The Raihenders family was part of the nouveau riche. Pellit Raihenders, Rain Raihenders’ grandfather, was a nationally renowned doctor. His son, Prox Raihenders, followed in his father’s footsteps to become a doctor, then invested the family fortune in pharmaceutical development. When his developed medicines became widely used during the war, he became the owner of the largest pharmaceutical company in Buleco.

Rain Raihenders’ mother, Rublia, came from an impoverished provincial noble family but enjoyed a wealthy life after marrying Prox.

They lacked only one thing: a name as legitimate members of the upper class.

When Rain Raihenders reached the age to debut in society, Rublia brought her daughters to the capital. Afterward, she began actively participating in noble upper-class circles.

The results were successful. After her social debut, Rain Raihenders received five marriage proposals in just one month and gained a reputation as one of the season’s most notable young women.

They thought they could smoothly enter the aristocratic social circles, but there was one troublesome issue they hadn’t anticipated.

“Aaaaargh!”

It was around evening time. Someone’s scream came from upstairs. The household staff could be heard rushing toward the sound.

Raflia, who had been organizing her belongings in her room, was startled and came out to see a girl holding a torn rabbit doll, crying and screaming.

Raflia approached Merhen, who was nearby, and asked:

“Who is that…?”

“The younger young lady. We thought she was eating her snack and sleeping, but she’s awake and causing a commotion again.”

Two servants were trying to restrain the girl and force her to lie down on the bed. The girl was still agitated and struggling.

“So that’s Miss Future you mentioned.”

“Yes.”

Hearing this, Raflia pushed through the people and stood in front of Future. The two servants restraining the girl looked at her questioningly.

“I am Miss Future’s governess. Please let her go.”

Then one servant said:

“We can’t. The master instructed us to give her sleeping medicine when she acts up.”

“Sleeping medicine? You mean you drug her whenever this happens?”

Everyone knew that sleeping medicine contained narcotic substances that were harmful to the body with long-term use.

“We’re just following orders.”

Raflia hurriedly looked around. Near the bed was the rabbit doll that Future had dropped while struggling. She picked it up and showed it to Future.

“Miss Future, what’s this little one’s name?”

Future just looked at Raflia while wiping her tears with sobs.

“Miss Future, I promise you. I’ll fix this little one.”

“…Really?”

“Really. So, could you tell me this little one’s name?”

Future hesitated for a moment, then said:

“…Penny.”

Surprisingly, Future stopped her tantrum. The servants smiled awkwardly, said “That’s good,” and left.

Left alone in the room, Raflia and Future sat side by side at the bedside.

“Miss Future, Penny is going to have surgery now. Would you like to give her some words of encouragement?”

“Stay strong.”

Future reached out and stroked the rabbit doll whose ears were torn, eyes missing, and stuffing poking out from various places.

Just then, Merhen brought a sewing basket and handed it to Raflia.

Raflia carefully stitched up the torn places on the rabbit doll, one stitch at a time. Thanks to her efforts, the rabbit regained its cute pink ears and distinct button eyes.

“Ta-da! All done!”

“Wow…!”

Future, who had been covering her eyes the whole time because she was afraid of the surgery, smiled brightly when she saw the neatly repaired Penny.

Thinking that her smile was like the rising sun, Raflia smiled along with her.

After the commotion subsided, Raflia carefully left Future’s room. Future had eaten her snack and fallen asleep again with Penny.

That day, Raflia heard the general story from Merhen. The younger daughter’s name was Future Raihenders. She had fallen while horseback riding as a child, injured her leg, and after suffering from high fever as a surgical complication, she had forever remained a young child mentally.

Because of this, although she would be old enough to debut in society in just two years, the Raihenders couple kept their younger daughter hidden away, fearing she might interfere with their older daughter’s marriage prospects.

However, there were no secrets in Petre’s aristocratic society. After rumors spread that the Raihenders family had a mentally ill daughter, people whispered the absurd notion that mental illness was hereditary.

As a result, the marriage proposals that had been showered upon Rain Raihenders were withdrawn.

* * *

Rain returned around sunset.

Raflia closed the window where a cool breeze was blowing in and went to the dining room.

Fresh fruits and food were neatly arranged on the table. In the center, candles in a candelabra softly illuminated the room.

Merhen was arranging the tableware.

“May I help you?”

When Raflia asked, Merhen tersely shook her head.

“No. I’m done.”

After finishing the arrangements, Merhen wiped her hands on her apron.

“Please take a seat, Miss Rozantin. I’ll escort the young lady and the mistress.”

Raflia sat down as instructed. Shortly after, Future and Mrs. Raihenders entered the dining room and sat down. She was a middle-aged woman who resembled Future but looked overall tired.

Raflia stood up and gave a slight curtsy to Mrs. Raihenders.

“I am Raflia Rozantin, who has come as the governess.”

“Sit down.”

Mrs. Raihenders said politely as she took the head seat. She was wearing a dark evening dress. Her daughter Rain smiled as she sat across from Raflia.

“Mother, what do you think? I liked Miss Rozantin from the moment I saw her.”

Just as she spoke, Merhen brought out the soup. Mrs. Raihenders nodded and picked up her spoon to taste the soup. After tasting it, she said:

“These days, I just sleep all day and eat when I wake up. I’m no better than a pig.”

“Don’t say that. Recovering your health is the most important thing.”

Rain said with concern.

“And here I am, letting my daughter who has just debuted in society wander around alone. It would be good to have a mature woman she could rely on at times like this.”

Raflia nodded and tasted the soup. The rich aroma of vegetables rose up.

“I read the letter of recommendation sent by Mrs. Frolia. It contained many praises for Miss Rozantin.”

The lady suddenly said, looking at Raflia. Raflia wiped her mouth with a napkin and replied:

“I’m just grateful to Mrs. Frolia.”

“Although you’re younger than the person you’re replacing, weren’t you burdened by the task of being a governess to someone your own age?”

“That didn’t matter at all. If you needed me, that is. Rather, your daughter is so mature that I wondered if she really needed my teaching.”

“Is that so? I heard you only met briefly earlier.”

“I could tell by her innate grace, which she inherited from Mrs. Raihenders.”

At those words, Rain and Mrs. Raihenders smiled.

“Mother, I really like Miss Rozantin.”

Rain smiled softly.

“I heard you’re from Corantian nobility?”

At those words, Raflia’s heart sank. Had Mrs. Frolia not mentioned that she was an illegitimate child? Someone as considerate as her might well have done so.

While Raflia was contemplating whether to reveal her status as an illegitimate child, Mrs. Raihenders spoke:

“Miss Rozantin, you have only one job. To keep that child from acting up.”

Mrs. Raihenders had a cold look in her eyes as she spoke about her second daughter.

“This one is practically my only daughter. The other is more like a burden. I just hope she doesn’t interfere with our family’s future marriage prospects.”

Rain’s face darkened upon hearing her mother’s lament.

“I wonder which woman has been spreading our family matters outside…”

“Don’t worry, ma’am. I’ll be a good friend to Miss Raihenders and help with household matters when needed.”

Raflia forced a smile. At those words, Mrs. Raihenders nodded, seemingly relieved.

The three continued to talk about various things over dinner. The complexity of the capital Petre, the fastidiousness of famous socialites, the currently famous Duke Bronski, and the Corantian literature that Raflia would be teaching.

During this time, grilled salmon, roast lamb, mashed potato salad, and finally strawberry jam tarts were served on the table.

It was a warm and peaceful dinner atmosphere.

Despite being wealthy, the two showed no signs of contempt or arrogance toward Raflia, their employee.

Raflia was very grateful for this, but somehow she still found the two intimidating.

“By the way, Miss Rozantin, where did you learn Corantian literature?”

When Rain asked, Raflia wiped her lips with a napkin and answered:

“I attended a girls’ school.”

“School? But you’re from nobility…”

At that moment, Mrs. Raihenders sternly said “Rain” and hardened her expression.

“I’ve told you many times. There are people different from us.”

At her mother’s severe warning, Rain hastily apologized.

“I’m sorry. Was I rude?”

Raflia also became flustered and waved her hands.

“No, it’s nothing to hide.”

At those words, Future asked with relief:

“Really? Then could you tell us how you ended up going to school? I’m curious.”

“The family’s circumstances weren’t good enough to take care of me too. So they sent me to school.”

More precisely, the mistress of the Rozantin family had practically abandoned her to a boarding school as soon as she was old enough to attend.

From Raflia’s perspective, school life was better than growing up in the mansion amid contempt and *buse.

The problem came after the war. The impoverished Rozantin family cut off her tuition first. At age 12, Raflia was expelled from school and returned to the Rozantin household.

No one welcomed her, as she had been essentially abandoned. Raflia lived there like an unwanted mouth to feed and worked as a maid. Nevertheless, she visited the church in Rozantin territory once a week to borrow books and steadily attended night school.

The joy of learning turned even the despair of reality into hope.

“But thinking about it now, school life was the happiest. Of course, there were some teachers with unkind hearts, but at the same time, there were teachers who truly loved the children. My friends and I were able to spend a peaceful childhood relying on them.”

Looking back now, it was truly a blessed time.