Chapter 10
When she was a child, her mother tried to raise her like a noble.
She tried to teach her embroidery with limited thread, forcing her to memorize the tone of the aristocrats as well as the rhythm of ball dances.
Omarion considered her useless like no one else in Amari did, but she could not disobey her mother. Her mother was married in a foreign country and she was honed and trained to the max.
For her mother, who was born and raised on a wealthy, warm farm, Amari was hell.
She didn't want to know the conditions of the land, and she didn't even leave the castle. She spent her time embroidering the same pattern over and over again. The sun.
When she found out that her daughter was learning swordsmanship, she was angry and attacked the servants.
- How can a lady carry a sword?
Hearing her cries, the knights rushed and stopped her mother.
-Would you be okay if you encountered a goblin? Will you be able to return safely? Amari such a place!
As they put it, the mother sat up and looked as if she was about to collapse. She never taught her daughter anything again.
"And that was the end of my education as a noble."
She remembered some things, but it was not enough for her to be able to adapt to the social circle of the capital.
I looked back through the etiquette books I had read so far and studied with renewed vigor.
However, social etiquette was not only broad, but also vague.
Sumona, who was her temporary etiquette teacher, taught her how to hold a fan, how to hold a cup, and how to talk to a friend, as well as an acquaintance. Honestly, you can barely keep up with him.
How can anyone tell the difference between putting her index finger and middle finger on a fan and putting her index finger and thumb on a fan?
I thought it would be easier to list each type of monster.
As she groaned in frustration, Deidrick entered the room.
“As you know, Your Highness, during the social season you must be accompanied by a knight.”
She nodded vigorously.
A knight's accompaniment was necessary for a lady belonging to the upper class.
I remembered reading how knight families brought several knights to show off to other wives.
Daedric bowed his head and led the knight into the room.
“He will accompany you this season.”
She opened her eyes wide.
She had seen him on the training field that day. The red-haired knight with the cheerful frown knelt down politely and kissed the back of her hand.
“I'm Carls from Denion.”
“Ah! Please get up, Sir Cales.”
Confused, she pulled her hand away.
Hilarity sparkled in Carl's eyes.
“Sir Karls is a knight and servant of the Grand Duke. He is respected throughout the empire.”
At Daedric's explanation, Karls nodded happily.
That's right, that's why I'll be accompanying the lady. Wouldn't it be nice to bring a famous knight with you? "
I laughed. It had been a long time since anyone had spoken to her so casually.
He rubbed his chin with mock seriousness.
“I'll accompany you…that's a strange thing to say.”
"What?"
“In fact, if we were together, it would be more accurate to say that you are accompanying me.”
"This is a joke...isn't it?"
He smiled ruefully. But, as if he didn't want to explain in detail, he immediately turned his head and looked at the etiquette guide she was reading.
“Ah, are you looking at the ladies’ manners? This is really annoying.”
She nodded quickly.
“It's very difficult…”
He laughed merrily.
"Don't worry, ma'am. From now on, I will help you."
"Mr. Carls?"
"Yes. Since I'm very popular among the ladies."
Sir Carls smiled subtly.
It was a beautiful smile. All of his perfect teeth can be seen.
She narrowed her eyes and studied his face.
I thought he was handsome….
However, she has been having difficulty recognizing faces lately.
She could only recognize the people she saw every day. Victor, Sumona, Diederick... everyone ran together.
Sir Carls jumped, interpreting her expression as one of doubt.
"That's right, ma'am. I'm really famous."
“It's not that I don't believe you, Sir Carls.”
“Don't lie! You're looking at me with complete suspicion right now.”
“Oh, no, it's not...”
As she waved her hands in embarrassment, Daedric and Sumona held back their laughter and covered their mouths.
It was at that moment when Sir Carls' impression was established. I thought of it as a raging cockatrice*.
[*E/N: The cockatrice is a mythical bipedal monster, with the body of a dragon and the head of a chicken. In fact it was first mentioned in the Bible, and entered mainstream mythology in the 14th century.]
***
In this way, preparations for the social season began in earnest, with the addition of Sir Carls. She took etiquette lessons in the morning, dance practiced in the afternoon, and put Victor to sleep at night.
Sir Carls skipped training every day under the pretext of helping her. The other knights were jealous.
“If Sumona taught me formal manners, Sir Carls taught me informal manners.”
For example:
“When a man pulls your left sleeve, it means going to the park.”
“Why does he want to go to the park?”
"Why do you think that?"
He stared at her with a mischievous smile.
As she narrowed her eyes, Sumona coughed.
The next moment, I realized what he meant.
Her face turned red in an instant.
“Why are you telling me that…!”
"Your life owner should know. I don't want to watch a duel in the middle of the capital*."
[*E/N: Meaning he doesn't want to see an innocent man killed by the jealous Grand Duke Victor~]
Sir Carls shrugged.
“If the Grand Duke sees this, by all means, quickly push the offending man away, do you understand?”
She turned her head away from the view of the red-haired knight who loved teasing her.
She was worried about everything.
“Who would flirt with me like that?”
“Even Victor's tender look I can't understand or bear.”
“That's why I melt like ice in front of a fire.”
Somona strongly criticized Sir Carls.
“Sir, please do not embarrass Madame. Who would dare make such an impudent offer to the Grand Duchess of Mort?”
"That's right. You have a dragon-like man as your husband."
Sir Charles finished his refreshment and got up.
“No need to worry. Now, shall we train again?”
She nodded and followed him into an empty space in the room. Her long underdress, made for dancing, fluttered.
She learned how to dance very quickly. It didn't take long for her to learn the four basic rhythms, the light dances of the South, and the slow, complex footwork of the capital.
Think about it, since she was young, everyone said she was good at everything.
She took a breath, feeling proud of herself for the first time in a long time.
Carl's has helped her progress tremendously.
As the self-proclaimed "best dancer in the Knights Templar," he willingly became her dance partner.
Carls really had a talent for dancing, so he conducted it quite skillfully.
Although she stepped on his foot several times, Karls and Somona praised her more often.
"That's wonderful, ma'am. You're almost flawless now."
“From the side, it looks like a graceful swan.”
But that was the problem.
She made a big face, and pretended to be calm.
“They are really friendly people.”
Of course, the people in her hometown were also nice, but since it was a difficult place to live, friendly conversations like this rarely happened.
She had far more memories of having a cast wrapped around a broken leg or leather stitched to armor than of laughing and chatting.
It made her like this place even more.
I enjoyed the nice atmosphere and… Victor.
When she thought of Victor, the fever rose on her cheeks again.
Naturally, an idea arose.
If she did this, would she be in any way a suitable wife for him?
Will she ever be able to become a worthy lady, the most respected knight on the continent?
Just then, there was a sharp knock on the door.
"Are you practicing dancing?"
"Victor!"
Victor smiled softly and walked over to her. The smell of the spring breeze was pungent on his collar.
He stared fondly at her braided and curly hair.
“Were you rehearsing for the banquet?”
"Yes. Sir Carls is my partner."
The Grand Duke's gaze turned to Karls. His yellow eyes narrowed like a griffin's, and Karls quickly retreated.
"What's wrong with him?"
She looked over her shoulder, then at Victor again.
He spoke very kindly.
"Why didn't you call me if you needed a training partner? I was close by."
"Oh…"
I heard that it was against etiquette for a couple to spend excessive amounts of time together during the day, no matter what.
When she turned to look at Sumona and Dederick, they both had a confused look on their faces as if they were thinking the same thing.
Carl's look was a little different.
With a blunt expression, his eyes said, “Is this guy crazy?”
Then a large hand gently turned her face towards him.
He was so close that he could feel his breath on her cheek.
Victor spoke in a very gentle voice.
"Marion?"
Her face heats up in an instant.
"Doesn't he know that I'm weak for his face?"
You hesitated, not knowing what to do. It was a request from him, which was rare, so of course she was inclined to agree to it.
But…
She closed her eyes tightly, her heart beating out of her chest.
“I'll only train with Sir Carls!”
She couldn't break the etiquette she learned yesterday.
• End of chapter •
To be continued •••
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