The Tamed Heiress

She tapped her slender finger on the table continuously.

Is there a possibility that I’m Dana Deniz? No, it makes no sense that I stood in for myself. Then I should’ve known from the beginning over there.

Dana was in a daze with her chin resting in her palm. While the tea was cooling down, she remained in that posture.

“That… lady.”

“Huh? Huh?”

Wendy, who had been watching, spoke with a worried expression.

“Shall we bring Terra back later?”

“Oh, that’s right. I’ll go now.”

Dana had mentioned Terra again without knowing because she was lost in thought. At Wendy’s words, she jumped up and came back to her senses.

Wendy quickly approached her and touched her dress.

“She’s an offender. Lady, don’t waste your time on her. Now you can tell us what you need.”

“Still… What should I say?”

Even though they were not officially married yet, it was still embarrassing to pretend to be the hostess. Of course, it was already best to banish Terra, but she rationalized it because she thought she was a direct victim.

“What are you talking about? You’re his fiancée… I heard you’re going to get a formal education starting tomorrow.”

“Oh… I am.”

Marriage with Leon was not just a marriage. She was to become the only wife of the Grand Duke of the Haschel Empire, the Grand Duchess.

Except for the imperial family, it would be the highest position in the country’s social world. Even if she was originally a noble lady, she had a lot to learn from scratch.

Leon didn’t like seeing Dana busy, so he tried to omit all of it, but decided to attach a minimum amount of teachers at Daniel’s persistent persuasion.

“Anyway, I should go see Terra.”

When Dana stepped out of the door, Wendy followed behind. Lily responded in support of Dana, but Wendy sometimes said her thoughts bluntly.

“I don’t know why you want to see Terra. I think you’re curious about something. When I see you do it again… Are you taking revenge?”

At Wendy’s unstoppable question, Dana said with a strange smile.

“As expected, does it look like that?”

“Not just me… There are a lot of people who think that. Of course, I’m not saying that you’re wrong! She deserved to be punished, right?

“Wendy knows Terra better than I do. How was it? Was she a bad person?”

When a question came to her, Wendy pondered and opened her mouth.

“It was bad. If she didn’t like it, she was good at bullying people. Because of that, many maids left in tears.”

“If Terra doesn’t like it, I guess the other maids must agree.”

“It just happened to be… Many maids followed Terra because she was outspoken. She’d been working here for a long time, so she was a good teacher.”

“I see.”

Dana smiled again and walked to the drawing room where Terra was. Terra looked a little better after a few days.

Although she still stayed in the dungeon with her hands and feet tied, she had allowed her to eat about one meal a day. Although the meal was a bowl of watery soup with a piece of dry bread, that was like a lifeline for Terra.

Terra was well aware that it only happened after she met with Dana. Perhaps because of that, her expression when looking at Dana contained an unknown expectation.

“How have you been? You look better than before.”

“Why are you here?”

Dana blinked a few times without an answer and beckoned to another maid. Then a chair was placed where Terra was.

The soldiers helped Terra sit on the hard wooden chair. She looked more comfortable than kneeling on the floor.

“I’m going to find a reason now.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“What do you want now, Terra?”

Terra rolled her eyes and said honestly.

“Now I want to wash up and lie down.”

“What’s next?”

“To me… I don’t want you to punish me.”

Although there was some hesitation, Terra brazenly spoke her mind. She thought there was no reason to pretend before Dana anyway.

“Do you think you did something wrong?”

At that moment, Terra raised her head and looked at Dana, then lowered her gaze again at Dana’s relaxed appearance.

“Of course. It’s my fault. I should have recognized you earlier, but I made a mistake because I thought I knew the Grand Duke well.”

Although she admitted her mistake, there was a slight nuance. Rather than thinking that her actions were wrong, she was regretting the unexpected future.

“If you weren’t caught now, you wouldn’t have thought of that, would you?”

“…maybe…”

“Ah, it’s good that you’re really honest. I can’t forgive you because you haven’t repented of your mistakes.”

“Is it that important?”

Terra looked at her with a very strange expression, and Dana leaned back comfortably with both hands on the sofa armrest.

“Did you do this because you needed my sincere apology?”

“No, I’m looking to see if you’re useful.”

Terra’s eyes widened at the words. The last time she saw her, she knew that this pretty lady was formidable, but what she felt now was different.

Somehow, she was uncomfortable because she felt like they were of equal class.

“What do you want from me?”

“Well, you have to prove yourself.”

Dana stood up slowly when she saw the sun setting flat outside the window.

“I’ll let you wash up. But I can’t release you yet, let her wash up then lock her in prison right away.”

“Yes, lady.”

At Dana’s command, the soldiers and one maid moved together, taking Terra outside.

Dana didn’t really know what she wanted from Terra yet. However, there was one thing she found in her.

Honest and weak. She’s bright and useful…

Somehow, while talking, she thought it was different for her. Of course, Dana still hated Terra. However, in doing something, likes and dislikes about people were not very important.

A person below you who controls your surroundings according to your intentions…

Dana stepped out of the drawing room and walked down the hallway, repeating to herself silently. After hesitating for a while, she changed her direction slightly.

I need to see Leon. I can go now, right?