“… You must be joking, right?”

“I’m serious, though?”

He had always had a carefree demeanor, so she wanted to believe this was a joke as usual. Alas, there was no hint of mischief on Camille’s face as he flashed Liv a cool smile.

Liv, her lips pursed, replied in a tone of disbelief.

“Did you really say that to the Baron?”

“Yes. I don’t think I’d be able to get a chance like this without the Baron’s help.”

So, the reason Baron Vendons took Millian away was so that he could give Camille and her some tea time? Since when did Baron Vendons play the matchmaker for tutors?

Liv pressed the corner of her eye. It was so absurd, she couldn’t even be angry.

“I don’t like this way of approach.”

“Oh, Baron Vendons is only guilty of taking pity on me, so—”

“I have no intention of protesting to the Baron. I’m not in a position to do so.”

Having cut Camille off, Liv glanced up to meet his gaze.

“Unlike you, Mr. Marcel, I’m employed by them, which means I can’t afford to act emotionally.”

Unlike Camille, who could say whatever and whenever he liked, Liv had to choose her words more carefully. Sensing the rebuke in Liv’s tone, Camille arched an eyebrow.

“I’m also employed like you.”

She couldn’t believe he was still in that repertoire of his.

Liv propped her forehead, remained silent for a moment, and then took a deep breath. The way he was burying his head in the sand was only adding to her exhaustion. She had already been distracted by the Marquis’ presence, and the last thing she needed was to be further entangled with someone else.

“I have no idea what brought you to the Vendons, or why you keep approaching me, and I don’t want to know. All I know is that I don’t think our lives will ever overlap, so I’d like us to go our separate ways.”

Camille swallowed hard as he listened to Liv with a friendly smile.

“Erm, I… must have been so suspicious.”

“Isn’t it odder to think you’re not suspicious? I’m not an idiot.”

Even if she tried to pretend that whatever he was hiding had nothing to do with her, she couldn’t do that when he had gone this far to approach her.

Camille stared at Liv’s stony face for a moment, then made a bitter face. With his brow furrowed, he grunted in distress, and then he sighed in frustration.

“Actually, “Marcel” is my mother’s last name.”

No, she wasn’t telling him to expose his identity.

Before Liv could interrupt him, Camille was the first to speak up.

“My father’s last name is “Eleanor”.”

Liv, who was about to say she didn’t want to hear it, gulped and shut her lips.

Eleanor was one of the prestigious noble families of Beren. They had served the king for generations, and were rumored to still be in power in the capital. In addition to politics, they were said to be notable in commerce and art.

“Don’t tell me that Count Eleanor is your…”

“That’s my oldest brother. For reference, it’s my second brother who manages the business. My third brother is on his way to the priesthood. The fourth son, me, is nothing. I’m just studying art a little bit, but I still help out around the house every now and then.”

Throwing up his hands and rambling on, Camille bit his lip and sighed again.

“I apologize for not telling you this from the beginning. It’s a bit of a long story to tell, and there’s—”

“I don’t think this is something you should be telling me right now either.”

Liv interrupted him, her tone even more stern than before. Her face was now filled with discomfort.

“Oh, you’re really difficult.”

Realizing that the distance between him and Liv had increased by multiples, Camille sighed and ran his hands over his face.

“Everyone always shows an exaggerated reaction when I reveal my family name. I don’t like that, so I use my mother’s last name when I’m out in public, but it’s a sad thing to know that… Eleanor has no power in this situation.”

Liv wondered if he was asking her to bow to the authority of his family.

The bitter thought washed over her, but Liv didn’t show it and remained silent. Camille then proceeded to rant more desperately.

“The reason I came to Buerno, actually, is because of the Marquis of Dietrion. He seems to have a pretty good backing, and my family is worried that he might be a spy for another country. Sure, he’s not the typical spy, but… If someone like that popped up out of nowhere, wouldn’t it look suspicious?”