When I was a child, my father told me this story.

And while telling it, he always reddened his eyes.

He said that if he had been wiser, my mother would not have left like that.

Nor would he have brought disgrace upon me.

I think so too.

In fact, both of them were too young and too foolish.

A marriage like that is not right.

Olivia wanted to object to Laura’s cold thoughts.

“But, teacher, it must have been because they loved each other so much.

Though it ended in tragedy, still, you were born, weren’t you?”

Laura only smiled without speaking.

“If only they had safely made it to Gretna Green.

Then the three of them would have lived happily without any trouble.”

“Thank you for seeing it that way, Miss Fairfax.

I sometimes think that too.

If they had been a bit wiser, my mother and father would still be by my side.

I don’t deny that they loved each other.

Sometimes I look at my mother’s portrait and think of the mother who might have been with me.

Because she decided her fate before she could mature, she met such a tragedy.

I once resented my mother, but I don’t anymore.

The same goes for my father.”

“What happened to your father, teacher?”

“I don’t know.

When I was young, he left me with the Pendleton family, and when I grew up and inquired, there was no painter with my father’s name anywhere.

He probably returned to his homeland.”

Laura calmly finished her story, closed the pendant’s lid, and tucked it back inside her clothes.

Then she silently gazed at the open riding path of Dunville Park.

Quietly, like a wildflower.

Olivia felt an indescribable emotion from Laura’s demeanor.

How could the teacher tell such a story so honestly and plainly?

And how could she be so peaceful after finishing it?

Olivia felt awe for her teacher for the first time.

After that conversation, Olivia’s attitude toward her teacher gradually changed.

Until then, outside of French lessons, Olivia would pretend not to see her teacher, only acknowledging her if Laura greeted first.

But now, when they met, Olivia greeted her first and showed courtesy even outside of class.

Not only that, but she also generously cut a piece of lace, a gift from a friend who had toured the spa town of Bath, and gave it to Laura to decorate a hat.

Miss Pendleton was surprised by Olivia’s change.

Until now, Olivia had only reluctantly obeyed during lessons, treating Laura as if she didn’t exist in daily life.

But Laura soon realized that Olivia had learned about her origins and felt pity for her.

Being an object of pity to a young student wasn’t exactly pleasant, but Laura decided to be grateful that Olivia had finally opened her heart to her.

And she gladly accepted Olivia’s kind nature.

Laura beautifully decorated a plain black hat and a cotton handkerchief with the lace Olivia gave her.

In return, she played Olivia’s favorite Mendelssohn pieces all evening.

Olivia sat beside Laura, turning the sheet music and listening to her performance.

Laura produced an incomparably graceful melody from her clumsy fingertips.

Olivia wasn’t the least bit envious of that fact.

There was no jealousy at all.

She only felt a wish to one day play the piano as splendidly, watching Laura’s fingers flutter over the keys like white butterflies.

From that day on, whenever Laura played the piano, Olivia would sit beside her, watching her fingers or turning the sheet music.

It was natural for friendship to blossom between the ladies who sat side by side every day, immersed in music.

Laura began to find Olivia, who gazed at her skill with admiring eyes, endearing, and grew as fond of her as she was of the two boys romping in the woods daily.

But Olivia’s feelings were deeper and more serious than Laura’s.

Until now, Olivia had coveted Laura’s talents for herself.

But now, she had come to love her teacher’s excellence.

Olivia no longer needed to suppress or ignore the love she felt for the object of her admiration.

She wanted to know what books she read, what dances she could perform, how many pieces of sheet music were in her mind, and what poems she liked.

Olivia asked these things honestly.

And Laura’s answers, far from disappointing her, deepened Olivia’s admiration.

Her level of knowledge surpassed any lady Olivia had ever met.

Among governesses, no one had as rich intellect and refinement as Laura.

Laura Pendleton was the perfect lady Olivia had always wanted to become.

Olivia wanted to become a perfect lady like Laura.

She had found the perfect role model she had always been searching for.

Olivia began to follow Miss Pendleton around constantly.

So much so that Mrs. Fairfax had to tell her to stop bothering the teacher.

But Laura wasn’t bothered at all.

She was delighted to have won Olivia’s heart, and she was even more touched that Olivia liked her because of her high zeal for learning.

After all, when Laura was thirteen and attending a girls’ school, she too had followed her favorite teacher, eager to learn more.

Laura began to closely observe Olivia’s level and characteristics and soon noticed that Olivia struggled with studying alone despite her enthusiasm.

As a result, she wasn’t achieving as much as she desired in subjects without a teacher.

The most notable area was reading.

Olivia was reading on her own based on a book list her eldest brother at university had made for her.

Laura asked to see the list, and Olivia quickly brought it to her.

Laura inwardly clicked her tongue as she looked at the titles.

They were all books too difficult for Olivia to read.

As expected, Olivia had given up on most of the books after reading only the beginnings.

Laura made a new list of books that were interesting yet nourishing for a thirteen-year-old to read.

And she promised to read one book a week and discuss it with her.