TNBTW | Episode 29

“I really love children. You have no idea how happy I was to spend time with them.”

Edith continued speaking without paying any mind to the reactions around her. She stood tall, her confidence shielding her from the judgmental gazes cast her way.

After all, why should being a governess ever be something to be ashamed of? No matter how people looked at her, she felt no embarrassment about the work she had done.

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But mere words alone wouldn’t quell this crowd. With resolve, Edith decided to put on a little performance.

“Thanks to that, I even got to meet Skyle.”

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She lightly touched her cheek, feigning shyness, and the gazes directed at her shifted noticeably.

“Skyle, as in the Duke of Devion…?”

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“Oh, I’ve just grown accustomed to addressing him casually. We first met when I stayed at the Viscount of Brossia’s estate. If I’d remained in Brussels the entire time, that meeting would never have happened.”

Of course, Edith had never met Skyle in the past. This was an outright lie.

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‘It’s something the Duke and I agreed upon, so it’s fine!’

What mattered most was how the conversation took an entirely different turn. Some were astonished, while others frowned in disapproval, but with the Duke’s name brought into the topic, none dared to challenge her so easily.

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‘Using Skyle as a shield really works wonders!’

A wife as a screen, a husband as a shield.

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Gazing at the young ladies rendered speechless before her, Edith giggled inwardly, marveling at what an effective combination it was.

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***

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The party progressed without much trouble. The veiled insults and roundabout speech—trademark tactics of the social scene—did not faze Edith in the slightest. Trying to humiliate her only proved futile, as she refused to feel the slightest shame, leaving her would-be detractors deflated and left to chatter among themselves.

If her status were low enough for them to openly mock her, it might have been a different story. But regardless of her inexperience, a Duchess was still a Duchess. She wasn’t someone they could attack recklessly.

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Freed from the interest of others, Edith indulged herself in a personal feast of sweet desserts and milk tea. But as she glanced toward Vivianne, she suddenly fell into thought.

‘Coffee….’

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A small teacup before Vivian contained a dark liquid. It was undoubtedly coffee.

Here, people prided themselves on enjoying coffee in its pure, unsweetened form. Even so, the bitterness was intense, far from a taste a child would typically enjoy.

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‘She’s already had half of it.’

There were certainly those who genuinely enjoyed coffee, but more often than not, it was a symbol of sophistication, a drink consumed for appearances.

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As Edith pondered, ‘Does Vivianne really like coffee that much?’, something caught her attention.

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As the status window updated, it revealed Vivianne’s current state. Edith caught a glimpse of Vivianne’s expression—it was far from good. Her stress levels were nearing their limit, and it was evident that both her body and mind were utterly exhausted.

“Lady Valesia, where are you headed?”

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“I’m going to see my mother. She’s alone, so I thought I’d visit her for a while.”

Vivianne rose from her seat and responded with a faint smile before leaving the hall. Though her posture was impeccable as she walked away, there was an unmistakable weariness about her.

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Not long after, Edith, realizing she no longer had a reason to remain, stood as well. This time, no one questioned her actions.

‘A stroll through the garden should be fine.’

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With the young lady gone, no one would take issue if she left first. Still, as a precaution, Edith decided to wander the garden as an excuse. She entered the lushly overgrown greenery, where bushes were artfully arranged.

‘Noble children often undergo strict training, but Vivianne’s case is extreme.’

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Edith recalled the unstable statistics of Vivianne’s condition displayed earlier. Despite the chaos inside her, Vivianne somehow maintained an outward air of composure—it was almost miraculous.

‘If she breaks under pressure, it’ll be devastating.’

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More concerning than Vivianne’s inexplicably low favorability score was her fragile state. It pained Edith to think that Vivianne seemed to have no adults she could truly lean on.

“…Hmm, where am I?”

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Lost in thought, Edith let her feet carry her aimlessly, only to find herself startled by the seemingly endless path ahead. No matter how much she turned her head, all she saw were tall hedges surrounding her.

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‘You’ll show us the maze garden later, right? I heard it’s been recently renovated!’

‘It’s just a light redesign to keep my mother entertained. I’ll invite everyone when the opportunity arises.’

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Ah, the maze garden! Edith belatedly recalled the conversation between the young ladies. This must be the garden Vivianne personally managed for her mother’s sake.

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Given the vastness of the Valesia ducal estate, with its countless gardens, it hadn’t crossed Edith’s mind before. But this, undoubtedly, was the place.

‘If I keep my hand on the wall and retrace my steps, I should be able to find my way back.’

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Though an unexpected maze experience had caught her off guard, at least she knew how to escape. Letting out a small sigh of relief, Edith reached out to touch the hedge.

“Woof!”

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The sudden sound of a dog barking startled her. She whipped around to find the source, her eyes widening in surprise.

“Woof! Woof!”

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There, wagging its tail enthusiastically, was a small, snow-white puppy.

“…Oh.”

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The fluffy dog, strikingly similar to a Pomeranian, left Edith momentarily dumbfounded. Still, she mustered a tentative greeting.

“Hello?”

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“Woof!”

Not daring to approach, she observed the puppy from a distance. After tilting its head curiously at her, the puppy suddenly flipped over, exposing its belly in a clear plea for attention.

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‘I’ve always taught children not to pet unfamiliar animals recklessly…’

Edith tried to hold onto her principles, but the sight of the puppy’s wagging tail was too tempting. Before she realized it, her hand was already gently stroking its fur.

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‘It’s an irresistible level of cuteness!’

As she softly ran her fingers through the fur on its chest, the puppy seemed utterly content, relaxing entirely into the grass. 

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The sight of it sprawled out so comfortably made Edith’s heart ache with affection.

‘A collar?’

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While continuing to pet the puppy, Edith noticed a leather strap lying nearby. The collar, however, seemed far too loose for such a small dog—it was no wonder the puppy had slipped out of it.

The collar’s fine craftsmanship suggested it belonged to someone of wealth. Edith inspected it closely, noting the luxurious quality of the leather.

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‘An item like this wouldn’t be easy for a servant to acquire.’

Yet that only made the situation more puzzling. If someone in the Valesia estate owned this dog, why would it be left outside like this?

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In this world, dogs—especially ones as small and adorable as this—were typically kept indoors as companions for noble children or ladies of high standing.

‘Could it be lost?’

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It wasn’t uncommon for dogs to wander off unexpectedly. Missing pet posters often cited such reasons. Given that this puppy had ended up in the maze garden, it seemed plausible.

“Come on, little one. I’ll help you find your owner.”

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Edith gently picked up the puppy, intending to return it to its owner. The dog, sensing no ill intent, remained calm in her arms.

“Woof!”

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But just moments after settling into her embrace, the puppy suddenly began barking again. It wagged its tail furiously, letting out excited whines.

“What’s wrong all of a sudden—”

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“Becky!”

A familiar yet unfamiliar voice called out from beyond the hedges, cutting her off mid-sentence. Edith froze, trying to place the sound. It was a voice she felt she had heard somewhere before, yet it also seemed entirely new.

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Her confusion only deepened when the speaker finally emerged from around the corner—it was none other than Vivianne.

The moment their eyes met, Vivianne froze, her gaze locked on Edith.

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“Woof! Woof! Woof!”

Upon seeing Vivianne, the puppy barked even louder, its wagging tail betraying uncontrollable joy.

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So, the young lady is the owner. Edith, who had also been momentarily stunned, quickly pieced together the situation. The puppy’s reaction left no doubt.

“Lady Valesia, this puppy… belongs to you?”

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