" I don't have high expectations, to be completely honest. "
Avner took another drink.
" You should really stop drinking. "
" But I don't want t— "
Avner wanted to refuse her, but was interrupted.
" Master, please attend your lesson. "
" Huh…? "
Avner turned to face the sound that seemed to be coming from behind him and found a stressed servant.
" Is that new tutor still waiting for me? Tell her I'm not coming. "
Avner then turned back around, trying to enjoy his drink, but was interrupted once again.
" Master. "
" WHAT!? "
Avner asked louder this time, then turned around to face the servant again.
" Wha… what are you doing? "
His irritation was overcome by confusion. His servant was on his knees, his face pressed against the ground.
" Master, please go attend the lesson. My heart can't take being in the same room as that woman any longer. I may get a heart attack or hypothermia. "
" Wow, your new tutor seems to be no joke. "
Miyeon, who was still on the other side of the table facing Avner, commented after watching the show.
Avner looked at his cousin for a few seconds after that comment, then focused on the servant again.
" What do you mean by heart attack and hypothermia? "
" I mean just that. That woman is so scary my heart may stop, and it's just so cold. I feel like I may freeze right there. "
After the servant's confession, Avner turned back to his drink with a sigh.
" I've drunk enough for today. Cousin, you've drunk more than enough. I will be leaving, and you should do the same. "
Miyeon stood up.
" Give it a chance. "
And with that sentence, Miyeon finally left the room.
***
" Just why is that teacher so stubborn? Usually the tutors I've had would be happy to have a free, paid day. And I was having a nice day too… "
" Ah… damn it. The more I think about it, the angrier I get. "
Avner finally reached the stairs leading to his study room, where he would meet his new tutor. Then, with much irritation, he aggressively opened the curtains to finally see this teacher—but the room was empty.
" Ha, I can't believe her. "
Seeing the room empty, his blood boiled. He aggressively entered the room and let it all out.
" What the hell is her problem? Is she some kind of psychopath, playing with me like that? "
" Psychopath… I haven't heard that in a while. "
Pause.
Avner froze at the sudden voice. He slowly turned around and—
" AAAHHH! "
After a good scream, Avner put his hand on his chest, his heart beating like crazy as he tried to regain his breath, which he somehow seemed to have lost after the fright he had gotten.
The teacher never left the room; she was simply sitting in a corner, reading a book.
" Damn it, you scared me. "
" I wouldn't have been able to figure that out unless you made it clear to me. "
" Aish… what a sarcastic mouth you have. "
" Is that so? "
Avner couldn't believe this woman right now. She first forced him to attend her lesson, then scared the soul out of him, and now she wouldn't even bother to look at him—acting all cool with that book of hers.
" Brr… why is it this cold here? "
Avner suddenly realized the temperature in the room wasn't normal.
" Maybe if you came here more often, it wouldn't feel that cold. It's a big room, and yet nobody is in here. It's only normal for it to be cold. "
There she goes again, acting all cool.