As expected, Lobelia had a talent for teaching.
Within ten minutes of starting class, she quickly caught Bianca's attention.
“You did very well this time, Princess. It is clearly evident that you have studied diligently.”
Thanks to this, time passed easily and before she knew it, there was less than half of her first class left.
The fact that the two became friendly with each other easily in the original work may have been due to Lobelia's talent, but it may also have been due to Bianca's circumstances at the time.
In the original, Bianca met Lobelia in a very timid state after experiencing the Grand Duke couple's divorce and Rebecca's death in succession.
That's why Bianca gave her heart all the more to the kind Lobelia and hoped more than anyone else that she would become her new family.
‘Yes, it was like that in the original...'
Suddenly feeling sad, I slowly shook my head.
And in the distance, I looked again at Bianca and Lobelia, who were sitting across from me at the desk in the study.
Perhaps it was because of their mood, but the atmosphere between the two seemed even more cordial.
“It’s a bit weird to say this, but it’s easier to understand than the classes from my previous tutor, Madame Hans. And it’s much, much more fun!”
“It can’t be. I am not a professional teacher... I actually thought I was grateful to the Princess for being so understanding despite my poor speaking skills.”
“Hey, no...”
Bianca's round eyes sparkled with joy.
She seemed very happy to hear the compliment.
Normally, Bianca would have been so cute that she wouldn't have known what to do.
But why?
Within ten minutes of starting class, she quickly caught Bianca's attention.
“You did very well this time, Princess. It is clearly evident that you have studied diligently.”
Thanks to this, time passed easily and before she knew it, there was less than half of her first class left.
The fact that the two became friendly with each other easily in the original work may have been due to Lobelia's talent, but it may also have been due to Bianca's circumstances at the time.
In the original, Bianca met Lobelia in a very timid state after experiencing the Grand Duke couple's divorce and Rebecca's death in succession.
That's why Bianca gave her heart all the more to the kind Lobelia and hoped more than anyone else that she would become her new family.
‘Yes, it was like that in the original...'
Suddenly feeling sad, I slowly shook my head.
And in the distance, I looked again at Bianca and Lobelia, who were sitting across from me at the desk in the study.
Perhaps it was because of their mood, but the atmosphere between the two seemed even more cordial.
“It’s a bit weird to say this, but it’s easier to understand than the classes from my previous tutor, Madame Hans. And it’s much, much more fun!”
“It can’t be. I am not a professional teacher... I actually thought I was grateful to the Princess for being so understanding despite my poor speaking skills.”
“Hey, no...”
Bianca's round eyes sparkled with joy.
She seemed very happy to hear the compliment.
Normally, Bianca would have been so cute that she wouldn't have known what to do.
But why?
I was looking at Bianca, who was smiling brightly at Lobelia...
'What is this feeling, like my daughter, whom I gave birth to and raised with my heart, was taken away by a new mother who suddenly appeared?'
It was at that time when I kept taking deep breaths to cool down my heated chest.
“Your Highness!”
When I raised my head at her happy call, I saw Bianca sitting at her desk waving her dainty hand at me.
“Your Highness, did you just hear that?”
Bianca's eyes sparkle with anticipation as she asks that question.
'What is this feeling, like my daughter, whom I gave birth to and raised with my heart, was taken away by a new mother who suddenly appeared?'
It was at that time when I kept taking deep breaths to cool down my heated chest.
“Your Highness!”
When I raised my head at her happy call, I saw Bianca sitting at her desk waving her dainty hand at me.
“Your Highness, did you just hear that?”
Bianca's eyes sparkle with anticipation as she asks that question.
Soon the child's plump cheeks perked up, and her cheeks became as red as a ripe peach.
Seeing that baby's angel-like appearance, my heart melted like ice cream, as if I had never been so jealous.
'Ugh, as expected, Bianca is so cute!'
Originally, that child's angelic smile was only for Lobelia.
But she smiles at me a lot more now, right?
'Okay, that's enough, okay!'
It was around this time that I felt proud without knowing why.
The maid came inside and started talking gibberish.
“Oh, Princess, Your Highness! Now, His Highness the Grand Duke...!”
But those words did not last until the end.
It was because of Cedric who suddenly burst into the study.
"Uh... Your Highness?”
“Cedric!”
Bianca and I widened our eyes at Cedric's sudden appearance and exchanged glances.
Even Lobelia, who had been calm the whole time, was so shocked that she dropped her pen.
Of course, it was familiar that a sense of intimidation would be felt around him upon his appearance.
But this time, for some reason, the atmosphere was a little different from usual.
Maybe that had something to do with why Cedric's face was slightly flushed.
Before long, a light breath escaped his lips as he discovered me.
“Rebecca.”
Although it was only for a short moment, it was an attractive bass sound that made you forget the attention of those around you.
Eventually, his shoe soles moved slowly, gradually narrowing the distance between him and me.
When he finally stood in front of me, I slowly got up from the sofa.
“Cedric, how are you here...?”
In response to my puzzled question, Cedric blinked as if belatedly becoming aware of his surroundings.
“...Oh, I thought I’d attend Bianca’s class too.”
As always, it was a firm yet gentle tone, typical of Cedric.
“You’re here too.”
Looking at me, who still had a puzzled expression, Cedric let out a quick laugh.
Then he came closer to me and leaned down.
It was at that time that his lips got so close that they almost touched my ear.
“High Priest Diat has finally left.”
When I looked up at Cedric with an expression of disbelief, he made eye contact from close and nodded his head leisurely.
A drowsy voice rang low again from nearby.
“Now that I feel like I can see you freely, I can’t stay still.”
Only then did I remember Cedric, who had been looking for me with a flushed face a little while ago.
I glanced at him playfully, making a deflated sound, and he smiled sheepishly as if he thought it was funny.
'Anyway, there are times when he's cute.'
I was thinking that in my heart when I turned my head.
'Ah. There was also lobelia, indeed.'
Fresh green eyes made immediate eye contact.
It seems that her eyes were fixed on the two of us the whole time.
It was at this moment that Lobelia, who belatedly realized that our eyes had met, hurriedly lowered her head.
“Ugh...!”
She suddenly grabbed her head and let out a pained moan.
“Lobelia, what’s wrong?”
When I asked, she barely raised her head and her face was as pale as ever.
“I get this severe headache once in a while. It's okay, it's no big deal..."
“It’s okay. Stop class right now and go to your room.”
“I’ll be fine soon. It’s a chronic thing, so I’m used to it.”
"But...'
“It’s true, Your Highness.”
It was a gentle but firm voice.
She took a couple of deep breaths and looked at me.
“Look at this. My complexion is already looking pretty good, right?”
It was as she e said.
Lobelia's face, whose color had suddenly become bright again, could hardly be attributed to the person who had complained of pain just a moment ago.
“I don’t want my first lesson with the Princess to end like this. This class will allow you to check my usefulness in the Twins Grand Castle... It’s a time that means so much to me.”
"Lobelia.. .”
“I’m really fine now. His Highness the Grand Duke is also here, so please don't worry about me. You two can have some tea together in the living room and wait for a moment. The class will end soon.”
“...”
"Yes? Your Highness?”
I looked at Bianca with worried eyes.
However, Lobelia's will was so stubborn that I had no choice but to retreat in the end.
“... Yes, Lobelia. We’ll just go out now, so please take care of Bianca.”
Cedric and I went straight to the drawing-room next to the Princess’s study.
“It’s okay for everyone to leave.”
As soon as his order was given, the workers lined up and left the place.
Finally, after everyone had left and the door was closed, I slowly opened my mouth.
“Cedric, are you sure Lobelia is really okay...”
At once, I felt a firm pressure behind my back.
One after another, hot breath blew out of my ear.
“I missed you, Rebecca.”
His hand holding my arm gained strength little by little.
“I wanted to touch you, I missed you.”
His voice was warm and brilliant like sunlight breaking on the sand.
As I slowly turned my body to look directly at him, a smile appeared at the tip of those beautiful lips.
“...Me too."
Of course, the questions I wanted to ask Cedric were still valid.
It was mostly about those few days away from the North.
But at that moment when I heard Cedric confess that he missed me, it felt like it would be a good thing.
“I missed you so much too.”
Hearing my soft words, Cedric gently cupped my cheek with both hands.
It was around this time that our lips repeatedly touched and separated a couple of times.
“I found a mansion to move to near the foundation.”
Cedric's eyes sank sadly at my words.
“... I know."
Of course, it was a happy thing that High Priest Diat left the North, but it could also be sad news.
It also means that the date of our divorce announcement is getting closer.
“Are you going to come often?”
Cedric's face hardened in response to my calm question and he didn't answer for a while.
He will probably realize that I will be leaving here in a few days.
The blue eyes that suddenly became empty with a sense of futility were proof of this.
“What, you’re not coming?”
When I asked playfully, a sound of air coming out of Cedric's lips came out.
"No way. If I could, I would like to live there with you.”
He clearly had a smile on his face when he answered that way, but he looked somewhat sad.
I was also sad that I would have to leave Cedric's side in a few days.
However, I had no intention of spending the precious time I had left in sadness, so I pretended to speak calmly.
“You, Bianca, and me. There isn't much time left for the three of us to be called a family. I want to make good memories for Bianca during that time... Do you have any good ideas?”
Cedric simply blinked his eyes calmly.
Then, he gently accepted my intention to change the topic of conversation.
"Well. I think it would be best to ask Bianca directly.”
“Well, I guess so...”
I nodded slowly and then lost in thought.
'It would be better to tell Bianca directly about our divorce. When Bianca finds out about that, what kind of expression will she make? If she has any strange feelings of guilt about whether we're getting divorced because of her...'
It was a time when I was furrowing my brow without realizing it due to the constant worry.
I felt a hand gently brushing my hair in my ear.
When I suddenly came to my senses and raised my head, I immediately made eye contact with the blue eyes that were looking down at me.
He smiled with the corner of his lips curled up and then kissed me between the eyes.
“Rebecca, why are you making that face?”
“Oh, that’s...”
His lips, which had slowly moved down to the bridge of my nose, cheeks, and lips, were finally about to dig into the nape of my neck.
“Your Highness the Grand Duke, the Princess is entering.”
The voice of the doorkeeper was heard from outside the door.
And soon Bianca came inside, smiling brightly.
I, who was still being held by Cedric, tried to shake him off and smiled at Bianca.
“A, are you done already? How was class, Bianca?”
When I went up to her and picked her up, Bianca naturally wrapped her arms around my neck.
Then she looked at me and Cedric alternately with a playful face.
“I had fun. What about you two? You two too... Did you enjoy it?”
It was a subtle question, half teasing and genuinely curious.
“Our Bianca, you’re getting more and more mischievous...”
When I scolded her slightly, Bianca let out a sheepish laugh.
“The Grand Duke and I were just talking about Bianca.”
“What about me..?”
“I was wondering if there was something Bianca wanted to do just with the three of us.”
"...Just between us?”
Bianca's eyes slowly opened wide.
“Yes, if there was such a wish, me and His Highness decided to grant it. Of course, if you don’t have it, you don’t have to say it..."
“Oh, it can’t be! There is, there is!”
Bianca hugged my neck tightly as if she was afraid that her chance to go would disappear.
Then she whispered in my ear in a voice like a baby angel.
“Hmm, what I wanted to do with my family...”
Seeing that baby's angel-like appearance, my heart melted like ice cream, as if I had never been so jealous.
'Ugh, as expected, Bianca is so cute!'
Originally, that child's angelic smile was only for Lobelia.
But she smiles at me a lot more now, right?
'Okay, that's enough, okay!'
It was around this time that I felt proud without knowing why.
The maid came inside and started talking gibberish.
“Oh, Princess, Your Highness! Now, His Highness the Grand Duke...!”
But those words did not last until the end.
It was because of Cedric who suddenly burst into the study.
"Uh... Your Highness?”
“Cedric!”
Bianca and I widened our eyes at Cedric's sudden appearance and exchanged glances.
Even Lobelia, who had been calm the whole time, was so shocked that she dropped her pen.
Of course, it was familiar that a sense of intimidation would be felt around him upon his appearance.
But this time, for some reason, the atmosphere was a little different from usual.
Maybe that had something to do with why Cedric's face was slightly flushed.
Before long, a light breath escaped his lips as he discovered me.
“Rebecca.”
Although it was only for a short moment, it was an attractive bass sound that made you forget the attention of those around you.
Eventually, his shoe soles moved slowly, gradually narrowing the distance between him and me.
When he finally stood in front of me, I slowly got up from the sofa.
“Cedric, how are you here...?”
In response to my puzzled question, Cedric blinked as if belatedly becoming aware of his surroundings.
“...Oh, I thought I’d attend Bianca’s class too.”
As always, it was a firm yet gentle tone, typical of Cedric.
“You’re here too.”
Looking at me, who still had a puzzled expression, Cedric let out a quick laugh.
Then he came closer to me and leaned down.
It was at that time that his lips got so close that they almost touched my ear.
“High Priest Diat has finally left.”
When I looked up at Cedric with an expression of disbelief, he made eye contact from close and nodded his head leisurely.
A drowsy voice rang low again from nearby.
“Now that I feel like I can see you freely, I can’t stay still.”
Only then did I remember Cedric, who had been looking for me with a flushed face a little while ago.
I glanced at him playfully, making a deflated sound, and he smiled sheepishly as if he thought it was funny.
'Anyway, there are times when he's cute.'
I was thinking that in my heart when I turned my head.
'Ah. There was also lobelia, indeed.'
Fresh green eyes made immediate eye contact.
It seems that her eyes were fixed on the two of us the whole time.
It was at this moment that Lobelia, who belatedly realized that our eyes had met, hurriedly lowered her head.
“Ugh...!”
She suddenly grabbed her head and let out a pained moan.
“Lobelia, what’s wrong?”
When I asked, she barely raised her head and her face was as pale as ever.
“I get this severe headache once in a while. It's okay, it's no big deal..."
“It’s okay. Stop class right now and go to your room.”
“I’ll be fine soon. It’s a chronic thing, so I’m used to it.”
"But...'
“It’s true, Your Highness.”
It was a gentle but firm voice.
She took a couple of deep breaths and looked at me.
“Look at this. My complexion is already looking pretty good, right?”
It was as she e said.
Lobelia's face, whose color had suddenly become bright again, could hardly be attributed to the person who had complained of pain just a moment ago.
“I don’t want my first lesson with the Princess to end like this. This class will allow you to check my usefulness in the Twins Grand Castle... It’s a time that means so much to me.”
"Lobelia.. .”
“I’m really fine now. His Highness the Grand Duke is also here, so please don't worry about me. You two can have some tea together in the living room and wait for a moment. The class will end soon.”
“...”
"Yes? Your Highness?”
I looked at Bianca with worried eyes.
However, Lobelia's will was so stubborn that I had no choice but to retreat in the end.
“... Yes, Lobelia. We’ll just go out now, so please take care of Bianca.”
***
Cedric and I went straight to the drawing-room next to the Princess’s study.
“It’s okay for everyone to leave.”
As soon as his order was given, the workers lined up and left the place.
Finally, after everyone had left and the door was closed, I slowly opened my mouth.
“Cedric, are you sure Lobelia is really okay...”
At once, I felt a firm pressure behind my back.
One after another, hot breath blew out of my ear.
“I missed you, Rebecca.”
His hand holding my arm gained strength little by little.
“I wanted to touch you, I missed you.”
His voice was warm and brilliant like sunlight breaking on the sand.
As I slowly turned my body to look directly at him, a smile appeared at the tip of those beautiful lips.
“...Me too."
Of course, the questions I wanted to ask Cedric were still valid.
It was mostly about those few days away from the North.
But at that moment when I heard Cedric confess that he missed me, it felt like it would be a good thing.
“I missed you so much too.”
Hearing my soft words, Cedric gently cupped my cheek with both hands.
It was around this time that our lips repeatedly touched and separated a couple of times.
“I found a mansion to move to near the foundation.”
Cedric's eyes sank sadly at my words.
“... I know."
Of course, it was a happy thing that High Priest Diat left the North, but it could also be sad news.
It also means that the date of our divorce announcement is getting closer.
“Are you going to come often?”
Cedric's face hardened in response to my calm question and he didn't answer for a while.
He will probably realize that I will be leaving here in a few days.
The blue eyes that suddenly became empty with a sense of futility were proof of this.
“What, you’re not coming?”
When I asked playfully, a sound of air coming out of Cedric's lips came out.
"No way. If I could, I would like to live there with you.”
He clearly had a smile on his face when he answered that way, but he looked somewhat sad.
I was also sad that I would have to leave Cedric's side in a few days.
However, I had no intention of spending the precious time I had left in sadness, so I pretended to speak calmly.
“You, Bianca, and me. There isn't much time left for the three of us to be called a family. I want to make good memories for Bianca during that time... Do you have any good ideas?”
Cedric simply blinked his eyes calmly.
Then, he gently accepted my intention to change the topic of conversation.
"Well. I think it would be best to ask Bianca directly.”
“Well, I guess so...”
I nodded slowly and then lost in thought.
'It would be better to tell Bianca directly about our divorce. When Bianca finds out about that, what kind of expression will she make? If she has any strange feelings of guilt about whether we're getting divorced because of her...'
It was a time when I was furrowing my brow without realizing it due to the constant worry.
I felt a hand gently brushing my hair in my ear.
When I suddenly came to my senses and raised my head, I immediately made eye contact with the blue eyes that were looking down at me.
He smiled with the corner of his lips curled up and then kissed me between the eyes.
“Rebecca, why are you making that face?”
“Oh, that’s...”
His lips, which had slowly moved down to the bridge of my nose, cheeks, and lips, were finally about to dig into the nape of my neck.
“Your Highness the Grand Duke, the Princess is entering.”
The voice of the doorkeeper was heard from outside the door.
And soon Bianca came inside, smiling brightly.
I, who was still being held by Cedric, tried to shake him off and smiled at Bianca.
“A, are you done already? How was class, Bianca?”
When I went up to her and picked her up, Bianca naturally wrapped her arms around my neck.
Then she looked at me and Cedric alternately with a playful face.
“I had fun. What about you two? You two too... Did you enjoy it?”
It was a subtle question, half teasing and genuinely curious.
“Our Bianca, you’re getting more and more mischievous...”
When I scolded her slightly, Bianca let out a sheepish laugh.
“The Grand Duke and I were just talking about Bianca.”
“What about me..?”
“I was wondering if there was something Bianca wanted to do just with the three of us.”
"...Just between us?”
Bianca's eyes slowly opened wide.
“Yes, if there was such a wish, me and His Highness decided to grant it. Of course, if you don’t have it, you don’t have to say it..."
“Oh, it can’t be! There is, there is!”
Bianca hugged my neck tightly as if she was afraid that her chance to go would disappear.
Then she whispered in my ear in a voice like a baby angel.
“Hmm, what I wanted to do with my family...”
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