Chapter 14
The Rose faction was persistent. They were weeds. No matter how much I trampled on it, they managed to sow the seeds and sprout them without fail in the spring.
As society became impoverished due to the war, the voices of the Rose faction gradually faded away.
Then the war ended and the world changed drastically. The development of technology has enriched life, but it has also brought many problems.
Then this Rose started speaking again.
At first the queen ignored them. Because she was afraid that if she drew her sword, she would lose the peace she had barely gained.
And she had no cause.
They couldn’t cut off a person’s head just by gathering among themselves, printing out a book like ‘Liberty and Equality’ and reading it around. The best they could do was capture them and lock them up, but if they did that, the prison would explode.
So we chose coexistence. As long as they didn’t directly
challenge her system, the queen would leave them alone.
However, the false peace created by the delicate coexistence was quickly broken.
“The Rose faction attacked the Denver police force. A few guns also disappeared.”
“Are you sure that they were the one’s who did it?”
“The queen sees it that way. And she decided that they were plotting a rebellion.”
Since it was researched by the Queen’s dogs, there was a high probability that it was true.
“And what about Miss Jane?”
Cain took out a cigar. Nathan lit the end of his cigar and he took a deep drag.
Cain used to smoke cigars when he was unhappy about a situation.
“They needed a story that captivates people. Jane is perfect for that.”
The Whitney family, who supported the Rose faction even though they were great nobles, and the daughter of that noble family who met a miserable end while providing military funds to them seven years ago.
They want that Whitney’s daughter to come out in front of people and say it out together, ‘Rose in her right hand and bread in her left hand.’
“She will be their focal point. People will go crazy, After all she is Jane Whitney, she’ll be a star. She is whom the queen fears.”
Even if their army is not organized, we cannot stand by and watch their ideas rise to the surface and spread widely.
“Are you getting married for surveillance purposes? Is that why you appointed the black hawk, as your men?”
The black hawk was pointed towards the member of Cain’s secret organization operating beneath the surface.
They did not hesitate to undertake any difficult task at the word of Cain.
Cain nodded coolly, but Nathan believed that there was another reason.
This is because his attitude towards Jane was different from the usual Cain.
The Cain Nathan saw was kind to women. He was the epitome of a gentleman. He didn’t care whether the person had feelings for him or not, whether the person he was dealing with was a commoner or a noble.
But what was he like to Jane? At first glance, whenever he saw her in passing, he became more indifferent than an icicle in winter.
“Put this letter in the same envelope and send it to Kayden Street.”
The letter flew out of nowhere and Nathan was able to catch it just before it hit the floor. Thanks to this, Cain laughed at the ridiculous situation.
“I thought about something else and it sucks.”
You very graciously warned me not to think nonsense.
Nathan grumbled inwardly and answered calmly.
“I will send it to them.”
Like a good subordinate, he carried out his orders straight away.
Left alone, Cain lowered his head over his desk to do his work.
The light green envelope was still there. He had to burn it to leave no trace.
“It’s a nuisance.”
Cain looked at the envelope for quite a while before lighting it on fire.
Jane’s name, that neat handwriting.
Although she had become a completely different person, her handwriting was still the same as when she whispered her love to me.
It was Annoying.
* * *
Jane received Merce’s reply that evening. He was sad to be separated from his teacher. It must be a good thing that she moved into Hastings, right?
If it’s a good news, then please share it. Can I send you letters
often? Wolfgang also wants to write a letter to his teacher.
Even though Jane suddenly quit, Madame Merce was kind. The tip of Jane’s nose became sore at the kindness that was sprinkled throughout her letter.
She intended to leave the capital as soon as her contract with Cain ended, but she wanted to continue her relationship with Madame Merce.
Jane took out her stationery to write a reply. But she had to postpone sending her reply to Merce until later, as a maid interrupted and told her,
“Someone has come to take charge of your education.”
Michelle said quite politely. But the hostile attitude flowing through her body did not disappear.
As soon as she got married, she wanted to educate her subordinates first.
“Bring her in…”
“You must go yourself. Madame Themis is waiting for you at Fleurvain.”
“Lady Themis?”
Michelle nodded.
Jane sighed.
It seems that Cain has decided to trouble her.
If Madame Themis was truly my teacher, there was no time to hesitate.
Because she was a person who could not endure even a small amount of waiting and had no patience at all.
Jane and Lady Themis had known each other. It was a bad relationship. Jane stood up, clenching her fists.
“Take me to Fleurvain.”
‘She was someone I never wanted to meet again, but I couldn’t avoid her when things turned out like this.’
* * *
Anna, Viscountess Themis.
She made a name for herself as an etiquette teacher in the past.
In particular, she had a keen eye for correct posture and gait for
young ladies.
Many of the nobles lined up to be taught by her.
Thanks to her, Viscount Themis, who had no special abilities, walked around with his shoulders straight.
Naturally, Viscount Themis was supported by Viscountess Themis. Because of this situation, Lady Themis’s nose pierced the sky.
However, her popularity did not last for a thousand years. It was because of Mrs. Whitney.
Mrs. Whitney trusted only the reputation of Lady Themis and entrusted her with the education of young Jane.
Madam Themis’s teaching style was very pushy. She often used corporal punishment.
She was intolerable as she was proud about being appointed by Mrs. Whitney. The day Jane got her beatings from cane for spraining her leg in her shoe, Mrs. Whitney kicked Mrs. Themis out.
She didn’t stop there, but took issue with all of Lady Themis’s words and actions while criticizing Jane.
As Mrs. Whitney pulled down Lady Themis with her determination, the search for her disappeared.
It was a year before Jane moved to the capital that she, who had been thought to have been forgotten by the social circle, returned as an etiquette teacher.
Lady Themis appeared holding a letter of recommendation from a prestigious family.
Several families who wanted to establish ties with the family that wrote her letter of recommendation entrusted their children to Lady Themis.
From then on, she wrapped up her past.
Before we knew it, Mrs. Whitney had become a senseless person who lost her senses over her children’s affairs, and Mrs. Themis had become an unfair victim of losing her job because of her polarizing parents.
Nevertheless, there were very few ladies who learned from Lady Themis.
She never thought she would be among those few.
Jane swallowed her sigh.
“Her posture sucks.”
The paddle, with a pentagon-shaped leather tip at the end of the birch, flew out of nowhere and struck Jane’s lower back.
It’s been so long since she saw that Jane almost bent over her back.
As soon as I entered the room, I heard that I will be subjected to corporal punishment.
Over the years, Madame Themis has not changed one bit.
“May the glory of the Goddess be with you. It’s been a while since I saw you, Lady Themis.”
Wow.
This time it was Jane’s thighs.
“You should bow down more, Jane. Push your back foot further. You needs to do it right to make your debut come sooner. Did you say your name was Michelle?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You go out. I will report the contents of the training separately
to the duke.”
Michelle turned around and left without any sign of hesitation.
The words were hammered into Jane’s head: she was to report to Cain.
It was quite predictable what Lady Themis would say to him.
She is unladylike, has no grace, she can hardly be a debutante with only two months of preparation, she is vulgar, etc.
Lady Themis’s words reminded Jane of Cain, who would nod his head.
Jane gritted her teeth and did as she was told, lowering her posture a little lower.
Jane wondered how long Madame Themis would last like this.
When she was young, she would last up to an hour and then collapse.
Her body is now heavier than before, and the heels of her shoes are higher. She honestly wasn’t sure she could last more than 30 minutes.
But she hates losing. She intended to hold on as long as she could.
Because she didn’t want Cain to judge her as a woman without courage.
“Jane, there are two things you can say to me from now on. ‘I understand’, and ‘I’m sorry’.”
“Your legs are shaking.”
Suddenly, the paddle flew out. She felt a burning sensation, but she didn’t even twitch her eyebrows.
“It’s the same as before and now.”
It was Lady Themis who revealed to Jane the misfortune of her life. But she reprimands me for being harsh? Jane was shocked.
“Let’s see how long you can last.”
Madame Themis brought out her chair and placed it in front of Jane.
She was just the right distance to sit and swing the paddle.
I expected that the command to relax her posture would not be easy to come by.
All she had to do was say sorry, and Jane didn’t like that.
Patience was Jane’s strength, and after working her way up from the bottom for 7 years, she gained some courage.
Even if it is a fight where victory or defeat is decided, I will not be the first to end it.
Sweat began to flow from Jane’s forehead.
* * *
“Where are you taking that meal?”
Another maid spoke to Michelle as she carried her tray.
“A great person came in. They don’t work like us, so after receiving a few hours of training, they told us to bring their meal to the room so they wouldn’t be able to move.”
“A great person? who? ah… … That Whitney girl!”
“What are you saying? Can she be even called Lady? I saw that she was organizing her luggage and she was much worse than us. Her dress was in bad shape, and there isn’t a single decent accessory. If she goes out with us, you won’t know who the lady
is.”
“Be careful what you say. Deacon Norbert told me to treat her respectfully as she would become the duchess.”
Michelle shrugged her shoulders, implying that she would never do that.
The maid who had spoken to Michelle waved her hand, telling her to go away quickly, wondering if she would harm her due to Michelle’s comment.
Michelle climbed the stairs, swaying her voluptuous hips from side to side.
The other maid thought to herself,
‘If she kept on moving like that, then the food would all splatter.’
The maid looked at Michelle worriedly.
