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Chapter 43
It’s like a deep lake where you don’t know what’s hiding underneath. Anriche then blinked and pointed to the floor.
“Kneel.”
“…Pardon?”
Viscountess Ivan asked Anriche in a confused voice.
Liliana, who was watching the situation, also widened her eyes.
“Get down on your knees, and immediately bow your head to Liliana and apologize.”
“What, what is that!”
“If you want to be forced to kneel by the hand of the servants, keep standing like that.”
She stared at Viscountess Ivan with her expressionless face.
Viscountess Ivan clenched her fists.
“But, I am Miss Liliana’s teacher! A teacher kneels to her student, that’s not going to happen…!”
“Well, before Viscountess Ivan was Liliana’s teacher… She was an employee of Valois.”
“Yes?”
“You’re a tutor hired by Valois, aren’t you?”
At those words that stabbed her in the face, Viscountess Ivan made a flushed face. “Oh, how could you say that!”
“Why is there something wrong with what I’m saying?”
“I’m also the teacher who taught the Duchess of Valois!”
“Therefore…?”
As Anriche raised her eyebrows crookedly, Viscountess Ivan protested with an unfair look.
“You, you’re asking me to get down on my knees! Please be polite to me!”
“I really don’t understand. Why do you say it’s so unfair?”
Anriche narrowed her eyes.
Looking straight at Viscountess Ivan, she twisted the tips of her lips.
“For Viscountess Ivan, the words ‘strictly teach’ and ‘corporal punishment’ are synonymous.”
In an instant, Viscountess Ivan opened her eyes. Anriche is now giving what Viscountess Ivan gave to Liliana back to her.
“So, as the Mistress of Valois, I am only trying to get you down on your knees to teach the servants strictly.”
“Duchess!”
“By the way, I punish you for good reasons. What is with you?”
Asking that, Anriche took one step forward. Viscountess Ivan flinched her shoulders as if she had been slapped.
“Are you sure that the corporal punishment for Liliana was given with justifiable grounds?”
“That’s, of course! For the sake of Miss Liliana’s education…!”
Viscountess Ivan raised her voice in a fitful manner.
Then, Anriche gave a sly smile. She had a cold smile without a hint of warmth.
“Then Viscountess Ivan should try first.”
“…Yes?”
“That arrogant ‘review on Elvante’.”
‘Don’t tell me, Anriche heard that conversation…!’
Viscountess Ivan’s face turned as white as a sheet of white paper. Of course, she didn’t even think that Liliana would be able to do the review on Elvante.
How could a seven-year-old girl do what only the leading scholars of the Empire could do?
“You were saying whatever you wanted with your mouth, and why are you silent now?”
“Du, Duchess. That’s it, I…”
That meant that even the Viscountess couldn’t review Elvante.
Viscountess Ivan felt herself fading away.
The Grand Madam of the Marquisate of Saxony said that recently, she had been badly hurt by her daughter’s naughty behavior.
[ “So, I think it would be good for Viscountess Ivan to get her hands on Count Aberyt’s young lady.” ]
[ “Miss Liliana?” ]
[ “Yes. Then, even if she sees the child, Anriche will obey me well…” ]
The Grand Madam of the Marquisate of Saxony murmured with a smiling face.
[ “…If that child becomes obedient again, how will I not take care of Viscountess Ivan?” ]
That was right.
She just didn’t like teaching the Lady of the fallen county, so she was just a little grumpy about it…
‘I didn’t know things would go wrong.’
Viscountess Ivan bit her lip.
At the same time, Anriche fixed her gaze on Viscountess Ivan.
“So, are you kneeling?”
‘…Yes, let’s lose for now.’
Later, I will tell the Grand Madam of the Marquisate of Saxony everything about today and get revenge.
Viscountess Ivan fell to her knees, grinding her teeth.
Gulp.
Looking at the teacher at her feet, Liliana swallowed a gasp.
‘Is this a dream?’
She couldn’t believe her eyes when the teacher, who was as scary as a tiger, had bowed down to her knees.
“I, I’m sorry… Miss Liliana.”
At the same time, Viscountess Ivan whispered in a squeezing voice.
Liliana’s heart raced.
‘Because my mother was angry with me… I could even get an apology.’
…In such a serious situation, she shouldn’t be discouraged.
Liliana blushed her cheeks.
But, after a while.
‘However… You can’t do this, too.’
Liliana’s expression grew serious.
Viscountess Ivan was her teacher, who even taught mother. Though… what if her mother covers for her, and she completely wronged Viscountess Ivan?
She grabbed Anriche’s collar and shook her head.
The young face was full of worry.
“Mother, I’m fine. So…”
“No, Liliana. It shouldn’t be okay in this situation.”
At that moment, Anriche shook her head in a soft but firm motion.
Liliana’s eyes widened slightly.
“You are the next mistress of the Duchy of Valois, and you are also the only heir to the County of Aberyt.”
“…But—”
“But not this. You deserve respect.”
Anriche reached out and stroked the little girl’s shoulder. As she looked at Liliana who was depressed, her heart couldn’t help but get broken.
” Viscountess Ivan has done you a great wrong.”
“Bu, but.”
“Then, it is only natural to apologize.”
It was a soft but firm voice.
“Of course, it’s up to you, Liliana, to accept the apology or not.”
Liliana, who was looking up shyly at Anriche, clapped her lips.
“I…”
“What do you want to do?”
“Miss Liliana!”
Then, Viscountess Ivan called Liliana desperately.
At the sudden call, she stiffened her shoulders.
“I, I alone can make Miss Liliana a perfect lady like the Duchess!”
“Te, teacher.”
“If you let me go like this, you will never have that dream come true!” Viscountess Ivan opened her eyes and raised her voice.
Nonetheless, Anriche kindly patted Liliana on the shoulder.
“Liliana. Do you remember what I said the other day?”
“…What did mother say?”
“Yes. I don’t want you to be the perfect lady, nor do I want you to push yourself.”
Hearing those words, Liliana’s eyes softened like a bud wet with dew.
“Also, you are you. You don’t have to compare me.”
With those words, she seemed to have solidified her resolve. As she gripped the hem of Anriche’s dress, the gripping palm was tight.
“Then I… I want to study with another teacher.”
“All right.”
Eventually, Anriche, who nodded her head, quickly turned her gaze and looked down at Viscountess Ivan. Although she had a look that had not yet fully accepted reality.
Anriche coldly opened her mouth.
“Did you hear? Viscountess Ivan is no longer Liliana’s teacher.”
“…Pardon?”
“The ‘strict education’ led by the Viscountess is not an education suitable for her, the only fiancee of the Duke of Valois, to receive.”
Over the face of Viscountess Ivan, dismay began to spread.
‘You mean you’re going to fire me for doing something like this?
But, Anriche was serious.
“I don’t think the Duchy of Valois would have any more reason to hire Viscountess Ivan.”
“Unbelievable! Do you think the Grand Madam of the Marquisate of Saxony will leave this alone?!”
Viscountess Ivan started screaming, while Anriche only shed ridicule.
‘Yes, there is another problem called ‘my mother,’ this is it.’
Though she did not intend to condone the situation any further.
“You should think carefully, Viscountess Ivan? Your current employer is me, not my mother.”
“What, what is that…!”
“I’m telling you ahead of time in case you think that everything is over like this.”
She tilted her head at an angle and continued, “After today, I will never want you seen in the townhouse of the Duke of Valois. Also…”
Anriche’s mellow voice, like clear brilliance, stuck in the ear of Viscountess Ivan.
“The responsibility for this matter must be held by Viscountess Ivan as well.”
“What? Oh my God, Duchess!”
At that moment, an urgent cry erupted from the lips of Viscountess Ivan.
She reluctantly clings to Anriche.
“Forgive me. I will do my best to teach from now on…!”
“No, I don’t need anyone who hasn’t done their best to teach my daughter-in-law.”
Anriche shot sharply.
Viscountess Ivan froze on the spot.
‘You’re not just trying to scare me, are you really going to fire me?’
“As much as you feel sorry for Liliana, make sure you kneel as much.”
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