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.”

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…