If memory is dependent on the body, what should you call someone who remembers two lives?

“Miss Margaret, come here.”

Estella turned at the call from behind her. It was Miss Gail, the woman in charge of the kitchen and other chores, beckoning to her. With a puzzled look on her face, Estella obediently approached the other woman.

“What can I do for you?”

“I picked some apricots from the tree in the garden. They’re very ripe, aren’t they?”

With that, Mrs Gail lifted the cloth covering the basket. It was filled with plump, ripe apricots. Estella made a small sound of admiration.

“The seeds are very thick.”

“The fruit trees in this garden are so strong,but the owners and servants only care about their own interests, so it’s a problem.”

Then Mrs Gail leaned over and whispered in Estella’s ear.

“I’m giving you this to cheer you up, young lady. And to show you how good you are at handling such energetic children. Didn’t you say it was your first time as a tutor?”

Estella smiled awkwardly. She could never say that she had actually taught children of their age for nearly seven years. Estella let out an inaudible sigh.

It had been nearly a month since she’d found herself in this ridiculous situation. Until the age of twenty-two, Estella had been content to live with what she had been given. Anyone who listened to her life story would praise her for her integrity. But at this point in her life, she felt that pitiful should be added to that list.

She grew up with an in-depth education befitting a woman of the upper class. When she was younger, the Baron of Montiel still had enough money to provide for her education, but the tide had turned, and her education had been reduced to a means of subsistence. Her father’s gambling also led to the breakup of her fiancé. It was a tragic life.

She had discovered that this world was someone else’s creation, and that she was an unimportant character in it. It was absurd.

She even found herself experiencing discomfort she hadn’t known before by recalling her previous life. Clothing that was much more restrictive than modern day’s, different types of food, the absence of mobile devices, and acquaintances she would never see again… These are just a few of the things she has had to come to terms with over the years.

Still, Estella tried to look on the bright side of the situation. It wasn’t all bad, after all, and it had given her a chance to escape death.

Despite being forced to live with one more stranger, Estella had adapted quite well in the Duchy of Berta. There was no reason for her to have a new sense of self when everyone around her called her by the same name as before.

It could be argued that she had become more efficient in her daily routine than she had been in her previous life. A servant’s virtue is to not offend her employer, and she already knew all about Duke Berta’s family relationships, so there was no need to cause trouble.

While the peaceful routine continued, Estella managed to avoid the homicidal male lead quite well. Luckily for her, Diego was a man who thought that any contact with his half-siblings would ruin his day. He avoided meeting them from both sides as much as possible, so his presence felt like air. However, it wouldn’t be possible to avoid him forever.

“Here you go, Miss Margaret. I’ve washed them well, and you may share them with Lady Cecilia.”

Estella wrinkled the bridge of her nose in confusion. As she took the basket, she asked as if she’d just remembered something.

“And Master Cedric?”

“Oh, I don’t think he’d eat anything like this, he’s only looking for anything with sugar in it.”

Mrs Gale laughed heartily as she said this. Young master Cedric was a picky eater, and if the fruit was even slightly sour, he wouldn’t touch it.

Thanks to the kindness of someone she met on the street, Estella ended up entering the classroom with a snack in her side pocket. After thanking the person, she moved on again. The tedious morning commute was no different in this world.

* * *

Cedric’s attention was immediately drawn to the basket of food.

“What is this, did you bring it for me?”

Cedric asked as soon as Estella walked in the door. Just as Estella was adjusting to her new educational environment, Cedric was getting used to her. After an uncomfortable first meeting, she didn’t think they would ever get along, but for a reformed kid, Cedric was pretty good at following his teacher.

“This is for Lady Cecilia.”

With that, Estella set the basket down on the desk. Cedric didn’t mind and tugged at the cloth covering it. Inside, a plump apricot fruit emerged. She thought he was going to lose interest and walk away, but he picked up one of the raw fruits.

“Why are you only giving it to Cecilia? Don’t you see me in your eyes?”

No, two days ago, she threw a fit saying she wouldn’t eat strawberries, and then she went to Madam and said… Don’t swallow the seeds!'”

Estella, who was replying with an incredulous face, reflexively slapped Cedric’s back. With a loud thud, a thick seed fell onto Estella’s other hand. Cedric looked back at her, even more dumbfounded.

“Did you hit me…?”

“No. If you don’t know how to eat it, ask me, but why are you swallowing that hard stuff, you won’t live, really.”

“You scolded me…?”

“And you think that’s a compliment?”

Estella reprimanded sternly, waving the seed Cedric spat out. She had been quite nervous when she first applied for the position of tutor to the Duchy of Berta, but now that she had some teaching experience under her belt, this noble young kids are just children. Shw can’t help but think of all the children in her class who wet their pants and cried.

Cedric seemed shocked and muttered “Its the end of the world, the end…” before returning to his seat. Estella shrugged her shoulders briefly and turned towards Cecilia.

“Miss, don’t eat the seeds, just the flesh.”

Estella said gruffly and placed a napkin under Cecilia’s chin.

Estella smiled wryly as she watched the flawless cheeks work diligently. Her shiny silver hair and round face were adorable.

“Cecilia.”

Cedric cupped her cheek in the back of his hand and called out to her, his voice soft and gentle. Cecilia cocked her head.

“Huh?”

“Can’t you even see your brother’s empty mouth?”

“Ung!”

Without hesitation, Cecilia’s head bobbed up and down vigorously, and she greedily grabbed a handful of apricots in each hand. She didn’t want to be deprived of any of them. Cedric took on another serious expression and began to mutter something about the end of the world.

Estella stifled a laugh and wiped her wet hands roughly. It was almost time for class to begin.

“Okay, let’s start the lesson, first of all, we’ll go over what we learnt yesterday…”

“Cedric, is my son here?”

A soft voice drifted in from the doorway just in time. Estella clapped her hands together in surprise as she recognised Duchess Anna. The Duchess walked in and lifted her chin.

“Was class in session?”

“Yes, I was just about to start.”

“I see.”

As the Duchess spoke, she glanced at the book in Cedric’s hand, then at Cecilia, whose shoulders hunched.

“But why is Cecilia here with you?”

“Oh… Lady Cecilia is bored, and since she’s not exactly a distraction. We’re letting her observe the class.”

Estella replied nervously. Normally, the class was supposed to be one-on-one, but Cecilia had insisted on being with Estella, so she had taken a seat in Cedric’s class. Cecilia’s attachment to Estella, who took great care of her, was the reason for this.

Tutors and servants alike tend to pay more attention to those who are likely to be the successors. Not many people had the patience to listen to Cecilia’s stammering, and that seemed to include her mother, Anna. The Duchess looked back at Cecilia with a cold glare.

“Cecilia, the butler says you’ve started studying maths. Have you learnt to add?”

“Ooh… No…”

“No. Do you even know how to speak properly?”

Anna said, narrowing her eyes. Estella understood the gleam of contempt in the Duchess’s eyes. Embarrassed, Cecilia couldn’t even formulate a response. Estella hastily stepped in front of Cecilia.

The Duchess asked, disapprovingly.

“Miss Margaret, would you care to explain to me why Cecilia’s progress is still so poor?”

“I’m afraid, Madame, Lady Cecilia is not yet in a fit state to learn her numbers.”

“Are you telling me that my child is mentally challenged?”

Her voice was higher and sharper, as if she were questioning. Apparently, her words had offended the noble lady. Anna, the Duchess of Berta’s current mistress, had a reputation for a fiery temper. Estella’s face, too, took on a slightly nervous look.

She doubted the Duchess would even remember her name. But it was clear that ‘Miss Margaret’, as she referred to her, would be of no lesser weight than ‘Miss Linton’, who had been thrown out three months earlier. Being kicked out is one thing, but not being able to look after the children is another.

“I don’t mean to suggest that, Madame…”

“Why? You’re right. Mentally challenged.”

At the sudden and unwelcome sound that interjected from beside her, Estella nearly covered her face with both hands. The one who had just exclaimed ‘mentally challenged’ to Cecilia was none other than Cedric, the older brother who caused the disturbance. With a weak voice, Estella barely restrained Cedric.

“Young master, it is not appropriate to speak to your sister like that…”

“Then what is she if not a mentally challenged child who can’t even open her mouth when she’s almost six?”

Cedric snorted, teasing his short legs as he walked over to the Duchess. Then, with arrogance, he said.

“Mother, please leave Cecilia alone and ask me about my progress. I just finished reading the history of the kingdom of Mesquida.”

The Duchess’s eyes widened as she bent down and grabbed Cedric’s shoulders, as if to rebuke her son’s rudeness, and then asked for confirmation.

“Cedric, is that really true? Did you really memorize all of Mesquida’s classics?”

Cedric nodded, and the Duchess looked at Estella in disbelief. Even for Estella, a teacher, it was hard to believe.

The Duchess questioned Estella again.

“What was the textbook, surely not a picture book for children?”

“…We’ve read ?The Genealogy of Mesquida?written by Sir Cesario.”

After pausing for a moment, Estella answered. ?The Genealogy of Mesquida?is a history book that even adults find difficult to master due to its considerable level of difficulty. The fact that Cedric, who is only eight years old, has completed it could be explained in two ways.