Journey to Happiness

; any misstep, no matter how minor, earned Elza a sharp slap on the hand. Lady Katherine insisted it was the "noble" way to learn, but to Elza, it was little more than cruelt

lesson with renewed focus, driven by an anger she'd never felt before. This wasn't only about fitting in anym

her presence for dinner. It was rare for them to ask her to dine with them, and Elza felt a fli

untess glanced at her, exchanging a silent look. The Countess's eyes held the same cold pri

began, a faint, force

d Marchioness of Milan in two weeks.

sensing an unspoken expectat

sque. "But two weeks from now, you'll be expected to interact with other noble

ervousness that began to creep ov

erent setting. You'll be dining with the most refined families in the region. If you embarrass us..." She trailed off, the threat implicit. E

her voice steady. "I'll make

nds on it. We took you in, after all-out of the goodness of our hearts," he added, with

her as family; they saw her as charity, a way to showcase their magnanimity to the n

them the satisfactio

-

red, feeling every bit of tension in her posture as her gaze drifted over the room filled with nobles. Her gown was pale blue, elegant yet modest, her hair pinned up just so

ise and faint curiosity. While some of them whispered and cast sidelong glances, a couple of others offered her tentative,

Anabelle, leaned over with a warm smile. "Elza, I've heard y

the smile. "It's a... very different wor

need any advice or just want company, you can always join me and my frie

h her usual defenses. But just as she was starting to feel at ease

s," said Lady Eveline, a young woman with a faintly mocking smile. She

let the comment sting. "It certainly takes

replied, her tone laced with a condescending kindne

le jumped in, her voice smooth and confident. "It's wonderful to see someone so d

bit, and she turned back to her pla

ed so impenetrable. Lady Anabelle's kindness made her feel that perhaps, just maybe, she could find a place here. But the quie

eculiar thing in their midst. Some nobles asked her questions about her upbringing, their tones curious but not

masked as a question and every genuine kindness, she felt her resolve strengthen. She may not have been born to thi

with newfound insight. She noticed how the most influential

n, who had loyal friends, who others seem

nds of her own, she could rise above the whispers, the judgments, and the

he disdain of those like Lady Eveline, and perhaps even to influence others.

introduced formally to society as the Count and Countess's daughter. The grand debut was only a month away, a spectac

, and planning her entrance into the social world. And when the time came, she would ensur