Judicial Temptations :: WRIOLLETTE

32 :: Languages Teacher

The evening light streamed through the curtains as Wriothesley set the textbooks on the dining table, his eyes sparkling with amusement. Neuvillette eyed the materials skeptically, already sensing that his patience would be tested.

"What's this about?" Neuvillette asked, crossing his arms.

Wriothesley flashed a charming smile. "Just thought it would be fun to help you with a few English words, that's all."

Neuvillette raised an eyebrow. "Fun? You and I have different definitions of fun."

Undeterred, Wriothesley picked up a pencil, tapping it lightly against the table. "Come on, it'll be easy. I promise."

Neuvillette sighed, sitting down reluctantly. "Alright then, let's begin."

Wriothesley nodded, then said the first word: "Clothes."

Neuvillette repeated, "Clofs," his accent thickening the 'th' sound. Wriothesley chuckled, shaking his head.

"Not quite. Watch my mouth," Wriothesley demonstrated, emphasizing each sound. "Clothes."

Neuvillette narrowed his eyes, concentrating. "Cloth-es," he tried again, the word still foreign on his tongue.

Wriothesley gave him a playful nudge. "Better, but not quite there."

They moved through several more words, each one bringing a new challenge. Neuvillette's usually calm demeanor was slowly dissolving into frustration, though he tried to keep his composure.

"Thorough," Wriothesley said next, smiling as he anticipated Neuvillette's reaction.

Neuvillette stared at him. ""C'est ridicule. Pourquoi y a-t-il un 'ough' dans ce mot si ça se prononce complètement différemment?" ( This is ridiculous. Why is there an 'ough' in this word if it's pronounced completely differently?)

Wriothesley couldn't help but laugh. "English is just like that sometimes."

Neuvillette muttered something under his breath in French, making Wriothesley grin. "Come on, try it."

After several attempts, Neuvillette finally managed to get through the pronunciation exercises. Wriothesley rewarded him with a satisfied nod, though Neuvillette seemed far less enthused.

"How do you speak English so fluently?" Neuvillette asked in French, his frustration evident. "C'est tellement difficile avec des mots comme ceux-ci."

Wriothesley smiled softly, replying in French, "Je suis bilingue depuis mon enfance. Ça aide beaucoup."

The conversation switched back to English as they continued practicing. By the end of the session, Neuvillette's pronunciation had significantly improved, but his frustration was still palpable. Wriothesley, however, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself.

Later that evening, Neuvillette brought out a tray with tea after dinner, hoping for a quiet moment. Wriothesley, always ready to tease, asked, "What kind of tea is it?"

Neuvillette paused, already knowing where this was going. "Camomille," he said, slipping into French out of habit.

Wriothesley chuckled, shaking his head. "Try again, but in English."

Neuvillette narrowed his eyes at him. "Shamomile," he said with the slightest hint of irritation.

Wriothesley burst into laughter, unable to contain himself.

Neuvillette glared at him, crossing his arms. "Arrête de te moquer de moi! It's close enough," he snapped in French, his cheeks slightly flushed as he handed Wriothesley his tea.

Wriothesley accepted it with a grin, clearly enjoying Neuvillette's flustered state. "You're doing great, really."

Neuvillette sighed, his irritation fading as he sat down beside Wriothesley. Despite the frustrations, he couldn't help but smile a little. "You're lucky I'm patient."

Wriothesley chuckled again. "And you're lucky I find your frustration adorable."

Neuvillette gave him a sidelong glance but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. It was moments like these, filled with gentle teasing and shared laughter, that reminded him why he cherished their time together, even if it meant struggling through a few tricky English words.