Lady Felice’s Secret Class - Chapter 79

After settling a tired Annie into bed, Felice quietly made her way back to her own room. She sat at her desk and, for the first time in a while, opened her notebook to prepare for lessons.

Ever since dealing with her father, Felice’s motivation to teach had flared up stronger than ever. Of course, she still had to pay off her debts. But more than that, she genuinely wanted to repay Claude for all the help he’d given her.

She was determined to make the lessons a success—hoping that, in the end, Claude’s love life would flourish.

“I need something to turn this unlucky first meeting into a real connection.”

If she could just give him a natural reason to make a good impression—like through a casual encounter at a charity gathering—everything else between them would likely fall into place.

Because their first meeting hadn’t gone well, a bit of image transformation was in order.

According to Rose’s intel, Lady Elise was an ambitious sort—someone who enjoyed cultural activities and meeting new people. While her more private preferences were important, bringing up anything explicitly s****l too soon was risky, even with a woman who was openly interested in that kind of thing.

“Hmm… so, she wants to submit…”

Felice pondered, absently tracing her jaw with the tip of her quill.

“Submission just means following the other person’s lead… but if someone’s so forward and independent in daily life, it’s odd for her to want to be submissive only in the bedroom. It’s like mixing oil and water.”

She tilted her head.

What kind of attitude or approach would Claude need to show?

Should he act as a commanding, authoritative man who gives orders to a woman who wants to submit? Or would a woman as proactive as Elise respond better to someone broad-minded, willing to meet her on her level?

Felice pursed her lips thoughtfully.

“Maybe understanding and agreeable during the day, but transforming into something completely different at night?”

She frowned.

“That’d take a split personality.”

Rare or not, s****l submission actually seemed like an easy trait to accommodate. Most men were comfortable in dominant roles anyway. The real problem was that Elise’s personality outside the bedroom was so starkly the opposite.

What kind of man would pique her interest?

Felice’s quill danced across the page late into the night.

* * *

Meanwhile, Claude waited for Felice in his study with a faint tension in the air. Tonight, they’d agreed to hold their lesson there for the first time in a while.

His anticipation and excitement were tinged with a subtle worry. Felice hadn’t opened her window to greet him that morning as she usually did. He’d even asked the butler if something was wrong, but apparently, she was fine.

Even after being reassured that she wasn’t sick, it bothered him. She had to have noticed his daily presence beneath her window, so why hadn’t she greeted him today?

“Haa…”

Claude sighed and loosened his tie. A tie he’d carefully picked out to look his best for Felice. The collar felt a bit tight with nerves.

Ever since hearing that his ‘assets’ could be an effective seduction tool for women, he’d wondered how he should show them. But then he remembered. Felice had already seen all there was to see.

It didn’t seem like that particular asset had much effect on her.

He’d also heard that a man’s physique could be just as alluring, so he’d made a point to practice sword drills every morning near Felice’s window. He hadn’t even trained that diligently as a boy, but he had no idea if his efforts were paying off.

Sometimes she’d greet him, but other times, her window remained firmly closed.

“And just greeting her doesn’t tell me if I’m getting through to her or not.”

Claude rubbed his temple and closed his eyes. He was hesitant to ask if things were progressing or not.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Claude? It’s Felice. May I come in?”

Claude stood and went to open the door.

“Please, come in, Miss Felice.”

“Thank you.”

As soon as Delice stepped into the room, her fresh scent—something between lavender and chamomile—lifted his spirits. When he looked down, he caught sight of her downcast lashes, the gentle slope of her nose, and those rosy lips…

“You look beautiful.”