Lady Felice’s Secret Class - Chapter 35

Felice sat by the back door of Count Legrand’s mansion, dressed in the Racliffe family’s maid uniform.

Looking up at the bright blue sky dotted with clear clouds, she recalled the events from a few days ago in the Duchess’s greenhouse.

On a document handed over by the Duchess was a name she hadn’t expected:

[Elise Robert]

From Felice’s perspective—tasked with successfully managing Claude’s love life—this young lady was very appealing, regardless of Claude’s personal tastes.

With other women, Claude would scrutinize the conditions first, and if he didn’t feel any attraction, he would naturally be indifferent.

But Elise was different—just her presence would surely attract attention. How could anyone be indifferent toward a woman from the rival family that had attacked his own?

Thus, Elise was the only woman who could pique Claude’s interest with just a single meeting.

But how should the beginning be arranged?

That dilemma was not easy to solve.

Clatter—rattle.

Just then, a small pebble rolled from a window above, coming to a stop in front of Felice. She looked up instinctively, then stood.

A servant peered out from the window and gestured at Felice. Following the signal, she opened the back door of the Legrand mansion. Hidden in her arms was a bottle filled with deep black oil paint.

Contrary to her worries, the plan was simple.

Before the Count could explain his collection, Felice planned to enter the sitting room where everyone was gathered and pour the black paint onto Elise’s dress.

Then, with the help of a few servants bought with Duchess Vanessa’s money, she would desperately escape.

The escape wouldn’t be easy, but if successful, Elise and Claude would be forced to meet. They’d have to exchange letters, too.

Though it was a poor way to start, the bad fate binding Claude and Elise made it irrelevant. In fact, their bitter ties guaranteed they must meet.

Claude publicly supported the Wigar faction even under his title as Sir Racliffe. So if a maid dressed in a Racliffe uniform suddenly appeared and dirtied Elise’s dress, rumors would spread like wildfire.

Even if all the Racliffe maids were questioned, no one would discover the true culprit.

And since Felice was blatantly wearing the Racliffe maid outfit, everyone would suspect Claude was behind it—not even Elise herself.

Well, if the Roberts tried to spin this into a public relations attack, that would be another matter—but it didn’t matter. Claude is not a prince now, just a newly wealthy Sir Racliffe.

Though she regretted inconveniencing Count Legrand, the stage had to be set—coordinated in advance with the Duchess but canceled by Elise’s refusal.

The Duchess had taken on another role—a crucial one: the decoy.

She needed to create a chance for Elise to consider Claude as a potential husband, and luckily, Duchess Vanessa had eagerly agreed to play the part.

“Huff…”

Felice took a steadying breath outside the sitting room.

The moment proposed by the servant was precisely when the Countess had gone upstairs to call the Count. Probably, all of the Count’s guards and staff were focused on the collection at that moment.

So the whole plan had to be done swiftly, before they came back downstairs.

Felice opened the sitting room door.

“…Huh? A maid?”

Suddenly, the nobles’ gazes all turned toward Felice.

But Felice was already wearing a wig and glasses to hide her hair and face. Confidently entering, she spotted Elise not far away and immediately threw the black oil paint bottle.

“…Aaaah!”

“What the—Lady Elise!”

As the screams erupted, Felice dashed out of the sitting room.

Everyone was in a chaotic uproar.

Felice sprinted to the window where the servant had peeked before, certain she hadn’t been seen by anyone.

* * *

….Felice?

Claude frowned, watching the scene from afar.

Though the maid’s hair color was different and she wore glasses, Claude strangely thought of Felice.

Her rapid escape like a flying squirrel meant his suspicion didn’t last long. Had he seen her face or hands even briefly, he might have recognized her.

Just as he was about to follow the mysterious maid, the nobles’ eyes turned toward him.