Guide to the Education and Training of Girls with Mentally Abnormalities

Chapter 12 Black Thorns and White Roses

Phew, that was close.

We almost got caught.

Edith hid by the wall at the entrance to the pedestrian street, panting as she touched her round conscience on her chest.

She tugged at her slightly disheveled collar.

Long skirts, cinched waists, and small, exquisite parasols that offer no real sun protection.

These so-called ladylike outfits are such a nuisance; luckily Edmund walks slowly, or he would have lost track of him.

The girl looked up at the sky. Her black and red fishtail dress accentuated her curvaceous figure, making her look like a work of art. The light-colored lace at the neckline, cuffs, and hem allowed one to smoothly transition their gaze to her fair skin. Her long, silky black hair was tied into pigtails, which swayed with her movements, making her look even more lively and agile.

In the sunlight, his face, bearing a hint of world-weariness, was like ice thawing in spring, softening before being suddenly shrouded and distorted by the shadow of spring thunder.

"Another step in the plan has been successfully completed. Edmund's address has been found..." She took out her small notebook and used a fine mechanical quill pen with a built-in ink reservoir to write down her thoughts. The few noble dandies who wanted to strike up a conversation immediately fell silent when they saw the Enfield family crest on the notebook and left cautiously like mice seeing a cat.

For adventurers, never offend the guide in the dungeon.

As for the noble children in Karenbell, the advice was to never offend the two members of the Enfield family.

If Alicia is an iris that is unattainable under a clear, starry sky, then Edith is a black thorn that bares its fangs at the dark clouds in a shadowy corner.

Once, a count's son complained to his father at a ball that Miss Edith Enfield ate as noisily as a crow that had seen carrion. By sheer coincidence, a servant of the Enfield family overheard this and, through a series of unfortunate events, Edith found out.

For the next month, the count's son woke up every morning to the cawing of hundreds of crows. That month, the average weekly wage of all druids in the city of Karenbel increased by a full three gold coins: enough for a middle-class family of three to live on for a whole month.

"Willow, if it were you," Edith said, looking at her loyal maid and bodyguard, "would you be able to sense me?"

"Second Miss, detecting whether the master is being followed by someone with unknown intentions, locating the other party's position, and being prepared to deal with any emergencies is a mandatory course for every personal maid like me before taking office," the black-haired girl in a classic black and white maid outfit said calmly.

"But I followed the way you taught me to."

"To an ordinary person, the method I taught you is, of course, flawless. But if your opponent is a seasoned adventurer who has ventured deep into dungeons, it's not surprising that it would be discovered." Willow's tone was calm and even, her delicate face resembling a porcelain doll in the sunlight. "Even so, he only noticed that someone was following him; he didn't realize it was you, Miss."

"Hmm." Edith was clearly pleased with her maid's flattery.

"Forgive my ignorance." Willow straightened Edith's collar and the scarf that had been slightly rumpled during their operation. "For something like surveillance and investigation, you can send me."

"Even if the young lady begged you to find this 'teacher' for her, you don't need to risk going out yourself, especially since you're currently under house arrest. According to the head of the family's orders, you should stay in the manor and not leave that place." Willow tilted her head and poked her fingers, looking at Edith with a face that clearly said, 'I don't understand.' "Of course, as your personal maid, I'm not disobeying your will, it's just... I have some doubts."

Because I want to be the only protagonist in the story.

The so-called protagonist.

Isn't it all about meticulous scheming and planning to guide the drama of fate toward the ending you desire?

Just thinking about Alicia's haggard and heartbroken appearance this morning, and how she begged her annoying sister to search for Edmund's whereabouts, made Edith feel a surge of pleasure that ran from her toes to the top of her head.

So what if you are the heir your father favors? So what if you are a model lady in everyone's eyes? So what if you are a high and mighty older sister?

You still have to beg your unruly sister, whom everyone hates, to pursue that hopeless love for you?

Haha.

There is no one in this world who knows Edmund better than I do, and he would never like an indecisive person like you.

As for that white-haired pig?

Humph.

A few minor restless factors will never interfere with the destined union.

It's time to move on to the next step of the plan.

……

"Esther, you haven't borrowed money from gangsters or anyone else at exorbitant interest rates, have you?" Inside the clothing store's dressing room, Edmund and Esther squeezed in front of the narrow glass window, staring at Edith and Willow, who were lingering at the exit of the pedestrian street.

Esther shook her head vigorously.

"Strange." Edmund squinted in Edith's direction. The sunlight-laden dust made it difficult for him to make out her face through the window, but the girl's figure seemed somewhat familiar. "I feel like I've seen that girl before."

"He looks a lot like a student I used to teach, but his posture and demeanor are completely different."

"Have you taught other students before, sir?" Esther's ahoge stood up.

"They just graduated."

Edmund straightened up, but his head accidentally bumped into the window frame with a thud.

Hearing the commotion from the changing room, the clothing store owner knocked on the door and whispered through the door, "Gentlemen, although I know you two are deeply in love, please refrain from doing such things in my store. While I personally have no objection, there are other customers who need to use the changing room..."

"Ah, I ran into a little trouble, I'll be right out," Edmund said, wincing and rubbing his head. He then turned to Estelle, whose cheeks were flushed after hearing the boss's words. "Are you dressed? We'll go out when you're done."

Estée nodded, slowly opened the dressing room door, and went out first.

"You look absolutely stunning, ma'am!" The clothing store owner paused for a moment, then smiled broadly as if nothing had happened, praising Estée. "Aren't you really going to look at yourself in the mirror?"

Edmund patted Esther on the shoulder and pushed her toward the mirror.

A thick wool scarf was wrapped around the girl's fair neck, and the silver brooch under the collar seemed to be a star falling from her silver hair, shining brightly in the sunlight. A dark corduroy coat wrapped around Esther's petite yet curvaceous figure, and the belt revealed the girl's slender waist. Under the hem of the coat, her graceful and slender legs were covered with thick gray velvet stockings.

Edmund carefully placed the narrow-brimmed beret on Esther's head, tucking her unruly ahoge underneath.

"I told you long ago you weren't useless."

Edmund leaned down and whispered in Esther's ear, mimicking the tone of a nobleman's butler:

"Look at you, Esther, how beautiful you are now! Even the most beautiful white roses after the rain cannot compare to you."

"I believe you can do it."

A strange light flickered in the girl's blue eyes as she tried to admire herself in the mirror, but her gaze was uncontrollably drawn to the handsome young man's face.

Only he thinks I'm not useless.

Only him.