Private Tutoring for the Duke’s First Night - Chapter 13

Does everyone get pushed by their family into an unwanted marriage. Do they wear themselves down in an unhappy life and simply endure it. Does their husband rack up enormous debts. Does he torment Julia even after dying, never leaving her alone. Do they nearly end up being sold to a brothel. Do they give humiliating, vulgar lessons like this, anxiously afraid that a boy they once knew might recognize them.

Why can’t I even keep my precious memories as beautifully as they were back then.

Am I, in truth, unhappy.

Julia felt lost.

So much so that she didn’t even notice Mary knocking on the door several times to announce lunchtime. Nor did she notice the sob-like moans slipping loudly from between her teeth.

She didn’t notice Mary turning back, opening the door.

Seeing Julia’s deathly pale face, Mary nearly screamed.

“My goodness, Missus Devel!”

She rushed over and steadied Julia’s body.

“What is going on. I’ll prepare something soft to eat. Please eat quickly and get some fresh air.”

“…I.”

Julia panted and pushed Mary’s hands away.

“I’m fine. I’m alright.”

She even stubbornly straightened her shoulders as she said it.

“You are not alright. Look how pale you are. What are you saying.”

But Mary scolded Julia firmly.

“Please eat a nutritious meal. And close the book, bundle yourself up warmly, and go for a walk. Compared to summer it’s a modest garden, but it’s better than staying shut up inside your room.”

When Mary went that far, Julia had no choice but to admit that she wasn’t in good condition. Once again, she felt relieved that Duke Drexton was away today.

She didn’t want something like this reaching his ears, and if he had been at the mansion, she surely would have been unable to follow Mary’s prescription to ‘go for a walk’ and would have ended up arguing again.

Julia gave a small nod.

Mary immediately took Julia to the dining room and made her eat. Then she dressed her warmly and pushed her out through the front door.

The moment the door opened, cold air rushed into her nose. Her hazy mind seemed to snap awake. At the same time, before her eyes spread the familiar, dearly missed garden of Duke Drexton’s residence.

With a slightly fearful and awkward heart, Julia began to walk through the garden, corner by corner.

‘If I go that way, there should be the rose bushes. Ah, the marble bust of the first Duke of Drexton is still here. But time can’t be helped, has it become a bit frayed…’

Exclamations kept spilling from her dry, reddened lips. As she walked through the garden, Julia’s emotions grew fickle, as if she had returned to fifteen years ago. Looking at the unchanged garden made her feel happy like a child, and also sad.

She couldn’t stop exploring the garden. At first, she had been pushed out almost forcibly by Mary’s urging, but soon Julia found herself completely absorbed in looking over Duke Drexton’s estate.

Then.

“Eek!”

Julia ran into the gardener.

Taking advantage of Duke Drexton being away, he seemed to be busily tending the greenhouse. A young man whose acne hadn’t fully faded yet, he couldn’t hide his fluster upon seeing the unfamiliar face of Julia.

“Uh, well…”

“I’m working here.”

Julia turned sharply, trying to move away from him.

Julia was just as startled. In Duke Drexton’s residence, where everything felt familiar, she hadn’t expected to run into new personnel of all things.

She was so surprised that she couldn’t immediately leave the spot. Before turning the corner, she glanced back over her shoulder at the young gardener’s face once more. In that instant, a bolt-like realization struck the top of Julia’s head.

‘Ah…!’

She recalled the features of the gardener who had tended Drexton’s trees and flowers fifteen years ago. This young man had to be his son. Back then, he had been a toddling child, but now he had grown up and seemed to be in charge of the garden work.

Julia almost expressed her delight without thinking. Thankfully, she didn’t make that mistake. She bit her lip and closed her eyes tightly. If she had rashly acted as if she recognized him, it would have been a disaster.