NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 56
As I rolled the candy on my tongue, the sweet flavor spread through my mouth, and my entire body felt reenergized.
Lilliana greeted me kindly.
“Thank you for your concern, Elliot.”
“N-no big deal.”
Elliot turned his head, pretending to be indifferent, but he couldn’t stop the tips of his ears from turning bright red.
“Thank you too, Mother.”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yes. You gave Elliot some advice, didn’t you?”
Lilliana’s mint-green eyes, filled with a smile, gazed up at her.
Lilliana looked so lovely that Anriche almost covered her mouth with both hands to hold back a squeal.
Ugh, so cute!
No, I must maintain my composure in front of the children.
Barely managing to suppress her excitement in front of the kids, she motioned to Jane.
“Jane.”
“Yes, madam?”
“Take the children inside. Help Lilliana with her bath, and prepare some snacks for them.”
“Of course.”
Jane nodded in acknowledgment.
Lilliana’s eyes widened in surprise, as if she had expected Anriche to go back with them.
“Huh? What about you, Mother?”
“Well, I have something to discuss with the knights for a moment. You go on ahead.”
“O-okay…”
Lilliana’s face turned a little crestfallen the moment she realized Anriche wouldn’t be coming with them.
“Come on, Lilliana.”
“But, Mother…”
As Lilliana hesitated, Anriche gave her a short nod.
“I’ll catch up soon, so go ahead.”
“Our mom isn’t going anywhere, so hurry up,” Elliot said, narrowing his eyes and pulling Lilliana by the hand.
“O-okay.”
Unable to fully suppress her disappointment, Lilliana kept glancing back as she walked away.
Watching the two children, Anriche turned her attention to the knights.
“Hello.”
“M-Madam?”
“What brings you to us?”
The knights, who had been resting in their seats, jumped up in surprise.
‘Come to think of it, the original Anriche never interacted with the knights, did she…’
Anriche kept a calm smile on her face, but inside, she was sweating nervously.
Valois was the empire’s most prestigious knight family, yet the mistress of that family had never properly spoken to the knights before.
How indifferent to her household must the original Anriche have been?
“I wanted to ask you something.”
At her cautious voice, the knights exchanged glances.
There had been rumors floating around that the madam of the house had changed recently, but to the knights, that was like a distant tale.
After all, to the knights, the “madam of the house” was someone who…
‘Why should I listen to your concerns when you have a steward for that?’
Three years ago, during the first and last banquet where all the household staff had attended.
When the knights approached the madam to express their concerns, Anriche had furrowed her brow and coldly replied.
‘I despise rough and sweaty knights.’
Anriche had drawn a firm line.
Since that day, there had never been another conversation between her and the knights.
In other words, in the knights’ minds, Anriche’s image had been frozen since that day three years ago.
But now, that arrogant madam was approaching them first to talk?
“Please, feel free to ask.”
“Well, I’ve noticed that Lilliana has been training hard lately.”
Anriche began, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at the knights.
“So, I wanted to ask, how do you think Lilliana’s skills are coming along?”
The unexpected question made the knights’ eyes widen in surprise.
‘What’s going on here?’
‘The madam is asking us about Lady Lilliana?’
‘Has she always been this attentive?’
No wonder, since the Anriche in front of them now truly resembled a concerned parent.
It was completely different from how she had been with Elliot.
Although they had heard that the madam had changed, they hadn’t expected her to show such concern for her children…
“Uhm, knights?”
Anriche faced the silent knights, her expression one of confusion.
‘Oh no.’
Only then did the knights snap back to attention.
A knight cleared his throat and spoke.
“U-uh, Lady Lilliana truly has great talent.”
It was the knight who had greeted Lilliana earlier.
“There’s probably no one as talented as her in the Imperial Academy’s Swordsmanship Department.”
“Oh my, even in the Imperial Academy’s Swordsmanship Department?”
Anriche covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes widening in surprise.
She knew Lilliana was exceptional, but she hadn’t realized just how exceptional!
The Imperial Academy.
It was a school that admitted only the most outstanding students from across the country, selecting the best of the best.
Especially since more than half of the royal knights were recruited from the academy’s Swordsmanship Department, it was a dream institution for those aspiring to become royal knights.
Feeling greatly encouraged, Anriche asked again.
“Is there any aspect I should pay more attention to for Lilliana’s training?”
“Hmm… Ah!”
A knight let out a small exclamation, as if he had thought of something.
Anriche’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“Please feel free to share anything!”
“The most important resource Lilliana needs right now is a peer competitor.”
“A peer competitor?”
“Yes, having a rival of similar age can greatly motivate her to improve.”
That made sense.
For a child like Lilliana, having a peer competitor would likely be the most stimulating presence.
Lilliana had a surprisingly strong competitive spirit, after all.
The knight trailed off.
“It would be great if she could observe swordsmanship once or twice a week…”
“What if we send her to observe the Swordsmanship Department at the Imperial Academy?”
The knight’s eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected suggestion.
“Observe the Swordsmanship Department?”
“Yes.”
Anriche nodded enthusiastically.
“If we get the headmaster’s permission, wouldn’t it be possible for external students to observe the classes?”
However, the knight shook his head, looking troubled.
“That might be a bit difficult.”
“Difficult? Why’s that?”
“Since the Swordsmanship Department mainly consists of boys…”
“What does that have to do with it?”
Anriche couldn’t hide her confusion.
What did the fact that it was mostly boys have to do with Lilliana observing?
The knight carefully added an explanation.
“After all, the Swordsmanship Department is the most conservative place in the academy…”
“Ah.”
Only then did Anriche understand what the knight was trying to say.
“So you’re saying it’s difficult for Lilliana to observe because she’s a girl?”
“Yes, if we’re being technical, that’s the case.”
“…”
Anriche furrowed her brow involuntarily.
It wasn’t a valid reason; it was simply because Lilliana was a girl that she couldn’t observe?
After a moment, she twisted her lips into a smile.
“Well, if it’s not possible, we’ll make it happen.”
Now that they said it couldn’t be done, she wanted to push even harder!
With a fierce smile, Anriche looked at the knights, who gazed back at her in bewilderment.
“…Madam?”
“Of course, I should ask Lilliana for her opinion first.”
Having finished her statement, Anriche expressed her gratitude to the knights in a gentle voice.
“Thank you so much for sharing your valuable opinions.”
Oh my, did the madam just say thank you herself…?
The knights found themselves stunned, as if they were facing an unsolvable mystery.
They quickly shook their heads.
“No, madam.”
“Oh, and.”
As Anriche was about to turn away, she awkwardly spoke to the knights.
“I’m sorry for my behavior before.”
“…Pardon?”
“Three years ago, when I acted rudely toward you?”
Technically, it was the original Anriche who had behaved that way, but…
‘Since I’m in this body now, it’s best to sort out my feelings properly to avoid future complications.’
Moreover, it would be too painful for her conscience to simply brush it aside.
Taking a step forward, Anriche spoke seriously.
“As the mistress of Valois, it is my duty to listen to and resolve the difficulties faced by the knights and servants.”
“…”
“…”
“Therefore, I apologize for neglecting that responsibility until now.”
The knights could hardly believe their ears. Not only was she expressing her gratitude, but now the madam was personally apologizing to them?
They doubted their own hearing.
Anriche bowed politely, confirming that their hearing was indeed normal.
“I assure you, it won’t happen again.”
“Madam!”
“Please, there’s no need for such formalities!”
“Don’t do that!”
The difference between the cruel madam they had known and the one before them now was so vast that the knights found themselves flustered and confused.
Meanwhile, Anriche felt a sense of relief deep within her.