Though it wasn’t even midwinter yet, the girl wore such a thick coat that one could mistake her for a blanket rather than a person. She stood there, gazing intently at the ground with navy blue hair cascading down—something he hadn’t seen around here before.
‘I really need to pull those weeds…’
Johan hesitated to pass by, since the area where she stood was unusually overgrown.
He cautiously approached her.
Judging by her clothes, she didn’t appear to be a noble.
The nobles Johan knew wore flashy outfits adorned with jewels and always had a string of attendants following them around. None of them wore something that looked like a blanket.
“Um, I was going to… pull the weeds over there.”
“…Alright.”
The woman turned to look at him.
Her navy-blue eyes matched her hair and gave off an intimidating aura.
She silently stepped back two paces.
Suspicious as he was of her identity, Johan bent down to begin pulling weeds.
“Are you Johan?”
Startled, Johan paused mid-motion with a weed in hand.
Before he could ask how she knew his name, she continued.
“I heard from Mirinae.”
“Oh…”
Apparently, she was an acquaintance of Mirinae.
“She said you were really good at pulling weeds.”
“Uh… yes.”
“She also said you were smart. She likes you because you’re a kind older brother.”
‘Is she… complimenting me?’
Her tone was flat, but her words were surprisingly warm.
Whether or not she noticed his confusion, she suddenly sat down beside him again.
‘…She smells nice.’
Not the kind of perfume nobles used, but a sweet scent—like butter mixed with herbs.
He felt like he’d smelled it somewhere before.
As he tried to recall the memory, she suddenly reached into her coat and asked,
“Do you like potatoes?”
“…Huh?”
Then, she pulled out a potato wrapped in a handkerchief.
Steam rose from it—it looked freshly steamed.
There were cuts in the potato with a spoonful of butter melting into it.
“It’s not a spring potato, but the ones right now taste just as good.”
Ah.
Have a potato, dear.
That phrase and that scent—he remembered now.
It was from when his grandmother and mother were still alive.
The aroma of medicinal herbs being brewed by his grandmother and the bread his mother baked—all of it was coming from this woman he had just met.
“Shall I peel it for you? I also have some cinnamon tea.”
She was just too friendly to refuse.
Talking with Johan had been unexpectedly pleasant.
It helped that I deliberately kept my identity hidden, and once I handed him a warm potato and took off one of my coats, he seemed to relax and started talking more comfortably.
‘He’s quite guarded, so we couldn’t get too close.’
Even when I tried to approach him as an academy teacher, I couldn’t break down all his emotional walls.
Especially since he refused to enter the annex no matter what, we ended up just sharing potatoes on a garden bench.
Still, it wasn’t without results.
“Um… can I come see you again?”
When I told him I’d be here every Wednesday morning, he said that’s when he usually pulled weeds and asked if he could come see me.
“Of course. I’ll have more potatoes ready.”
I wasn’t sure if it was the potatoes he was looking forward to or the warmth of a caring adult. Johan nodded with a shy smile.
‘He really is clever.’
Since I didn’t know the situation outside the castle or what was happening in the Layton territory, I considered hiring Johan to investigate.
‘I’ve become the grand lady of Layton, so I should at least know what’s going on in the estate.’
It was a good opportunity to give him something to do as well.
As I was about to return to the annex, feeling a bit excited about the following week, I saw a man walking toward me from the garden entrance.
With his upright posture and tall figure, I quickly realized he was the head butler from the main castle, the one who had guided me here on Helene’s behalf.
“Madam, I hope you’ve been well.”
“I have. What brings you here?”
Had he come to keep Helene’s promise?
There were still about two months left until the year-end banquet.
“I’m here on behalf of the lady with a message.”
“Helene must be very busy.”
“Yes. We ask for your understanding and generosity.”
In other words, she didn’t want to meet face-to-face over minor matters.
I understood. As a daughter-in-law, I could maintain courtesy, but she clearly had no intention of becoming friendly.
‘Well, it’s not like she’s being outright rude either.’
Sending a close aide instead of a mere servant was a show of sincerity, at least.
“Go ahead.”
“A small banquet is scheduled for a week from now, to celebrate the achievements of the border duke.”
If it was the western border duke, I could guess who.
“The lady will be unable to attend due to a summons from the Imperial Capital. So…”
“She wants me to attend in her place.”
“…She recommended it, hoping the madam would become more familiar with the social scene in the west.”
Put bluntly, I was a stand-in.
Of course, one could argue it was also a chance to get practice ahead of the year-end banquet…
But I doubted Helene was the type to offer such thoughtful consideration.
If anything, she was probably giving me a lecture on how not to disgrace the Layton name.
“It’s a small event attended only by some of the duke’s vassals and acquaintances of the border duke. It’ll be helpful practice.”
True, I had no experience with high society, so a trial run wouldn’t hurt.
“Alright, I’ll go.”
I gave a firm nod of agreement.
I probably didn’t have a real choice anyway. They said it was a recommendation, but not going would surely lead to consequences.
And since I’d just be a stand-in, I could just smile and play along, which made it less stressful.
“Thank you. Then we’ll bring in a seamstress and a lady experienced in western etiquette.”
“A lady?”
“Yes. Since it’s your first time in western society, you’ll need guidance on the customs here, which may differ from what you’re used to.”
Basically, they were saying, You don’t seem noble enough, so you need some training.
I wasn’t the type to be offended by such things.
I didn’t know, and there was nothing wrong with learning.
“But have her come in the afternoon.”
“Is there a reason?”
“I get sleepy in the mornings.”
I said it proudly.
I’d had my fill of morning study sessions back in Korea.
The butler blinked in mild surprise, then bowed in understanding.
And so, my first official duty as the grand lady began.
The etiquette instructor was the Marchioness Rollan, a renowned governess in the west.
Apparently, after her husband passed away, she chose not to continue the family line and instead dedicated herself to teaching, raising countless young ladies.
She was also the author of Modern Etiquette for Ladies, a long-time bestseller even in the capital. Though I’d never read it.
‘I wonder if she’d get mad if I said I could relate to losing a husband?’
Our situations were different. Better not poke the bear—just listen and learn.
My training with Lady Rollan lasted three days.
At first, she was quite strict and gave me a lot of stern advice, but thanks to my hard work, she eventually started to praise me.
“…You’re very composed, Madam. Even when you make a small mistake, your calm demeanor is impressive.”
“That’s all thanks to you.”
“There are still some areas to improve… but I don’t think the banquet will be an issue. After all, you won’t need to dance.”
I didn’t have a partner, so there’d be no dancing for me.
That was a relief.
I planned to just greet a few people and then find a table to sit at and kill time.
“And lastly… let me go over how a madam should act toward a young debutante.”
While continuing the lesson, the marchioness suddenly pressed a hand to her forehead, as if she were dizzy.
Though she quickly regained her composure, her pale face couldn’t hide her fatigue.
“Madam, if this can be taught verbally, shall we sit?”
“…Let’s do that.”
I led her to the sofa. After a brief stop by the fireplace, I returned to her side.
“Madam?”
“Here, hold this.”
On the shelf above the fireplace were small, charming cloth bundles—hand warmers used by the servants.
“There’s a stone inside. If it’s too hot, use a handkerchief underneath.”
“Why are you giving this to me…?”
“Your hands are cold.”
Though she wore gloves, I’d seen her repeatedly clasp her hands during the lesson—a telltale sign of cold hands.
She could’ve just taken off the gloves, but the etiquette book said outsiders must keep gloves on.
She probably couldn’t go against her own rules as an instructor.
“…Thank you.”
Her eyes widened slightly in surprise, as if wondering how I’d noticed. She quietly accepted the hand warmer.
“This is a rather unique one.”
“The stone was brought by a servant. I just wrapped the cloth myself.”
“Did you buy this cloth?”
“No, I made it.”
“…For the servants?”
I nodded.
“Yes, it wasn’t difficult.”
