WBWB | Chapter 33

Ana. 

Truthfully, he couldn’t think of any other reason to have dinner with the tutor every week.

* * *

‘Have dinner together every Friday to discuss Lady Ana’s education?’

I had been summoned unexpectedly and greeted with a strange request.

‘If that’s the reason, wouldn’t it be more efficient to have those dinners with Lady Ana herself?’

After learning that Lady Ana could now read and write, the Duke had completely entrusted her education to me, seemingly placing his full trust in my abilities. So why this sudden change of heart? Why did he want weekly reports on Lady Ana’s progress and discuss her education with me? 

What had changed?

‘Could it be…’

As I walked down the hallway, I thought,

‘Has a marriage prospect been found for Ana?’

Lady Ana still had traces of a village girl, but she was officially a daughter of the ducal house. Even though she was adopted, the Duke, very much alive and well, was her backing.

‘Some royal families arrange informal betrothals at birth…’

Although young, Lady Ana was certainly of marriageable age. If a marriage was imminent, especially to someone from another country, she might need intensive tutoring in that country’s language, history, and royal customs.

‘Who would be a suitable match for Lady Ana right now?’

I mentally listed the eligible noblemen who could potentially be Lady Ana’s fiancé. Given her status, even expanding the search to other countries, the pool of eligible suitors was limited. And none of the ones who came to mind appealed to me.

…Except for one.

‘Young Master Mael would be a good match for the young lady. The age difference is also appropriate.’

Except for my former student. But I remembered the Duke’s reluctance to marry into the royal family and shook my head. He didn’t seem to want an alliance with the royal family. Then who was Lady Ana’s intended betrothed?

Within the kingdom, perhaps the heir to the Duchy of Aquitaine, which shared a border with Skadi? 

If not within the kingdom, then perhaps one of the five princes of the rising power of Espart? 

Or someone from the Hohenzollern family? 

Surely not someone from the Kingdom of Boulogne, their sworn enemy?

‘In any case… even if a betrothed has been found, she won’t be leaving immediately. She’s still young.’

But as a mere tutor in exile, how could I possibly understand the intricacies of international politics? I might have to part with Lady Ana sooner than expected, just as I had with the Viscount’s daughter when she got married.

‘I see. I won’t be able to see Lady Ana again after she gets married, just like my other students…’

The thought of Lady Ana leaving suddenly made me feel melancholic. It wasn’t just the anxiety of potentially losing my position.

‘It will be very lonely without Lady Ana.’

Where would I place my affections if she was gone?

‘Then I…’

I unconsciously lifted my head and saw the sun setting outside the window.

‘…what will become of me?’

It was almost dinner time.

‘I won’t be able to stay in this mansion any longer, will I? Where does an exiled tutor go when she loses her position in the ducal household? Will the Duke of Skadi help me find another job? Can I expect such kindness if I’m no longer Lady Ana’s tutor?’

Until dinner, I was lost in thought, making a list of things Lady Ana had learned.

‘Will the Duke still treat me kindly? Now that I’m of no use to him?’

Lady Ana could now read even difficult books written in the language of Lances, and she knew the history of Lances and the related histories of other powerful nations. Although she still needed more details about the histories of other countries, it was enough to avoid embarrassment in conversations.

As for foreign languages, she could understand them and speak haltingly. If a betrothed had already been chosen, I was confident that with some practice before the marriage, she would become fluent, just as she had with the language of Lances.

‘Because Lady Ana is intelligent.’

But could Lady Ana adapt to court life? 

Thinking about that, I realized Lady Ana’s fatal weakness.

‘Dancing!’

I hadn’t taught Lady Ana how to dance. Not because I didn’t want to, but because I didn’t know how.

‘There are balls everywhere.’

If Lady Ana became the mistress of the ducal household or a royal court, she would eventually have to host social gatherings, and even if she wasn’t a skilled dancer, she needed to know the basics. Feeling a sudden sense of urgency, I fidgeted nervously.

‘Why did I overlook this? I have to ask the Duke to hire a dance instructor. Harp playing is important, but dancing is crucial for a lady of a prominent family or a royal court, and it’s not something you learn overnight.’

Finally, it was dinner time.

I was slightly late, having been preoccupied with what else Lady Ana needed to learn besides dancing. I sat down, slightly breathless. The aperitif was poured, and as I took a sip, I was again surprised by its strength.

‘No! I can’t make another mistake!’

I quickly put down the glass.

“Um… this drink is a little too strong for me… is there something a little milder, Your Grace?”

I couldn’t afford to repeat my previous mistake. especially at such an important dinner concerning Lady Ana’s education. The Duke raised an eyebrow and drank from his own glass. His thoughts flickered across his face.

‘She can’t handle this much?’

“How about juice?”

“Thank you!”

The glasses were cleared, and a sparkling apple juice was served. I should have asked for this earlier as it was much better. Thirsty, I drained the glass in one gulp. And so, dinner began.

‘Hmm…?’

I was puzzled. I had expected a barrage of questions about Lady Ana’s current progress as soon as I sat down, but the Duke was unusually quiet. Whenever I looked up, feeling his gaze on me, his green eyes would quickly dart away.

‘What is it?’

His gaze used to be like arrows, piercing me without a shred of shyness. I would flinch and instinctively look away, as if struck by those arrows. But now, it was the opposite. He seemed to avoid my gaze as if it would burn him.

“…Your Grace?”

I asked, puzzled by his reaction to my mere gaze,  “May I tell you about the Lady’s progress?”

“Go ahead.”

With his permission, I explained how much Lady Ana had learned. As I spoke, I felt both joy and sadness. Joy for Lady Ana’s progress and gratitude for her diligence, and sadness at the thought of potentially having to part with her soon.

“But Your Grace, although I can cultivate the young lady’s general knowledge, I can’t teach her how to dance. So, I was wondering if you would consider hiring a dance instructor? I’ve heard there are instructors in Franc who teach the latest dances popular at court.”

“Does Ana need to learn how to dance?”

“Of course! Balls are not just for dancing; they’re important social gatherings where people who wouldn’t normally interact can meet and engage in political discourse. And learning to dance is said to improve one’s posture and grace, even in everyday life! Noble ladies in Franc receive dance and riding lessons from a very young age!”

I passionately explained the importance and benefits of learning to dance.

“Dancing is essential for a noble young lady, so after teaching Lady Ana how to dance, wouldn’t it be a good idea to host a small ball, perhaps not immediately, and invite some young nobles of her age from the surrounding area? It would be a good opportunity for her to make friends and learn to navigate social gatherings!”

Experiencing smaller balls first would help her feel more comfortable at grander events, wouldn’t it?

The Duke asked,

“Do you know anyone who could teach Ana how to dance?”

…I closed my mouth. I didn’t know anyone.

“I apologize. I’m not familiar with dance instructors, and the trends would have changed several times since I left the court…”

The Duke fell into thought.