Julietta used to think of herself as an alternative to Phoebe. If she had not been protected by Maribel, she might have lived a life as horrible as that if she had not hidden herself in disguise to survive.

"Your Highness, can I be educated along with Phoebe by whoever is coming to teach me?"

Killian frowned slightly at Julietta's request. "I don't care, but I don't know why you care so much about her."

It was quite unpleasant to have to share Julietta with a woman who had appeared all of a sudden, not to mention losing Julietta's attention to Manny, who was a half-divine animal.

"Phoebe played me as a subst.i.tute, while I've been acting like Princess Kiellini. We have that in common, and I feel like I can be happy if Phoebe is happy."

Killian tried to understand Julietta's idea at first glance. Even though she said she would be greedy, she could not escape the guilt that she took away the position of Princess Kiellini. The things that made her feel that way were annoying to him. He decided it was better to get rid of the Duke and the princess in Tilia.

As heavy silence hovered over the table for a while, Oswald stepped in to change the mood. "I'll tell Farrell in advance. If the princess thinks so, then of course, I am always ready to lend a helping hand to you so that Miss Phoebe can be happy."

Killian put the brakes on Oswald who had opened his heart and spoken so proudly. "The Marquis, why are you ready to lend a helping hand to Julietta?"

"What? Of course, if the princess is happy, Your Highness will be happy, and then peace will naturally come to me, your subordinate... isn't that true?"

Oswald was having fun with his words, and quickly shut his mouth as he saw Killian glaring at him fiercely.

After seeing Oswald's plate still had more than half of its food left, Killian said to Julietta "The princess, let's go when you're done eating. I'll take you."

Julietta looked at Oswald unknowingly at Killian's words. "I don't think the Marquis has finished yet."

"No, the princess. I'm done..."

"The Marquis will stay and eat more. Now, get up." Killian cut Oswald's words heartlessly, and hastened Julietta away.

"Uh? I don't think that's what he's saying?" Julietta tilted her head, not understanding how his words were misinterpreted.

However, Killian pulled her arms slightly and coldly said, "You'll have to eat more if you're done, the Marquis."

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So, leaving Oswald behind and returning to her mansion, Killian asked, "What do you want to do with the woman named Phoebe?"

"I want to make her stand in a position that no one can take away. I want to give her a life where she won't be exploited or ignored again."

"What can you give me if I give her that status?"

Julietta replied, staring straight into Killian's eyes looking at her. "No, I'll do it. That's what I have to do. I don't think it's good to lean on Your Highness and try to make it easy. I don't know what position you're trying to give her, but it's all going to be useless if the present Phoebe doesn't change. So, I'll try together with her, step by step. Please handle the job of Duke Kiellini, which is something I can't do."

There was only one reason Julietta had asked for a teacher who would teach Phoebe.

Unlike Dian, Phoebe was already pretending to be a lady as a companion to talk with. Therefore, she was careful of the eyes of the people around her while teaching Phoebe if she was being educated with the princess.

"Her status may catch your ankles," Killian warned her of her clumsy sympathy.

Of course, no one would be able to intimidate Julietta, but an unexpected thing might pop out. Maribel's report made him aware of Phoebe's past and she was unwelcome, but he had no choice but to deal with the situation.

The situation was different from that of the girl named Dian who they had also brought from a brothel. Phoebe had been seen by many people for quite a long time. It was possible that a person who could recognize her could appear, as aristocrats of Austern frequently visited brothels.

However, he did not want to unconditionally oppose Julietta, because he had heard what she was thinking. He sighed, watching Julietta's obstinate look, and seeing that she would not give up despite his warnings. "All right, I wouldn't object to your decision if you've made up your mind like that. But if she ever puts you in danger, I'll get rid of her right away."

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Soon after, Sir Farrell Reynold, a member of the Department of Etiquette of the Imperial Court, visited the Kiellini mansion. Whether he was told something, or whether he was such a person himself, he only followed orders without saying anything about how he should teach Phoebe reading and writing first.

It had been a few days since the cla.s.s started. Julietta sat next to her and watched Phoebe learning to write as she looked at the word cards.

Of course, the Prince's warning was not something to be ignored. Julietta knew Phoebe's past, and what she had been through before they met, so she thought there could be someone who could recognize her.