I'll Definitely Let You Be Happy

"Olivia, which necklace do you think matches my dress best?" Kalina asked while holding up the precious jewels to her neck while sitting in front of her vanity.

"O-Oh, me?" Olivia replied. It had been a week since Kalina had recovered from her illness and had been behaving strangely, even going as far as to request that Olivia, a mere cleaning maid, become her personal maid.

"Yes," Kalina smiled at her in the mirror. "I want Olivia to help me."

"I-I like that one." Olivia pointed to the sapphire necklace that Kalina held in her right hand. Kalina handed it to her, and she fastened it around her neck.

"Now, shall we go meet my teacher?"

In Kalina's past life, she had paid no attention to learning etiquette or dance and played dress-up all day. This led her to being seen as an uncultured and unruly lady while Lucille was praised for having polished manners despite being of common origin.

This time, Kalina was determined to never let Lucille surpass her in any way, and decided to become a perfect lady.

Being from a prestigious Ducal family, Kalina was assigned the best tutors available. However, they were reluctant to teach her because of the rumors surrounding her wayward personality.

As Kalina entered the sitting room, she glimpsed an older woman sitting primly on the sofa while sipping a cup of tea. She was the empire's best etiquette teacher, who personally taught the empress many years ago, Countess Bianca. Surprisingly, she did not get up to greet Kalina although Kalina was of higher social standing.

Kalina found this quite reasonable since the Countess disapproved of anything improper, such as herself. Additionally, she would be an important piece in her plan. Instead of having an outburst like the Countess expected, she gracefully picked up her skirt and curtsied, her expression showing no irritation.

"Greetings, Countess Bianca. I hope your journey here was pleasant." she said, copying the greeting that she had watched her mother use when welcoming guests.

The Countess appeared to be shocked for a moment before recovering and nodding quickly. She placed down her teacup and returned the greeting.

"Hello, Lady Kalina. I have heard many things about you."

Oh, I'm sure you have. Not many good things, I suppose.

Kalina felt the Countess' scrutinizing gaze watch her every move as she sat down on the couch opposite the woman. Olivia poured her a cup of tea before moving to stand by the door.

"Is that so?" Kalina answered after drinking a bit of tea. "I'm looking forward to being taught by the Countess."

She lowered her teacup and gave the Countess a smile that made her unable to say any more.

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"How was your first lesson?" The Duchess asked that night during dinner.

"It was fun," Kalina answered as she recalled the Countess' face when she spoke properly. "The Countess was very kind."

"Really?" Although Countess Bianca was an acquaintance of Duchess Ephraim's, the latter had never viewed her as someone kind–rather, she was someone who was strict even with those close to her.

"Yes, I'm looking forward to the next lesson." Kalina said as she fiddled with her food. Looking towards the head of the table, where the chair where the Duke would sit was empty, she frowned.

"Mother, when will Father return?" She felt agitated calling the Duke her father although she now knew they were not biologically related, but she kept it in for her mother's sake.

"Oh, that's..." The Duchess was visibly flustered at her daughter's question. The truth was, she knew that her husband had been visiting brothels and drinking alcohol until late at night, though he had always returned to the mansion late at night. However, he hadn't returned for a week now and she suspected he was living with a mistress. She didn't care whether or not he kept a mistress, but she was worried that it would affect her daughter.

"Mother." Her daughter's voice made her snap out of her trance.

"Yes, dear?"

"Do you love Father?"

"Pardon?"

The Duchess was bewildered at the questions Kalina was bombarding her with. Could it be that she misses her father and wants to see him?

"Mother. Please tell me the truth." Kalina reached across the dinner table and took her one of her mother's hands in both of her own. She looked at her mother with eyes that seemed to say, 'you can trust me.'

"I can't keep anything from you, can I?" Kalina's mother sighed, rubbing her temples with her other hand. She turned back and gave a faint smile. "I don't. However, he is the father of my one and only daughter, so you must not worry about us."

Kalina felt her heart tighten as she thought of how much her mother must have suffered for her in her previous life, being in a loveless marriage and being forced to endure the shame of letting a mistress live in her family home.

"Mother, I'll save you this time, for sure." Kalina said while squeezing her mother's hand firmly. The image of the Duchess laying in bed lifelessly surfaced in Kalina's mind as she vowed to never let her mother suffer again.

"Kalina? What was that?"

"It's nothing, Mother. I'm just grateful." Kalina forced a smile, her hands shaking slightly.

"I'm glad you seem to be acting more maturely as of late," her mother told her, "but you're still a child. If you need ever anything, let Mother know."

Kalina nodded, but deep down inside, she knew that in this life, she had found out much to allow her mother to be burdened by her. Instead, she would ensure her mother's happiness so that she would never suffer again.