CH 47

Chapter 47: I felt like I was about to fall apart on the way home

Despite being somewhat defeated, I finished today’s lesson.

I am relieved when I am told that it is over.

I was not alone, but maybe because it was the first time, I felt somewhat tired…

“Thank you for accompanying me today, Linea-sama.”

Miss Brenda says that to me, and I become confused.

“No, I’m the one who should thank you. Did I do something clumsy? Please let me know if there is anything strange.”

I honestly don’t know what to do, so I can only say something like that.

I was honestly not good at conversation with women…friends or something like that. I continued to respond to people I only knew by their common appearance, but I wonder if that was good.

Then Miss Brenda opens her eyes wide and laughs happily after a few seconds.

“Oh, really, you can’t tell until you talk. Such a pure person.”

Although I was told that, I have no idea what she is talking about at all.

Pure?

Where?

I only intended to make a typical superficial response…

Thinking that it would not be good to show my confusion outwardly, I smiled and pretended not to know anything.

Smiling is a lady’s life. I still thank the tutor who taught me this and said that it would solve everything.

“I heard you have plans later. I also have plans to leave early, so let’s go together to the entrance.”

“Yes.”

Not only to announce that I have made a friend, Miss Brenda also walks down the hallway with me.

“I’m sure she bought it with money.”

As I walk, I hear those words.

I expected to be told this, but when I wondered who said it, it was from Duke Augren’s daughters with platinum hair.

“She bought her fiance with money. Even her friend and the selfishness of changing her family name to get a friend can all be solved with money. Isn’t her father quite indulgent to that daughter?”

My feet stop.

After my head becomes completely blank, a burning feeling wells up.

The words of buying or not buying are fine. I’ve been told that countless times and have gotten used to it.

But the words that my father is indulgent to his daughter, I couldn’t ignore no matter what.

(Is my father really indulgent to his daughter…)

“I wonder if you’re talking about fathers who are really indulgent to their daughters, who allow their beautiful servants to always serve at their side instead of maids, or who use their influence to pressure other households to grant their daughter’s wishes, even if it means coercing people they want to add to their servant roster.”

I can’t help but speak my mind.

But I’m not talking to Duke Augren’s daughter. My conversation partner is Miss Brenda.

I try to leave again, but Miss Brenda has a slightly surprised expression, although she lifts the corners of her mouth, so she doesn’t seem offended.

“There are families like that, aren’t there? I’ve heard even more impressive stories.”

And she continues the conversation.

So naturally, I asked Miss Brenda.

“What kind of stories? If they’re not a secret, I would be happy if you could tell me.”

“It might be a common story to whip a servant who uses their charms on the master, and then throw them out into the winter sky. The story goes that the governess was jealous that a servant was close with their charge, and threw them out into the forest without their clothes.”

Oh, that seems like the actions of a villainess, like the story of the Maiden of Salvation I read the other day.

I was trembling, wondering if there were really people who would do that.

“How scary…”

Gazes pierce my back as I mutter to myself…

When I take a peek out of curiosity, Duke Augren’s daughter is looking at me with a hateful, horrified expression.

In my heart, I whispered to myself, “Did she really do that?”

She must be angry at having her actions publicly announced.

But she can’t say anything.

If she confronts me, it will mean acknowledging that the current topic is about her.

And a few of her followers are averting their gaze from Duke Augren’s daughter. Perhaps they’ve had a servant taken from them before.

“Is it possible to collapse from within…”

When I whispered softly, Miss Brenda whispered back.

“Because of the issue of your father’s power, it is not so easy. To shoot the enemy, you must first knock down those who are standing in the way.”

But Miss Brenda smiled.

“If that is necessary, Lars-sama must already have thought about it.”

I see, I nod.

At the same time, I can see Miss Brenda’s trust in Lars-sama…

(I am being helped by such a person)

Thinking this again, I feel reassured.