Chapter 4

If memories are tied to the body, then what should someone who remembers two different lives even be called?

“Miss Margaret! Come over here for a moment.”

Hearing her name from behind, Estella Margaret Montiel turned around.

Mrs. Gale, the woman in charge of the kitchen and household chores, was waving at her.

Estella approached obediently, though she looked confused.

“What is it?”

“I picked some apricots from the trees in the garden. They’re perfectly ripe.”

Mrs. Gale lifted the cloth covering the basket.

Just as she said, it was full of plump, ripe apricots.

Estella gave a small look of admiration.

“They’re quite large.”

“The fruit trees in this garden are excellent, but both the masters and servants only treat them like decoration.”

Then Mrs. Gale leaned closer and whispered secretly,

“I’m giving these to you so you can keep up your strength. How does such a young lady handle those energetic children so well? Didn’t you say this was your first time working as a governess?”

Estella smiled awkwardly.

There was no way she could admit that she had actually spent nearly seven years teaching children that age in her previous life.

She let out a quiet sigh.

It had already been nearly a month since she found herself trapped in this absurd situation.

Until the age of twenty-two, Estella had faithfully lived according to the circumstances given to her.

Anyone hearing her life story would probably call her diligent.

But at this point, Estella thought people should also call her pitiful.

Originally, she had received the refined education expected of an upper-class woman.

When she was young, the Montiel barony had still possessed enough wealth to properly educate its children.

But as the family fortune completely collapsed, Estella’s education became nothing more than a tool for survival.

Her father’s gambling had also ruined her engagement.

Her life was truly tragic.

And then she discovered that this world had been created as someone else’s fiction, and that she herself was merely a side character destined to die meaninglessly within it.

It was absurd.

Worse still, remembering her previous life had also brought entirely new discomforts.

Clothing far more restrictive than modern fashion.

Different styles of food.

The absence of mobile devices.

And the fact that she would never again see the people she once knew.

There were countless things she had been forced to accept.

Even so, Estella tried to think positively.

After all, it was not entirely bad.

At the very least, she had been given a chance to avoid death.

Despite now living with the memories of another self, Estella adapted surprisingly well to life in the House of Berta.

Since everyone around her still called her by the same name, there was little reason to suffer an identity crisis.

In fact, one could even argue she functioned more efficiently than before remembering her past life.

A servant’s greatest virtue was avoiding upsetting their employer, and Estella already understood the dangerous family relationships within House Berta.

So naturally, she avoided causing trouble.

During her peaceful daily life, Estella became quite skilled at avoiding the immoral murderer male lead.

Thankfully, Diego also disliked seeing his half-siblings, believing that encountering them ruined his day.

Since both sides actively avoided each other, his presence felt almost nonexistent.

Of course, she knew she could not avoid him forever.

“Miss Margaret, here, take this. They’re washed already, so share them with Young Lady Cecilia.”

Estella accepted the basket with a hesitant expression.

Then she suddenly asked,

“What about Young Master Cedric?”

“Oh dear, the young master probably wouldn’t eat these even if you offered. He only looks for sugary things.”

Mrs. Gale laughed warmly.

That was true.

Cedric was a picky eater, and if fruit tasted even slightly sour, he refused it.

Thanks to this unexpected kindness, Estella ended up entering the classroom carrying snacks under one arm.

After thanking Mrs. Gale, she continued on her way.

Even in another world, the misery of morning work never changed.

As expected, Cedric immediately became interested in the basket of food.

“What’s that? Did you bring it for me?”

The moment Estella entered, Cedric ran over and asked.

Just as Estella had adjusted to her new work environment, Cedric had also become accustomed to her.

During their first unpleasant meeting, she thought they would never get along, but for a spoiled child, Cedric actually followed his teacher fairly well.

“This is for Cecilia.”

Estella placed the basket on the desk.

Cedric ignored her words and pulled off the cloth.

The ripe apricots were revealed.

She expected him to lose interest, but instead, he quickly grabbed one.

“Why does only Cecilia get them? Am I invisible to you?”

“No, but two days ago you threw a tantrum because you said you didn’t want strawberries, and then the duchess— Don’t swallow the seed!”

As Cedric nearly swallowed the pit, Estella reflexively smacked his back.

Cedric coughed, and the large seed dropped into Estella’s other hand.

He looked at her in complete disbelief.

“You hit me…?”

“If you don’t know how to eat it properly, you should ask! Why would you swallow something that hard? Honestly.”

“You’re scolding me…?”

“Does this look like praise to you?”

Estella held up the seed he had spat out and scolded him sternly.

When she first applied for the governess position, she had been nervous.

But now that her previous teaching experience had returned, even this noble young master and lady simply felt like children.

She could not bring herself to treat them like untouchable aristocrats when they reminded her of her old students who cried after wetting themselves.

Cedric muttered dramatically,

“The end times… truly the end times…”

Then he returned to his seat.

Estella shrugged and turned toward Cecilia.

“Young Lady, don’t eat the seed. Just bite the soft fruit.”

She gently placed a napkin under Cecilia’s chin.

Watching the little girl’s soft cheeks move as she ate made Estella smile warmly.

Her shining silver hair and round face were incredibly adorable.

“Cecilia.”

Cedric leaned on one hand and called out lazily.

Cecilia tilted her head.

“Mm?”

“Can’t you see your older brother sitting here with an empty mouth?”

“Mm!”

Without hesitation, Cecilia nodded strongly.

Then she grabbed several apricots with both hands.

It was clear she had no intention of sharing even one.

Cedric once again muttered darkly about the downfall of society.

Suppressing a laugh, Estella wiped her hands.

It was time to start class.

“All right, let’s begin today’s lesson. First, yesterday we learned—”

“Cedric, my son, are you here?”

A sweet voice suddenly came from the doorway.

The moment Estella saw Duchess Anna, she quickly folded her hands respectfully.

Anna entered and raised her chin.

“Were you in the middle of class?”

“Yes, we were just about to begin.”

“So it seems.”

Anna glanced at the book in Cedric’s hand.

Then she turned cold eyes toward Cecilia, who had shrunk back.

“But why is Cecilia here?”

“Ah… Young Lady Cecilia was feeling lonely, and since she was not disrupting the lesson, I allowed her to observe.”

Estella answered nervously.

Normally, lessons were supposed to be conducted individually.

But Cecilia had insisted on staying with Estella, having grown attached to the one person who treated her with genuine care.

Whether governesses or servants, people naturally focused more attention on the child most likely to inherit.

And very few people were patient enough to listen to Cecilia’s slow speech.

Apparently, even her own mother was no exception.

The duchess looked at Cecilia with icy eyes.

“Cecilia, I heard from the butler that you started studying mathematics. Have you learned addition yet?”

“Uh… n-no…”

“Can you even speak properly?”

Anna frowned deeply.

Estella clearly saw the contempt in the duchess’s eyes.

Cecilia, intimidated, could barely answer.

Estella quickly stepped in front of her.

Anna asked coldly,

“Miss Margaret, would you care to explain why Cecilia’s progress is still so pathetic?”

“I apologize, Duchess, but Young Lady Cecilia is not yet in the proper condition to begin learning numbers.”

“Are you saying my child is mentally deficient?”

Her voice became sharper and louder.

Apparently, honest words had offended the noblewoman.

Anna, the current mistress of House Berta, was infamous for her fiery temper.

Estella also began to look anxious.

She doubted the duchess even remembered her name.

To Anna, “Miss Margaret” likely carried no more meaning than “Miss Rington,” the previous governess who had been dismissed three months earlier.

Being fired did not matter much.

But losing the ability to protect the children would be a serious problem.

“That is not what I mean, but—”

“Why not? It’s true. She’s slow.”

At the childish voice cutting in from beside them, Estella nearly covered her face with both hands.

The one who had just insulted Cecilia…

Was her own biological brother, Cedric.