Chapter 28
“My outfit?”
Felice timidly lowered her head. Naturally, her dress was a plain, modest cotton one. From neck to ankle, the simple dress had no adornments, just neat and clean.
“You don’t like my clothes?”
Felice asked in a slightly intimidated voice.
Apparently, for a tutor dealing with high society, dressing the part was essential. Since Felice had never mingled with other tutors, she had no idea.
She hadn’t even considered that the title “love tutor” might apply to others. If replacement was possible, Claude could easily inform the Queen that another tutor was more capable.
Suddenly, Felice recalled the outfit she wore when meeting the Queen.
Though it had earned a disdainful glance from Sir James, it was far more refined than her current dress.
Felice looked confidently at Claude.
“Please wait a moment. I’ll change and come back.”
Claude parted his lips, then nodded with a mocking smile.
“Very well, change and come to the bedroom.”
“…Yes.”
* * *
Having bathed and put on a gown, Claude lightly shook his hair with a towel as he trudged outside.
Felice likely owned a dress similar to that other woman’s in the hotel room.
…So all this time, her appearance was an act.
“…Ha!”
Claude let out a sigh of irritation and roughly tossed the towel into a basket.
She probably thought pretending to have experience with love would work.
Come to think of it, the creditor probably spread such rumors on purpose, intending to get his debt repaid.
“…Kyaak!”
But Claude abruptly stopped after hearing a woman’s scream from the bedroom.
“Ah, C-Claude…. Sorry. Should I leave while you change? Sorry. You told me to come to the bedroom…”
Felice froze, startled, unsure what to do.
She wore an outfit fit for an interview. She even pinned a small brooch to her chest.
Feeling Claude’s gaze on her dress, Felice nervously clutched the hem.
“This is the best dress I have…”
Still stiff in posture, she explained.
Seeing her flushed face and lost green eyes, Claude was certain. The woman before him had never truly experienced love, not Claude.
At that moment, a pleasant feminine scent reminiscent of fresh soap filled the air.
“It’s alright.”
Claude gestured for her to sit again.
“The delay was because of me. We should start soon so you can rest without staying up late.”
Claude sat opposite Felice, still in his gown.
Looking down at her startled face from below, he felt a strange satisfaction.
An unexplainable feeling.
He had felt foul earlier, but perhaps the small brooch on her chest made him smile.
“I like your dress.”
Claude smiled.
“Ah… really? Thank you. And… I’ll try to find something similar. Sorry.”
Relieved by Claude’s genuine compliment, Felice exhaled quietly.
Her worries about Sir James’ disdainful gaze seemed unfounded. Yet at the same time, she briefly regretted buying brushes.
She hadn’t realized how much dressing up would cost. No more paints for a while.
On the day she received the handkerchief, Felice had finally gone into the art supply shop.
Though regretting it now, the brushes were already bought.
Straightening from her awkward pose, she sat on the sofa.
“Well then, let’s begin the lesson.”
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