Lady Felice’s Secret Class - Chapter 82

Felice’s fingers tightened where they rested on Claude’s shoulders. She took a deep breath, then slowly leaned into his embrace.

Held close in his strong, warm arms, Felice breathed in his scent. His hand gently stroked down her back, coming to rest at her waist, patting her lightly as if she were something precious.

With her cheek pressed against that wine-red tie she’d secretly admired, Felice laid her ear to his chest. Thump, thump. His heartbeat thudded beneath her ear, matching her own quickening pace.

“…This is nice.”

Claude hugged her tightly for a moment, then rested his head atop hers.

She could feel his gentle weight.

Felice knew she should probably ask for the next command as part of their ‘lesson’, but her lips wouldn’t move. All she wanted was to stay in the warmth of his arms a little longer.

It was so sweet—almost like a dream she never wanted to end.

But dreams don’t last, and she had to move eventually. She shifted, preparing to pull away and ask for the next command. Yet as she tried, Claude’s arms tightened, not letting her go.

“C-Claude…”

“This is part of the command, too. Why, do you want to get up?”

“It’s not that, just… the lesson…”

At the mention of their lesson, Claude finally let her go. Felice pulled back and looked down at him.

“Right. The lesson.”

Claude’s smile was a little crooked now.

Felice lowered her eyes, worried she’d misunderstood the command. Hugging him was supposed to be an exercise in obedience, but she’d let her own feelings get mixed in and maybe ruined the mood.

“I’m sorry… I’m just not very used to this—being obedient…”

Felice admitted quietly. Claude cupped her face in his big hands.

“There’s nothing to be sorry about.”

He tilted her face up with a gentle touch.

“You don’t need to apologize, Felice. Not at all.”

His hands cradled her, and Felice’s lips parted in surprise.

“You just need to get used to my bolder commands from now on.”

Claude narrowed his eyes. His eyes had a dangerous atmosphere now, almost a dangerous glint.

Felice’s lashes fluttered and she swallowed nervously.

“Take off your clothes, Felice.”

* * *

Meanwhile, Annie was playing alone when she suddenly scrunched up her nose, annoyed by a passing thought.

“Could Miss Felice really be a princess?”

The idea made her inexplicably gloomy, even though these days, thanks to Felice, Annie was having the best summer of her life.

Being with Felice made her feel like eating tomatoes—sometimes sweet, sometimes tangy! Tomatoes were one of Annie’s favorite vegetables.

“I think she really is a princess.”

Annie glanced at the bookshelf beside her bed. It was filled with books, and the newest was the story of the Three Little Pigs that Felice had bought for her. It was a story so delightful that the ending always made her laugh.

She pulled out a book with a beautiful princess drawn inside. The princess’s dress looked exactly like the one Felice had worn at dinner.

But Felice was even prettier than the princess in the picture.

“And princesses always end up with princes, right?”

Annie’s face fell, sadness clouding her eyes.

“…But maybe this princess doesn’t want to end up with a prince!”

Annie stood up suddenly.

She grabbed the book and hurried across the garden.

If she had a question, she could just ask the teacher! And if Felice didn’t want the prince, then Annie would fight for her! After all, the Baron was basically a king, not a prince so it was close enough.

But a true hero would fight even the king for Felice.

With that resolve, Annie slipped out the back door by the kitchen, rather than the main entrance.

It was well past lunch, so the kitchen was empty. Annie poked her head out, looked outside and tiptoed up the stairs.

No one among the staff noticed the tiny figure quietly heading up to the second floor.