Lilian of Turin

3. The Great Feudal Lord Hemenlinna

Some time has passed since then.

Cedric said he would look for an etiquette teacher, but there has been no news so far.

Lilian carefully guessed.

‘Maybe he’s having trouble choosing.’

After verifying the profile and identity of a person who could be a teacher, invite them for an interview.

If unlucky, there might not be a suitable teacher for half a year.

Besides, Cedric was already prudent, but since it’s Lily’s business, it’s clear that he’s being more picky than usual.

‘I have no choice but to wait.’

From then on, Lilian began to find ways to pass the overflowing time.

Her body is weak, so it’s impossible to do outdoor activities for a long time. Therefore, even if it was a pastime, most of it had to be limited to indoor activities.

What Lilian has been working on lately…

“Yes, Lady. That’s good enough.”

“It’s harder than I thought.”

Making handcrafted products!

The item was a decorative knot that was commonly given as a gift in the Empire.

Lilian was trying to match the symmetry of the already completed knot decoration.

However, no matter how she touched it, she couldn’t get rid of the slightly clumsy tee.

‘It’s because I can’t move my hands as delicately as when I was an adult.’

She wanted to make this a little more delicate and beautiful.

“I think it’s okay to stop, Miss.”

Mrs. Hayworth hinted.

“It’s your first time learning how to decorate a knot. You’ve done that much work in three days, so you’re doing really well.”

“However…”

“The Lord will be really satisfied with that.”

Holding the knot that didn’t go her way no matter what, Lilian sighed.

“That’s because brother will accept anything I offer him.”

“Ho-ho, that’s true.”

Mrs. Hayworth couldn’t bear to refute it.

“Still, I’m not talking empty words about the lady’s skills.”

The ornamental knot was meant to be tied to the sword belt. It’s one of the most common gifts women gave to Imperial men going to war.

It’s an object to pray for victory and hope that they return alive. It has the meaning of putting the time of prayer into a knot.

Lily’s was a pretty gift even for a beginner.

“Right then, miss. Shall we sort this out? The etiquette teacher will be arriving in a little while.”

“Pardon?”

It was completely unexpected news.

“I thought it would take more time because my brother is meticulous…”

“Yes, I thought so too…”

“?”

Lilian tilted her head. it was because Mrs. Hayworth sounded unsure.

“Should we prepare first? We can’t make the teacher wait.”

‘Why are you changing the subject…?’

She was puzzled, but Lilian decided not to point it out. For she judged that the Madam wouldn’t do it with the intention of harming her.

She calmly sat in front of the mirror and let the others adjust her hair as instructed.

Sug sug, as her hair was being combed, Lilian wiggled her toes in anticipation.

It wasn’t that she never had the opportunity to take these classes. Lilian was a prospective Grand Duchess and had a lot to learn.

‘However…’

At the time, the nanny was very territorial towards the visiting teachers, so she was not properly educated.

Now that she thought about it, it was clear that the nanny didn’t want anyone else’s influence on Lily to grow.

‘I have to act like a scarecrow, so being smart would be a problem.’

As a result, Lilian learned little of the knowledge essential to governing domestic affairs as a Grand Duchess.

Because of that, she was eventually shunned by her husband’s vassals.

She had come a long way and had another opportunity to learn. Now that she had no hindrances, Lilian vowed that she would do her best to learn.

“Where are we going?”

“There’s a study room that Lord Cedric used to use when he was young, but it’s now been cleaned up.”

Before leaving her room, Lilian grabbed her finished knot. She intended to pass it on to Cedric if she ever met him on the way.

“What kind of teacher are they?”

“Well, what kind would you like?”

She noticed that Mrs. Hayworth had changed the subject again, but Lilian pretended not to notice and smiled, “Let me think.”

“There’s no kind I really want. But she must be a woman, right?”

Aristocratic ladies are usually educated by a woman. That’s common sense.

But the one waiting for Lilian in the study room Cedric used as a child…

“Nice to meet you, lady. I will be teaching the lady etiquette today.”

‘A man…’ Although he was an old man with gray hair, he was clearly a man of great stature.

“Oh, don’t be surprised.”

He was an old man with amber eyes wearing a monocle and looking fierce like a raptor, but when he smiled, his impression became surprisingly soft.

“I’m not the official teacher, but I’m here to ask for just one day with the honorable lady who will become a member of the Imperial family.”

‘The Imperial family.’ Judging from the fact that he knew about Lilian’s marriage, which was a top secret to the outside world, it seemed that this person was quite trusted by Cedric.

As if she wasn’t surprised, Lilian meekly bent her knees.

“My greetings are late. I’m happy to be taught by honorable sir for at least one day.”

“Please sit.”

Lilian quietly sat in the seat recommended.

Although she was uneducated and a mess, Lilian had memories of living as a Grand Duchess.

She was ignorant of domestic affairs.

However, she didn’t like to be humiliated so she learned how to sit, walk, talk, and so on. Even the nanny didn’t interfere with that.

The old man sat without saying anything and watched Lilian carefully as she sat down along with her posture.

“Indeed, the Marquis of Turin deserves to be proud.”

“It’s an overstatement.”

Without embarrassment, Lilian accepted the compliment with a calm smile.

“Ever since we got very close, my older brother has the habit of always treating me well no matter what I do.”

“Well, it seems like the bond between brother and sister is very deep.”

“My older brother cherishes me, and I can barely respond to his heart. It’s just to the level of what I’m capable of.”

“…”

There was silence for a moment. Lilian felt that the fierce old man’s expression had become strangely friendly.

“From what I heard, he said that the young lady is good at the tea ceremony from the East…”

“I’m embarrassed. Because it’s at the level of a hobby…”

“It’s a very unusual hobby. Might I ask what happened?”

Lilian plainly explained how she got to drink tea, or strictly speaking, how she came to make tea for Cedric.

The old man listened to the story with “umm”s and “I see”s, often exclaiming incomprehensibly.

“Then can I have a taste of that tea as well?”

It was a somewhat presumptuous request from a teacher for a day, but Lilian calmly nodded her head.

“As much as you like.”

The maid who received the instructions prepared the best teaware. Soon, hot water, clean teaware, and simple snacks were perfectly prepared.

“Hoh.”

The old man exclaimed. Seeing the kettle on the table was unfamiliar.

Lilian was already accustomed to the tea ceremony. She looked serious and calm as she carefully poured the water and waited.

‘He should be at an age where he stays indoors, but he doesn’t look it. He’s good at moving.’

Lilian asked after pouring a cup of strong tea.

“Would you like it sweet?”

“No, not so much.”

“If that’s the case…”

A cup of tea with a very pleasant aroma was placed in front of him.

The old man took a sip of the tea in anticipation, but…

“U-uhm.”

‘T-this.’ The old man’s expression stopped for the first time.

“You might find the taste unique.”

‘No…it’s not that the taste is unique…’ Amidst the strong scent, it was so bitter and astringent that it was distracting.

True, She’d tried it several times, but unfortunately, Lilian’s hopeless skills haven’t improved at all. She was still the only one who didn’t know how terrible the tea she brewed was.

“If you don’t like it…”

“No, no. It’s okay. I’m not used to it, but it’s not bad.”

It was a lie, of course.

‘In any case, didn’t the young child treat me wholeheartedly?’

The old man was quite heartless, but when he met Lilian’s eyes, which were gentle…

‘The word ‘unsavory’ is going back in. I can’t say it.’

For the crime of claiming to be an etiquette teacher, the old man took another sip of tea.

When he tried it again, it still tasted as strange as the first time. His hand naturally went to the freshly prepared refreshments.

‘I can’t stand it without tasting normal food.’

Snacks that he usually didn’t like were passed to him.

The old man began to devour one bite of the snack for every sip of tea. And…

‘…huh?’

…as soon as he took the caffeine and sugar in that order, he started to feel better and better.

‘Huh, that’s surprising.’

Looking at the empty cup and empty plate, the girl smiled.

“How was it?”

“Surprisingly fine. It was an honor to be served by the young lady.”

“No, the honor’s mine.”

Lily shook her head with a calm expression that didn’t suit her childlike face.

“It’s a great honor to be able to serve the Great Feudal Lord Hemenlinna, albeit rudely.”