When we entered the study room, we saw that Cece was already seated, completely absorbed in her reading. We settled down beside her, and I gnced over at the book she was holding, already having a good idea of what it was.

  “That’s the third time you’ve read that book,” I said, half-smiling.

  “Yep, and I’ll probably read it even more,” Cece responded with a smile, not bothering to look up.

  Despite her pride in her ducal lineage and mature demeanor, this girl still holds onto a fairytale notion of romance—one that seems impossible in the real world. She believes a Prince Charming or a dashing Knight will sweep her off her feet.

  I suppose I was partly to bme, since I was the one who introduced her to those kinds of books. At first, I found her irritating—she embodied everything I disliked about spoiled nobles: snobbish, bratty, entitled, and always acting like she knew it all.

  Our first encounter was with her mother, Duchess Bourdelle, at a tea party, held to celebrate the completion of their vil in our marquisate. Cece, exuding the authority of her father’s ducal rank, showed no interest in the other children who tried to introduce themselves and befriend her. Since Eri and I had each other, we didn’t feel the need to pursue any further connections with her.

  At Duchess Bourdelle's second tea party, Eri and I noticed something strange—this time, no children seemed to approach Cece. Her long bright red hair and golden eyes stood out vividly, almost strikingly so, as she sat alone in the corner of the room. With no avaible chairs or tables for Eri and me, we had no choice but to sit near her.

  Eri and I had long been considered outsiders among the other noble children—Eri, with her incessant talk of bugs, and me, with my less-than-noble demeanor. We’d already been cast aside early on.

  I took out the book I had brought and began reading, while Eri buried herself in her encyclopedia.

  Cece, however, couldn’t help but notice the book in my hands, her curiosity piqued. “What book are you reading? I don’t recognize the title,” she said. Eri and I both gnced up, and I caught Cece’s golden eyes focused on me. I was reading a fairytale about a princess who had been cast out by her evil stepmother. I won’t go into further details, as that one sentence probably gives away both the title and the plot.

  Cece's curiosity only deepened, but she hesitated, clearly aware that it might be impolite to inquire more. Seeing this, I smiled and offered, “Would you like to read it?” Her eyes lit up, and she eagerly nodded. I handed her the book, and she immediately started reading.

  Meanwhile, Eri, who had been eager to share her encyclopedia, retreated when she saw Cece take my book. Withdrawing into herself, she returned to her reading and seemed to ignore the conversation that was unfolding between Cece and me. Without a book to occupy me, I helped myself to some cakes and tea, quietly observing the changing expressions on Cece’s face as she read—each one more animated than the st.

  As the tea party was drawing to a close, Cece had yet to finish the book, but it was clear she wanted to read more. With a wistful expression, she returned it to me. "You can borrow and finish it," I suggested. Her eyes lit up with surprise, but quickly dimmed as she realized her mother would probably forbid her from reading such a book.

  I found it strange—it was just a fairytale, a simple story.

  Cece expined that her mother didn’t allow books like that, as they weren’t based on real events. Only historical books were permitted, which Cece found utterly boring. I insisted she take the book anyway, encouraging her to hide it from her mother. After a moment of hesitation, Cece called for her attendant, Melody, and instructed her to keep the book hidden. When Melody saw it, her eyes widened in surprise, but after a brief pause, she reluctantly agreed to follow Cece’s instructions.

  That marked the beginning of my ongoing support for Cece, as I started providing her with fictional books, mostly focused on romance stories. She eagerly anticipated our meetings, knowing I would always have a new book for her. Over time, our interactions softened her attitude toward us. She became more tolerant of Eri’s incessant talk about bugs, even occasionally asking questions out of curiosity. However, she would often regret it when Eri’s descriptions became more gruesome.

  The bond between our trio brought great joy to our mothers, who shared a close friendship. If they had known how it all began, they might have had a different opinion, but it ultimately led to the formation of our co-studying arrangement. Duchess Bourdelle, pleased with the idea, agreed to let Eri and me join Cece for her etiquette lessons. It was a fortunate opportunity for us, as Duchess Bourdelle was one of the most respected figures in high society. Receiving lessons from her gave us a distinct advantage when it came time to enter the society scene ourselves.

  Since we were already studying at her vil, my mother and Aunt Elle suggested bringing in our academic teachers to the Duchess's residence, offering to arrange and fund renowned instructors to teach us three, which the Duchess gdly accepted.

  “Nia, is the second volume out yet?” Cece asked, looking up from her book, eager to know if the next installment was avaible.

  “I haven’t checked yet,” I replied, tilting my head and csping my hands together in an apologetic gesture.

  She set the book down with a sigh. “Let’s go out ter and find out,” she said, clearly annoyed by my response.

  “Alright, Eri and I pnned to go to Sweet Anomaly ter too. I won again today,” I said, my voice filled with pride.

  Cece, however, was less than impressed. “Nia, you’re going to get a toothache one of these days if you keep eating so many sweets.”

  Eri, nodding her head in agreement, added teasingly, “I agree. Her cheeks are about to explode from all the sweets she eats.”

  I ignored their teasing, though I couldn’t completely hide my annoyance. While they were right, I couldn’t give up my love for sweets. It was one of the simple pleasures I never had in my old life, so now I indulged. I knew the risk of a toothache; that is why I am maintaining my dental hygiene. I brushed my teeth regurly and rinsed with saltwater. I also limited myself to one slice of each of three different types of sweets.

  To them, born and raised as nobles, it probably seemed excessive, but it was my small indulgence. I allowed myself to enjoy sweets during weekdays and skipped them on weekends, which, to be honest, was always a painful thought.

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