“Honey, how was it? Did the Duchess of Valois say she is ordering the goods?”

As soon as Viscountess set her foot in her townhouse, Viscount Ivan, who had been waiting for his wife jumped up

Viscountess Ivan shook her head nervously.

“…Failed.”

“What, what? You said before. She’d definitely order it!”

“I don’t even know why. Suddenly, what kind of wind blew…”

The Viscountess, who replied angrily, flopped down on the sofa. She thought Anriche’s lazy nature would find the task of purchasing textbooks troublesome and would leave it to her.

‘…This is not good.’

The Duchess of Valois was one of the socialites’ top celebrities, even though she lived up to the notorious ‘villainess.’

Such a Duchess chose Viscountess Ivan as the teacher to teach her son’s fiancée. That alone would greatly increase her recognition as a tutor, though Viscountess Ivan wanted more.

‘If only the Duchess had bought all the textbooks and teaching materials from our store…’

Perhaps by itself, Viscountess Ivan’s store could have enjoyed a great publicity effect.

However, Anriche rejected her.

“Why the hell did she suddenly become so strict…?”

Viscountess Ivan has been working with Anriche since she was a child, which has helped maintain a good relationship ever since. Above all, Anriche was her favorite when it came to investing in her business.

But, why the hell…

Viscountess Ivan set a sharp edge in her eyes.

The sound of grinding teeth was deafening.

***

Time passed quickly, and it was finally Liliana’s first class.

Anriche entered Liliana’s study room while Liliana, who had been sitting in her seat with a tensed face, ran to her side.

Her bright red eyes shone brightly.

“Is mother really observing the class?”

“Of course. Why, Liliana doesn’t want me to watch?”

When asked playfully on purpose, Liliana shook her head. “It’s not like that! I’m going to work hard!”

“Yes, yes.”

Hearing that, she let out a short laugh.

Moments later, Viscountess Ivan stepped into the study room. Liliana, who had been clinging to Anriche, got up from her seat as if bouncing.

“Hello, teacher!”

“Greetings, Duchess of Valois. Is Miss Liliana well?”

Viscountess Ivan politely greeted with a smile on her face.

Anriche also slightly bowed.

“Welcome.”

She watched the two classes.

There was nothing special about it.

Viscountess Ivan was a skilled teacher, and Liliana sucked up the knowledge like a sponge. The combination of the two was so good that Anriche looked back on her own behavior when she was wary of the Viscountess.

‘Maybe I was a little sensitive…’

A month passed like that.

In the meantime, Anriche has been observing Liliana’s classes from time to time. Viscountess Ivan treated Liliana with an always friendly face. Because of that, she was able to relax her heart a little at that time.

Meanwhile.

“Well, Duchess of Valois.”

After class, Viscountess Ivan called Anriche.

“About the class, I think I need to ask for forgiveness.”

“Excuse me?”

“That…”

After hesitating for a while, the Viscountess opened her mouth carefully. “The Duchess is constantly observing the class, so I’m having a bit of trouble.”

“Please speak.”

“Do you know that Miss Liliana is very fond of the Duchess?”

Viscountess Ivan glanced at her with a glance.

“So, by the way, the Miss is very conscious of the Duchess.”

“Liliana?”

“Yes. It doesn’t matter if it’s just being conscious, but it seems like she’s not concentrating on class.”

At those words, Anriche’s expression hardened slightly.

In fact, she had noticed what Viscountess Ivan was talking about. Not surprisingly, Liliana was also looking at Anriche more than Viscountess Ivan during the class. In order to look good to her, the little girl is trying to do better…

‘She doesn’t seem to be paying attention in class.’

Hmm.

Anriche was deeply troubled.

Viscountess Ivan added slyly. “Of course, I am well aware of how much the Duchess cares for Miss Liliana.”

“…Viscountess Ivan.”

“But, now that it’s been a while, wouldn’t it be time to trust me at this point?”

The face of Viscountess Ivan, who said that, only looked good. Well, the Viscountess remained faithful to her class. There was some trouble with the textbooks and teaching aids, although she managed to get the job done.

After a while, Anriche nodded her head.

“Let’s do that.”

“Thank you, Duchess!”

Viscountess Ivan smiled broadly.

***

About two months have passed since Liliana started taking classes from Viscountess Ivan.

Liliana was passionate about her studies. She studies so hard that she doesn’t even think of leaving the study room.

“Mom, at this point, I’m going to forget Liliana and what her face looked like.”

Elliot was about to whimper like so.

Anriche, unable to see that, went to see Liliana.

“Liliana, I’m going in.”

“….”

Though there was no reply from her.

When she opened the door, Liliana was dozing off with a book open in front of the desk. Anriche placed her hand gently over her shoulder.

“Liliana?”

“…Ah, yes!”

Liliana, waking up late in her sleep, hurriedly straightened her posture.

Anriche asked a question in a worried voice.

“Are you okay? You look a little tired.”

“No, it’s fine!”

Liliana shook her head slightly.

However, Anriche couldn’t help but feel strange about her. If it’s really all right, there’s no way she’d have a tired face like that…

“How’s the class? Is the teacher good to you?”

“Yes! The teacher is very nice to me!”

Liliana smiled broadly, but it feels like it was made up somehow…

‘Am I thinking too sensitive?’

Thinking so, she narrowed her brow. At the same time, Liliana could only look up to Anriche.

“The teacher said so. Mother likes children who study hard.”

“Uh, huh? Well, yes, but…”

“I’m going to work hard, so I can make mother proud of me,” Liliana said resolutely.

In an instant, Anriche’s eyes widened wide. It was because nosebleeds were dripping from Liliana’s nose.

“Li, Liliana!”

“Ack.”

The little girl hurriedly tried to cover her nose with her hand, but her hands were stained with blood.

Hurriedly, Anriche pulled out her handkerchief and covered Liliana’s nose.

“Oh my God, aren’t you overdoing it?”

“What? No, if I want to be a perfect lady, I need to study like this…”

Liliana answered in a stern voice.

Anriche sighed and took a seat next to her. “You know, I don’t care if Liliana doesn’t have to be the perfect lady.”

“…Huh?”

“Of course, I don’t want Liliana to neglect her studies, so I don’t want her to be humiliated in the social world.”

Anriche continued her words while stroking her soft hair.

“However, I hate to see you being overworked like this.”

“Bu, but…”

“A seven-year-old girl studying eight hours a week, five days a week, does it make sense?”

Anriche put on a look of surprise without realizing it. It was about a week after Anriche stopped attending the class. Liliana, who had come to her, opened her mouth carefully.

[ “I want to extend the class a little more.” ]
[ “What? But Liliana, I think that’s enough now?” ]
[ “No. If I’m going to study, I want to work as hard as possible.” ]

Liliana said so, clenching her cuddly fists tightly.

She tried to convince the child, but Liliana was determined. And so, she followed the child’s greed to study, upset that Liliana never had a chance to study.

Anriche gave in…

‘I don’t think this is right either…’

Anriche shook her head inside.

Liliana, who had been contemplating for a while, carefully opened her mouth.

“Still, mother studied like that, too.”

The nail was stabbed on the head.

Anriche looked complicated for a moment. Until her marriage, she had been brought up as a person who would ‘marry into a prestigious family and raise the honor of Saxony.’

Nevertheless…

Just because Anriche had been living that way, Liliana had no reason to live the same life as hers. Moments later, she asked Liliana.

“Why do you compare it to me?”

“Yes?”

“Liliana is Liliana. You don’t have to compare yourself to me. You’re good enough as you are.”

At those words, Liliana was silent.