled again as she lifted up the flower pot and offered it to him. After hesitating for a while, he decided to accept it.

“I haven’t been taking care of it for so long. I was thinking of planting another flower if it withered, but surprisingly it is growing well. Isn’t that admirable?” (Prim)

Reynsis’s eyes sharpened when he heard that.

“Why won’t you throw it away?” (Reynsis)

“I felt so bad when you couldn’t see these pretty blue flowers, back then.” (Prim)

“…Never throw these flowers away. You’re not allowed to.” (Reynsis)1

Reynsis said while looking down at the pastel blue Forget-Me-Not flowers.

His ears, which had blue petals stuck on it, began to turn red. It seems that the blue flower pleased the prince’s mood.2

Suddenly, an empty vase filled her vision. Prim sighed in frustration.

‘Where is the rose?’

Prim was puzzled and searched for the only rose that Reynsis once gifted to her.

“What are you doing?” (Reynsis)

Reynsis put the flower pot on the table then approached her. Prim shook her head signalling that she’s fine.

“No. It’s just..” (Prim)

Suddenly the view from the window caught her eyes. The weather was so nice even though it is already winter.

The gardeners are still hard working while managing the garden. Among them was, Mcgurdin, who always cared and raised the Forget-Me-Not flowers.

“Now, who are you looking at?” (Reynsis)

Reynsis followed her gaze as his bright face suddenly went sullen.

“That brat again..” (Reynsis)3

‘That brat?’

Prim tilted her head as if she was confused by his words.

Reynsis looked at the gardener then he glanced back at the flower pot. His face was clearly full of annoyance.

Reynsis, who was cursing internally, let out a big sigh. He rested his forehead on Prim’s shoulder.5

Prim was a bit surprised with the skinship.

“Y-your Highness?” (Prim)

“….” (Reyn)

“Are you sick again?” (Prim)

“Just stay still….” (Reynsis)

He opened his closed eyes as he let out a hot breath that tickled her nape.1

“…My eyes are hurting less now. So, stay like this even if it’s just for a moment.”

After hearing that, she had nothing to say. She rather kept her mouth shut so his pain will lessen a bit.

Prim was weak against the Prince.2

She always looked frightened if Reynsis ever felt pain.

So, Reynsis decided to take advantage of this.4

‘If I don’t do this, I would never reach her.’

The f*cking 4 years age difference makes him go crazy. She still treated him like a child.17

‘But it’s okay. Prim will keep following me if we move to the Imperial Palace.’2

He just has to wait for a year and a half. After that long wait, he will become an adult.

The thought of it made him feel impatient.

Of course there will be some obstacles that he has to go through.

“…Next week.”

Reynsis mumbled silently. He was referring to the day he will be going back to the Imperial Palace.

Prim nodded. Realizing that he couldn’t see her reaction, her lips trembled.

“Yes. Times really fly so fast. The winter will end soon, and fall is approaching.” (Prim)

“When… we go… to the Imperial Palace….”

Reynsis lengthened his words as Prim waited for him to finish. But he shut his mouth again.

Prim was a bit upset.

How would he react once he returned to the place where he was abandoned? He was starving for love and felt pathetic at that time.

She felt sorry for the young boy who leaned on her like a lost puppy.

Maybe that is why she was worrying about him. Prim raised her hand and unconsciously stroked his platinum blonde hair.

“…..”

Reynsis was surprised as their eyes suddenly met. Prim quickly put away her hand.

“Oh! I am deeply sorry, Your Highness. My hands —”

Prim excuses didn’t last long as Reynsis suddenly held her slender hand. The cold fingers were intertwined between hers, again.

“Do it again.”1

“H-how dare I —”

“Do it for me. Your hands feel warm..”2

Prim was a bit hesitant seeing his tired expression. Of course it was her who reached out first. But she was a commoner who dared to touch the Prince’s hair.

When he saw her hesitation, he urged her some more.

“Huh..?” (Prim)

“That is enough, Your High —” (Prim)

“You don’t want to..?” (Reynsis)

Reynsis blinked his eyes slowly as if he wanted to look disappointed.