< —="" ducal="" couple="" —=""> (5)

TN: All the thanks has been overwhelming! I'm glad you like it, I tried not to let down the author by translating to the best of my capability! Part 2 should not take too long. Like halfway but i gotta go do homework XD. If there are any mistakes, just comment and I’ll fix em~

"I have not learnt very much. There are many things I lack to fulfill my duties as the d.u.c.h.ess so I asked the Duke to tell me about you. After which, I asked him to ask you. I've heard you are a very busy person, but if there are any interruption in the schedule, I ask you to please understand. Ah, if my words or actions are not polite, please tell me." [Lucia]

A smile appeared on Mich.e.l.le's tightly closed mouth.

"For manners, Madam doesn't have more to learn. The essence of courtesy is consideration for the other party. To learn how to sincerely treat the other person, and learning how to express it, is manners. Madam already has those two things down, what else can I add?"

"You flatter me."

Lucia's face was tinged red. Mich.e.l.le felt as though Lucia were her beautiful granddaughter and laughed heartily. She had thought that Lucia would be very arrogant since she was a princess.

She knew the duke was not really calling her for teaching but because Mich.e.l.le was in a great position in the social circle, to let the d.u.c.h.ess get a head start.

Mich.e.l.le had never thought of the Duke of Taran as a good person. She didn't want her son or her grandchild having the Duke as a role model. A competent man but not a good person. The duke was arrogant, unyielding, and regarded interaction with people as trivial.

Still, she had to acknowledge his eyes for people was outstanding. But now she sees that his wife's eyes were also impressive.

'The Duke found a good wife'

Some thought that because of the Duke's extravagant tastes in women in the past, he would marry a remarkable beauty but they didn't know what they were saying. The Duke was a very cold man and would not move without benefit.

So for a wife, he probably thought to pick someone who was good at listening, ha.s.sle-free, and suited his level. Mich.e.l.le thought that, one day when she gets to see the Duke, ignoring the consequences, she would definitely tell him.

'Show affection to the d.u.c.h.ess'.

Even if it is not romantic love, at least, to not throw away his existing feelings. A woman who receives no affection would feel anxious about her place and becomes nervous (1). So with only their pride alive and they become full of thorns and increasingly picky.

Many people overlook the fact that if the mistress of the house is not comfortable, eventually the household will be shaken.

Mich.e.l.le had to admit that her predictions were wrong. She had seen a lot of people and could tell at a glance what type of person they were. The d.u.c.h.ess was an innocent and clean person. She couldn't see any anxiety or depression. It was the appearance of a woman who received plenty of affection.

"I believe you’ve been married for about two months.” [Countess]

"Yes."

"Then, it is around the time to start activities outside. Starting with a light tea party would be good."

"What size would be good?"

"Since it is the start, it is okay to start small. Invite around 10 people, mainly wives of Duke's va.s.sals. You can ask the head butler whom to invite. The Duke's head butler is competent."

Lucia nodded her head. Jerome was definitely competent.

"Actually, I have a lot of people to meet. Do I have to open something like a ball?" [Lucia]

"Just because you are the Duke's wife does not mean you have to be a socialite. In fact, social activities and apt.i.tude must match. You can't not do it all, but it has to be done moderately. Around twice a month, throw a tea party or a garden party, inviting only women. It’s also good idea to sometimes increase the number from 10 to 30 people. ”

Countess Corzan's way of teaching was to give good advice while conversing. In a conversation that spanned nearly two hours, Lucia learned what she did not know and got to understand interesting facts.

Lucia sincerely admired the Countess who spoke elegantly without getting boring and skillfully used the Chinese language. It was the same for Mich.e.l.le whose heart was moved. The more they continued to talk, the more Mich.e.l.le was attracted to Lucia's mild and ill-will lacking personality (2).

It was pretty hard to find someone with such a character. Mich.e.l.le was in a good mood because she had found a good friend, disregarding the age differences.

"If Madam needs someone to talk to, I would like to introduce you to my niece. Her conduct is not elegant, but her character is bright and not lavish. She will be a great help to the madam in finding enjoyment in your northern life. " [Countess]

"I'm grateful but I am already adjusting well to my life here and I don't need a friend who will be checking my mood."

"Ho-ho. Madam is very honest. Kate is, ah, her name is Kate. Kate does not possess the courtesy to try and please her friends. If Kate does not like Madam, she will not become friends with you. "

"I’m interested. I'm willing to meet her. She sounds like a charming lady. "

"She is a person with many merits and demerits. When her friend's fiancé cheated on her friend and deceived her, she did not hesitate to embarra.s.s him. If someone tells me her name, my head hurts to know what incident she's caused again. "

"But you love your niece." [Lucia]

Mich.e.l.le smiled brightly. Her eyes were filled with affection for her niece.

"Because she's a lovable child. But I am worried that there is no brave man that will marry her. Even though she hasn't married, she attends to and counsels young girls who are in love. She can become a good counselor for the madam. "

"But I’m already married.”

"Marriage is not the end, it is the beginning. Before marriage, had you been in a relations.h.i.+p for some time with his Grace?"

"Relations.h.i.+p…?"

When Lucia thought about it, there was no relations.h.i.+p reason for meeting with him. As soon as they met, she proposed. At the second meeting, they signed a contract. At the third meeting, she was doing laundry then she got caught and got told off on something similar. Then she signed the marriage certificate.

"Umm…before marriage, I met with his Grace, three times."

Mich.e.l.le’s hand that was holding the teacup paused for a moment and she put down the cup.

"Can you tell me how his Grace treats you in the house? Actually, for me to talk about this would be considerable risk. It might be taken as slander against your husband to you, the Hostess. But Madam seems to have married his Grace without knowing him very well, it's a little sad."

"Tell me please. I promise not to keep it in mind." [Lucia] (3)

"Well, first of all, could Madam describe to me what kind of person his Grace, the duke is?"

"Honest…right?"

"Yes. Honestly."

"Umm. He is… not fickle… but he acts as he pleases. Once he concludes and ends something. He turns his head and would never look back. He is an indifferent and cold person."

"This. I said something pointless. Madam knows him very well."

The Taran Duke’s outer sh.e.l.l alone was the best thing about him. His stunning looks and body were the manifestations of women's fantasies.

In fact, there were no single northern girls who had actually seen the duke once and not fallen into a one sided love, even though the duke never hit on them.

Daring girls actually threw their bodies at the Duke. Usually, the duke responded to their temptation. Then, women fall into the illusion that he would soon fall for them. It didn't take long for the illusion to break.

When the woman first gets hurt or falls for him and begins to want a little affection, the duke would throw them away with no hesitation. Many of the ladies Mich.e.l.le had taught were so hurt and would cry in front of her.

Thanks to that, even though Mich.e.l.le had never properly spoken to the Duke of Taran, she knew more than anyone else about the Duke's bedroom matters.

Translator's Corner:

(1). Her place as in her place as his wife. It literally said her 'seat' but I think place fit better.

(2). This sentence threw me off so much. It said she was "반했다" (banhaessda) which I thought translates to she was against it and I was like…whaa? So I went digging and found that it actually had TWO meanings. Learning new things everything. Also I was somewhat confusing it with "반대했다" (bandaehaessda) which is what means against. They sound too similar.

(3). I couldn't make this flow well but basically, Lucia is telling the d.u.c.h.ess that she can speak her mind, and she wouldn't take it to heart.