Chapter 38
“Lord, you seem very fatigued. Should I call a physician?”
The attendant Jack hadn’t left the room. Normally, he would have excused himself discreetly, but he seemed genuinely concerned this time.
Hannibal replied in a quiet voice.
“No need. Go and bring Patrick.”
The butler knew both his mother and Victoria, and had watched over the estate for years.
Before long, there was a knock, and Patrick appeared.
“You called for me?”
He looked tense, worried something might have happened without his knowledge. Hannibal let out a long sigh before speaking.
“…Tell me everything about Victoria. How she was treated, how she lived, especially how she got along with Mother, and what kind of education she received. From the time she arrived here, in chronological order.”
As lord, Hannibal Clayde bore responsibility for the lives of his people.
And as a member of the Clayde family, he bore responsibility for its honor and reputation.
“Does the pride and dignity of the Claydes not apply to a child born out of wedlock?”
Just as Anne had said, he should have shown interest in Victoria—not just as a lord, but as her brother, as family.
Listening to Patrick, Hannibal recalled Anne Perot’s impassioned words.
Victoria Clayde, too, was his responsibility.
The next day, Lady Deluca, the Viscountess, had to face Anne Perot with a face flushed with fury.
“You! A maid, daring to get an education?!”
“Please don’t be angry, Viscountess. I’m only learning in order to properly teach Miss Victoria.”
“That beastly girl can’t even meet my eyes—how is she supposed to greet the young ladies and gentlemen at a party? Dance with them?”
Because of course, they would never call the young lady a beast to her face.
Anne bit her tongue, avoiding the woman’s gaze.
Click, clack. The sound of heels echoed as the Viscountess circled Anne disapprovingly.
So that’s why Hannibal had come out to greet them at the estate gates today.
“Victoria is having a hard time seeing Grandmother.”
“So fragile. Yesterday she nearly fainted just from meeting my eyes. And now she’s giving up?”
“Please, teach Anne Perot in her place.”
“What? Teach her?”
“There’s no one who knows and can teach the Western social circles as well as you. Fortunately, Anne Perot learned noble etiquette in her youth and has some knowledge. Please instruct her instead.”
Inside the carriage heading to the main building, Hannibal bowed his head and asked respectfully.
Teach a maid? How dare he!
Lady Deluca was furious but couldn’t outright refuse her grandson who had bowed his head first.
“Why are you going so far, Hannibal? Don’t tell me, is there another woman from the capital—?”
“No. Absolutely not.”
Hannibal’s gaze was resolute.
“Then why are you so concerned? Enough to come personally and ask me?”
“It’s not because of the maid. It’s for Victoria.”
“I didn’t realize you two were such close siblings.”
Despite the sarcasm, Hannibal met her gaze and asked the question that had been weighing on him.
“Is it true that Mother raised Victoria like a beast?”
Normally, she wouldn’t have cared whether Victoria existed or not, and now here he was, asking so seriously. The Viscountess let out an incredulous shout.
“Half of her is that lowborn Ruto’s blood. You know that. Just because she shares your blood doesn’t make her your equal.”
“Even so, Victoria is a Clayde, Grandmother.”
“Exactly! Why do you think Arthur gave that thing our name?! This is the result. Sarah neglected her on purpose for your sake. Thanks to that, the girl became a loyal watchdog, unable to desire anything else. One true Clayde heir from the West is enough—and that’s you!”
Her words were identical to those Hannibal had heard from Sarah Clayde since childhood.
He had never questioned it before. But now, doubts began to form.
“Still, Grandmother, Victoria will be married as a daughter of the Clayde family. She deserves proper education.”
“Well, even if she’s illegitimate, we should at least wrap the package nicely before sending her off. Like you said, she is a Clayde.”
Though reluctant, the Viscountess nodded at her grandson’s plea.
Keeping that savage and violent girl in the estate wouldn’t do Hannibal any good.
Once he married and brought in a lady of the house, she would only be in the way. Best to deal with it now.
Still, the thought of teaching a maid deeply bruised the Viscountess’s pride, and her eyes sharpened dangerously.
“I’ll be very strict. If that maid makes even a single mistake, I’ll make sure she cries. Understood?”
“Yes, Grandmother. But…”
“But?”
“Please don’t strike her.”
The Viscountess turned sharply, raising her brows.
Before she could protest, Hannibal spoke in a firm but respectful tone.
“Under no circumstances are you to use violence against anyone in this estate again, Grandmother.”
“When did I ever beat someone to death? They just shouldn’t give reason to be hit in the first place!”
“Grandmother, let me be clear. I don’t like others laying hands on those under my care.”
“Impertinent child. Sarah clearly failed at raising you!”
The Viscountess stormed off the moment she got out of the carriage, brushing past Hannibal.
Last time she’d barely looked at the so-called maid from the capital, so she didn’t remember her clearly.
Now, examining Anne Perot properly, she saw that for a maid, the girl was quite young—and rather pretty.
She shot Anne a warning.
“If you’ve come here hoping to become the lord’s mistress, you’ll fail. Hannibal detests capital women.”
“I am only here to receive instruction in place of Miss Victoria, Viscountess.”
Even as the woman poured out her scorn, Anne remained calm and polite.
Feeling a little embarrassed for lashing out, the Viscountess clenched her teeth harder.
“Fine, let’s see what you’ve got. Stand straight and walk to that wall. Perfectly, without faltering.”
Pointing straight ahead, she ordered. Anne took a step with a straight posture.
Her head remained level, and even the click of her shoes was refined and graceful.
“You said you learned etiquette? Then you’d better be this good. Hmph. Let’s start with the steps.”
The Viscountess folded her arms, determined to make Anne suffer.
“Left, right, two steps forward, two steps back, turn in place. O– good, good… well, at that level, I suppose it’s expected.”
Compared to the upbeat and fast-paced polkas of the capital, the Western region’s ballroom music, favoring softer minuets, wasn’t difficult.
Anne copied the Viscountess’s steps perfectly and danced to the music with ease.
“Oh my, how well—oh! Ahem.”
Caught clapping without thinking, the Viscountess quickly dropped her hands.
When she met Anne’s smiling gaze, she awkwardly dusted her palms and regained her strict expression.
“That’ll do for today. Make sure you don’t forget a single step by tomorrow. Understand?”
“Yes, Viscountess. Thank you for your instruction.”
“Thanks… well, of course you should thank me! Hmph!”
After the Viscountess strutted off proudly, Anne went to find Victoria.
She repeated everything she had learned, walking her through the steps, even drawing out directions and counts in a notebook for the confused girl.
“Now, match the beat and move like this. Ta-ta-ta, ta-ta—”
“Left, right… two steps back, what? Ugh, I’m confused—”
“Try again, Miss. Focus—”
“Oh no! I stepped on you! I’m sorry, does it hurt—?”
“It’s fine. Let’s go again—”
As Victoria whined and Anne gently encouraged her, their voices were filled with warmth.
Patrick paused outside the drawing room, hearing their laughter.
Through the window, Anne and Victoria looked like playful young girls, bickering affectionately.
“How long has it been since the estate felt this peaceful?”
He smiled fondly, about to walk away, but bumped into someone at the corner.
“Oh! L-Lord Hannibal?”
He jumped, startled.
“Forgive me, I didn’t see you standing in the shadow.”
He bowed quickly, and Hannibal, arms crossed, waved him off.
“It’s fine. Go on.”
“Yes, my lord.”
As Patrick turned to leave, he saw the two girls dancing together through the window at the end of Hannibal’s gaze.
“…Please don’t dwell too much on what I said yesterday.”
Patrick said as he passed, but by the time Hannibal turned, the butler had already disappeared into the distance.
Hannibal stood there, arms folded, leaning against the wall.
The sound of laughter floated out from the window and reached him.
Since Anne Perot arrived, Victoria had grown brighter and gentler. It was the first time he had seen her laugh like a child.
