The Villainess Lives Twice: Butterfly's Dream (IF Story) - Chapter 50

Alice had never considered going to a school or anything of the sort. No one in her neighborhood ever attended school. 

The issue wasn’t just that she didn’t have money to pay for school fees, but that she had to work to earn money during the time she would have spent in school.

When she first heard that she was being sent to school, Alice was surprised and shook her head.

[I can work really well! I’m strong and have nimble hands, people always say that! I can do laundry, wash dishes, and take care of babies!]

It was a rare opportunity, and she couldn’t afford to become a burden by proving herself useless instead of being useful.

But Ansgar smiled and said, 

[Sending you to school is an investment. It’s not just you; I’m sending several other young servant girls your age to school as well. To become a senior servant, you’ll need to know how to read and write, and be able to understand documents.]

[But…]

In noble families, it wasn’t easy to take in servants or servants-to-be. Most people who became senior servants had worked for the family since their parents or even grandparents’ time, or had strong recommendations. 

Alice had no such connections. If she only relied on the Miss’ sympathy, she would eventually be sent away.

[Miss Artizea is a very smart person. If you want to serve her closely, you will need to learn many things. I’m not saying we’re going to spend a lot on your tuition or that you won’t be doing any work, so don’t worry.]

[Understood.]

Alice nodded at the mention of needing preparation to serve Artizea closely.

The three-year public school she entered taught basic literacy, arithmetic, and a bit of general knowledge. Most of the students were nine years old, so the lessons were only about four hours a day.

In the mornings, Alice went to school, and in the afternoons, she helped with various chores around the mansion. At night, she studied. At first, she was scolded by the head maid for wasting candles while studying, but once it was known that she was studying, no one said anything.

In fact, Alice knew that Artizea had asked for that. Artizea had even given her beeswax candles as a gift instead of the foul-smelling resin candles.

Though Alice sent all her earnings back home, her mother would have preferred that she returned home to take care of her younger siblings. Alice was torn, but because Artizea had held her hand and shaken her head, and said.

[Some families are happier when they’re apart.]

She often said this. Alice knew that she was telling this to herself, but she realized that it was also something she needed to hear for herself.

Not having to worry about hunger the next day allowed Alice’s thoughts and perspective to broaden. It might be better for her to return home and take care of her siblings while her mother worked, but she knew that would trap her in that cycle forever.

Instead, it seemed better to become a useful person here. Grand Duke Evron’s residence was generous with its employees, and if she could become one of the Miss’s personal servants, her salary would increase significantly.

She also imagined a much better future for herself.

[I want to go to teacher training school one day.]

That night, as she worked on her homework by candlelight, Alice confided in Artizea, speaking in a whisper, as if revealing a big secret.

Children from wealthy families usually graduate from public school, then prepare for university or attend vocational schools to take over family businesses. But Alice knew such dreams were far out of reach for her. 

However, a teacher training school seemed possible since the government provided some funding, and Alice could start working right after graduation.

After this dream took root, Alice started saving a small portion of her salary bit by bit.

Artizea never said that was impossible.

[You’re smart, Alice. I’m sure you can do it.]

Hearing Artizea call her smart made Alice feel strange.

She smiled and replied, but back then, she understood what Ansgar had meant.

If she wanted to serve Artizea closely, she had to work hard just as much. She didn’t want to be just a maid who only handled clothes, bathing, and brushing her hair. Anyone could do that.

Alice wanted to be someone trusted more. She wanted to manage letterboxes, jewelry boxes, and discuss important matters.

To do that, just being able to read and do simple math wouldn’t be enough.

This realization was surprising even for Alice. She had never thought this way before, not even when she first knocked on the Grand Duke’s residence’s door, or when she got the chance to go to school, or when Artizea made sure her siblings could eat every day. 

But when she realized this desire, she felt a much deeper sense of gratitude.

It was the same gratitude she felt when she realized Artizea trusted her when they first met.

The Miss, unaware of these thoughts, clumsily wiped her wet hair with a towel and asked,

“You graduate in March, right? What will you do?”

“What do you mean?”

“You said you wanted to go to teacher training school. If you take the exam, you can pass, right?”

“I can’t do it yet.”

Alice took the towel from Artizea’s hands and carefully dried her hair. Every time she did this, it made her smile.

This clever Miss was clumsy at everything except for what she did at her desk. Actually, considering that she also did things like knitting and paper folding at her desk, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she was half as good at those as well.

“Alice, you’ll be sixteen after your birthday, right? That’s the perfect age to go to teacher training school.”

“I should be serving Miss.”

“Um…”

Artizea hesitated as she looked at Alice. Marie, who had brought out her clothes, asked,

“Alice, were you planning to go to teacher training school?”

“You remember that? I just mentioned it as a dream a few years ago.”

“Really? Alice, you’re smart, so I think you could definitely do it.”

“But I still haven’t repaid my gratitude fully.”

Alice said it casually. Artizea pursed her lips and looked at her through the mirror.

“I’ll be really sad if Alice leaves.”

“I’m not leaving. What do you mean, Miss?”

“But if you can’t do what you want to do to repay your gratitude, it will be even sadder. I didn’t really do anything special for you to begin with.”

“You mustn’t say that you didn’t do anything for me.”

Alice carefully brushed Artizea’s long hair and then wiped away the wetness again, smiling as she spoke. Marie also smiled.

“What if Alice really decides to leave the job?”

“I haven’t even mentioned it, but if you keep saying that, I’m scared. If I get fired, that’ll be a big problem.”

“Ah.”

Artizea let out a short sigh. Alice had attended public school with support from Grand Duke Evron’s residence, but if she left right after graduation, things might get awkward with the other employees or the butler.

“I’m sorry, Alice. I didn’t think it through.”

“It’s fine. I know you’re speaking from the heart, for my sake.”

Artizea stood up with her hair still damp. She needed to finish drying her hair and change clothes, but since it was already getting late, she quickly changed into her clothes without waiting for her hair to fully dry.

Her light blue checkered jacket and skirt gave a calm impression while still retaining the fresh look of a young girl. Marie said with a nostalgic smile while looking at her,

“Just the other day, you loved pink frills so much.”

Artizea’s face immediately turned bright red.

“That was when I was eight!”

“For your ninth birthday, you wore a dress that looked like a stage curtain, full of roses…”

“That, that was when I was nine…”

But there was no room for excuses. Artizea’s head drooped like a wilted vegetable.

Alice chuckled and grabbed her bag then opened the door.

“Let’s go now, Miss. I’ll take your bag to the carriage.”

“Will you be okay alone?”

“It’s fine. Alphonse will go with me…”

Artizea shrank her flushed neck and followed Alice outside while walking slowly.