4. Something New

The Berthe mansion, after weathering a storm, was more subdued than usual. Worry filled the faces of the servants who cared for Rosia. While everyone talked about what nonsensical thing had happened to their kind and lovely Rosia, they shook their heads unable to understand why she had rejected Grand Duke Gragford’s proposal. With the family’s situation already difficult, Rosia had kicked away a fortune that had rolled in on its own.

Perhaps weighed down by the mansion’s atmosphere, Rosia, who had barely managed her meal with soup and bread as she had no appetite, stared blankly at the newspaper before turning to the back pages. Along with rustling sounds, quite a few job listings filled her view. Her nanny, who was sitting beside her doing needlework, glanced at her and asked.

“Why are you looking at job listings, Miss?”

“Just because. I think I need to find my own path.”

The nanny closed her mouth. She had believed that Rosia, who had grown from a small and cute child into such a beautiful young lady, would surely find a suitable match and marry. But unlike other servants, she didn’t think that ‘suitable match’ was Grand Duke Gragford. Rosia needed a more excellent and wonderful husband.

The nanny was one of the few people who weren’t enchanted by the Grand Duke’s handsome face and power. But how was Rosia now? She seemed unwilling to even meet young nobles, let alone marry. The nanny started to gradually worry. Women who missed their marriage age not only faced unfavorable views but often died lonely with few social opportunities. Given the current state, they couldn’t even guarantee when the Berthe viscounty would recover, so they needed to find a suitable marriage prospect for Rosia’s sake.

But no one had visited the mansion since her debut. Except for Nigel Gragford. And now with that awful article circulating, things would become even more difficult. The nanny swallowed the words ‘my poor Miss’ past her throat and asked.

“Miss, how was the recent party? Was there anyone you liked?”

“I’m not sure.”

Rosia’s gaze remained fixed on the job listings section. She read each listing carefully. Most were seeking servants. No matter how dire their circumstances, servant work would be too much for Rosia. She lowered her head a bit more. Only at the bottom of the page could she find a suitable listing. Count Hess family, governess, weekly pay, commuting possible. After quickly confirming just the most important few words, Rosia muttered.

“The Count Hess family is looking for a governess.”

“A governess? You mean to do it yourself, Miss?”

The nanny’s eyes went wide with surprise. She almost pricked her finger with the needle.

“The Viscount won’t like it……”

“The weekly pay isn’t bad.”

“But Miss, wouldn’t it be better to attend more parties and meet good people?”

The nanny worried that Rosia would become distant from social circles while working as a governess. Understanding her feelings well, Rosia smiled gently and held the nanny’s hands. The nanny was like family to her. Since the nanny also cherished Rosia like her own daughter, she couldn’t just dismiss it as unwanted advice.

“Stop worrying about me, Nanny.”

“But still……”

“This is all experience too. I really want to try it. I should send a letter to the Hess family. Can you deliver it? I’d like to tell Father later.”

“Well, if you insist……”

Though the nanny was quite reluctant, she had no choice but to nod when Rosia asked with a smile. To reassure her, Rosia casually brought up the Grand Duke.

“Thanks to His Highness Grand Duke Gragford, it’ll be difficult to attend parties for a while anyway.”

“Why does His Highness keep tormenting you so? From the very beginning.”

The nanny heaved a deep sigh. Rosia gazed at the handkerchief the nanny was embroidering and replied softly.

“He must be lonely.”

Rosia recalled Nigel’s fine features. A strange loneliness lingered behind his splendid appearance. Rosia felt sorry for Nigel. Having lived away from his homeland for 10 years, no one would properly remember him even if he was a prince. Everyone only cast curious glances at the principality’s master who had returned after 10 years. Until now, this country’s only prince had been the Crown Prince.

However, this didn’t mean she had any intention of marrying Nigel. Rosia didn’t want to sell her life for cheap sympathy. She began writing the letter to send to the Count Hess family. She hoped that Count Hess would read this letter and think favorably of it.

＊＊＊

After almost ten days had passed, a reply came from Count Hess. Rosia couldn’t open the letter the nanny handed her for quite some time. What if they refused? That thought filled her mind. The nanny was equally anxious. She worried about what to do if Miss really became a governess for the Count’s family. Although she had become the contact person because Rosia had begged so desperately, she had been somewhat confident that the Hess family wouldn’t hire Rosia. Moreover, since the reply came so late, while the nanny assumed it must be a rejection, she still worried just in case.

“Miss, please open it quickly.”

The tired nanny urged her. Rosia barely moved her fingers while nervously chewing her lips. The snow-white envelope opened, revealing a small letter inside. Rosia took a deep breath and unfolded the letter that was folded in half.

She slowly began reading the reply that started with ‘Lady Berthe.’ When she finally read the last sentence and Count Hess’s signature, Rosia couldn’t contain herself anymore and jumped to her feet. The nanny, who had been anxiously watching from beside her, almost fell backward in surprise.

“Ah, Miss!”

“They want to interview me, Nanny!”

“What?”

Rosia hugged the nanny with a bright smile. The nanny blinked her round eyes in bewilderment. An interview. This meant the Hess family had expressed their willingness to possibly employ Rosia. Good heavens. The nanny’s hands lost their place.

“The Viscount won’t be pleased when he finds out.”

“It’s better to do something than just sit around being a burden on food expenses. This will surely help.”

Rosia remained calm despite the nanny’s concerns. Receiving a positive response from Count Hess lifted her confidence that had hit rock bottom over the past few weeks. After checking the letter several more times, Rosia folded it back into the envelope and asked.

“What should I wear?”

“……Something as proper as possible would be best.”

The nanny reluctantly answered. Rosia patted her shoulders reassuringly and said.

“Don’t worry too much, Nanny. Father will understand.”

“I can only hope so.”

The nanny let out a faint sigh, but Rosia pretended not to notice. It was a far better choice to teach a count’s child and receive payment than to live forcibly married to an unfamiliar man. Rosia opened her wardrobe to select clothes for the interview.

“Black might be a bit much, right?”

“Dark navy would be better.”

“How about this?”

“That buttoned dress over there would suit you better.”

“Thank you, Nanny.”

The nanny ended up helping choose a dress before she knew it. It was a proper dress in dark blue fabric with pearl buttons. Rosia took out the dress, stood in front of the mirror to try it against her body, and nodded.

“You’re right, Nanny. This is better. Somehow I feel like a teacher.”

“You already look like one.”

“I want to think positively.”

Rosia genuinely wanted to become a governess for the Hess family. Though she didn’t know how to handle young children having grown up as the youngest, she thought it was something she could learn gradually. Count Hess’s letter stated that if she passed the interview, she would be educating a six-year-old child, and hoped she would be sufficiently prepared for that. Six years old.

What kind of child would it be? Rosia recalled Count Hess’s stern face from their brief greeting at a party. If the child took after the Count, they might be quiet too. While Rosia was imagining various scenarios as if she were already a governess like the nanny said, the nanny handed her another letter.

“Ah, and this also arrived for you, Miss.”

“Thank you, Nanny.”

Rosia dusted off the dress she had chosen and put it back in the wardrobe. Then she took out and read the letter the nanny handed her. It was a party invitation, and the sender was Greta Leblanc. Her chest tightened automatically at seeing that unfamiliar name. Having barely exchanged proper greetings, sending a party invitation so suddenly surely meant there must be another reason. She debated whether or not she should attend this party.

“Baroness Luther insisted that I deliver it to you, Miss.”

The nanny added quietly, as if reading Rosia’s concerns. Only then did Rosia realize she couldn’t decline this invitation. Rosia nodded once and instructed that the invitation be kept safe. The interview was in two days, at the Hess mansion. And the Leblanc family’s party was also in two days. She would have to visit the Hess mansion in the morning and then go to the Leblanc mansion in the evening. Thanks to the unexpected invitation, her entire day would be busy. Rosia briefly looked down at the two letters before averting her gaze. She prayed that she would pass the interview so she could attend the party with at least a slightly lighter heart.

＊＊＊

Nigel was scheduled to return to the principality in a few days. However, he couldn’t easily leave because he was concerned about the article involving Rosia. Though he had told that woman to handle it herself, he was quite uncomfortable with all the attention focused his way thanks to the newspaper article.

If he returned like this, he would surely be caught up in rumors of discord with Rosia Berthe, and Davion would mock him saying he knew this would happen. Nigel was in a position where he couldn’t escape the wind brought by one mistake in judgment.

Especially as the ruler of the principality, Nigel couldn’t afford to damage his reputation any further. Public perception was always like that. Though it seemed like no one cared, in fact, everyone was paying attention. There were more people than expected waiting for the moment when someone who seemed perfect would fall. He had already left a bad impression due to his mistake 10 years ago.

What to do. Nigel recalled Rosia Berthe’s face when she refused him. His mood naturally soured. Yet he kept ruminating on that situation and engraving it in his mind. Like a habit. Nigel had to immerse himself in work without even reaching any particular conclusion.