Chapter 3: What Can You Do?

The hope of his son learning martial arts was dashed, which made Count Raymond feel disappointed for a few days. However, he finally pulled himself together under the comfort of the beautiful countess. After all, this was his only son. Although the Rollin family had established its status in the empire through military merits, in history, one or two outstanding figures of the strategist type who were renowned for their wisdom and strategy had also emerged from the family. These ancestors were also not proficient in martial arts, but they could coordinate the overall situation in the rear, deploy troops, and achieve victory from a distance. An outstanding general didn't necessarily have to possess superb martial arts skills and lead the charge on the battlefield. If one could become an outstanding overall commander, it could also add luster to the family's glory.

Since his son couldn't learn martial arts, then he could learn literature! But how could a child who couldn't even speak learn literature? Even if they were to invite a learned scholar to teach him knowledge, the child should at least be able to speak first. Different from the kind and simple motherly heart of the countess, Count Raymond had a strange feeling in his heart: he always felt that his son wasn't unable to speak, but rather unwilling to speak! Because the more times Count Raymond visited his son, the more he felt that his son wasn't an ignorant idiot who knew nothing, but a child who rejected the world around him. Just from the way he looked at himself, it was clearly full of strangeness and resistance, and there were obvious emotions revealed, rather than being a muddled and ignorant idiot.

There are always brave men for a large enough reward. Count Raymond immediately offered a generous reward throughout the imperial capital. Regardless of the status of the person, whether they were a learned scholar or a lowly farmer, as long as anyone could make his son speak, they would immediately receive a reward of one thousand gold coins! Such a novel thing quickly spread throughout the imperial capital, and people who came to sign up were of all kinds. Even a few traveling bards from afar came to sign up. These people used all sorts of strange methods. Some played the flute in front of Dwayne for an entire afternoon, some beat a gong in Dwayne's ear, and some deliberately shouted behind him when Dwayne wasn't on guard... There was even someone who was so audacious as to suggest throwing the count's son into the river, thinking that he would most likely cry out for help then... However, the person who proposed this idea was immediately beaten by the count's guards until his legs were broken and thrown out of the count's mansion. What a joke! Even if my son is an idiot, he's still my son! Throw him into the river? I'll throw you into the river first!

Just when the whole imperial capital was spreading this matter as a novelty, this biggest problem was unexpectedly solved by a servant in the count's mansion! And the one who solved this problem was the servant "designated" by Dwayne in his sleep talk, Mad. This servant, who had once been a groom, was actually an honest and kind-hearted man. He came up with a way, which was to take Dwayne to see the stables in the count's mansion. According to the usual situation, a child of such a young age would always be curious and happy when seeing animals. Although this method was a bit rustic, with the mentality of giving it a try, the count also agreed.

As a result, Mad carried his little master into the stables... Coincidentally, the servant who had replaced Mad as the groom happened to be lazy that day and didn't clean up the horse manure. As soon as they entered the stables, a stinking smell of horse manure rushed towards them. The smell was so strong that when Mad pushed open the door while carrying his little master, he almost fell over from the stench. And at this moment, the little Dwayne in his arms almost blurted out a sentence in a low voice as if it were a conditioned reflex.

"It stinks to death!"

The outcome of this matter was that Mad immediately received a reward of one thousand gold coins. Even the groom who had been lazy and didn't clean up the horse manure wasn't punished. Instead, he received twenty gold coins. Looking at his son with a defeated expression, Count Raymond was even more certain of one thing: this kid had deliberately refused to speak!

"From today on, he will be your teacher." Pointing at an old man in a white robe beside him, the count looked at his son. "This is Mr. Rosiate. He holds the title of an imperial astrologer and is also a scholar proficient in history. From now on, he will be your enlightenment teacher."

At the beginning, this learned and talented scholar, Mr. Rosiate, did an excellent job. After a year of enlightenment education, Young Master Dwayne, who was only four years old, could already write the imperial characters! Being able to write at the age of four wasn't too remarkable for a normal child, but it was still quite rare. Even Count Raymond, who had not been very fond of his son before, couldn't help but be tempted: Could it be that my son is really a genius?

However, when Young Master Dwayne turned five years old, even the excellent Mr. Rosiate encountered difficulties. When Young Master Dwayne was five and a half years old, one evening, Count Raymond had a long conversation with Mr. Rosiate in the study...

"Count, please find someone else more capable." The old astrologer looked dejected. "Your son is talented and intelligent, but an old man like me really doesn't have the energy to teach such a disciple anymore..."

Looking at the old scholar's expression, Count Raymond's heart immediately sank. Even an idiot could tell that the so-called "talented and intelligent" said by the old scholar was just perfunctory nonsense... Could it be that my son is really an idiot? Even such a smart and learned Mr. Rosiate couldn't educate him well?

"But, Mr. Rosiate..." Count Raymond said with a serious face.

"No, no, my dear Count." The old scholar looked uneasy. "I beg you, please don't try to persuade me to stay. Such a difficult task is truly beyond my ability to handle!"

The old scholar's words were very firm, making Count Raymond smile bitterly: Is educating my son really such a "difficult" task? Since even the learned old astrologer couldn't complete it, it was probably even more hopeless to rely on others.