Chapter 40 - Result - II (1/2)

The duke called the earl towards himself.

”Are you sure you want to declare her the winner? It will ruin the reputation of the firstborn here,” he pointed towards Cecilia who was sitting there with her head hanging down.

It was a relief that she had not started crying but her performance was indeed disappointing. What was the use of employing the best teachers if she did not have any real world knowledge?

”It was not a competition, my lord. I am merely announcing that she passed my exam and that I will be teaching her personally,” Isaac Laurent could not wipe off the smile on his lips. He had never been this excited to teach someone, even his own son.

”Y-You…,” Duchess Audrey seethed in anger. She could not say against him, the response from everyone was the proof that her younger daughter had really turned the tables. But she could not accept the fact that this guy, Isaac Laurent, one of the most learned scholar of the kingdom, who had rejected her wish for him to teach Cecilia, was going to self appoint himself as that kid's teacher?

Why? Why could her elder daughter not get the best but that younger kid had gotten that right? This was unfair! Ivan got to have a few lessons with the earl because he was studying to be the next duke. But why Emmeline? And why not Cecilia?

”My lady, this was the promise for her passing the exam. I will oversee her education but there will be other teachers, one of them being Alex, my son. I would not be teaching young sir Christopher myself but I also cannot not keep my word. Please understand,” Isaac Laurent had almost reached the tone of disrespect and disdain in his voice because of frustration.

The duchess should have known what was at the stake. If they did not fulfill the promise now, they would be incurring dissatisfaction from their servants for sure. There were a few things that duchess needed to think by herself.

”Alright, there really is nothing that we can do here. But Sir Laurent, I implore you to enroll Cecilia in your classes too. She is lacking in many ways precisely because she did not learn from the best people,” Audrey rubbed her temples. She needed to rope in Cecilia in between, she could not let Emmeline be the best among her children. That was just out of question.

”If I let lady Cecilia in my lessons, would it not be unfair to lady Emmeline? There was no need of this grueling exam then. Poor girl must have gone through so much pressure. Duchess, please think about this,” Isaac Laurent took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the corner of his eyes, keeping his hand on his heart as if he could feel the pain the younger kids went through last week.

Duchess Audrey clenched her jaw tightly. This man, he was just influencing the duke with his acting. How dare he!