Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 40

Brianna tilted her head in confusion, prompting Lily to let out a sigh and rub her forehead in exasperation.

“You two really have a long way to go,” she said, shaking her head. “But I suppose it’s understandable since you’ve been friends for so long… Still, you’re both adults, so I’m sure you’ll figure it out. Anyway, that’s something for the two of you to sort out.”

Lily quickly moved on, asking her next question. “So, when are you moving?”

Countess Kirchner had requested a live-in tutor, and with Brianna set to start teaching the young master next week, she needed to move in within the next couple of days.

“I’m moving in two days. I thought it would be good to get to know the child before starting,” Brianna explained.

Lily sighed softly. “So, this will be our last time hanging out like this…”

“I can always come visit you here, or you could come visit me,” Brianna offered, trying to lighten the mood.

Lily smiled faintly but shook her head. “Don’t. It wouldn’t be good for them to know you’re hanging out with an opera singer.”

“What do you mean by that?” Brianna asked, puzzled.

Lily swirled her wine glass before taking a slow sip. She looked at Brianna with a serious expression. “Brianna, do you know what a governess who enters a noble family must be most careful about?”

“What is it?”

“Men.”

Lily’s lips curled into a wry smile. “They treat tutors only slightly better than maids but expect them to have the moral standards of a nun. They think the person teaching their children should be completely pure and spotless. On the other hand, they view opera singers like me as women who seduce men for patronage and live off their favors. That’s the image they have.”

“That’s such a ridiculous way of thinking…”

“Maybe, but that’s how they see it. If you’re seen with me, they’ll lump you into the same category and think poorly of you. I don’t care what people think of me, but you can’t afford to lose your hard-won job.”

Brianna’s expression darkened, but Lily quickly brightened the mood with a cheerful laugh. “Don’t take it too seriously. I’m not saying we should cut ties, just that we should be more discreet. If you ever have a tough time while you’re there, come find me. We can drink and complain about it together.”

With that, Lily stood up from the table. “To celebrate your new job, I’m going to sing for you. You’ve never heard me sing properly, have you? Last time, I only did recitatives.”

A recitative, Brianna knew, was a style in opera where the performer sang dialogue in a speech-like manner, often bridging the gap between arias, which were the main, expressive songs. As a minor role, Lily hadn’t had the chance to perform a full aria on her own.

“This is your chance to hear the future prima donna sing before she becomes famous, so listen carefully,” Lily said with a charming smile as she walked over to the piano in the center of the restaurant.

After a brief conversation with the pianist, Lily placed one hand on the piano and struck a pose. Soon, the soft melody of the piano filled the air, followed by her captivating voice. Everyone in the restaurant stopped what they were doing to watch her.

Her powerful voice resonated throughout the large hall, filling every corner. It was a voice that combined the gentle warmth of spring sunlight with the commanding presence of a winter storm. The guests were instantly captivated by the magical quality of her singing. When the song ended, the room erupted in thunderous applause.

Lily gracefully acknowledged the applause with a queenly bow, and Brianna joined in with enthusiastic cheers and clapping. As Lily smiled brightly at her, she looked every bit like a radiant queen, dazzling and commanding all attention.

***

Brianna’s belongings were minimal, just two bags as she entered the Kirchner estate. When she arrived, she was greeted by the head maid, who immediately led her to her room.

As they walked through the corridors, the head maid explained the rules of the household, and Brianna listened attentively, trying not to miss any important details.

“Meals are at set times. You should come down to the dining room on the first floor at 6 AM to eat with the other servants. Lunch is at 12 PM, and dinner is at 6 PM. If you’d prefer to eat alone, meals can be brought to your room. Laundry should be placed in the basket outside your door, and a maid will collect it daily. The library is locked, but you can request a spare key from the butler if needed.”

The head maid continued to provide information as they walked.

“The Count is often away on business, so you probably won’t see him much. The Countess is sensitive in the mornings due to insomnia, so it’s important to keep noise to a minimum. If you need to see the Countess, it’s best to do so in the afternoon.”

The head maid’s explanations seemed endless, but Brianna absorbed everything she could.

“After your lessons, you’re free to do what you like within the estate, but please try to avoid going out. The Countess dislikes it when the staff wanders outside. You’ll have one day off per month, and the lesson schedule can be adjusted accordingly. Do you have any other questions?”

Brianna decided to ask the most pressing question on her mind. “What is Young Master Michael like?”

She had thought about this many times, hoping he would be as bright and straightforward as Florian had been at that age. But in truth, she didn’t mind either way—children were always endearing in their own way.

“Master Michael is… a bit unusual,” the head maid replied.

“Unusual?”

Before the head maid could elaborate, they were interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching from the opposite direction.

“Miss.”

It was Adelheid, walking down the corridor. The head maid stepped aside and greeted her with a respectful bow.

Adelheid walked past them but then suddenly stopped, her gaze fixing on Brianna.

“You must be the new governess,” Adelheid said.

Brianna bowed her head politely. “Yes, my name is Brianna Everett. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Adelheid studied Brianna’s face closely and then spoke. “Raise your head.”

Surprised by the sudden request, Brianna looked up and met her gaze. Up close, Adelheid was even more beautiful than Brianna had initially thought. If asked to name the most beautiful noblewoman she had ever seen, Brianna would not hesitate to choose Adelheid.

Adelheid seemed to scrutinize Brianna as if she were appraising her, then murmured, “I thought your face looked familiar… Have we met before?”

Brianna had indeed seen Adelheid once before, at the opera house with Lucius. But from where Adelheid was sitting, Brianna doubted she could have seen her clearly.

“I believe our first meeting was during my interview at this estate, Miss,” Brianna replied.

“Is that so?” Adelheid pondered for a moment, then smiled slightly.

“I was just about to ask you something. How do you know Lucius? I noticed that the Duchess also seems to know you…”

“It was through an unexpected encounter. It was a brief meeting, but I was grateful that they remembered me,” Brianna explained.

“What sort of encounter?” Adelheid pressed.

“I was in a difficult situation, and they happened to help me,” Brianna said.

“Both of them helped you?” Adelheid asked, now even more curious.

Just as Adelheid was about to ask more probing questions, the head maid cleared her throat softly and gave Adelheid a subtle nod. Adelheid, though clearly eager to learn more, refrained from continuing. Asking too many personal questions in the hallway was not in line with proper decorum.

Adelheid quickly regained her composure. “Perhaps we can discuss this further another time. You may go now.”

After Brianna gave a respectful bow, she followed the head maid, who soon led her to a door.

“This is your room,” the head maid said, opening the door.

Brianna set her bags down and looked around. The room was larger than the one she had lived in at the Harzen estate. However, unlike her previous room, which was always filled with warm sunlight, this one felt a bit dim and cold, almost austere in its simplicity.