An Opportunity

Anastasia began reciting the poem. She flawlessly delivered the first stanza but made a few mistakes in the second. The third and fourth stanzas were riddled with errors, a complete ruin of the beautiful poem.

"That's enough," Miss Brice interrupted, exasperated. Her disappointment was evident, and despite her experience, she couldn't hide her sigh. She didn't even bother asking Anastasia for her insight before proceeding with the day's lesson.

Two hours later, Miss Brice concluded her class. As always, her sole focus had been Elisabeth. As long as Elisabeth understood, the lesson continued smoothly.

When the class ended, Elisabeth's maid brought her a plate of snacks.

"Would you like some?" Elisabeth asked with a friendly smile, even offering the plate herself.

Anastasia shook her head. Although hungry, she knew better than to accept food from Elisabeth. Sometimes it was harmless, but other times, it left her confined to the toilet for hours.

Already feeling unwell, Anastasia didn't dare take the risk. After declining politely, she rested her head on the desk. It seemed like she was sleeping, but in truth, she was reviewing the lesson Miss Brice had taught.

Her mother had told her to always be prepared, for when an opportunity to shine arose, she needed to be ready.

Elisabeth frowned at Anastasia's response. She knew Anastasia hadn't eaten before class and had hoped to make her ill by sharing the snacks. Her plan foiled, Elisabeth lost her appetite.

The Duke's daughters had three teachers: Miss Brice, Miss Ellen, and Miss Maria. While Miss Brice and Miss Ellen had given up on Anastasia, Miss Maria was different. She taught Anastasia everything necessary to become a respected lady, no matter how slow her progress seemed.

What irritated Elisabeth most was that Anastasia was improving. Her walking and sitting posture, in particular, had become more graceful—better than Elisabeth's, in fact. It infuriated her.

Elisabeth had complained to the Duchess, but the Duchess couldn't intervene. Miss Maria was highly respected in society, and asking her to ignore Anastasia in class would only damage the Duchess's reputation.

Left with no choice, Elisabeth devised her own plan. She decided to mix a stomach-upsetting herb into a pie, hoping Anastasia would embarrass herself in Miss Maria's presence. However, Anastasia hadn't taken the bait.

"Take it away. I'm not hungry," Elisabeth said coldly, dismissing her maid.

Half an hour later, Miss Maria entered the room. Though not a great beauty, her poised steps and commanding presence turned heads. The two sisters rose and greeted her with perfect etiquette.

Miss Maria's gaze settled on Anastasia, and she smiled approvingly. Despite wearing inferior clothing compared to Elisabeth, Anastasia's grace was undeniable—a true reflection of nobility.

"Miss Anastasia, imagine you're hosting a party. Please turn to Lady Elisabeth and welcome her," Miss Maria instructed, clearly pleased with Anastasia's progress.

Elisabeth frowned at the instruction, hating the fact that she was being overlooked.

Anastasia nodded, straightened her back, and smiled warmly at Elisabeth, adopting the poised demeanor of a proper hostess.

Seeing her like this only deepen Elizabeth's anger.

"Miss Elisabeth, one must never wear their feelings on their face. As a guest, how can you show such displeasure to the host? It does not matter if she is your worst enemy; being cordial with one another is a must," Miss Maria said, her displeasure evident.

Elisabeth was furious at being scolded by the teacher, but she could only swallow her anger. "I am sorry, I was a bit distracted," she apologized.

"Do it again," Miss Maria instructed as she walked to her seat. This time, Elisabeth managed to play along.

"Sit. Today, we will learn proper etiquette for mingling at a party. You ladies are coming of age and will soon be married. You must conduct yourselves properly," Miss Maria said.

"Miss Anastasia, you have improved your posture; you must keep up the good work," Miss Maria commented as she continued the lesson.

Elisabeth was distracted throughout the class. She couldn't understand why Miss Maria would waste her time on Anastasia.

"Tomorrow, you ladies will accompany me to a friend's party. It will be held in her garden. My friend is also a teacher, and there will be a few young ladies in attendance," Miss Maria announced at the end of the class.

"Yes, teacher," Elisabeth and Anastasia responded in unison. They understood that this party was less about the host and more about providing noble girls an opportunity to showcase their skills.

When the lesson ended, Anastasia was the first to leave the classroom. Watching her graceful figure, Elisabeth felt a surge of anger. Everyone in the royal city knew Anastasia was good for nothing. Seeing her like this made Elisabeth uneasy. If Anastasia appeared so presentable, the rumors about her over the years might be overturned.

"No, I will not let you get away with this," Elisabeth muttered.

Meanwhile, Anastasia returned to her courtyard, worried about what she could wear to the gathering.

Her mother had always told her to wait for the right opportunity to shine. Anastasia felt that this party might be her chance—not to stand out, but to leave a good impression.

"Rosa, what are you doing here?" Anastasia was startled to see her maid in the courtyard.

"I brought your lunch," Rosa replied with a smug smile.

"What did you do?" Anastasia asked, worried that Rosa might have caused trouble for her again.

"Nothing. I just went to get your food from the kitchen. Anyway, Leah and the Duchess are not around, so the kitchen staff was easy to talk to," Rosa lied.

"Are you sure?" Anastasia was skeptical. Even if she went to the kitchen herself, the staff would never treat her kindly. Why would they suddenly be nice to Rosa?

"Of course! You haven't eaten anything since breakfast. Come and eat," Rosa said, pulling Anastasia to the dining table.

When Anastasia opened the plate, she was surprised to see a decent meal. Although it wasn't as lavish as what the Duke's children ate, it was far better than what she usually received.

"This food..." Anastasia began to suspect that something was wrong. Every time she encountered a little kindness, it turned out to be a trap.

"My lady, you can eat without worry. Those kitchen women didn't play any tricks this time," Rosa assured her.

"What did you do?" Anastasia asked, noticing Rosa's confidence. She knew things couldn't be that simple.

"I only threatened to hit the gong," Rosa whispered.

"You... Aren't you afraid they'll beat you up?" Anastasia asked, shocked.

"Those kitchen women are terrified of trouble. At the time, there were many servants watching. I accused them of trying to harm you. Even if they stopped me, what if someone spread rumors?" Rosa said proudly, clearly satisfied with her cleverness.

Anastasia sighed in relief. It was the same tactic Grater had used against Leah. Some rumors simply couldn't be allowed to spread.

"Sit, let's eat," Anastasia said. She knew Rosa wouldn't have anything good to eat after pulling such a stunt.

"I dare not, my lady. I'm just a maid," Rosa refused.

"You don't have to be so cautious. It's just the two of us here. Besides, with my status in this residence, what is there to fear?" Anastasia insisted.

"You are still my lady. Please eat first; I can eat your leftovers later," Rosa replied firmly. She didn't want to grow accustomed to Anastasia's kindness and forget her place.

"Stubborn," Anastasia muttered, picking up the spoon and beginning to eat.