MAIN RESIDENCE OF NIRVANA:
"Are you leaving Lady Sloane?" Reina looked gloomily at her.
"Yes, I suppose it's time I returned. Or father will find out that twelve-year-old me is roaming around without an escort." Sloane smiled.
"Will there be a next time?" She hopefully looked at her.
"Let's see..." She stood crossing her arms.
"How about later next month?"
"Next month?! Sure as you wish." the silver-blue eyes showed a sign of both consideration and sadness.
"Thank you for understanding."Sloane rode off as the blonde girl smiled bitterly.
" I hope you reach safely."She prayed.
Martha took her inside before she was noticed by a stranger.
Sloane took Ebony into the stables removing the saddle, as the stable keeper hurriedly came to take over the work.
"Good work." She commented and left the building.
Walking across the garden, she looked at the training area. It was empty since they were given a day off.
But there still was a person swinging his sword without stopping.
Wavy black hair and refined features but the same weary look.
"Nine?" She ran to him.
"Milady?" He looked startled.
"You came back? I didn't realize."
"That's better than being recognized." She smiled.
"Practicing?"
He nodded faintly smiling he lowered the wooden sword.
"Thank you milady."
"...?"
"For everything."
Slap*
"Kuh!*"
"What was that for?" He rubbed his back where she hit him hard.
"You are my comrade. That's all I want to say."
The light breeze blew as her hair fluttered.
"Don't tire yourself." She gave him a light pat on the shoulder and headed back to the mansion.
The room was empty.
-"Cecile didn't return?"
"What could have happened?" She pondered.
"Good morning Milady!"
She turned to look at a woman standing in the hallway.
"Madame Fiona?"
"Yes, it is I milady. Please come now. You shall continue with your lessons from today. I don't want to hear any rash excuses."
Sloane's most prominent tutor who covered up everything from historical to theology and etiquette and manners. Even medicine was thought by her. She was the most well-known and esteemed tutor in the capital strict about the education of the future generations. Nobles wait for months to make an appointment with her for their children.
Time passed slowly for her as she couldn't concentrate. She was more concerned about Jack and Cecile.
"Milady...Lady Sloane. It would be the best choice to focus on the lecture."
"I apologize for having to concern you over me, madame."
"Then let's conclude today's history lesson here."
Sloane beamed for the class to end but to her dismay, she wouldn't let her off for the missing days.
"Now let's proceed with the dance lessons, shall we?"
-"What a bewitching woman."She snorted.
"And go. One, two, three, one, two, three, and once again."
Sloane couldn't keep up with the steps of the waltz.
She hated dancing ever since the beginning.
She would prefer continuous sparring for two days over a dance lesson.
"Curse this thing. Who established such trash in traditions?" She kept on cursing wearing a bitter expression.
"A smile brings out a lady's charm. You will have your debut in four years. Yet you won't adapt to the basics of waltz."
"Pardon my incompatibility." Sloane tried to keep up the best of her behavior.
-"Sir Lucas is still better than her."
She would have fired herself if she had the authority to do so.
But this woman was personally assigned to her by her mother the marchioness herself when she was alive.
She did not want to betray those expectations and trust the marchioness had left with her.
Sigh*
"Let us take a break, shall we? Let's have some tea."
-"Another uninformed test!"Sloane thought anxiously.
In the past timeline, Fiona would testify Sloane through the things on normal occasions like these. She would be punished for doing it improperly.
-"I even know the deep intentions you hold."She looked at the woman sitting on the sofa holding her head high as the maid brought in tea.
-"Okay. Let's pass this as well."She took a deep breath and began making tea.
"With elegance and a dignified composure. You pour it." She instructed.
"Very well done. We have yet to proceed with this. Did you learn beforehand?"
-"Amazed aren't you? Thank you for those harsh lessons I received in my past life."Her mind agreed.
"It is thanks to my respected mother who taught me how to do it."She replied.
It wasn't entirely a lie. She used to watch her Estelle during tea parties and many meetings. In Sloane's eyes, her mother was the embodiment of a perfect Lady.
Knock*Knock*
" Milady. May I enter?"
"Yes, you may."
Sloane looked up.
"Cecile?!"