Chapter 107
Morwenna walked with her head held high, unaffected by the stares she received. Boasting a kind of poverty pride, she saw thrift as a virtue, not a problem.
Upon encountering the butler, Morwenna greeted him with a smile, “Hello.”
The butler, snapping out of his momentary daze, replied, “Ms. Winslet, welcome! Please, come in.”
This time, Morwenna didn’t need anyone to show her the way and made her way to Claude’s room on her own.
As she stepped inside, she noticed an immediate change. The room, still dimly lit, now housed a massive bookshelf brimming with books, resembling a private library.
Holding only three books in her hand, Morwenna suddenly felt rather sheepish about her modest offering.
Claude, noticing her arrival, greeted her warmly, “Ms. Winslet, are those for me?”
Despite feeling slightly embarrassed, Morwenna handed them over, “Just a few regular books. You might already have them on your shelves.”
Claude glanced at the titles and shook his head, “No, I don’t have these. I really appreciate the books you’ve brought, Ms. Winslet.”
Relieved, Morwenna sighed. It was good they weren’t duplicates.
Claude truly cherished them, treating them as a precious gift–the first he had received from anyone.
Morwenna began her tutoring session, and Claude, abandoning his usual skepticism about learning, listened attentively. He thought to himself that having Morwenna as his tutor wasn’t so bad.
After teaching for a while, Morwenna felt a bit thirsty and was about to ask for some water when the door opened, and a servant entered, placing two beautifully colored drinks and an array of delicate pastries on the table.
Morwenna was momentarily stunned. Her lunch had been a simple bread roll, and although she now had some money, she was saving hard to fund repairs for her school.
Though she had eaten, the sight of the delicious spread made her mouth water.
Claude pointed at the drinks and asked, “Ms. Winslet, which one would you like?”
Morwenna replied politely, “Oh no, thanks, but it’s fine, I’ve already had lunch.”
Claude pushed the pink drink towards her, insisting. “Then have this one, Ms. Winslet.”
Morwenna tried to refuse again, but Claude added, “I felt like having some snacks, but I don’t have much of an appetite alone. Would you mind joining me, Ms. Winslet? I know I might look a bit off, and it might turn you off your meal.”
Hearing this, Morwenna quickly took a sip of the drink and firmly said, “Alright, let’s enjoy it together.”
Claude smiled softly, a genuine warmth lighting up his cool gray eyes.
He liked this teacher and wanted to treat her well. Simple and direct, with no fuss.
After two hours of tutoring. Morwenna was full
As she prepared to leave, she thought about returning the favor, “Tomorrow, I’ll bring something tasty for you too.”
Claude smiled again, “That sounds wonderful.”
Watching Morwenna step into the bright sunlight outside, Claude remained in his dim room, reluctant to venture out. He rarely left his room, almost forgetting how long it had been since he last went outdoors.
The two hours each day felt too short, he wished he could keep her there forever.
He began to look forward to the next day.
Returning to his books, Claude picked up the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tales Morwenna had brought him. For someone like him, fairy tales were uncharted territory, tales that ordinary children grew up hearing, yet he had never known.
Claude sat quietly, his eyes glued to a book for