Chapter 7

 

 

Catherine watched Iris Nancy as she circled Eleanor, checking her posture.

In the original story, Iris was different from her gentle appearance—she was strict and cunning. 

She had no hesitation in using a cane for discipline and was skilled at making her students believe they deserved the punishment.

Eleanor first met Iris Nancy in her sixth life. At that time, Eleanor had made a deal with Duke  to get a proper teacher. 

She wanted to become the shining star of high society and avoid being ignored by her family.

“Just trust me. I will teach you perfectly so that no one can ever look down on you again.”

“Teacher…!”

“Please, just call me Iris, Lady Eleanor.”

But no matter how much time passed, the lessons never ended.

Iris constantly scolded Eleanor for her lack of etiquette and continued to punish her. 

Later, Eleanor realized that Iris was working for Rachel. 

But by then, it was too late. Her body was already covered with marks from the beatings.

Iris always made sure to hit only the hidden parts of Eleanor’s body, so no one noticed her cruelty. In her sixth life, Eleanor slowly withered away under Iris’s abuse. 

But Iris never felt guilty—in fact, she seemed to grow more radiant, as if feeding off Eleanor’s suffering.

Catherine shivered as she recalled how Iris had hidden her cruel nature behind a kind face in the original story. 

Unconsciously, she rubbed her arm to shake off the chills.

Iris clapped her hands and smiled. “Lady Eleanor, you are already so perfect that you hardly need my guidance.”

Eleanor blushed slightly at the praise, dimples forming on her cheeks. But Catherine noticed something others might have missed—Eleanor’s amethyst-colored eyes were not smiling at all. Deep within them was a heavy sadness.

“Thank you, teacher.”

“Oh my, ‘teacher’?” Iris gasped in exaggerated surprise. “How could I possibly accept such an honor?”

“I am your student. It is only right for me to call you that.”

Iris seemed pleased by Eleanor’s words and nodded with a satisfied smile. 

But when her gaze met Catherine’s, she quickly cleared her throat and adjusted her expression.

Then, she turned to Catherine with a sharp look. “Lady Catherine, you are… quite hopeless, aren’t you?”

Catherine raised an eyebrow.

“You are the worst student I have ever taught,” Iris sighed, looking at her as if she were some unsolvable problem.

Catherine smirked. ‘She says this to every new student, how predictable.’

“Did you not receive basic etiquette training as a child? Compared to Lady Eleanor and the other noble daughters, your manners are truly lacking.”

‘Wow, comparing students to each other? That’s one of the worst teaching methods in South Korean cram schools. Are you secretly Korean?’

“Now that I am here, I will make sure your manners become perfect. Just trust me completely!”

‘She sounds like a cult leader…’

Catherine let Iris’s words go in one ear and out the other, replying with a half-hearted, “Yes, I understand.”

She had to admit, though—her etiquette skills were indeed lacking. Maybe it would have been better if she had just learned properly from a young age.

Iris clapped her hands again. “Now that I’ve assessed your current level, let’s start with something simple. 

Please sit and pick up your teacups.”

Catherine looked at the table. Everything needed for tea time was there—a teapot, milk, sugar, cups, saucers, and teaspoons.

“Imagine you have been invited to tea by another noble lady. 

Your cup is empty, and now the tea will be served.”

While Catherine hesitated, Eleanor smoothly took the lead.

“Thank you for inviting me. May I pour the tea?”

Her movements were graceful, and not a single drop of tea spilled from the pot.

‘How can something as simple as pouring tea look so elegant?’ Catherine thought, mesmerized.

“This must be high-quality Darjeeling. I can detect the muscatel aroma—like wine,” Eleanor said.

“You have a keen sense,” Iris replied approvingly.

“I enjoy reading, and I once read that fine Darjeeling tea has a wine-like scent. I’m honored to share such good tea with you.”

Iris and Eleanor smiled as they exchanged pleasant conversation.

Catherine, meanwhile, watched them blankly.

After serving tea to Iris, Eleanor handed a cup to Catherine.

Catherine frowned slightly.

She had never liked tea—it always tasted too bitter. 

She glanced at the others, both sipping their tea gracefully.

‘It would look weird if I were the only one not drinking.’

Reluctantly, she picked up the sugar.

“Lady Catherine?”

“Yes?”

“You’re putting in that much sugar?” Iris asked in disbelief.

Catherine looked at her cup. ‘Did I put in too much?’

Seeing Catherine’s puzzled expression, Iris sighed.

“Darjeeling is best enjoyed plain. That way, you can truly appreciate its rich flavors and aroma. Or do you prefer a quick moment of sweetness over the depth of taste?”

“This is just a casual tea time. 

I think it’s fine for everyone to enjoy their tea however they like.”

Iris exhaled sharply. “Fine, but the way you stir your tea is incorrect. You must stir up and down, not in circles.”

She shook her head, looking at Catherine as if she were hopeless.

Meanwhile, Eleanor sipped her tea in silence, the perfect image of a noble lady. 

Given how many lives she had lived, it was no surprise.

To Iris, Eleanor was the ideal student.

“Lady Eleanor and Lady Catherine are completely different,” Iris muttered with a sigh.

Catherine spent the rest of the lesson being compared to Eleanor.

* * *

After the lesson, Catherine watched from the window as Iris Nancy finally left the mansion. She turned to head back to her room when—

“What’s gotten into you?”

Eleanor’s voice stopped her.

Catherine turned to face her. “What?”

“If this were the old you, you would have flipped the table already. You don’t like that teacher, so what’s your plan?”

Eleanor’s face showed no particular emotion—she seemed to be asking out of pure curiosity.

Catherine hesitated, then shrugged.

“She was introduced by my mother. If I cause trouble, she’ll hear about it immediately. I’d rather not deal with that, so I’ll just go along with it for now.”

“I see…”

Eleanor stared at her for a moment before leaving the room.

Catherine wasn’t sure what Eleanor’s reaction meant. She stood still for a moment, lost in thought, before heading back to her room.

Even if today’s lesson had ended smoothly, Catherine knew it wouldn’t be long before Iris started tormenting Eleanor.

After all, Rachel would order it.

But unlike the original story, Catherine was determined to protect Eleanor from Iris’s abuse.

‘This is my chance!’

Of course, Eleanor might still suffer to some extent—she was, after all, the central character of the story.

‘But if I can protect her from the worst of it, I can prove that I’m not the same old Catherine anymore!’

Clenching her fists, Catherine made up her mind.

At that moment, she believed everything would go smoothly.

She had no idea how wrong she was.