Lady Felice’s Secret Class - Chapter 100

As the silence stretched on for several more minutes, Julian finally spoke.

“They’re just people playing with money through art, aren’t they? Why should Felice be anywhere near them?”

He looked at the Marchioness with the same defiant gaze he’d given Claude, his jaw clenched tightly. It was that same rebellious attitude he’d shown as a child—she could see the muscles in his jaw jump.

“Is this about the forgery?”

Marchioness Depende asked, hiding her expression behind her fan.

“You know how disgustingly greedy Count Legrand is. Honestly, watching the whole thing makes me sick…”

“I know. That’s why I’m asking—are you doing this because of the forgery?”

Her sharp gaze made Julian’s eyes drop.

“That’s part of it…”

He finally muttered, trailing off.

If they hadn’t been in a crowded gallery, the Marchioness probably would have smacked him over the head with her fan. Instead, she just let out a slow sigh from beneath it, forcing down the irritation that had risen to her throat.

“You once told me that it didn’t matter whether you liked someone or loved someone, but that you shouldn’t let it show. Do you remember what I told you when I first agreed to take you on as a pupil?”

“That Felice was off limits.”

“Exactly. And yet here you are, daring to make your feelings so obvious in front of all these people?”

Her scolding made Julian take a deep breath.

“…I’m sorry.”

The Marchioness heard no real sincerity. He might protest that he meant it, but she knew all too well how stubborn he could be.

“For now, pick your sponsor and keep quiet.”

But Julian didn’t agree. Another heavy silence fell between them.

“…Julian Vale.”

Marchioness Depende’s voice was even more stern than before as she fixed him with her gaze.

“Why… why am I not allowed?”

His amber eyes shone with unshed tears.

“Why can’t I be with Felice?”

There was a hint of resentment in his voice.

Marchioness Depende found it a bit ridiculous, but she didn’t waver.

“Romance has no place in sacred lessons.”

She replied, dismissing his words, though the look he gave her was still filled with defiance.

Her foolish student, she thought, was so caught up in his art that he had no idea what love actually was. It was the overconfidence of a young man just past twenty-three—thinking that if he liked someone, and showed it, the woman would naturally return his feelings.

But reality was rarely so kind.

You couldn’t control feelings with a teacher’s rule against romance. Just look at Claude—he of all people would know that Felice was the last person he should be involved with.

Maybe Claude simply didn’t care about being officially announced as a prince, but he still understood what was best.

Perhaps, if his mother were still alive, he’d try to do right by her and pursue Elise instead.

But in the end, what did the boy choose?

The smile on her nephew’s face when he introduced Felice, the first genuine one she’d seen in ages, said it all.

Love can’t be hidden, no matter your age or how much experience you have. When you love someone, you simply can’t treat them like anyone else.

So…

“What power do I have, really? Did I ever chain you down or sew your lips shut?”

Marchioness Depende told her student of the truth.

“If you two were really meant to be together, you’d find a way—even with shackles and sealed lips. Don’t blame me. You and Felice just weren’t meant to be.”

At that, Julian squeezed his eyes shut, then abruptly stood up and strode away. The Marchioness, still holding her fan to mask her face, let him go.