Chapter 57: Resume
In fact, this idea had crossed my mind more than once.
The idea of hiring a governess for Rubiella kept popping into my head, like a quiet whisper that I tried to ignore, but which gradually became louder and more insistent.
However, only now, after several years of her living in my house, did I really think about putting this idea into practice and not putting off the decision until later.
After all, Ruby was not just a child I had taken under my wing. She was the daughter of a noble family and the heir to the family, and this placed a special responsibility on her that most children cannot even imagine.
Her fate was predetermined from birth: she was to become a worthy representative of her family, preserve the family honor, and lead future generations.
This meant that her life was planned out in advance, filled with responsibilities and expectations that she would sooner or later have to accept and fulfill.
And no matter how much I wanted to shield her from heavy obligations and harsh reality, I still understood that sooner or later she would have to face them head-on. There was no escaping it, and it was better to prepare her in advance than to leave her to the mercy of fate.
To be honest, I should have addressed this issue much earlier.
Given Rubiella’s status, her education, development, and upbringing should have begun almost immediately after she arrived at the estate. But I deliberately chose not to.
Not because I didn’t understand the importance, but because I wanted to give her a break, a chance to just be a child.
During her first year here, I didn’t burden Ruby with any obligations, lessons, or strict rules that usually fall on children of her status. I allowed her to just... be a child.
To laugh carefree, play until she dropped, draw whimsical pictures, run around the garden enjoying her freedom, and fall asleep at night without worrying about having to cram something difficult or report to her teacher again tomorrow.
After all, childhood is the most vivid and irretrievable time in life.
Regardless of their background, every child has the right to at least a small piece of happiness, to live this time without the burden of responsibility, without constant pressure and expectations.
And in Ruby’s case, this was especially important.
I knew all too well how difficult her past had been in her mother’s house. She was never the favorite child there; there was neither the warmth nor the care that should surround children. Only coldness, indifference, and cruelty, which left deep wounds in her soul.
That is why I decided that while Ruby was in my home, she should feel what it means to live differently. Let at least one year be her real childhood — free, carefree, and filled with the joy she deserves.
And I have never regretted that decision. Seeing her laugh, her eyes sparkle, and rediscover the world was a real gift and comfort to me.
But time passed. The first year flew by unnoticed, and the second turned out to be much busier for me.
I tried several times to address the issue of her education, but, to be honest, I desperately lacked the time for it. My whole day was scheduled down to the minute, and at times it seemed that I was living on the edge of my strength.
After all, I was not only responsible for the estate, which required constant attention, but also for leading the Order of the Shadow, an organization that needed my constant involvement and strict control.
In addition, I was still acting as the emperor’s secret agent in the search for his missing daughter — a mission that also took a lot of energy, time, and nerves. To put it simply, I was too busy to devote enough attention to Ruby’s education.
However, now that Ruby had been living in my house for three years, I realized that I couldn’t put it off any longer. Time was marching inexorably forward, and if I didn’t start acting now, it would be too late later.
Yes, we still had five years ahead of us, and that time would undoubtedly be enough to give her a good education and prepare her for adult life.
I already knew Ruby well: she was smart, attentive, quick-witted, and incredibly diligent for her age.
I was sure she would succeed. Moreover, I believed that she would exceed all expectations and become the pride of the family.
When I finally mustered up all my caution and attention and brought up the subject with Ruby herself, her reaction surprised me with its calm maturity.
At first, a slight surprise flashed in her eyes — as if she hadn’t expected to hear such words at that particular moment.
But very soon a serious expression appeared on her face, and she nodded confidently, as if she had known for a long time that this moment would come and was ready for it. It was amazing to see how a little girl could perceive such changes with awareness and inner readiness.
I decided not to stop there and asked her directly what she thought about her future mentor. I wanted to understand if she had any preferences or wishes, because, after all, she would be spending a lot of time with this person.
Perhaps she would like a woman to be her teacher. Or, on the contrary, would she be more comfortable studying with a man? I also asked if she had any special wishes regarding subjects she would like to focus on more — perhaps music, art, foreign languages, or history?
It was important for me to hear her opinion in order to make this process as comfortable and beneficial for her as possible.
Ruby shook her head, opened her eyes wide, and said with innocent sincerity: "I’ll agree to whoever my aunt chooses."
I wasn’t even surprised by this answer. Ruby had always been an amazingly understanding girl. It was enough for her to know that I was trying to do what was best for her, that I was making decisions in her best interests, and she was ready to follow me without asking unnecessary questions or doubting my intentions.
Well, armed with determination, I instructed Edison to start gathering candidates that very same day.
I was amazed at his speed: in just one day, the old man managed to compile an impressive list of applicants. The next morning, when I entered my office, there was already a heavy folder full of resumes and recommendations on my desk.
I looked at it for a long time, and the thought flashed through my mind: "Well, today will be spent on this." And indeed, that’s how it turned out.
I flipped through the pages one by one, carefully studying each candidate, trying not to miss a single detail.
When I asked Edison to do the search, I specified only two main criteria: experience working with children and appropriate education. Everything else mattered much less to me.
I understood that even the most impressive diploma could not replace a sincere love for children and the ability to find common ground with them.
It was customary for girls from noble families to hire a governess — a mature, strict, and respected woman who could keep the student within strict boundaries and raise her according to all the canons of tradition.
But I decided not to limit myself to outdated customs.
Why not consider a wider range of candidates? Women my age or even younger? Men who could teach music, history, or languages? All of this was acceptable. For me, the most important thing was not convention, but talent, competence, and the ability to inspire a child.
So I really looked at each resume without bias, trying to objectively assess the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate.
It was painstaking and tedious work that required maximum concentration and attention to detail.
And so, after long hours of intense work, when half the day had already passed, I finally settled on three candidates who, in my opinion, stood out from the rest.
Yes, it was these three who ultimately attracted my attention the most.
I thought that perhaps they could be the ones Ruby needed — those who could not only teach her the necessary knowledge, but also help her reveal her personality, support her in difficult moments, and become true mentors to her.
I called Edison, who was already standing at the door, as if waiting for my decision.
"Edison."
"Yes, ma’am?" he replied immediately, as if he had been waiting for me to call him.
I handed him the three selected resumes.
"Contact these people and schedule interviews. The sooner, the better."
The old man glanced over the papers, nodded, and said with his usual energy:
"Of course, ma’am. I’ll take care of it right away."
And without wasting any time, he left the office.
I was left alone, and for the first time all day, I allowed myself to relax. I stretched, feeling my shoulders ache, and took a deep breath.
Yes, it was only the beginning of a long journey, but I felt satisfied. I had taken the first step toward securing a decent future for Ruby.
And I vowed: I would definitely find her the best teacher.