“Milady, could you please stop saying such horrible things?”

The head chef usually needed to act like a man and ended up exaggerating. After all, rather than a hardcore chef, he looked like a real yankee.

“No, sorry, but it really suits you. Come to think of it, how old is the head chef?”

The head chef answered while fiddling with his cuff, perhaps concerned that it was a bit short.

“Oh, I turned twenty-four this year. Also, Milady, it’s uncouth to ask a maiden how old she is.”

Even Liz and Jack were astonished by the transformation. Kyle, seemingly dissatisfied because his arms and legs weren’t as long as the head chef’s, puffed his cheeks. His face was bright red.

I’m not saying that he’s unreliable, but Kyle has been acting like a child lately. If there’s someone he likes, I need to help him find success while my reputation is still untarnished in society.

Sasha, who generally didn’t speak much, turned redder than even Kyle, her mouth agape.

I had pretty much expected that. After all, Larissa and Stephanie reported that it always happened at social gatherings, especially when a noble came within a meter’s radius of her.

“Okay then, Sasha. Maintain eye contact with the head chef for a little while as a practice exercise. If you get scared, you can look away instantly.”

“O-okay!”

“Lady Sasha, please don’t push yourself too hard, okay?”

Sasha, who was hyperventilating, suddenly squatted when the head chef called out to her.

…Okay, I didn’t expect that.

“It’s okay, I’m fine… I’m not scared of this person. I’m not scared.”

She mumbled before jumping to her feet.

Then, Sasha raised her delicate head and looked into the eyes of the head chef, a clear embodiment of masculinity and coolness.

“What do you think? Are you still scared?”

I timidly asked Sasha.

“…It’s not that scary, I think…”

“We did it! Head Chef, please try to give her some kind of gentlemanly compliment!”

The head chef, who was smiling and giving Sasha a warm gaze, tilted his head in confusion.

“Merely looking at your loveliness sooths my heart. You’re so dazzling, everyone will be captivated at first sight. Even the best painter in the country fails to capture your beauty.”

“Wow, my teeth are rotting! Sasha, what do you think? Is it repulsive?”

“…It doesn’t feel so bad…”

“Hurray! Thank you, Head Chef, thank you so much!”

With all my heart, I chanted three cheers.

“Please, Head Chef, just spare 30 minutes a day to accompany Sasha in her special training!!”

My joy was bursting and I was having a hard time breathing as I scooted closer to the head chef.

“When I see the appearance of Milady, which can only be described as straight-forward, I can’t say no. Young Lady Sasha is also a dear friend of mine.”

“What a nice person! Thank you so muuuuuch—!!”

The head chef’s words moved me to tears. As I tried to suppress it, snot dribbled down my nose.

“Disgusting—!” Kyle exclaimed, almost screaming.

The next two weeks were really hectic. Since Sasha was showing enthusiasm, we decided to hold her special training every day.

Sasha had properly learned the manners for tea parties and evening gatherings because she was thinking that, one day, if I became the crown princess, I would marry her off to some remote region or somewhere equally terrible.

Nevertheless, there were many things Sasha didn’t know about, including how to converse with nobles. She didn’t know when to speak, how to maintain a conversation, nor what topics should never be brought up. I had to keep a close eye on her, I didn’t even have time to hold a reflection session in my mind.

What surprised me was how resourceful and clever the head chef was.

Sasha said that she was still doing her best to maintain eye contact with him. Although I gave her a Conté: Conversation between Ladies and Gentlemen, she could barely practice following the script I had made. However, when it came to the head chef, his performance was like that of a veteran hero in the battlefield of love and romance.

When Sasha finished practicing, I made sure that everyone applauded loudly. Sasha was breathless each time, whereas the head chef was relatively unfazed despite having assisted her.

I didn’t think I should ask too much, but I just couldn’t help but wonder.

“Why are you so good?”

The head chef pursed his lips.

“Well, I suppose you could say that my family was aristocratic. However, they indulged in their own desires, and were a bunch of good-for-nothings. Because I often had to clean up after them, I naturally remembered by watching it.”

Oh, just like the duke. People like that can be found everywhere.

With these thoughts in mind, I continued our special training.

Sasha seemed to be gaining more confidence every day, and she was less fidgety in front of everyone.

Good. This is very nice.

“OoooOoooOoH…”

I was so happy with how she was growing, I let out a wail that resembled that of a sea lion. Kyle was completely put off by me.

When I reflected on it later, it was an intense two weeks, all of which will become fond memories. In addition, I didn’t want my current activity to ruin my side ventures, so I put a lot of effort into Madam Gonzales. As a result, I was barely able to get any sleep. Still, I felt accomplished, then Liz finally scolded me.

“Lady Juliane, please get some sleep. It’s really a wonder that you haven’t collapsed!”

“It’s okay. Although I’m sleepy, I feel strangely energetic.”

That day, I finished juggling my two jobs: Madam Gonzales in the morning, and Sasha’s special training preparation and practice in the afternoon. Afterwards, I stayed at my desk until late into the night.

I was in the middle of creating the second collection of quotes by Gonzales Gonzaliano. The first book, published just the other day, sold like hotcakes and was sold out on the same day.

“Liz, go to sleep now. I’ll head to bed after I do just a bit more.”

Even so, I thought that I probably wouldn’t sleep for a while yet. I felt like I had been working a bit too hard since the memories of my previous life returned. Regardless, just as the information in my brain had doubled, my stamina had also increased.

“See you tomorrow, Liz. Thank you for staying so late. Tomorrow, Madam Gonzales will have a day off, so Liz should also take a half-day off. You can start working from noon.”

“…Understood, thank you very much. Good night then.”

I could tell that Liz was concerned, but she finally relented with a smile. The reason why Kyle and Sasha still hadn’t found out about Gonzales despite us working closely was due to Liz’s skillful management. When I saw the look of concern in her face, there was a pang in my chest, but I still wanted to do my part as Gonzales.

Now, Madam Gonzales had become my purpose in life—or rather, it had become a special skill that allowed me to make a living.

Madam Gonzales didn’t lack women seeking to have their fortune told outside her tent. I thought it was somewhat sad, funny, and very exciting.

Although satisfying their desire for approval was a major part of it, there was a mysterious charm hidden in the act of being able to confide in one’s concerns, being able to understand the client’s feelings before they were said, and gauging a client’s feeling to give them support.

“Hmm, most of them are about romance.”

Inside the guide box that Jack made for me were a number of pieces of notepaper with short questions for Madam Gonzales. I’d give my own answer while respecting the privacy of the sender.

What Jack edited and printed became Madam Gonzales’ collection of quotes. Unlike my previous life, the printing technology here was still in its infancy, so I couldn’t print that many things at once. Hence, my collection of quotes was truly a premium product.

“There’s no standard for what’s right when it comes to love. Despite turning to fortune telling, many girls are pessimistic about their love.”

After all, with my activity in social circles, I had developed a good ear. Hence why I was able to give accurate and skillful answers to people’s love journeys.

The only thing I didn’t understand the most was my own heart.

No, no, you’ve already sorted out your feelings of inadequacy towards His Highness Alfred, along with the inferiority complex that you’ve been carrying around, haven’t you?

Still, when I recalled the last tea party, where Alfred and I were in such close proximity with on another, I could hear the rushing of my own blood. I still felt slightly dizzy.

I didn’t want to show him such a pathetic sight, but to my utter disgust, I found myself crying that day.

I felt like the tears I shed back then were of a different type than those of frustration and sadness over not getting my way, or of complaining, or being selfish.

Oh well, it’s not often that I get embraced by such a handsome man. It was a rare experience, no wonder it has such an impact.

I should just suppress the memory to the bottom of my heart without trying to figure out why I shed those tears. I should pretend that I never noticed even while they were swelling up. Yes, that was what I had concluded.

For the time being, I would have no shortage of materials for “memories” for the rest of my life.

Up until now, my memories would only make me angry and resentful when I recalled them, but once I became a commoner, I wanted to live my life with a smile on my face.

Alfred’s outstanding beauty had enamored women all over the country. His true value lied in his remarkable talent as a superior.

He was very intelligent, treated his subjects equally, wasn’t bossy, was approachable, and could be ruthless at times. Although he seemed gentle, he had quite the martial or rather tough personality.

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***T/N: The mc loves to self-deprecate a lot, I can’t help but notice…

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