Chapter 44

Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi

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Chapter 44

“Du, Duchess. If you wait a moment…!”

“Of course, if you’re not sorry, you can leave and get up right away. But…”

Anriche twisted the tip of her lips, then a voice full of ridicule pierced Viscountess Ivan’s ears.

“I have no doubt you’ll be here for quite some time.”

Having said that, she turned around with Liliana.

Viscountess Ivan looked back at the two of them with bewildered eyes.

***

Viscountess Ivan, eventually, had been on her knees for nearly three hours and was carried away.

‘Of course, rather than because she was really sorry, it’s just to get as much sympathy as possible.’

As she comforted Liliana, who had shuddered, Anriche thought cynically.

‘Well, maybe sooner or later mother will come to me?’

Perhaps Viscountess Ivan would go to the Grand Madam of the Marquisate Saxony, and she would tell how much Anriche had persecuted her. And, the Grand Madam of the Marquisate Saxony would be very upset that Anriche fired the etiquette teacher she recommended.

Breathing in a sigh, Anriche asked Liliana a question.

“You were very surprised today, weren’t you?”

“No, don’t say that.”

Liliana, with her eyes wide open, shook her head.

“Because I’m fine.”

Then, she smiles at her bashfully.

Looking at Liliana, Anriche became very complicated. How many heartbreaking things must have happened before that little child had a habit of saying, ‘it’s okay.’

Also, even if it’s not intentional…

‘It’s as if Liliana was hurt again because of me.’

…If she hadn’t rushed and brought Viscountess Ivan.

Anriche’s expression darkened. Then, Liliana looked up secretly at Anriche.

“Mother.”

“Why are you calling me?”

Liliana, who had licked her lips for a while, said her words out like sighs.

“…Thank you.”

“….”

With those words, she glanced up at Liliana. At that, the girl opened her mouth hesitantly.

“Actually, I… was a little worried.”

“…Yeah?”

“I’m afraid I’ll disappoint my mother because I can’t keep up with the class properly.”

At those words, Anriche’s eyes widened.

Liliana muffled her lips, avoiding the gaze. “Of course, mother never said anything like that to me, but…”

“…Liliana.”

“Still, I wanted to become a lady who wouldn’t embarrass you.”

It was the first time…

The first time Liliana tells the truth of her feelings.

She always presses the words she wants to say deep in her heart, and she says, ‘It’s okay,’ and the child only smiles brightly…

“At least, I thought I shouldn’t cause problems with my mother’s reputation because of me.”

While hesitating for a long time, she spoke the truth to the very end.

Although Anriche was proud, she was also somehow sorry for her. Because the Liliana she was now, was saying she was worried because ‘she didn’t want to ruin mother’s reputation.’

When will Liliana be able to worry about herself first…?

Anriche felt an indescribable feeling.

“Though my mother said, ‘It’s okay not to be perfect’… I was really grateful.”

Liliana ended her words in a shy voice.

Anriche gazed at Liliana with a blank look. Without realizing it, the words came out of nowhere.

“Still… you must have been scared.’

“What?”

Liliana, who was stunned, blinked her eyes.

Anriche couldn’t hide her distressed expression.

“While Viscountess Ivan was so cruel to you, you just stood there alone.”

‘It must have been very frightening,’ at that whisper, Liliana’s lips trembled.

“Even now, you care more about me than you do yourself.”

“…Mother.”

“You’re still a child. You don’t have to worry about that…”

Anriche couldn’t continue her words. In order to somehow suppress the angry feelings, she was only biting her lips.

“….”

“….”

A long silence passed.

Eventually, Liliana nodded her head as tears welled up.

“Yeah… I was very scared.”

“Liliana, you…”

“When I see the teacher getting angry, I keep thinking… it reminds me of what happened in the orphanage.”

The child stuttered and confessed the fear she had felt.

“When I listen to the teacher, it seems that I have gone back to being an incompetent child just like I did back then…”

Her little voice was trembling softly.

Anriche swallowed her breath.

…It was all her fault.

Thinking so, she struggled to open her mouth. “I’m sorry I didn’t…notice sooner.”

“…Mother?”

Liliana lifted the wet eyelashes.

“If I hadn’t been so easy on myself, if I had thought about Viscountess Ivan one more time…”

“No. Don’t say that, mother.”

Liliana replied with a rare determination as she continued.

“Mother found me.”

“Liliana, still—”

“Just like you used to at the orphanage, this time, too.”

She lifted her head softly and peered into Anriche’s eyes. “I… I really like mother.”

“….”

“So, I want mother to like me, too.”

A soft smile appeared over the pale eyes.

As it is, Liliana whispered shyly.

“That’s all I need.”

With those words, Anriche gave strength to hug her. Liliana, seated in the tight arms, rubbed her cheeks like a little beast.

Such a child was so sad, yet lovely.

***

Viscountess Ivan, expelled from the Duchy, went straight to the townhouse of the Marquisate of Saxony.

“Oh my God, Viscountess Ivan?”

“How could the Duchess do this to me?!”

As soon as she encountered the grand madam of the Marquisate Saxony, Viscountess Ivan burst out, weeping loudly.

“The Duchess of Valois has kicked me out!”

“What? Anriche did?”

At the unexpected words, the Grand Madam of the Marquisate Saxony’s eyes widened.

Viscountess Ivan nodded her head frantically.

“I only taught a little harshly because the Duchess asked if she was too fond of the Count of Aberyt’s lady…!”

“No way, she expelled Viscountess Ivan for the strict teaching?”

“Yes! She even said that she would hold my family accountable!!”

Viscountess Ivan was crying and screaming as if she was going to die of injustice. Meanwhile, the Grand Madam of the Marquisate Saxony was astonished.

“She’ll hold me accountable. Did you hear that? How could that be…!”

‘This, this little girl!’

Now that she is the mistress of Valois, was she ignoring the teacher her mother recommended?

‘I’m Anriche’s mother!’

The Grand Madam of the Marquisate Saxony clenched her fists.

“Don’t worry, Viscountess Ivan.”

“Grand, Grand Madam…”

“Because I’m going to tell her harshly. So, don’t cry.”

The grand madam of the Marquisate Saxony was resolute in her words. “There will be no problems with Viscountess Ivan.”

“Yes, still…”

“Think carefully. Would she still be wide-eyed at her mother?”

The Grand Madam of the Marquisate Saxony smiled leisurely.

“She’ll be scared of me.”

At that firm voice, Viscount Ivan stopped crying.

“If she makes a mistake, it becomes a family matter, right?”

“Yes, you are right. I will trust only the Grand Madam of the Marquisate Saxony.” Viscountess Ivan nodded meekly.

The Grand Madam of the Marquisate Saxony comforted the Viscountess and clenched her teeth.

‘Anriche, really this girl…!’

Her eyes were burning with fire.

The Grand Madam of the Marquisate Saxony vowed to visit her daughter sooner or later.

***

That evening.

Anriche sat in her office in a somewhat depressed mood.

The documents to be checked were piled up like a mountain, but they went unnoticed.

‘…Liliana was hurt because of me.’

She let out another sigh, not knowing how many times it had been.

It was so pathetic that she couldn’t stand it.

When Anriche was taught, she was always kind, and she had never been subjected to anything like corporal punishment. So, she thought that Liliana would be fine with the Viscountess, and Anriche would take a good look as well.

‘Me and Liliana… Even though the position is completely different.’

There was one thing she only found out after this happened.

Viscountess Ivan had always discriminated against the ladies she taught.

She was squeamish with the daughters of high-ranking aristocrats like Anriche, though she used corporal punishment on those of relatively low status.

They only closed their eyes, pretending not to know, because they had achieved so much because of what Viscountess Ivan had done.

‘Now I understand…’

The questionable attitude that Viscount Ivan had shown thus far was due to the difference in status between the two.

Anriche, the only lady of the Marquisate of Saxony and the present Duchess of Valois. No matter how much she is protected by the Duke, Liliana was only a descendant of the fallen county.

‘This must have happened because Viscountess Ivan was ignoring Liliana in her heart.’

Ah, really…

She didn’t want to understand such a sly thought…

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