HDHWD 14

Chapter 14

While Benedict was adjusting to his duties as the duke, Lucienne also gradually grew accustomed to life in the ducal household.

Of course, that life wasn’t exactly comfortable.

Although no one openly expressed hostility toward her, the indifferent attitudes of some of the adults were enough to make a child feel downcast.

Still, unlike before, she no longer spent her days idly in a corner of the room.

Now that Benedict had regained some breathing room in his schedule, they began to eat breakfast together.

After their meal, Lucienne would return to her room and study “Beautiful Handwriting” with the books he had provided.

Before lunch, Alfie would come to her room at irregular intervals to teach her basic etiquette and foundational knowledge. Lucienne eagerly absorbed everything he taught.

One day, Alfie even conducted a full-hour lecture titled “How to Respond When an Assassin Enters During a Meal,” demonstrating how to throw a dinner knife accurately at the target.

Lucienne, being a passionate student, practiced diligently in her room, and by the next morning, she was able to demonstrate her skills at breakfast with Benedict.

Alfie, playing the role of the hidden assassin, even acted out being struck and collapsing convincingly.

Lucienne was thrilled. She had always wanted to practice knife-throwing even during her time with the traveling troupe, and now she was learning something similar.

Of course, there was a vast difference between throwing knives as part of noble etiquette and doing so for entertainment as a performer.

But from that day on, for some reason, Benedict also began attending Lucienne’s etiquette lessons.

“Are you becoming a teacher too, Benedict?”

Lucienne asked in surprise, but he simply held up a thick book he had brought with him.

It seemed he intended to read while she attended her lessons. Why he would choose to read in a noisy room instead of a quiet one was a mystery.

That day’s lesson was about proper greetings.

“The higher the person’s status, the deeper you bow. Watch closely.”

Alfie demonstrated a graceful bow and then looked up with a cheerful smile.

“Here’s a question. Why do we bow deeper to those of higher status?”

“To show respect?”

“Partially correct. But the real reason is so you can hide your face while cursing them under your breath and not get caught—ow!”

Benedict swung the book he was reading and smacked Alfie squarely on the back.

“Ow! That hurt!”

“Stop teaching her nonsense!”

“Nonsense? I swear on my social reputation that many nobles apply this in real life!”

“You don’t have a reputation, Alfie.”

In any case, they also reviewed the proper way to stand that day.

Lucienne had assumed standing was just… standing, but trying to hold her back and chest upright made it surprisingly difficult.

After the lesson, just before leaving the room, Benedict turned to Lucienne and said firmly:

“You must never throw cutlery. No matter what happens.”

“No matter what?”

“Yes.”

“But what if an assassin comes in? I have to protect you.”

“What?”

Benedict stared at her in disbelief before shaking his head.

“Don’t be ridiculous. It’s my job to protect you.”

“But you’re the duke.”

“A duke who’s a proper gentleman. If you want to know more about gentlemen, there’s a book in my mother’s library…”

Benedict stopped mid-sentence, realizing he had made a mistake and bit his lip. Lucienne still struggled with long texts.

“A-anyway, a gentleman never hides behind a lady. If danger arises, your job is to protect yourself. Not me.”

“But I want to protect you.”

Benedict found her stubbornness oddly heartwarming.

She wanted to protect him in dangerous situations? That was the kind of beautiful friendship you’d find in a book.

And though he couldn’t admit it aloud, seeing Lucienne confidently throw a knife had made her seem kind of cool. He even went back to his room later and threw a pen by himself, just to try it.

“A-anyway, no. I’m the one protecting you. That’ll be something I can take pride in. Got it?”

Lucienne still looked slightly unconvinced, but she nodded.

“Okay. Then I’ll definitely protect you.”

Benedict shrugged and replied, then ran off to Alfie, insisting they find a fencing instructor right away.

After etiquette class, Lucienne would bundle up in a thick coat and pull a fur hat down over her ears.

When she first began going outside, she only wandered a little around the back garden, unsure of how far she was allowed to go. But once she realized she could go farther, she began heading into the village.

Lucienne enjoyed window-shopping and watching children run around shouting “Wow!” with curious eyes.

But she never joined them, because she had a specific destination in mind: the grave of the former duke.

As always, she brought a white paper flower she had made and placed it at the grave.

Nearly ten days had passed since the funeral, and by now, few people visited. The world, it seemed, had quickly adjusted to life without him.

Lucienne found that reality rather lonely.

Then she noticed a purple flower someone had placed at one side of the grave. She crouched in front of the headstone and quietly looked at the flower.

It wasn’t just that it was rare and beautiful—it was real.

She’d visited the grave three days in a row now, and each time, the purple flower remained fresh, as if newly picked.

That could only mean someone was replacing it every day with the prettiest one they could find.

“Who’s been bringing fresh flowers in the middle of winter?”

Just then, she sensed someone behind her.

When she turned around, a woman dressed in black stood there.

Something about the woman’s upright posture reminded Lucienne of the “perfect posture” she had struggled with all through today’s class.

“They say you can judge a person’s elegance by posture alone, miss. And you’re bound to be a beauty one day—so just standing like this will have the men flocking—ow! Master! Don’t hit me without elegance!”

Back then, she had laughed off Alfie’s comment as a joke. But seeing the elegant woman in person, she finally understood.

Even Lucienne couldn’t take her eyes off the woman.

“Ah.”

But then she remembered something just as important as etiquette: staring at strangers could be seen as rude or suspicious.

Lucienne bowed politely as Alfie had taught her.

“I’m sorry.”

Then she spoke carefully.

“Your posture was so elegant that I couldn’t help staring. I’ve been learning etiquette lately, and it’s really hard.”

“Don’t worry. I don’t mind.”

The woman’s voice was slightly hoarse.

But it didn’t seem to be because she was elderly.

Though the part of her face visible beneath the hat appeared mature, she didn’t look like someone Lucienne would consider old.

She must have cried a lot. Her voice is cracked from it.

Perhaps she’d lost someone dear.

As Lucienne watched, the woman stepped silently past her to the headstone with the duke’s name, sat down, and gently unwrapped a bundle she had been carrying.

Inside was another purple flower, fresh as if just picked.

Lucienne was happy to discover who had been bringing them—but didn’t want to appear disrespectful by seeming cheerful when the woman was clearly in mourning.

“…Did you bring the paper flowers?”

To her surprise, the woman spoke first.

“Huh? Oh… yes.”

Lucienne worried that her clumsy paper flowers might have offended the lady.

“I kept seeing someone leave those cute paper flowers, and it weighed on my heart.”

She murmured softly, “No one visits anymore.”

“It’s really nothing. The flower you brought is so pretty. I think the duke would love it.”

The woman gave a faint smile. “Thank you.”

“I’m glad to meet you.”

“No, I’m the one who’s glad.”

Lucienne gripped the hem of her dress and offered a graceful bow.

That evening, as Lucienne ate dinner with Benedict, Alfie suddenly burst into the dining room.