Lady Felice’s Secret Class - Chapter 17

Felice, who had spent the night awake lost in thoughts of her grandfather, finally fell asleep as morning approached.

“Haah…”

When she opened her eyes, the sunset was casting a glow through the curtains.

With a long sigh, Felice sat on the edge of her bed.

“Should I bring up Grandfather’s heirloom? But first, I need to prepare for the lesson…”

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Knock knock

“Miss Felice, are you awake? All the guests have left, so you may come out now. The master has invited you to join him for dinner tonight.”

Startled by the unexpected invitation, Felice blinked.

“Ah… yes. I’ll come down once I’m ready.”

* * *

Guided by a maid, Felice arrived at the dining room before Claude and took her seat.

Sitting quietly, she pondered why Claude had suddenly invited her to dinner. She hoped it was just a courtesy for guests, but an uneasy feeling told her otherwise.

At the first meeting, he had seemed to hate Felice and was trying to avoid lessons, but the first lesson had been completely different.

“Haah…”

Felice sighed and pressed her hand to her forehead.

“Maybe this isn’t the right time to bring up Grandfather’s heirloom.”

She wondered if she should find some kind of e****c literature instead. Claude had shown a surprising interest in the lessons about intimacy…

Now that she thought about it, she vaguely remembered hearing that a certain countess collected such works.

“Maybe I should try to get some, just in case.”

Though thinking of a plan, Felice couldn’t suppress a sigh. She knew well none of these would truly solve the root of the problem.

She had no intention of showing her body to him, and even just seeing his body made her anxious.

She was certain she would be flustered at the sight of it.

For a so-called relationship coach who had been in many men’s arms, being shocked by the sight of a man’s body made no sense.

“Good evening, Miss Felice.”

Felice looked up.

Claude appeared, dressed neatly in a suit with his hair slicked back with oil, as if returning from somewhere.

“Ah, Claude. Thank you for inviting me to dinner.”

“Not at all. I imagine the party made your accommodations uncomfortable.”

Claude responded politely with a smile.

Felice lowered her gaze slightly, holding her glass, noticing a subtle change in his demeanor.

Moments like this usually heralded trouble.

“By the way, I met with Duke Vanessa this afternoon.”

It wasn’t until the main course arrived that Claude brought up the real topic. He kept his head slightly lowered, eyes fixed on his plate, making it impossible for Felice to read his expression.

“By the way, the Duke was just talking about you, Miss Felice.”

Felice flinched at those words. She was worried about what that lecherous man might have said. Surely, it couldn’t have been anything good.

“Haha…”

Trying to steer the conversation away, Felice let out a short laugh and aimlessly stabbed at the vegetables on her plate with her fork.

“You’re aware there’s a group that associates with the Duke, right? More than half of them have employed you as their tutor.”

Felice nodded but felt like crying right then and there.

She knew that group all too well. They were all lechers and womanizers. Most of their wives despised their husbands’ affairs, some wanted to reconcile, while many, like Duchess Vanessa, simply kept lovers.

The crucial point was that Felice was the one who arranged those lovers for the wives.

But Claude’s words suddenly stopped.

Felice swallowed hard and lifted her gaze from the plate.

When his calm blue eyes met hers, her fingers twitched. Claude smiled lightly and continued eating.

“You don’t need to be nervous. It’s just idle talk.”

He took a bite of meat, briefly enjoying the quiet meal.

Felice forced a shy smile and followed suit, but despite the meal’s obvious quality, she couldn’t savor the texture of the meat.

Though he said not to be tense, she couldn’t help it.

“By the way… I couldn’t find out much about your detailed background.”

Claude suddenly set down his cutlery.

The clear clink of silverware drew Felice’s attention upward again.

“I know which family you served, but I don’t know which man’s woman you were.”

“…Excuse me?”

“It’s funny to say this in front of you, but you know how rotten Duke Vanessa’s circle is.”.

“…Ah.”

Felice quietly affirmed the truth in her mind and forced a smile as she looked at him.

“Haha… they’re certainly not all like that.”

“Listening to their stories, it makes me think there are few women in Trouville who haven’t shared their beds.”

Claude gave a soft smile.

Faced with that smile, Felice couldn’t help but wonder why he was telling her this.

“Your lovers don’t seem to have any connections with the Duke’s circle. I assumed your reputation meant you catered to wealthy men from notable families… but apparently, even the Duke’s group doesn’t know you.”