Chapter 2

First, what needs to be done... I need to meet Miss Rebecca.

To avoid that future, I must not let Miss Rebecca end up in a state where she is starving for love.

In other words, becoming friends with Miss Rebecca from now on is the most important thing.

I got out of bed, got dressed myself, and left the room.

The Bernhard Duke's mansion is very large, with several separate residences.

The main house where I am now does not have Miss Rebecca.

She lives in the largest annex in her own room, where she also receives strict education.

Perhaps Lord Alan thought it would be good for his stepdaughter to live in a large room, but a girl around ten years old would feel lonely.

So I decided to leave the main house and go to see Miss Rebecca...

"Sophia, where are you going?"

As I was walking down the hallway, a man walked up to me.

"Lord Alan...!"

He is the head of the Bernhard Duke's family and the man I married through a contract marriage.

His features are as terrifyingly perfect as always; he usually has a blank expression, which often gives off a cold impression.

His hair is jet black and glossy, completely different from mine and Miss Rebecca's in color and texture.

My hair is golden, a bit wavy, and curly.

He is also tall, about a head taller than me.

"Good morning, Lord Alan."

"It's already past noon, you slept well, I see."

"Oh, y-yes, that's right."

Indeed, when I have a premonition, I usually end up sleeping for a long time.

I had completely forgotten about it.

"So, where are you going? You were supposed to be receiving education to become a duchess for the past week."

"Yes, that's true."

Of course, I need to be educated to become a duchess.

I am already twenty, so such education is not too difficult for me.

But Miss Rebecca is different; she is only ten.

"I was thinking of going to see Miss Rebecca."

"Rebecca? Why?"

Lord Alan asked with his usual blank expression.

For a week, I have been following Lord Alan's instructions and receiving education.

I had questions. Why don't we eat with Miss Rebecca? Why don't I see her at all?

But since I married into the duchy through a contract marriage, I thought it was better not to say anything strange.

I thought it was better not to contradict Lord Alan, so I didn't say anything, but I learned about that future through the premonition.

"I want to become friends with Miss Rebecca."

"Friends?"

"Yes, I will be her stepmother, after all."

At my words, Lord Alan tilted his head in confusion, but his expression remained unchanged.

"Indeed, on paper, that is the case, but I don't expect that much. It's enough if you can act as my wife at social events."

Lord Alan's cold words made me feel indignant.

If he continues with that attitude, Miss Rebecca will end up being executed in the future.

I didn't try to get involved with Miss Rebecca until I saw that future.

But now that I know about it, I can't just stand by and do nothing.

"I want to become friends with Miss Rebecca. Not out of duty, but as family."

"Family... hmm."

He placed his hand on his chin and nodded thoughtfully.

"I won't stop you. There's nothing in the contract that says you can't be friends with Rebecca."

When we got married through a contract, we had a contract drawn up.

In short, the contract said, "Do not interfere with Lord Alan's work, do not love him."

Since he has no interest in women, he probably finds women who fall in love with him troublesome.

"Yes, thank you. Excuse me."

I bowed and walked past Lord Alan, heading for the annex.

"...Family."

I thought I heard Lord Alan mutter something behind me, but I couldn't hear it clearly.

I arrived at the annex and asked a maid where Miss Rebecca was.

It seems she has already started her education for today.

I expected this since I slept until noon.

"Where is she now and what is she doing?"

"She should be practicing dance in the large hall on the second floor."

"Thank you."

I thanked her and headed to the large hall on the second floor where Miss Rebecca was.

There was a large door, and I was about to open it, but I thought it would be rude to interrupt her practice, so I quietly opened it and peeked inside.

A few maids were standing against the wall, and in the center of the hall, Miss Rebecca and a female dance instructor were standing.

Miss Rebecca, being ten years old, is shorter than the adults, and her head only reaches my chest.

Her long, golden hair is very beautiful, but her face is cute with big, bright eyes.

Lord Alan once said she looks like me, but I think we look quite different.

I, like Lord Alan, am often told I have a scary face.

My eyes are slightly upturned, so I've been mistaken for glaring many times.

So the only thing we have in common is our golden hair.

But Miss Rebecca's expression was very serious.

She was practicing dance, with a book on her head.

She was walking around the room, but she kept dropping the book.

She would quickly pick it up, place it back on her head, and walk again, only to drop it again.

The instructor, a woman, sighed.

Miss Rebecca flinched.

"How many times do you need to do this? I want to move on to the next practice."

"Yes, I'm sorry..."

Miss Rebecca responded meekly to the instructor's words.

Is this the kind of practice a ten-year-old should be doing? It's too strict.

Even as an adult, I find it difficult to walk with a book on my head.

And something about the instructor seemed familiar... I think I've seen her before...

From this angle, I can only see her profile... Ah, I remember, she's the Countess Nable.

I've seen her at social events, and she has a very bad reputation.

She is condescending to those with lower titles and ranks, and she is known to be rude to the servants in her own household.

But I've also heard she is a social etiquette instructor, which is probably why she was chosen to educate Miss Rebecca...

"Drop it again! What are you doing!?"

"I'm sorry...!"

Miss Rebecca, who is too intimidated to respond, is being treated so harshly and rudely...

If this continues, she will surely be emotionally scarred.

I can't just stand by and watch!

I opened the door with a bang.

Everyone turned to look at me, their eyes wide.

"Lady...!"

The maids and butlers, though surprised, immediately bowed to me.

I became the lady of the house a week ago, so this reaction is natural.

"Miss Sophia, good day."

Miss Rebecca, seeing me, held the hem of her skirt and bowed gracefully.

We've only met once before, so it's understandable that she is formal.

What's important now is...

"Miss Sophia, good day. Why are you here?"

It's the Countess Nable, who is serving as the instructor.

She didn't bow but looked down at me with a condescending smile.

Before, I was a poor count's daughter, and my status was lower than Countess Nable's.

Given her character, it's natural for her to look down on me.

But things are different now.

"Countess Nable, good day. But is that attitude appropriate for a duchess?"

I became a duchess a week ago.

It's a contract marriage, so I don't have much authority, but the fact remains that I am a duchess, and my rank and status are higher than a countess's.

Enough to reprimand her attitude.

"As an instructor for Miss Rebecca, I expect you to show appropriate respect."

I'm subtly threatening to fire her, but I'm not sure if she understands.

"...I apologize, Duchess Sophia. I will be more careful in the future."

I'm not sure if she understood, but Countess Nable bowed and apologized.

But her expression didn't show any acceptance; she was biting her lip in resentment.

I don't care what she thinks.

I approached Miss Rebecca, crouched down, and met her eyes.

Her big, bright eyes were filled with anxiety.

She doesn't understand why I'm here.

We are only paper family, having met only once a week ago.

It's natural for a ten-year-old to be cautious.

"Miss Rebecca, good day. It's been a while."

"Yes, it has been a while."

She still speaks to me formally, which is understandable.

I hope one day she will think of me as family and speak to me more casually.

I need to work hard to show her love.

"I came to have lunch with you today."

"Lunch...?"

"Yes, would you like to?"

I smiled and made the proposal, trying not to look too serious and scare her.

"Thank you, but... I..."

Miss Rebecca averted her eyes from me and glanced at Countess Nable.

"Duchess Sophia, Miss Rebecca is currently skipping lunch."

"...What?"

I couldn't help but exclaim at Countess Nable's words.

Skipping lunch for a ten-year-old?

I stood up and glared at Countess Nable.

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly what it sounds like. I am also responsible for managing her meals."

She said this with a matter-of-fact expression.

"Why is it necessary for Miss Rebecca to skip lunch?"

"To maintain her figure and build endurance."

Skipping lunch for a ten-year-old to maintain her figure?

Not feeding a growing child properly will only hinder their development.

Building endurance can be done in other ways.

Moreover, all the education a young lady receives requires endurance, so she would naturally develop it through regular education.

Skipping lunch to build endurance will only hinder her growth and make her sick, which is the worst outcome.

"Stop skipping lunch immediately. It's bad for Miss Rebecca's health, who is still a child."

"But I am in charge of Miss Rebecca's education. No matter who you are, Duchess Sophia, you cannot interfere with my methods."

Countess Nable has a point.

The duchy entrusted her with the education, so interfering would be against the rules.

But then...

"In that case, I will fire you as her instructor."

"What!?"

Countess Nable was shocked by my declaration.

The duchy hired her, but if she ignores our educational policies, firing her is the solution.

"Thank you for your service. I will find someone else, so please leave."

"Duchess Sophia! Please reconsider this rash decision...!"

"No, I have decided that you are not suitable for Miss Rebecca. I saw your attitude during the practice, and I do not want someone who is so condescending to be her instructor."

"...!"

Countess Nable's face turned red with anger, but she couldn't say anything.

She is probably holding back from saying anything more because I am a duchess.

"Please leave."

"...I will take my leave."

She glared at me, bowed, and quickly left the room.

Phew, I acted a bit impulsively, but was this the right thing to do?

But the fact remains that I cannot entrust Miss Rebecca's education to someone like her for the next few years.

If she continued with that kind of education, Miss Rebecca might have ended up in a sad situation like in my premonition.