Chapter 34: Bride Training
The Grand Madam sat upright, as rigid as a bamboo stalk.
Even under her piercing gaze, which scrutinized her from head to toe, Aracila approached with ease and stood before her.
“It’s been a while, Grand Madam.”
“Why are you so late?”
“I apologize. If I had known you were coming, I would have arrived earlier, but I didn’t receive any notice.”
As Aracila subtly pointed out the lack of prior notice, the Grand Madam’s brow twitched.
‘A mere child dares to challenge me?’
From her slender frame, she produced a surprisingly resonant voice.
“A married woman returning home early is only natural! Are you telling me you’ve been aimlessly wandering outside?”
“Grand Madam, I was not wandering around—I was working.”
Aracila calmly corrected her, showing not the slightest hint of intimidation. The Grand Madam found this all the more outrageous.
Whether it was the mother of Damian, the current Duchess, or any other noblewoman or aristocratic lady, none had ever stood so confidently before her.
“You’re quite headstrong for a girl.”
“Isn’t that better than being weak? But more importantly, what brings you here today?”
At the sight of her bright, smiling face, the Grand Madam’s expression hardened as memories of the wedding day resurfaced.
Yes, this girl was not as simple as she appeared. In that case, she needed to take an even stronger stance.
“Do I need a reason to visit my grandson and his wife?”
“That’s not what I meant. It’s just that Damian is currently away on a mission.”
At those words, a smile formed on the Grand Madam’s lips. If Damian was absent, it was even better. It would be easier to pressure the girl before her and establish her authority.
Since Damian was naturally rebellious and refused to obey, the Grand Madam intended to break his wife’s spirit instead—molding her into a submissive puppet.
If she succeeded in planting her influence in the closest place to Damian, even her son, Duke Vandermir, would feel more at ease.
“This works out well. I was coming to see you anyway.”
“To see me?”
“Yes. Now that you’re a member of House Vandermir, you must be properly educated to fit our family.”
Aracila’s lips parted slightly at the tone dripping with aristocratic superiority.
Even though the Hugo Marquisate was one of the most prestigious families in the Empire, the Grand Madam seemed to disregard that completely.
“Especially as a wife, you must cultivate your domestic skills and learn to properly manage a household. You seem to be severely lacking in that area.”
“……”
“Did your family even provide you with proper bridal training?”
Naturally, Aracila had never received such training. Even when her mother, the Marquise, had tried to teach her, she had vehemently refused.
After all, she had always been a firm believer in remaining unmarried.
However, if she admitted this, the Grand Madam would only find more faults to criticize. So instead, she simply smiled.
“My parents raised and educated me well, so you needn’t worry.”
“You certainly know how to talk smoothly.”
The Grand Madam shot her an annoyed glance before clearing her throat.
“To be worthy of House Vandermir, you must put in the effort. From today onward, I will live here and personally teach you, so be grateful and learn well.”
Hearing this abrupt announcement of cohabitation, without so much as a request for consent, Aracila let out a short, incredulous laugh.
Only then did she notice the duchy’s maids standing behind the Grand Madam, each holding large luggage bags.
‘She came fully prepared.’
She quietly swallowed a sigh. This was the Grand Madam of House Vandermir, the highest elder in the family.
If she firmly rejected her now and sent her away, who knew what kind of trouble she would stir up? She might even badmouth Aracila to her own family, causing unnecessary concern.
‘I have no choice but to go along with this for now.’
At the moment, there was neither a valid reason nor an easy way to refuse. She had to take a step back first.
‘I just have to wait until Damian returns.’
Since he didn’t have a good relationship with his grandmother, he wouldn’t easily accept this arrangement either.
Rather than facing his grandmother alone, it would be better for them to work together as a couple to drive her out. Aracila decided to bide her time and retreat for now.
“Understood, Grand Madam. I look forward to your guidance.”
“Good. I will teach you well.”
Watching Aracila’s docile smile, the Grand Madam curled her lips.
‘Before Damian returns, I will make her shed tears.’
She would ensure this girl was completely under her heel.
The next morning, Aracila woke up as usual and headed to the dining hall.
But instead of her sculpted husband, she found the strict Grand Madam seated there.
“Did you sleep well last night?”
Aracila greeted her politely. Her manners left nothing to be criticized.
But if someone was determined to find fault, anything could be an issue.
“It was dreadful! I was terribly uncomfortable! How exactly is this household being managed? Even the servants are not properly trained.”
Despite having slept perfectly well, the Grand Madam began complaining.
Aracila, maintaining a composed expression, let the words pass through one ear and out the other.
‘Go ahead and talk—I won’t listen.’
Skillfully masking her thoughts, she took her seat, but the Grand Madam’s criticisms quickly shifted.
“How lazy you must be, sleeping in while I’m already awake!”
“……”
Objectively, Aracila was neither lazy nor a late sleeper. She had to go to the Mage Tower for work, meaning she usually rose earlier than most.
But since the Grand Madam had woken up at dawn and saw Aracila come down later than herself, she seized the opportunity to reprimand her.
“There is nothing more disgraceful than a lazy woman. From now on, you will come greet me at 5 a.m. every morning.”
Not just waking up at 5 a.m., but coming to greet her? Then what time was she supposed to wake up?
Aracila had a lot she wanted to say, but she held back and nodded. If she argued back every time, this would never end.
“Yes, I understand.”
“Do you always return from the Mage Tower at the same time as yesterday?”
“Sometimes later, sometimes earlier. But usually, I stay even later.”
Lately, she had some flexibility since she had just wrapped up a research project. But once she started a new one, her late nights would resume.
“Hah, you must be out of your mind! A married woman should focus on her home, yet you stay out late using work as an excuse?”
The Grand Madam slammed her utensils onto the table in anger.
It wasn’t just a matter of personal dislike—her entire worldview rejected Aracila’s lifestyle.
To her, a married woman belonged in the household, not out working. The very fact that Aracila still went to the Mage Tower was incomprehensible.
“Quit the Mage Tower immediately!”
“I refuse.”
“What?! How dare you—!”
“Grand Madam.”
Aracila called out in a soft yet icy tone.
“I have no intention of letting anyone interfere in that matter. If you wish to teach me, please do so in other areas.”
Hearing such audacious words, the Grand Madam nearly exploded.
But for a moment, she felt an overwhelming presence from Aracila—enough to silence even her.
“……Hah.”
Only after a long pause did she let out a breath of exasperation.
Aracila then smiled gently.
“In any case, you want me to come home earlier, correct? Understood. I will return earlier for now.”
At least until Damian came back.
Aracila gracefully resumed her meal, while the Grand Madam, eyes sharp as blades, gripped her water glass tightly.
“Senior, are you leaving work already?”
Rudy, who had been organizing research papers, widened his eyes upon seeing Aracila preparing to leave. From another desk, Sally stretched her neck forward.
“You’re leaving early?”
“Yeah, I’ll probably be doing this for about ten days or so.”
“Is something going on at home?”
Hearing her junior’s concerned question, Aracila let out a short laugh.
“Well, I wouldn’t say nothing’s happening.”
“Gasp! Really?”
“It’s fine. It won’t take too long to resolve.”
Smiling, Aracila picked up her handbag and stepped out. Starting today, she had to leave work early to receive “education” from the Grand Madam.
What kind of torment, disguised as education, awaited her?
Aracila gazed out the window with a blank expression. In the distance, the Vandermir mansion, characterized by its red brick structure, stood imposingly.
The moment she stepped through the front entrance after getting off the carriage, a sharp reprimand flew at her.
“Oh, heavens! What on earth is that vulgar outfit?!”
The Grand Madam looked horrified as she scrutinized Aracila’s Mage Tower uniform. Through the long coat, trousers were visible.
Only commoners wore pants. For a noblewoman to wear them was unthinkable.
At least, that was how the Grand Madam saw it.
“Don’t be alarmed, Grand Madam. It’s just my Mage Tower uniform.”
“Silence! Change immediately and come to my room!”
Though Aracila wasn’t walking around naked, the Grand Madam trembled with rage before turning on her heel.
Having her uniform, which she valued more than any expensive dress from a high-end boutique, so blatantly dismissed didn’t sit well with Aracila.
But with the Grand Madam stomping off in a fury, there was no opportunity to argue.
“Let’s go, Audrey.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Audrey, who had been watching from the wall, quickly followed behind her mistress. At Aracila’s gesture, several other maids joined in.
They assisted her in changing clothes, tidying up her attire and hair meticulously.
Aracila looked at her reflection in the mirror. Dressed in a peach-colored high-neck dress with her hair pulled back into a low bun, she resembled a newlywed noblewoman—though not quite.
Perhaps it was because she still carried the aura of her unmarried days, when she had lived freely.
Letting out a small sigh, she headed to the guest room on the second floor, where the Grand Madam was staying.
“You’re late.”
Seated in an elegant chair, the Grand Madam immediately found something to criticize. She spoke as if Aracila had dawdled for an hour.
“Tsk, tsk. With such sluggish behavior, how will you ever be useful? It was the right decision for me to personally correct your insolence.”
The one whose expression darkened at those words was Audrey. Who would be pleased to see their mistress being belittled right in front of them?
Aracila, however, remained composed, slightly bowing her head as she stood still.
The fact that she showed no visible reaction only irritated the Grand Madam further.
“Since words clearly don’t get through to you, it’s better for you to learn through action.”
The Grand Madam signaled to the maid she had brought with her from the capital. The maid stepped forward and placed a basket of clothing in front of Aracila.
Aracila’s gaze swept over the dress inside—one that looked oddly familiar.
“What is this?”
“It’s the dress I wore yesterday. Wash it with your own hands. That way, you will learn to respect me and recognize your place within House Vandermir.”
Audrey’s face went pale.
Even if Aracila had never undergone bridal training, she was still a noblewoman who had received an excellent education.
Assigning her a servant’s task was a blatant act of humiliation.
“What? Are you refusing?”
Seeing Aracila standing motionless, the Grand Madam smirked arrogantly.
“If you wished to become a member of House Vandermir, you should have been prepared for this.”
Even though Aracila was not from a ducal family, she was still of noble lineage. Yet, the Grand Madam’s words were meant to belittle her.
She didn’t care if Aracila stormed out and reported everything to her family. If that caused discord between the two families, the natural consequence would be a rift between husband and wife.
It was good if she could mold Aracila into her puppet, but this method was even easier.
“What are you doing? Move!”
─── ･ ｡ﾟ✧: *. ꕥ .* :✧ﾟ. ───
