“Are you tired?”

“I’m sorry. I keep falling asleep lately.”

Alicia smiled awkwardly.

“If you’re tired, shall we conclude today’s class here?”

“Can we do that?”

“Excessive teaching doesn’t necessarily mean you will improve your skills quickly. Sometimes you need a day like this.”

James looked at Alicia with a friendly gaze.

“I’m sorry, but that’s probably a good idea.”

Alicia hesitated for a moment and soon nodded her head, placing down the pen she was holding.

She wanted to endure it, but it was hard to resist the rush of drowsiness she had been experiencing lately.

“Your class ended earlier than usual today.”

Mrs Morco, who had been watching the class from a distance, approached her.

“I’m a little tired.”

“You’ve been getting a lot of sleep lately.”

Mrs Morco smiled gracefully and gestured to the maids standing behind her.

The maids skillfully arranged the drawing tools and set up refreshments on the table.

“I guess it’s because I’m relaxed.”

“You’re getting used to Schwarhan.”

Mrs Morco placed the prepared teapot set in front of Alicia.

Now Alicia was like any other lady and was able to make tea for her guests.

“It’s Melga.”

James laughed lightly at the subtle scent of the tea.

“You must be familiar with teas.”

“While I wandered around, I naturally heard of a range of things.”

“So, you said you travelled a lot, right?”

“Yes, I have been to many places.”

“That’s great.”

Alicia handed the cup of freshly brewed tea to James.

At first glance, the porcelain teacup with delicate patterns was a luxury item.

James looked at the steaming teacup for a moment and then slowly raised his head.

Unlike the first time they met, Alicia, who savoured the tea flavour, now looked quite like an aristocrat.

“If you have a chance, you should travel to various places too. All the things you have experienced will become the foundations of your painting.”

“Travel…….”

“The world is wider and more diverse than you think, so there are many things to see. It will certainly help you a lot.”

He said this before, but somehow, the more he spoke, the faster his voice became.

James eventually stopped talking and took a sip of tea.

It was not a bitter tea, but somehow an astringent taste lingered in his mouth.

“Whenever I read a book, I always wonder. It’s a strange feeling that there are so many things I don’t know.”

“Is that so?”

“But, I like it here.”

Alicia lowered her eyes slightly while clasping her fingers.

James stroked the handle of the teacup anxiously.

There was only one person in Schwarhan who did not know that the princess of the Kingdom of Christie was staying in the castle.

Even though Cabellenus organised a fancy party for the princess that did not suit Schwarhan, Alicia knew nothing about the rumours spreading that the princess would become Cabellenus’s fiancée and, eventually, the Grand Duchess of Schwarhan.

She just shyly smiled while practising Cabellenus’s portrait every day.

That fact gnawed at James.

The story of a commoner woman who gave up her entire life thinking the entertainment of a nobleman was love.

James knew the ending of such a common and obvious story better than anyone else.

“……Do you like your life right now?”

“Yes. I do.”

It was an answer without hesitation.

James touched his throat unconsciously.

The action naturally caught Alicia’s attention.

“Come to think of it, you’re always wearing that necklace.”

It wasn’t until James met Alicia’s curious eyes that he finally came to his senses.

“……It’s a keepsake.”

“A keepsake? Oh….. I’m sorry. I apologise if I said something I shouldn’t have said. You don’t have to tell me anything. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“It’s okay. It’s all in the past.”

A soft leather strap hung around his fingertips.

James slowly lowered his hand along the string.

He stroked the traces of the pendant bulging under his clothes.

“It must have been a precious person.”

“…….”

“I can’t say it’s exactly the same emotion, but I’ve lost someone too. I know how sad it is to lose someone.”

Alicia struggled to smile and wiggled her fingers, and at the same time, James’s eyes narrowed.

It had not completely changed.

Alicia still had her old habits.

James was pleased with that fact.

Even though he clearly knew it was none of his business.

“……It belonged to my sister.”

Perhaps, that was why he brought up a story that he did not have to tell.

James hesitated for a moment and then took off the necklace he had hidden under his clothes.

“Sister?”

“I had a sister who was older than me.”

James mumbled in a low voice as he twisted the pendant.

Then, as the pendant opened, she saw a miniature portrait painted inside.

“She’s beautiful. Very much so.”

Alicia smiled lightly. Instead of smiling with her, James took a short deep breath.

“She was a beautiful person as a flower.”

“My lady.”

Mrs Morco intervened in a hurry, but James’s gaze was pinned directly on Alicia.

Alicia swallowed her saliva reflexively.

Her hands hidden under the table trembled slightly.

“Don’t overdo it. It’s better to stop today’s class.”

Mrs Morco briefly glanced at James.

Only then did James advert his gaze and hide the pendant in his hand.

Although he knew that he was hasty with his emotions, he did not regret it.

As soon as the thoughts that had been floating in his mind became words and he spat it out, he became convinced.

He could not turn a blind eye to Alicia.

She was different from his sister.

She still had a chance.

* * *

“She was a beautiful person as a flower.“

Alicia slowly closed her eyes.

She pretended not to know, but in fact, she actually knew.

“Flower” was a common term referring to the lovers of the nobility.

James considered Alicia as Cabellenus’s lover.

Alicia eventually covered her face with both hands.

Even though she had already prepared herself, her heart sank the instant she met the gaze of someone who regarded her as a lover.

In the eyes of others, she appeared to be Cabellenus’s hidden lover.

But that was all.

She couldn’t do anything even though she felt like something was falling apart inside her.

‘Because I know it’s not wrong.’

Alicia clenched her hands.

Her heart throbbed just at the thought of the gaze from a moment ago, but it did not matter.

She could bear it.

As long as she could be next to Cabellenus, she could endure this much.

“My lady. His Grace says he’ll be late today. He said you should eat first.”

“…….”

“My lady?”

“I’m sorry. I was thinking about something else for a while. What did you say?”

Alicia, as she learned before, gave a ladylike smile.

Perhaps, thanks to practising in front of a mirror in her spare time, her smile was now very natural.

“His Grace said you should eat first since he’ll be late.”

“He’s going to be late again today?”

“It’s because he’s a busy person.”

“That’s true.”

Alicia’s head fell helplessly.

When she came to Schwarhan, she thought she would be with Cabellenus all the time.

But he was busier than she thought, especially recently.

Naturally, the meals they had together were now often skipped, and it became rare to see each other’s faces.

However, there was nothing Alicia could do but wait.

As most lovers did.

Alicia’s shoulders slumped powerlessly.

“Are you disappointed?”

“I have no right to be disappointed.”

“It is fine for my lady to feel disappointed with this situation.”

“I don’t want to disturb His Grace by saying unnecessary things.”

In case Mrs Morco said anything else to Cabellenus, Alicia hastily shook her head.

Mrs Morco grinned as if Alicia was cute.

“It seems you rather like it. You want to see more of His Grace.”

“I…….”

“Although it’s good to distinguish between public and private life, there’s no need to be so strict with young couples.”

Mrs Morco comforted Alicia affectionately by patting her shoulder.

However, Alicia’s drooping shoulders did not rise again.

“I, too, know that the position given to you is heavy. The lady is still young, that’s why. But you’re not His Grace’s subordinate. I don’t think you need to be too cautious.”

“I’m not His Grace’s subordinate?”

“You’re the only one who will stand shoulder to shoulder with His Grace.”

“There must be some misunderstanding. I’m just…….”

Maybe she didn’t hear that Alicia was a slave.

Alicia couldn’t bring herself to finish her words and pressed her lips together.

Although Schwarhan was said to have no slaves, the concept of slavery was not unknown.

Alicia feared what Mrs Morco would look like when she realised that the lady she served was actually a slave.

“I told you. I already know everything.”

Mrs Morco knelt before Alicia.

Alicia gulped down dry saliva.

“The day my lady came to the castle, His Grace spoke to me directly.”

The lady was going to become the Grand Duchess of Schwarhan.

Mrs Morco’s hand gently stroked the back of Alicia’s hand.

Alicia’s focus wavered.

Alicia could not understand what Mrs Morco was saying.

But Mrs Morco was sincere.

“……His Grace really said that?”

Alicia’s voice trembled.

She had never once thought of herself standing proudly beside Cabellenus.

Alicia, who was a coward, did not hope for the impossible.

She knew that instead of flimsy hope, giving up was a way to reduce the pain.

As a result,  Alicia’s situation right now was even more alarming.

“No way. By any chance, did he not say anything to the lady?”

“…….”

“Oh, dear.”

She thought he was doing pretty well for a man who didn’t know much about women, but it seemed that she was mistaken.

Mrs Morco briefly clicked her tongue.

She did not need to ask any more.

Alicia’s reddish eyes confirmed what she had been thinking.

It was obvious that they had shared the same bedroom without a promise of marriage.

“His Grace is at fault.”

“His Grace didn’t do anything wrong.”

“It is true that His Grace is at fault. Marriage is not something you do alone. It is wrong to say nothing to the person concerned.”

“But…….”

“My lady. Please look at me.”

Mrs Morco stared straight at Alicia.

“I’m not speaking as your maid of honour. I’m speaking as an adult and your teacher who has experienced more of the world.”

“…….”

“His Grace wishes to take you as his wife, but that’s His Grace’s will, not yours.”

“But, I…….”

“There are no slaves in Schwarhan.”

Mrs Morco smiled as if she knew everything.

Alicia, who was speechless, bit her lips anxiously.

She was still looking straight at Alicia.

“I’ll ask you again. Do you want to marry His Grace like this? Is that what you really want?”

Mrs Morco followed Alicia with an affectionate but unwavering gaze.

Alicia wiggled her fingers for a long time before she eventually parted her lips.

“Of course. I want to stay by His Grace’s side. But…….”

Could she do that?

Alicia’s eyes shook.

She could not bring herself to speak because she knew it was not a simple matter.

“What are you so afraid of?”

“……..Because I could ruin His Grace.”

“Is that all?”

Instead of answering, Alicia nodded.

Her throat felt tight, so she couldn’t speak any more.

“If that’s the case, that’s a relief.”

She had been worried because the order was wrong, but it was fortunate that the two of them did not seem to mind.

Mrs Morco caressed the corner of Alicia’s eyes, feeling relieved inside.

She was a delicate and timid lady who didn’t match with Schwarhan.

At first, she was worried about whether the lady could survive well here with such a skinny body, but it was also true that she was looking forward to it.

The lady looked very intimidated but sometimes managed to look quite tough. She thought that if she took good care of her, the lady would grow to be more persevering.

“I know what you’re worried about. His Grace is a special person, and the seat next to him is not a light position. But, I will do what I have to do.”

Mrs Morco smiled confidently and propped up Alicia’s hand as if she was holding something precious.

“It’s my duty to support the lady, so please do what you want to do. That’s all. The people of Schwarhan have been warriors for generations. The Grand Duchess of Schwarhan is no different.”

“I’m not a warrior.”

“You don’t have to carry a weapon to be a warrior. Anyone who fights for what they want is a warrior.”

 

“……Do you think I can do it?”

Alicia’s eyes trembled anxiously.

“That depends on what my lady decides to do. My lady hasn’t done anything yet.”

Give it a try, whatever it is.

The corners of Mrs Morco’s mouth went up.

Alicia had never disappointed Mrs Morco before.

Even if she gave her a difficult task on purpose, the lady eventually solved them all.

It was not because Alicia was a genius of the century.

She was no different from the average person and was inexperienced because she didn’t learn much when she was younger.

Nevertheless, Alicia was able to complete Mrs Morco’s assignments because of her persistence.

Even if Alicia repeatedly wrote the same text dozens of times, she made what she learned once into her own.

Mrs Morco liked the persistence.

Because the more a person was like that, the better they could protect what was theirs.