Chapter 40

While Amourora ate dinner with her family, another girl was having her own troubles in the Veritas mansion...

A man once walked by a circus, and wondered why the workers tied the elephants with a small rope around one leg tied to a nail in the ground ?

"it was enough for them when they were little, and attempted to make a break for it, but failed to do so many times." their keeper answered. "Now that they are older, they already lost hope. But if they tried again, the rope would be as useless as cobwebs against rats. So instead of wasting material and ropes, and to minimize our efforts, we nip the idea in the bud and make it easier for ourselves."

And that's the duchess'es objective when she opened her mouth at dinner today." the weather has been quite lovely lately. "

" yes, despite the approaching winter, it's relatively warm. " the Duke made small talk to ease the dispirited atmosphere, why else would he talk about the weather with his wife?

There are more important matters to discuss. Their daughters, for example, have been acting prim and proper, no bickering, no picky eating, no giggling, the household's atmosphere had been rather cold without their aimless chatter. "it's very nice, I wonder if the girls enjoy it?"

"yes, father, it's nice."

"yes, we like walking in the garden. The weather is very good."

"daddy, the weather is too nice, it would be bad if we didn't go out more often together and enjoy the fresh breeze." Victoria answered enthusiastically, making each face in the room frown at her loud response. It totally ruined the peaceful atmosphere.

"that's nice, Victoria, but I'm afraid I will be sent on a mission soon."

"speaking of which, my brother in law would be leaving the capital as well, which brings me some worries." the duchess attracted all attention to her and away from Victoria who was about to mumble a few sweet words expressing her sadness in a cute way, in order to gain sympathy from her father and the servants.

Having been in society for a long time, and met numerous people, the duchess already figured out Victoria's personality easily.

"why so?"

"well, you see..." she hesitated as if reluctant to reveal any information. "I'm worried about Veronica and her current situation. She sent an invitation for a family picnic, but I fear she might feel a little lonely with her husband away, and with her personality, she will never say so..."

"then go for the picnic."

"yes. I was thinking of staying for a few days to take care of her, and the girls would keep Asher company."

"that sounds like a great idea!" Victoria joined in.

"how many times do I have to remind you not to speak unless spoken to?" The duchess sighed." and I don't think Veronica would appreciate bringing someone unannounced with her current condition. It's strictly family only event. "

" are you implying Victoria isn't part of the family?" The Duke questioned with a stiff expression.

'yes, I am.'

"I am just thinking for my sister, you know how she is." she justified with a gentle smile. "Victoria, why don't you continue learning manners here? I will bring you out when you're ready." like, never.

"but I have been doing really well, haven't I?" Victoria turned to her father for help. "don't I deserve a chance to prove myself?"

'Oh, you could hardly be worse.' the duchess thought in disdain.

"Verena, dear, give her a chance." the Duke asked nicely.

"your grace, I just don't want her to embarrass herself." she sighed like a mother worried over her daughter's future. Even if she said it nicely, the underlying meaning of her words is that she would confidently take the five-year-old Ilaria, but she wouldn't risk taking Victoria.

" then, can I go to the tea party with Aurelia instead?" The sparkle of hope in her eyes was hard to turn down.

'is she out of her mind?!' The duchess almost chocked on her food. 'I just said taking her to a family picnic is too much of a humiliation to bear and she wants to go to an exclusive party for the highest ranked noble ladies in the empire!'

"Victoria, we already went over this, you can't show up at a party uninvited." thankfully, Aurelia spoke out before the duchess could loose her temper.

"but, sister, I will be very well behaved!" Victoria grabbed Aurelia's hand and pleaded pitifully. "and you would be there to guide me, right?"

Aurelia didn't know how to reply, and glanced at her mother for help. "Victoria, I don't know how your life had been before coming here, but you must know, in this household, you are to abide by the rules and listen to his grace and I, just like everyone else. This matter is closed, don't bring it up, again."

Instead of dinner continuing quietly, Victoria ran out of the room in sobs, like the world had done her a great injustice, stealing sympathy from people's hearts. Instead of a mother disciplining her misbehaving daughter, Victoria switched the image to a wicked stepmother bullying a defenseless little girl.

"Victoria!" the Duke stood up.

"your grace!" the duchess stopped him. She sighed, she really had underestimated her opponent, but she couldn't let that girl drive a wedge between her and her husband. "I will go after her."

As much as she hated doing so because it will give victoria some importance in the mansion for the duchess to personally apologize to her , it was her only choice. Even if she didn't apologize, people would think she did. Who knew such a little girl could be so cunning?

She didn't bother to knock, and walked right in. Had she been a second later, she would have caught a little boy climbing out the window. She had no intention of talking to Victoria, so she sat on the couch and summoned her. "Victoria, come over here."

The girl wrapped her blankets tighter, and continued sobbing, worrying her maid who was trembling in the corner. A countryside peasant dares ignore the duchess! How presumptuous!

"alright, then. If you chose to stay that way, then be it." the duchess might lose prestige if she allows her to treat her with anything less than respect. "you shall have all your meals here until you learn to behave respectfully to your superiors."

"go away!" the duchess heard a muffled yell as she was about to walk out the door. Go away? Did that audacious girl just dare to say that? The duchess's blood boiled, she wasn't able to have one peaceful day ever since that cursed girl stepped foot in the mansion.

"you...no allowance for half a year! And you are to copy 'The Lady's Guide' ten times!" let's see if she would dare act out after that.