“TRANSLATED BY RJR”
“I guess I lost my memory and forgot my table manners. I thought carefully about why my brothers said those things to me yesterday and reflected on myself.”
“What?”
Evan’s expression was strangely distorted at my words, and Louise instinctively asked me back. I looked at Louise, who had asked back with good timing, and his eyes closed softly.
“Are you saying that for the Clement family?”
“…!”
“No matter how much I lost my memory, I am the adopted daughter of the Clement family.”
Was it because of the term ‘adoptive daughter’? Not only the twins but also Chase’s expressions hardened. I continued with a friendly smile as if to reassure him.
“I want to become someone worthy of the Clement family. I will try my best.”
The servants standing nearby seemed surprised for a moment and then smiled happily, and the dedicated maids looked at me with emotion.
“…”
“…”
Evan and Louise were frozen and just looked at me as if observing me. A smile appeared on Chase’s face as he was worried about me.
“You had an amazing idea.”
“Thank you.”
While I politely said thank you, my eyes were fixed on the greasy food. Ah, the flow must not be interrupted. That was when I picked up the silverware again.
“I still want to give you a gift.”
“Yes?”
I looked back at Chase, leaving the fork that was heading for the plate in the air.
“Is there anything you want? A wish or something. I want to do everything for you when you wake up.”
At Chase’s words, I quickly put away my fork and burst into laughter. What a gift! In this place where there was no lack! I still felt like I was enjoying a lot of things, but when he told me to tell him what I wanted to do, the rankings on my bucket list came to mind.
“Okay…”
Oh, this was it. What should I wish for so that I can be known for having made a good wish?
Just as I was grinning and thinking excitedly, Chase added with a dark look on his face.
“But.”
“…?”
“Except for leaving the mansion.”
Huh? I… Was I trapped? At Chase’s words, I opened my eyes and looked at him.
“Since you have lost your memory, it seems dangerous to leave the mansion for a while.”
The benevolent Chase’s words sounded plausible, but there was something uneasy about them. It was difficult to accept Chase’s words, but I nodded first.
“Yes. Once I learn quickly enough to not worry, you’ll let me go then!”
Chase looked worried for a moment at my answer but then smiled.
“Okay. Please think about your wish slowly.”
* * *
As Chase said, I set a tight schedule to learn everything from greeting etiquette to dining etiquette, gait, and social etiquette. My teacher was the learned Lady Isabella of the Duke of Twilly.
“This child will be a very good friend to you. She is the princess of the Twili family, so it goes without saying.”
The Twilly family was one of the four major ducal families and was renowned for its deep tradition of learning and outstanding medical skills. What makes their medical skills special is the specialized healing magic that has been passed down from generation to generation. Usually, healing magic emits white light like a snowflake, but the Twilly family is said to be the only one that emits mysterious colors such as emerald, jade, or turquoise. The important thing was not only that the color was special, but that no one in the empire could match its healing ability. Of the four great dukes, one has tremendous military power and the other has impenetrable defense power. There was no separate fantasy partner between the spear and the shield.
“How thankful we are that such a strong family is our close friend.”
“Yes!”
Chase seemed proud that he had maintained a friendly relationship with the Twilley family for so long. It was said that the Twilly family and the Clement family have had a close relationship since the founding of the country. At the time of founding the Ruman Empire, the people of the Twilly family were the ones who most closely supported the Clement family, which provided military power. Thanks to this, the two families’ mansions were close together. Centered around the capital of the Ruman Empire, Duke Clement’s residence was located to the east and Duke Twilly’s residence was located to the south. It was probably only natural that Lady Isabella came to be my teacher.
“Make sure you get along well with Lady Twilly.”
“Yes, Dad!”
I exclaimed energetically, looking forward to tutoring with Lady Twilly.
* * *
‘Wow.’
My first impression of Isabella was that she was neat and noble. She couldn’t take her eyes off the mysterious feeling of her straight turquoise hair and auburn eyes combining strangely. Despite her jewelry, the shape of her dress, and her plain attire, the aura emanating from her body seemed like a recreation of a refreshing forest goddess. I greeted Isabella first with the utmost courtesy.
“It is an honor to meet you. My name is Roella Clemend.”
Isabella’s eyes widened, surprised by my polite greeting. She may have thought it was rude, but she hurriedly lowered her head.
“It’s an honor to see you again. My name is Isabella Twilley.”
The sight of her gently lifting her skirt in greeting made her look like a well-educated noblewoman. I caught her graceful greeting.
‘That’s how you say hello.’
I hadn’t learned anything yet, but I thought she would be a good teacher. I grinned at her, my eyes filled with anticipation. She still had her eyes wide open. Isabella, unable to hide her surprise, put her gentle hand to her mouth.
“Really… You’ve lost your memory.”
“Ah. Were we close by any chance?”
Since they said that that ducal house was a close friend of the Clemente family, I thought that Isabella and I might also have a close relationship. But perhaps that was not the case, as a troubled look appeared on Isabella’s face. But, judging from Roella’s reckless temperament shown at the beginning of the web novel, there was no way she could have had a peaceful chat with Isabella.
Soon she smiled softly and shook her head flexibly.
“I will speak slowly. Shall we go in first?”
Chase’s choice was excellent. Isabella knew many things. While she taught me etiquette, she also carefully explained the history of the Ruman Empire, the four major ducal families, and Clement’s honor and status so that I would not make any mistakes. Thanks to this, the content of the vague web novel was revived more clearly.
Isabella’s class was very enjoyable to listen to. The best thing was that the explanation was easy to understand and tailored to my level as I was not yet familiar with this world.
‘It’s almost like a one-time instructor?’
The more I listened to Isabella’s explanation, the more I felt assimilated into this world. Of course, we also shared past stories. According to her, Isabella and I were not close friends. We didn’t even show up in social circles, so we never had to meet each other.
Isabella picked and chose her words and, so as not to offend me, explained in broad strokes that we had a strange relationship. I liked Isabella’s consideration of me, and she was very kind to me. She, Isabella, tried to pretend she didn’t, but she turned like no one else and she glanced at me as if I was curious. Several hours passed in an instant. Outside the window, the sky was turning orange, as if the sun would set at any moment.
“Oh my, it’s already so late. I think I’ll just have to go.”
“Yes! Thank you so much for today, teacher!”
Isabella’s body suddenly stopped at my words.
“Oh, I… Is this rude?”
At my cautious question, Isabella belatedly blushed and jumped up.
“Yes?!”
“I think it’s right to call you that since you’re my teacher.”
Among the four major ducal families, if one were to rank them based on their share of territory and status, the first place was the Clemente family, the second place was the Vallière family, the third place was the Twilly family, and the last place was the Hugeil family. I knew that I should treat Isabella as my equal, but she wasn’t used to that status yet, and since she was five years older than me, she felt like a tutor, so it was a title that came naturally to me.
“I hope you will teach me many things in the future.”
When asking for a favor, a smile is always the best. As I smiled as plainly as a gypsum flower, Isabella stared into space as if lost in complicated thoughts. From the looks of it, it didn’t seem unpleasant… Why did she make that face?
Finally, her eyes returned to focus.
“My father told me that the closer you are, the more polite you should be,” she said. “So we don’t lose that relationship.”
“Ah.”
“Lady Clemend’s feelings have been fully conveyed. I’m so glad you think of me as a teacher.”
Isabella gave me an innocent smile. I admired the Duke of Twilly’s character again as I saw her smile like the morning sun. The closer you are, the more polite you should be. After all, there’s a reason her dad is so close!
“It wasn’t enough and I was rude to Lady Twilly. Please teach me more next time.”
“Sure.”
They gave each other another polite greeting and were about to turn around.
“Really.”
“?”
“I’m so glad you woke up. Kai was very worried about Lady Clemend.”
Kai? Who is that? When I tilted my head with an expression of complete ignorance, Isabella spoke in a soft voice.
“You may not remember, but he is my younger brother. She cared for Lady Clemend so much…”
Did he care about me?
“Maybe we’ll meet again soon.”
No way… A new candidate?! Okay! Family members couldn’t be the only candidates for the male lead!
“Then. See you next time.”
After hearing Isabella’s meaningful words, I suddenly nodded and sent her away. Looking at her back, I burst into tears. Wait a moment. I think there’s a high possibility that it’s a new candidate… but I can’t leave the mansion!
* * *
As soon as Isabella returned to her duchy, she headed to the office to offer her greetings to her father, the Duke of Twilly. When Duke Twilly first asked her to take charge of Lady Clemend’s classes, she was worried. Even when the dukes of each family went to each other’s mansions, Roella made all kinds of excuses and did not show her face even once.
She didn’t mention it to Roella because she was afraid it would be awkward, but it wasn’t uncommon for her to spot Roella walking by, pretending not to see her.
‘That Lady Clemend…’
Roella was completely different. She was as friendly as a human being, and surprisingly, she could communicate well. Isabella thought she and Roella might be good friends. Furthermore…
─Yes! Thank you so much for today, teacher!
Isabella’s original dream was to become a member of the church. It was her dream for a long time to see the teachers teaching her at the academy. However, as a scion of the Twilly family who continued her medical practice from generation to generation, there was only one path for Isabella to follow. It was in the same context that Isabella was studying medicine at Lu Imperial University. When she was young, Isabella almost had her exiled from the Duchy of Twilly when she tried to rebel against her father’s unconditional insistence on medicine. The Duke of Twilly was particularly stubborn when it came to his children’s education.
It wasn’t that she didn’t understand. She respected Duke Twilly, who continued his deep learning and medical skills, as her father. But her own dreams and her family’s honor were different stories. Ever since she realized she could never defeat her father, Isabella has remained faithful to her assigned role. It was as if she was trudging alone down her single path, with cliffs all around her. However…
‘Teacher… You’re a teacher.’
It was her forgotten title. A dream that naturally gave up as the years passed. As she heard the title she had dreamed of, it seemed like her hidden hopes were shining down on me like incontinence. But her father’s stern face appeared as if to cut off Isabella’s dreams as they grew like her buds.
─What’s the point of having such a dishonorable job?
─Isn’t your natural ability a waste?
As if by instinct, she could not help but correct Loella’s words, calling her teacher. Although she felt very disappointed, Isabella felt that the title she had heard only once would remain in her heart for a long time.
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Translator Note:
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
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