WBWB | Chapter 37

We whispered to each other and then stood up abruptly. We practiced the basic steps, looking back and forth between our reflections in the mirror and the instructor’s feet.

“Teacher, even though it was our first lesson, it was so much fun! Especially with you! Thank you so much for recommending this lesson to His Grace!”

After the lesson, Lady Ana’s eyes sparkled with excitement, but I felt only emptiness.

‘I have to do this again?’

I had discovered that I had neither talent nor interest in dancing.

‘At least running and riding are for physical fitness, but why dancing…?’

If it was for exercise, wouldn’t riding be more efficient?

 And I would never attend a ball in my life.

‘This is so… so useless. I’d rather spend this time reading or sleeping.’

I wanted to knock on the Duke’s office door and tell him I wouldn’t participate in the next lesson.

But how could I, a mere tutor, do such a thing? 

He had the right to summon me and speak to me whenever he pleased, but I, as an employee, had no right to disturb him.

‘I’ll protest at the next dinner. Even if I’m a criminal, he doesn’t have the right to force me to take dance lessons…’

That night, I fell asleep, my stomach churning with frustration.

But during the next dance lesson, I vaguely understood why the Duke had included me in the dance lessons.

“Now that you’ve somewhat mastered the basic steps of the minuet, let’s move on to the actual dance. Miss Jeanne, you’ll take the gentleman’s part, and Lady Ana will take the lady’s part.”

Yes, all court dances, including the minuet, required two people. One to lead, and one to follow. I was participating in the dance lessons because Lady Ana needed a partner.

“Straighten your back, lift your chin, eyes forward, look into each other’s eyes, and coordinate your movements, keeping time with the music.”

Understanding the reason, my anger dissipated, and I participated more actively in the lesson. Without the resentment, and as the steps became more familiar, dancing wasn’t as unpleasant as the first dance  lesson. Though I was still struggling to keep up and didn’t find it particularly enjoyable.

After the dance lesson, as I was resting in my room, someone knocked. I opened the door to find the maid.

“Letters, right?”

I had been waiting for them. I saw what she was holding and jumped up, hugging her. I gave her a coin as a thank you and went back to my room with the letters, my heart pounding with anticipation.

The seal on the envelope had been broken, showing signs that someone had already read them, but I didn’t care. What mattered was that I had informed my family of my well-being, and they had replied. I took out the letters, trying to calm my racing heart.

‘Oh my…’

Tears threatened to spill before I even started reading, and I quickly wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.

My hands trembled as I read. The first page was a letter from my mother. She wrote that she was overjoyed to receive my letter, that it was surely God’s blessing, that they were doing well, so I shouldn’t worry about them or my brother, and that I should use all the money I earned for myself. She also urged me not to lose hope and, above all, to take care of my health and pray every day.

‘But if God had helped me, I wouldn’t have been exiled in the first place, would I?’

A blasphemous thought crossed my mind, but I was relieved that my mother seemed to have found peace of mind after reading my letter. The next page was in my brother’s hasty handwriting. He elaborated on my mother’s letter, describing their life without me.

I almost fainted when I read your letter. Do you know how shocked we were after you were suddenly exiled? We didn’t even know if you were alive or dead. But I guess you didn’t expect it either. And then suddenly, an unknown sum of money appeared in our account. Ah, not knowing what was going on was agonizing.

But I’m so relieved to hear that it’s better there than the rumors suggested. Well, how could anyone live in a place like the rumors describe? I know you wrote positive things to ease our worries, but if it were all lies, you wouldn’t have been able to send a letter in the first place. Or deposit so much money in the bank account.

Knowing that you’re not starving and are staying warm, we both feel like we can breathe again. I guess there’s always hope. Meeting that Duke must have been a stroke of luck. Although being exiled is a terrible misfortune.

Sister, we won’t touch the money you earned, so use it for yourself. There are two of us here, but you’re alone there. You can’t be a tutor forever, so you need the money.

To ease your worries, we’re doing really well. Actually, we weren’t doing well until now, but after reading your letter, I think we’ll be fine. You don’t have to worry about money. Really. I’ve been earning enough to support Mother for a while now.

So, live your life there, Sister. Don’t worry about us at all.

Will we ever see each other again? Even if we don’t, my heart is always with you. You know I love you, right? And I know you love me too. Then we’re together even when we’re apart, in each other’s hearts.

I have so much more to say, but I can’t keep the messenger waiting. He’s here for your reply.

Will there be another chance to write? I’ll be writing and waiting for the messenger, hoping for that day.

With love. Your ever-reliable brother, An de Toulouse.

Reading my brother’s letter brought tears to my eyes. I missed my family terribly.

But what did he mean by earning money? Had he also become a tutor after I was gone?

‘No, this is the most important part, why doesn’t he explain the important things in detail? Seriously.’

I was dying of curiosity, having received important news without any details. But would there be another chance to send a letter? I had been able to send this one because of my role in saving Lady Ana.

‘But I can’t wish for such an incident to happen again…’

Just the thought filled me with guilt. I shook my head and reread the letters slowly, savoring every word. Only then did I notice the other letter.

I had assumed there were two letters, one from my mother and one from my brother. But both letters were in a single envelope.

‘Then what’s this?’

The broken seal on the other envelope was blank. If it wasn’t from my parents or my brother, who would send me a letter? Puzzled, I took out the letter and unfolded it.

To my dearest Teacher Jeanne,

It was a letter from Young Master Mael.

Please forgive me for not writing sooner. It wasn’t that I forgot you, but I hesitated, worried that my letter might be read by others before reaching you. My enemies are everywhere, all wearing the mask of friendship.

But the Duke of Skadi is alright. He doesn’t want to take sides. Both the royalists and the nobles tried to win him over, but they failed.

Teacher Jeanne, I’ve been thinking only of you since you left.

I know you’re not doing well. All I can say is, please endure. Until God chooses us again.

Those who are meant to meet will meet, and as long as you live, opportunities will arise.

After reading the letter, I exhaled shakily. I felt a mix of gratitude and resentment towards Young Master Mael for remembering me, leaving my heart in turmoil.

‘Now that I think about it, I wonder how they’re doing, Duchess Ventadour and Young Master Mael. They must be struggling after that incident.’

For a moment, I worried about their situation.

In any case, the two letters were a great comfort to me.