Liriette let out a sigh of relief once more and pulled the blanket up to her chest.

The soft duvet had a nice scent. The bed was also very soft.

A gentle night breeze came in through the slightly open windows, and the sweet scent of flowers wafted in.

Compared to Windsor-Ice Castle, where the windows could not be opened at all because of the strong blizzard every day, this place was very warm and romantic.

Even so…

Tears welled up under Liriette’s big eyes. Her small hands squeezed the hem of the blanket.

Classes from morning to night. Strict Olivia without a hint of affection. Maids with whom she doesn’t have a little private conversation.

She pretended to be okay, but in reality everything was too hard. More than anything…

Liriette muttered in a trembling voice.

“I miss the Duke.”

It wasn’t the only Duke.

Simon who pours water and smiles with foxy eyes. Marie who wriggles her thick forearm and brings food piled up like a mountain.

She missed the people of Windsor-Ice Castle who were infinitely friendly and warm.

Of course, even now, if Liriette wants, she can meet them.

Just tell the knights the Duke left behind. They will immediately take Liriette and leave this place.

‘But then Grandma will be very disappointed in me.’

Liriette knew.

She knew that if she let go of this string of hers now, Olivia would never show interest in Liriette again.

Afterwards, she said that building her relationship with her would be more difficult than trying to reach the stars in the sky.

‘I hate that.’

She wanted to be recognized properly.

She’s the daughter of the Duke of Windsor-Ice.

To Olivia von Windsor-Ice, none other.

Liriette’s light blue eyes twinkled.

It was a look that some would call obstinacy, while others would call it aspiration.

***

The next day, the maid brought Liriette a thick book.

“The Madam told you to read this while she was away. If there are any letters that are difficult to read or words that you don’t understand, please speak up immediately. We are here to help.”

“Yes.”

Liriette nodded and looked at the cover of the book.

[100 Essential Cultures that Noble Women Should Know]

It was a title that seemed so boring that a ten-year-old child could read it. However, a smile remained on Liriette’s face.

She was very fond of reading books.

‘In my previous life, when I was imprisoned in the temple, I read the book the High Priest generously brought and forgot my pain for a moment.’

Besides, unlike then, now is the best environment for reading.

A chair with a soft cushion on top. Hot tea and sweet desserts on the table.

‘Of course, it’s not always comfortable…’

The maid said with a serious face.

“There are a few things you should keep in mind before reading the book. The Madam said that even when a noble lady reads a book, she should maintain an upright posture.”

Fortunately, it wasn’t that difficult for Liriette. The child of the goddess shouldn’t look clumsy because she was trained countless times by the High Priest.

Liriette straightened her back and began to read the book.

Standing next to Liriette, the maid thought with an expressionless face.

‘A girl who’s only 10 years old is very polite.’

Liriette didn’t have the idiocy typical of a child. She didn’t even whine because it was hard.

‘Indeed. That’s understandable as the daughter of His Grace the Duke of Windsor-Ice.’

The descendants of the Duke of Windsor-Ice haven’t had a childlike dignity for generations.

The current duke, Laurencio, and his father, the previous duke, were like that, so there was no difference between their lineage, Liriette.

The maid, like the other workers, believed Liriette that she was the Duke’s real daughter.

‘Still, she probably didn’t get a proper education while living apart from His Grace, so there must be a lot she doesn’t know.’

In particular, her academic part must have had many limitations.

‘If Miss Liriette asks what the meaning of this word is with a perplexed face, I have to answer very politely. So that she doesn’t feel any shame.’

But, to the dismay of the maid, Liriette had nothing to ask.

For a girl who was a reader in her previous life, there was nothing difficult about a book like this.

In the book, knowledge about the nobility was densely written.

‘My goodness. There’s a woman who over-tightened her corset to make her waist thin and then died from not being able to breathe?’

‘Gentlemen risk their lives in a duel to protect the family’s honor.’

Sky blue eyes moved back and forth at high speed at the exciting content.

A few hours later, Liriette closed the book and looked at the maid.

“I read everything. What shall I do now?”

The maid blinked her eyes at a bewildered face.

The content is difficult and the amount is large, so it’s not a book that a child can read in one day.

Olivia thought so too, so she never told her what to do after Liriette finished reading the book.

After a brief moment of thought, the maid spoke.

“Since the Madam hasn’t ordered anything other than reading, it seems that you can rest.”

Liriette’s face lit up at the word ‘rest’.

Liriette came out into the garden with a large book.

‘It’s a book from Grandma, so I should read it one more time.’

It was from the thought.

‘Take a little walk in the garden and when I find a nice spot, let’s read a book there.’

Liriette looked at the green garden and her eyes twinkled.

Olivia was a perfect match for the word ‘duchess’.

Even in the mansion she always wore her dress undisturbed, her back straight and graceful to the tips of her fingers.

Like a sample of the ‘perfect lady’.

But the garden was nothing like hers.

‘It’s not like the gardens of common nobles, where only expensive and precious ornamental flowers are blooming.’

There were many flowers that could be seen in the fields, and fruits were also hanging from the trees.

There was also a white swing by the pond where small fish were swimming.

It was cute and pretty like a scene in a fairy tale.

‘I heard that the garden follows the person who tends it… Grandma is strict, but she may actually have a very warm heart.’

If Olivia heard, she must be mistaken for naivety, enough for her to raise her eyebrows as Liriette walked down the street.

Moments later, she encountered an unexpected creature.

‘A pure white and fluffy puppy!’

Liriette recognized the dog’s true identity at once.

It was the puppy lying quietly in the corner of the room every time she took Olivia’s lessons.

‘So your name is…’

“Mello?”

At that moment, the dog’s triangular ears perked up. Its tail also started wagging.

Liriette was very fond of animals. Even more of a dog.

But when she was educated, she couldn’t show it off. She’s afraid she’ll get scolded for not concentrating and doing something else.

‘But it’s not class time now!’

Liriette crouched down with a flushed face, and she met Mello’s black eyes with hers.

“Do you know me? Mello? I saw you a few times in Grandma’s room. You’re sleeping, and I’m too busy taking classes, so I didn’t say hello properly…”

Mello fluttered its tail as if it understood Liriette’s words.

She continued her words, feeling her heart tickle.

“Actually, I thought of you from the first time I saw you. You’re so pretty.”

It wasn’t empty talk.

Fluffy white hair. Triangular ears sticking out. Eyes sparkling like obsidian. Round feet.

Mello was really pretty.

It seemed to know that she had praised it. Mello came to Liriette’s side as it vigorously waggled its tail.

Then it started rubbing its round head in Liriette’s hands.

She opened her eyes wide, asked.

“Are you asking to be stroked?”

“Woof.”

Its cheerful answer made Liriette’s heart pound as if it were about to explode.

‘Ah, so cute!’

Liriet carefully moved her hand and started stroking Mello.

‘It’s so soft and warm.’

Even as Liriette closed her eyes tightly at the unbearably lovely sensation, she didn’t stop her hand stroking Mello.

***

Liriette, who opened her eyes, shouted.

“Look at me. To think that I fell asleep in the garden!”

She hadn’t taken a nap alone.

Right next to Liriette, Mello was crouching in her body, giving off her high-pitched snort.

‘It’s sleeping well. Should I wake it up? Or should I just hug it and go inside the mansion?’

At the end of the troubles, she reached out her hand to Mello.

“Stop!”

Liriette turned her head in the direction of the voice with a surprised face.

Olivia in her street clothes was coming this way, her face distorted.