“Who are you looking for?”

Mary picked up the empty glass.

“Michelle?”

“Ah…”

Mary’s expression darkened rapidly. Her warm demeanor instantly turned vicious.

“Don’t even mention that wretched one’s name, miss. She’ll never come near you again. The master scolded her harshly and sent her away.”

“What?”

Jane asked again, unable to believe what she heard.

“Why?”

“Because she treated you carelessly. She seemed to have acted arrogantly without knowing her place, but it won’t happen again. I’m here now.”

Jane blinked slowly.

Her mind was filled with floating questions of ‘why’.

‘He knew Michelle was tormenting me but did nothing. So why suddenly?’

Jane was confused. She had just managed to cut off a small piece of her heart from Cain’s cold side, but if he showed care for her like this, Jane would foolishly pick up that piece and stitch it back.

At this rate, her heart might be in tatters a year later, but it wouldn’t disappear.

She wished he would just hate her or just torment her. She wished he would do only one.

“Miss.”

Mary, who had been watching Jane unable to hide her confused emotions, carefully spoke up.

“Let’s eat first. From today, I’ll be taking care of you. Is that alright?”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

Could such a good thing really happen to her?

If this was the reward for suffering in pain for three days, Jane would be willing to be sick every day.

Jane hugged Mary tightly. Mary endlessly stroked Jane’s back as she clung like a child.

* * *

After Mary’s arrival, Jane’s situation completely changed. Her life became more comfortable, and her heart a little more at ease.

And she took a few days off from lessons with Mrs. Themis.

During that time, Jane enjoyed small luxuries in her room.

Though all she was given was a warm bath, Pudica’s delicious food, and check-ups from the doctor, Jane felt utmost satisfaction.

Above all, she was glad to have a companion to talk to. Mary conversed with Jane whenever she had a chance.

Since Jane was reluctant to talk about the past 7 years, Mary did most of the talking.

Mary’s stories were endless. Talking about Lilien, Lilien’s husband, and even Lilien’s child would make it bedtime before they knew it.

Jane was curious about Cain’s stories, but neither Jane nor Mary readily brought him up as a topic.

“Mrs. Themis will be coming back starting tomorrow.”

Mary said while preparing Jane’s bed.

“Ah… is that so?”

Jane replied somewhat glumly. Mary glanced at her while covering Jane up to her neck with the blanket.

“Does Mrs. Themis treat you well? She seemed quite strict before.”

Mary gazed intently at Jane. It was a look that seemed to pierce through the inner workings of things.

Jane realized what Mary’s intention was in saying this.

She knew that Jane was receiving torment rather than teaching from Mrs. Themis.

Mary, who had personally applied medicine and cared for Jane’s ruined feet, couldn’t not know, and Jane had no intention of clumsily hiding it either.

“It’s alright.”

Though it wasn’t a fitting answer to Mary’s question, it was enough.

“Miss, I’ll talk to the master about it.”

“Just having Mary by my side is enough for me.”

Jane had ears too. She had heard that Mary had separately asked Cain to become her maid, and that he had been very displeased about it.

In this situation, if she asked to dismiss Mrs. Themis, who was said to have been recommended by his aunt, he might even take Mary away from Jane’s side.

“What exactly happened between you and the master 7 years ago, miss?”

Mary asked very carefully.

“I… caused Cain great pain.”

Jane lowered her head.

Jane’s answer was far from enough to explain their strained relationship.

However, instead of probing further, Mary patted Jane’s back.

As the doctor said, what Jane needed was sufficient rest, nutrition, and stability.

From Mary’s perspective, Cain was a factor that made Jane unstable.

The evidence was in Jane’s eyes, which took on a sad light at just the mention of his name.

What could have happened between the two of them?

Though she wasn’t unaware of the incident from 7 years ago, Mary felt there must be some detailed something more that she didn’t know.

* * *

Jane’s face, seen after several days, looked much better than before.

“It’s been a while, teacher.”

Jane’s greeting was perfect. Mrs. Themis hid the paddle she was holding behind her back.

In the past, she would have made up a non-existent fault to strike Jane, but now there were watching eyes.

Mary, the maid of House Hastings, stood against the wall like a painting, keeping her eyes on Mrs. Themis.

“His Excellency has entrusted me with your education. You may leave.”

“His Excellency ordered me not to leave the young miss’s side for even a moment. Please proceed with the education comfortably.”

Mrs. Themis and Mary faced off without giving an inch.

Mrs. Themis bit the inside of her mouth hard.

This way, she couldn’t achieve what she wanted. And if so, she wouldn’t be able to properly receive the money she was supposed to get.

“Aren’t we starting the lesson, teacher?”

Jane urged the lesson with an innocent face, twisting Mrs. Themis’s insides even more.

Mrs. Themis habitually picked up the paddle, then put it down.

Jane looked at the paddle with indifferent eyes. One would think she’d flinch after being hit so much, but Jane remained calm whether Mrs. Themis raised the paddle or struck.

There had never been a young lady like Jane among the numerous she had taught so far.

She was as tough as a weed, as clever as the chancellor who was said to have swallowed an entire continent, and as stubborn as a bull.

When she was young, Mrs. Themis thought Jane was unbreakable just because she had strong parents, but now she saw it was Jane’s nature.

She neither breaks nor bends.

And they want her to uproot this?

Mrs. Themis furrowed her brow as she recalled the request Mrs. Burnett had made to her.

‘I thought too lightly of this.’

Mrs. Themis, who had already received a large sum from her, had to find another way.

“Today I’ll tell you about the families you must know. First, Miss Scott of the Bell family is bright and lively, but loose-tongued. Be careful.”

Jane politely listened to Mrs. Themis’s words.

“And Miss Angela of the Adeliadi family, the second daughter, is scheduled to have her debutante this month. If you work hard, you might be able to have your debutante at the same ball, but…”

Mrs. Themis trailed off, but Jane easily guessed the rest.

It’s impossible because you’re vulgar, lacking, slow to learn.

“I will do my best.”

That composed answer provoked Mrs. Themis’s anger. She barely restrained her gaze from drifting to the paddle set aside.

“I’ll continue. The person you should get close to is Scarlet Carelina. Do you know what kind of family the Carelina family is?”

Jane hesitated.

The Carelina family had a history completely opposite to that of the Whitney family.

When the Whitney family was ruined 7 years ago, the Carelina family rose under the queen’s protection.

The Carelina family was recognized for their merit in capturing over a hundred members of the Rose Faction and received the title of count, and some of the Whitney family’s assets also became theirs. This included the Whitney family’s mansion in the capital.

“If you don’t want to bury your family’s filth in the Hastings, you need to do better. Understand? Get close to Miss Scarlet and mingle with her often. If possible, together with the Duke.”

Jane, who had been quietly listening to Mrs. Themis, suddenly became puzzled.

“I understand why I should be friendly with her. It’s to prove that I have no connection to the Rose Faction, right? But why should I meet with the Duke as well?”

Cain was a busy man with public duties. She didn’t want to waste his time on unimportant matters.

Jane thought hard but could find no reason for Cain to be involved in a meeting between women.

So she was asking if there was perhaps a reason she didn’t know.

Mrs. Themis smirked.

She approached Jane, pretending to correct her posture.

She grabbed Jane’s shoulders and checked Mary’s position. Though Mary was glaring, she was far enough away that the conversation wouldn’t be heard if spoken in whispers.

“Jane, do you think you’ll be the Duchess forever? You’re just temporary. You need to prepare for what comes next. If you truly are a person who knows gratitude, that is.”

The next after her, for instance, the next Duchess after Jane and Cain separate.

Mrs. Themis was thinking of putting Scarlet in that position.

But is this a thought that an etiquette teacher should have?

‘Could it be Cain’s wish?’

A subtle crack appeared on Jane’s face. Seeing this, Mrs. Themis’s lips curved in satisfaction.

* * *

Cain faced the wide open window, feeling the breeze. As always, he held a cigar between his fingers.

On the windowsill was a glass filled with an amber liquid, and on the nearby desk were documents Nathan had brought up.

They were documents about Mrs. Themis.

They contained quite detailed information about the financial state of the Themis viscounty, the relationship between Mrs. Themis and Mrs. Burnett, and even about the business that Viscount Themis had recently ruined.

Cain’s eyebrows twitched subtly.