Vivianne chewed the bread, her cheeks full.

“She seems to enjoy the croissant. Should I have them bring more?”

Richard asked his master while watching Vivianne completely absorbed in the bread.

“No need. She should eat a variety of things.”

“Yes.”

When Vivianne focused solely on the bread, Kian ordered Richard to clear away the appetizers. He himself only sipped champagne, not touching any of the food.

Soon, the serving maids brought out the main dish.

“This is French rack steak with cognac sauce.”

Cognac… what?

The name was too long to remember.

Just then, she noticed a maid’s glance briefly touch her cheek before looking away.

A former fellow maid not only serving in the bedroom but now dining on a course meal with the master. She could hardly believe her current position herself. The maid seemed to feel the same way, trying to hide it but still stealing glances.

Though this wasn’t her first time eating such meat, Matilda had always cut it into bite-sized pieces for her. She should have paid more attention when Matilda was cutting it. Why did she mindlessly just eat whatever was given to her? She regretted her thoughtlessness.

“…”

If only Kian would eat so she could copy him. Vivianne just blinked while staring at Kian. When their eyes met, Kian smirked and put down his glass.

Then he skillfully began cutting with a knife and fork in hand.

Right. I need to copy exactly what he’s doing.

She tried, but it was difficult from the start. There were too many metal things – no, utensils on both sides of the plate.

She stared intently and picked up something similar to try copying him.

The utensils scraped across the plate with a clatter, not cutting well at all.

At the sound of a snicker, she looked up to see Kian biting back a smile.

I should have just kept eating bread.

…How embarrassing.

Her face burned hot and her fingertips trembled.

While she kept her head down, Kian suddenly stood up. He walked behind Vivianne and switched his plate with the one in front of her.

“Eat plenty, Vivi.”

She saw the steak was cut into easy-to-eat pieces.

Kian stabbed a piece with a fork and placed it in her hand. In moments like this, his kindness showed clearly.

“Hurry.”

At his urging, she put the piece of steak in her mouth and chewed. Rich meat juices filled her mouth. Vivianne’s eyes widened slightly.

“Is it good?”

“…Yes.”

The cognac whatever-it-was… truly had an excellent taste.

Her heart pounded fast, and she felt blood rushing through her body. While she diligently ate as told, Kian couldn’t take his eyes off her lips.

“What did you put on?”

“What?”

“I asked what you put on your lips.”

Ah, is he talking about the makeup? They applied powder to her face and something to add vitality to her lips. Because of that, her lips were redder than their natural color.

“Matilda did it for me.”

“Matilda did something unnecessary.”

Did I do something wrong again?

Vivianne swallowed a piece of meat in surprise.

Kian suddenly grabbed her chin. He stared intently at her lips, and she wondered if maybe… he was going to kiss her, but he firmly wiped her lips with his thumb before letting go.

Kian returned to his seat with a completely nonchalant expression.

With her face burning hot, she looked at Richard. Despite the somewhat bewildering situation, Richard’s expression remained completely unchanged. Vivianne thought Richard resembled the statues in the Mermaid Palace garden.

This is so embarrassing. She stuffed the nicely cut meat into her mouth one after another, and before she knew it while chewing, her plate was empty.

“Bring dessert.”

Kian barely touched the food and only gave orders. He seemed more focused on feeding her than eating himself.

From what she heard from Annabel, males commonly provided food for females after mating, but for Kian to do so… It felt a bit strange.

When the maids brought dessert, the first thing that caught her eye was chocolate.

…That looks delicious!

Her mouth watered.

“Stop, Vivi.”

She reached out to take one but was stopped.

“None of these contain rum, right?”

“No, sir.”

“Eat, Vivi.”

Though she didn’t know what rum was, she could only eat after he checked something.

Vivianne put the chocolate in her mouth and let it melt slowly.

She felt like she might have eaten chocolate yesterday too. Did she eat it in a dream?

After coming out of the bathroom, she only remembered feeling dizzy.

“Have you discussed it with Matilda?”

Kian casually asked Richard while observing Vivianne eating.

“Yes. We’ve arranged a writing teacher first. As for waltz and conversation lessons…”

“We should teach her dining etiquette first.”

When she ate alone in her room, he hadn’t noticed.

Though she mimicked dining etiquette, she clearly lacked familiarity with it.

Whenever Vivianne came up in conversation, Matilda would defend her saying she was like a precious young lady, but from any angle, she seemed far from that.

“I’ll look into it.”

“Wasn’t there a teacher who specializes in training noble young ladies?”

“Yes, master. Countess Spencer is famous in that field.”

Kian nodded slowly.

“Then contact that woman.”

* * *

“You received a request from Larson?”

In the Steward Marquis family’s reception room, Penelope Steward asked casually while setting down her teacup.

In contrast, Countess Spencer sitting across from her struggled to suppress her displeasure.

“Yes, Penelope. I was so taken aback when I received it that I came straight here.”

“It seems the Duke wants to display his precious toy to the world.”

Countess Spencer was renowned for teaching lady’s etiquette to daughters of noble families.

Even spoiled girls would transform into sophisticated darlings of social circles under her guidance. Because of this, Countess Spencer took great pride in her work. After all, even Penelope Steward before her was one of her works.

“My goodness, Penelope. What is all this about? Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Please let go of your anger, Countess. Just chat comfortably with me.”

Seeing how she showed no emotional reaction to such an absurd situation, she thought she had taught her well. Personally, she had also been friends with the Marchioness Steward since childhood.

Even after Count Spencer’s death, she survived in social circles solely by her own strength through this work. Due to her pride, she would refuse requests from minor noble families with remote territories or nouveau riche, no matter how much they offered to pay. She believed it would lower the status of herself and her clients.

In terms of family and title alone, Larson was top tier. But since Larson had no daughters, there had been no occasion to form a connection. Yet now a request came from Larson, where there was a young unmarried Duke.

To educate a woman with no background.

Scandalously, rumors spread that the Duke had picked up a woman from the beach.

When she saw the Larson crest on the envelope, she thought “surely not,” but it was outrageous. Taking such a woman as a client would tarnish the reputation she had built up. And thinking of Penelope’s position, it made her angry as a woman.

Upon coming of age, the Duke of Larson suddenly announced his enlistment and kept extending his service. Though there was the pretext of continuing Larson’s tradition of producing distinguished naval officers, everyone knew these were just excuses.

Already three years older than him, Penelope had trusted in their families’ engagement arrangement, but as the Duke’s service period lengthened, she couldn’t help but pass her prime marriage age.

And now, on top of rumors about him being absorbed with a plaything, he requests etiquette training. Does this mean he intends to introduce a woman with no background to society? It was unacceptable.

“So what will you do?”

“I’m thinking of refusing. It goes against my principles.”

She showed an uncharacteristically agitated appearance for Countess Spencer.

“How cruel of the Duke! If this isn’t deliberately trying to shame you, then what is it?”

“Surely not.”

“Give it up now. Even if it’s an arranged marriage. My dear, if a man behaves so recklessly before marriage, it’s obvious what he’ll be like after… We can find you a new match somehow…”

“I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine.”

“…Penelope.”

“At this point, I seem to be developing some stubbornness.”

Penelope smiled bitterly.

If his intention was to openly insult her, she couldn’t simply go along with it.

“Countess. May I ask you one favor?”

“Of course. Speak freely.”

“If you don’t mind, please accept Larson’s request.”

“What?”

Countess Spencer asked back with an expression of disbelief.

“Since the Duke has personally given me a gift, I should return the favor.”

Penelope smiled gracefully.