I AM

Chapter 8: Guilt

"Oh my, I apologize for disturbing such a lovely meal. A pleasant morning to the Winterleign Family"

Florence said as she bowed lightly and gracefully with both of her hands on her stomach.

She has just entered the dining room where the three were eating quietly.

Alexandre's face brightened up as he saw the professor. He tried to stand up and wave at her, but the sudden realization that the duke was near him, made him stop himself

But Lady Florence seem to have seen him, so she warmly smiled at him.

The duchess on the other hand looked like she was about to murder someone with how pointy her smile was.

"Countess D'altiere, it's been a while. I heard that you've been doing well"

"It's surprising that you've chosen to stay here when you could've gotten the chance to go to the palace" The duke said, opening the conversation.

Florence smiled as she laughed humbly

"Oh no, It's all thanks to the Duke, so allow me to repay you"

At the corner of  her eyes, the duchess looks like she's just listening quietly, but eveyone knows that she's far from being a pushover.

The duchess is observing so well.

"And to the Duchess of course, how could I forget?"

'She's probably waiting for me to ignore her, making me look like a mannerless pig in front of the duke'

The duchess dabbed her lips with the table cloth placed on her lap

"Ah yes, it's nice to see you this early Lady Florence" The duchess said with her usual and oh-so well known social smile.

"I thought you wouldn't notice me sitting here, I would've been really upset"

"Oh my, how could I not see the duchess with her overflowing beauty? I'd be able to see the madame in a crowd so easily"

Now that lady florence is there, the dining room has officially turned into a battlefield.

It was just like a new fighter just came out in the middle of the game

Countess Florence D'altiere, a former commoner who rose from her spot by earning the title of a scholar.

She's a professor at the most prestigious Valeschneid Academy, teaching History and Etiquette, well-know for her class and fluency in her field of expertise.

Though of course, as how the social world goes, her upbringing and her past-- kind of, leaves a bad after taste for natural born nobilities.

Including the Duchess

"Come and join us here, I can't just let you stand there after all"

And there's also those rumours...

That the duke apparently pulled some strings for her to be able to acquire a noble title.

And the most popular of them all, that they're in a forbidden love.

If it's not obvious enough, the duchess knows this, hence the extra hostility towards the countess.

The rumor isn't exactly baseless since it's common knowledge that both of them got some history.

The duchess can't even remember how many times that topic has been brought up on social gatherings that she would attend to that it was starting to get annoying.

Once again, the duchess signaled the butler to lead florence to her seat, seeing that he's already accompanying her.

She sat next to Alexandre at the left side of the table