Chapter 123
After Marchioness Depende had left, Felice found herself preparing for a lesson for the first time in quite a while.
Claude had suggested that their next session focus on a question-and-answer format.
Unsure what questions might come up, Felice gathered several recent newspapers. There were plenty of articles filled with insults directed at her, but just as many focused on Lady Elise, which meant there was a fair amount of information to draw from as well.
Of course, considering that most of what was written about herself was false, the same could easily be true of what was said about Elise.
“Still, the interviews themselves should be useful as reference.”
Felice unfolded the papers and searched for Elise’s name. Since the recent events had all been treated as scandals, most of the journalists’ questions revolved around romance.
“This will be very helpful.”
Felice smiled brightly.
* * *
“If you’re very good at physical intimacy, can feelings grow from that alone?”
Felice blinked and hesitated for a moment before answering Claude’s question.
“That’s a very difficult question.”
Unlike Felice, who had been rather straightforward in her research on Elise, Claude was asking questions that went deeper than she had expected.
Thinking it over, there was indeed a strong possibility that Elise’s relationships might begin with physical attraction rather than emotional attachment.
“Hm…”
Felice tried to picture Elise.
A woman whose preferences ran so strongly in that direction that she would even test how a potential partner issued commands—someone like that was hard to imagine fully.
In the end, matters of the heart were impossible to know for certain unless one looked directly into them.
“If it’s such a difficult question, what do you think, Miss Felice?”
Claude turned his question to Felice this time.
“Me? I…”
Felice flinched slightly as she began to answer.
Claude might assume that, as a tutor on romance, she had experience with many men, but in truth, he was her first.
Her relationship with Claude passed through her mind naturally.
“I think feelings can develop. There’s nothing more intimate than sharing one’s body. Just like how friends grow closer through sharing secrets, physical intimacy becomes another secret shared only between two people.”
Claude nodded at her answer.
“And being good at it means, well… that you’re able to satisfy the other person in that regard. That alone can be enough for feelings to take root.”
“I see.”
He nodded again.
That was when Felice noticed a notebook she hadn’t seen before in his hands. He was writing down her answers with a quill pen.
Perhaps her gaze lingered too openly, because Claude lifted the notebook slightly for her to see.
“I prepared a list of questions.”
“I see.”
“There’s something else I’d like to ask, then. What do you think about gifts?”
“Gifts?”
Felice tilted her head.
“As you know, I’m familiar with more intimate preferences, but not with everyday tastes. In that case, wouldn’t a sudden gift feel a bit burdensome?”
Felice thought of Elise again.
“In Lady Elise’s case, she likely receives plenty of gifts already. Not just from men—she has many close friendships with other young ladies as well. If the gift reflects sincere feelings, I don’t think she would find it burdensome.”
“And if Lady Elise didn’t usually receive gifts?”
Claude asked unexpectedly.
Felice tried to imagine an Elise who didn’t receive gifts, but it wasn’t easy. Elise enjoyed cultural outings, wasn’t shy, and as the current prime minister’s daughter, the idea that she received no gifts at all seemed unlikely.
“It’s hard to imagine. Is that even possible?”
Claude chuckled lightly and shrugged.
“I’m just considering various possibilities. What do you think—if the woman isn’t used to receiving gifts?”
“Well… judging from Lady Elise’s personality as we know it, I think she’d still accept them gratefully.”
“Hm…”
Claude narrowed his eyes slightly.
This time, he didn’t write anything down in his notebook, perhaps the answer hadn’t satisfied him.
“Alright, next question. If a woman never once sees a man as a romantic interest, do you think she’ll continue to see him that way forever?”
Claude fixed his gaze on Felice.
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