I raised the corners of my mouth as if I had just had a good idea.
I remembered.
There's a way to find out without having to ask May directly.
The next evening. Gemma, who had been taking care of me since morning in May's stead, approached me, just as May had said.
“Miss. Shall I prepare the bath water?”
“Yeah. And perfume too.”
“Yes. What kind of perfume should I prepare?”
“Lavender, please.”
I brought up the word lavender and watched Gemma's reaction.
Taking a bath with the lavender scent was a signal to call Carsis at night.
Even though it was May's first time serving me, if she had told the other maids about my relationship with Carsis, they would know what Lavender meant.
I watched Gemma's reaction closely.
“Miss, would you like some lavender mixed with fragrant lime? I heard from other kids that it clears your head.”
“...Yes. Then do that.”
But Gemma reacted quite differently than May.
'I have no idea what it means to use lavender oil.'
Seeing her recommending other scents with such a bright expression, I knew she definitely didn't know anything.
Ha.
I let out a short breath and surrendered myself to Gemma's touch.
For the next few days, I had to have a different maid take my bath every day, making all sorts of excuses.
It seemed that none of the maids knew of that fact except May.
'Well, I haven't checked out all the maids in the mansion.'
In my view, the younger the maids, the more they liked to talk to others.
Especially when it comes to the issue of men and women.
All the maids who attended my bath were young maids who liked to hang out with friends their own age.
Besides, I was now the Crown Prince's fiancée and the center of attention of the empire.
With such a woman sleeping with her escort every night, it was even rarer to find someone she could safely convey her message to.
So, just knowing that they didn't know anything was a relief.
'Still, it's fortunate that the rumor didn't spread widely.'
The Crown Prince doesn't know, and the maids in the mansion don't know.
At this point, as long as I don't look for Carsis in the future, there won't be any problems.
“It was worth it to spend days surrounded by the scent of lavender.”
I feeling much more at ease, fell asleep in bed.
A few days later.
Today was the first day of etiquette training at the imperial palace. I was so nervous that I couldn't even sleep properly.
'I was in a hurry so I went to the library and looked for a book on etiquette and memorized it... '
It feels like a beginner learning advanced skills right away without even learning the basics.
I've only just learned the order in which cutlery is used during a meal, but now I'm being taught royal etiquette.
At first glance, it seems that even noble young ladies find the education of imperial etiquette burdensome.
Before I started my education, I was worried.
'Hey, let's not show that I'm nervous.'
It's unlikely that the original Elizabeth would be nervous about something like this.
Judging from the things I have done, I would not have trembled even in front of the Emperor.
'I need to be more careful.'
After brainwashing myself dozens of times, I got up from my seat.
As the carriage door opened and I stepped out, a middle-aged lady greeted her.
“Nice to meet you, Lady Cretian. I am Baroness Caroline, in charge of etiquette at the Lily Palace.”
She was an elegant middle-aged lady with dark brown hair.
Caroline looked at me with sharp eyes, while politely bowing.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Baroness Caroline. I am Elizabeth of the House of Cretian.”
Caroline, who had been observing .y every gesture and footstep with an eagle eye, spoke in a stern voice.
“You are wrong.”
"...Yes?"
“You are still the Duke’s Young Lady, but you will soon become the Crown Princess. You should not bow your head so deeply. Nod your head very slightly. Look at the other person’s crown with grace. Lastly, move your toes very lightly like feathers.”
"Ah."
I practiced all day looking in the mirror, but Caroline didn't seem to like it.
I had only just arrived at the palace and exchanged greetings, but it felt like I was picturing a distant future ahead of me.
“It seems like there’s a lot to learn in the future, Young Lady Cretian.”
'I guess I'm going to die now.'
I responded with an awkward smile.
“Let’s go to the Lily Palace first. We need to start class right away. But before that.”
Just as I was about to enter the palace following her guidance.
Caroline looked at Carsis, who was standing behind me.
“This is the imperial palace. Unauthorized commoners are not allowed to enter.”
“Carsis may be a commoner, but he is my escort knight. I will protect his status.”
“The palace is the safest place in the empire. So there is no need for a commoner knight to come in as Young Lady's escort. There are other excellent knights inside the palace as well.”
From Caroline's sharp answer, I could roughly guess what kind of personality she had.
'Seeing that you keep emphasizing the commoners, it seems that you don't hate the escort knights, but you just hate the commoners.'
Or else you're trying to pick a fight with me.
Before coming here, I heard from the Duchess that Caroline, who is in charge of education, is also a Baroness of commoner origin.
It is said that she was specially awarded the title of Baroness in recognition of her long service to the Emperor in the palace.
Even though she is a commoner, she ignores Karsis because he is a commoner.
It was quite a funny sight.
'But that doesn't mean she can tell Karsis to go back.'
If I take a step back here, my future life in the palace will not be smooth sailing.
There you go.
'Do you know what the palace is like? Go in alone!'
I, who was still wary of the palace, had no intention of entering alone.
“How strange. Eren already knew that I was coming to the palace with Carsis. There’s no way His Highness the Crown Prince wouldn’t know about such etiquette. If it’s okay with you, Madam, should I send someone to check with Eren again?”
I showed my affection for him by deliberately using the nickname Eren instead of His Highness.
Doesn't the Empress's power necessarily come from the Emperor's favor?
In the end, it was Caroline who had to look good to the future Empress.
It was a game that was no match for us from the start.
Caroline may have been bossy towards me, but she had no commanding power.
“If His Highness the Crown Prince had said so..”
The Baroness took a step back, as she could not argue with the future Empress.
“Let’s go now. I’ve already wasted too much time.”
With those words, Caroline turned away. And so my etiquette lesson began in earnest.
They said it was just a simple etiquette lesson.
“Seriously, really.”
The class was beyond my imagination.
I couldn't even breathe comfortably as if they were trying to reform me.
I groaned as I collapsed on the sofa while Caroline was away for a moment.
There was nothing that was overlooked, from the way I walked to the posture I took while pouring tea, to the gesture I took while holding the fan.
'It was a face like she saw something she shouldn't have seen, I guess.'
After class started, I couldn't forget the astonished look Caroline gave me.
Two eyes filled with confusion, bewilderment, and embarrassment.
Still, I thought I was doing pretty well.
Usually, the female protagonists in romance novels have these basic manners equipped as options on their bodies.
But I didn't have any of the buffs of the protagonist.
I leaned my head back against the sofa and looked out the window.
The beautiful garden of the Lily Palace, where the Crown Princess resides, came to mind.
“Shall we take a walk?”
Because that woman didn't tell me to just rest inside.
I felt like my mind would clear up a lot if I went outside and did some photosynthesis.
The worries were short.
I quickly left the palace before Caroline arrived and walked through the garden where flowers were in full bloom.
“It’s really pretty.”
I tapped a daffodil blooming on one side of the garden with my finger.
Yellow flower buds gathered in clusters spoke of the freshness of spring.
Just when I was feeling the sweetness of a brief moment of rest.
I realized that Carsis was following .e closely.
“Carsis?”
“What about class?”
“It’s break time now.”
"How is it?"
I should have been born with the grace and elegance of a noble lady. Unfortunately, I was only elegant on the outside, and my insides were far from grace and elegance.
So I tried to suppress the words that were stuck in my throat, saying that class was too hard and that I wanted to go home.
“It’s worth it. Sadly, classes have changed from one day a week to four days a week.”
Caroline immediately recognized my level and forced me to take additional lessons, saying that if I continued like this, I would be embarrassed at the wedding.
As expected, the Emperor had the vision to be awarded the title of Baroness even though she was of commoner origin.
I remembered.
There's a way to find out without having to ask May directly.
***
The next evening. Gemma, who had been taking care of me since morning in May's stead, approached me, just as May had said.
“Miss. Shall I prepare the bath water?”
“Yeah. And perfume too.”
“Yes. What kind of perfume should I prepare?”
“Lavender, please.”
I brought up the word lavender and watched Gemma's reaction.
Taking a bath with the lavender scent was a signal to call Carsis at night.
Even though it was May's first time serving me, if she had told the other maids about my relationship with Carsis, they would know what Lavender meant.
I watched Gemma's reaction closely.
“Miss, would you like some lavender mixed with fragrant lime? I heard from other kids that it clears your head.”
“...Yes. Then do that.”
But Gemma reacted quite differently than May.
'I have no idea what it means to use lavender oil.'
Seeing her recommending other scents with such a bright expression, I knew she definitely didn't know anything.
Ha.
I let out a short breath and surrendered myself to Gemma's touch.
For the next few days, I had to have a different maid take my bath every day, making all sorts of excuses.
It seemed that none of the maids knew of that fact except May.
'Well, I haven't checked out all the maids in the mansion.'
In my view, the younger the maids, the more they liked to talk to others.
Especially when it comes to the issue of men and women.
All the maids who attended my bath were young maids who liked to hang out with friends their own age.
Besides, I was now the Crown Prince's fiancée and the center of attention of the empire.
With such a woman sleeping with her escort every night, it was even rarer to find someone she could safely convey her message to.
So, just knowing that they didn't know anything was a relief.
'Still, it's fortunate that the rumor didn't spread widely.'
The Crown Prince doesn't know, and the maids in the mansion don't know.
At this point, as long as I don't look for Carsis in the future, there won't be any problems.
“It was worth it to spend days surrounded by the scent of lavender.”
I feeling much more at ease, fell asleep in bed.
***
A few days later.
Today was the first day of etiquette training at the imperial palace. I was so nervous that I couldn't even sleep properly.
'I was in a hurry so I went to the library and looked for a book on etiquette and memorized it... '
It feels like a beginner learning advanced skills right away without even learning the basics.
I've only just learned the order in which cutlery is used during a meal, but now I'm being taught royal etiquette.
At first glance, it seems that even noble young ladies find the education of imperial etiquette burdensome.
Before I started my education, I was worried.
'Hey, let's not show that I'm nervous.'
It's unlikely that the original Elizabeth would be nervous about something like this.
Judging from the things I have done, I would not have trembled even in front of the Emperor.
'I need to be more careful.'
After brainwashing myself dozens of times, I got up from my seat.
As the carriage door opened and I stepped out, a middle-aged lady greeted her.
“Nice to meet you, Lady Cretian. I am Baroness Caroline, in charge of etiquette at the Lily Palace.”
She was an elegant middle-aged lady with dark brown hair.
Caroline looked at me with sharp eyes, while politely bowing.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Baroness Caroline. I am Elizabeth of the House of Cretian.”
Caroline, who had been observing .y every gesture and footstep with an eagle eye, spoke in a stern voice.
“You are wrong.”
"...Yes?"
“You are still the Duke’s Young Lady, but you will soon become the Crown Princess. You should not bow your head so deeply. Nod your head very slightly. Look at the other person’s crown with grace. Lastly, move your toes very lightly like feathers.”
"Ah."
I practiced all day looking in the mirror, but Caroline didn't seem to like it.
I had only just arrived at the palace and exchanged greetings, but it felt like I was picturing a distant future ahead of me.
“It seems like there’s a lot to learn in the future, Young Lady Cretian.”
'I guess I'm going to die now.'
I responded with an awkward smile.
“Let’s go to the Lily Palace first. We need to start class right away. But before that.”
Just as I was about to enter the palace following her guidance.
Caroline looked at Carsis, who was standing behind me.
“This is the imperial palace. Unauthorized commoners are not allowed to enter.”
“Carsis may be a commoner, but he is my escort knight. I will protect his status.”
“The palace is the safest place in the empire. So there is no need for a commoner knight to come in as Young Lady's escort. There are other excellent knights inside the palace as well.”
From Caroline's sharp answer, I could roughly guess what kind of personality she had.
'Seeing that you keep emphasizing the commoners, it seems that you don't hate the escort knights, but you just hate the commoners.'
Or else you're trying to pick a fight with me.
Before coming here, I heard from the Duchess that Caroline, who is in charge of education, is also a Baroness of commoner origin.
It is said that she was specially awarded the title of Baroness in recognition of her long service to the Emperor in the palace.
Even though she is a commoner, she ignores Karsis because he is a commoner.
It was quite a funny sight.
'But that doesn't mean she can tell Karsis to go back.'
If I take a step back here, my future life in the palace will not be smooth sailing.
There you go.
'Do you know what the palace is like? Go in alone!'
I, who was still wary of the palace, had no intention of entering alone.
“How strange. Eren already knew that I was coming to the palace with Carsis. There’s no way His Highness the Crown Prince wouldn’t know about such etiquette. If it’s okay with you, Madam, should I send someone to check with Eren again?”
I showed my affection for him by deliberately using the nickname Eren instead of His Highness.
Doesn't the Empress's power necessarily come from the Emperor's favor?
In the end, it was Caroline who had to look good to the future Empress.
It was a game that was no match for us from the start.
Caroline may have been bossy towards me, but she had no commanding power.
“If His Highness the Crown Prince had said so..”
The Baroness took a step back, as she could not argue with the future Empress.
“Let’s go now. I’ve already wasted too much time.”
With those words, Caroline turned away. And so my etiquette lesson began in earnest.
***
They said it was just a simple etiquette lesson.
“Seriously, really.”
The class was beyond my imagination.
I couldn't even breathe comfortably as if they were trying to reform me.
I groaned as I collapsed on the sofa while Caroline was away for a moment.
There was nothing that was overlooked, from the way I walked to the posture I took while pouring tea, to the gesture I took while holding the fan.
'It was a face like she saw something she shouldn't have seen, I guess.'
After class started, I couldn't forget the astonished look Caroline gave me.
Two eyes filled with confusion, bewilderment, and embarrassment.
Still, I thought I was doing pretty well.
Usually, the female protagonists in romance novels have these basic manners equipped as options on their bodies.
But I didn't have any of the buffs of the protagonist.
I leaned my head back against the sofa and looked out the window.
The beautiful garden of the Lily Palace, where the Crown Princess resides, came to mind.
“Shall we take a walk?”
Because that woman didn't tell me to just rest inside.
I felt like my mind would clear up a lot if I went outside and did some photosynthesis.
The worries were short.
I quickly left the palace before Caroline arrived and walked through the garden where flowers were in full bloom.
“It’s really pretty.”
I tapped a daffodil blooming on one side of the garden with my finger.
Yellow flower buds gathered in clusters spoke of the freshness of spring.
Just when I was feeling the sweetness of a brief moment of rest.
I realized that Carsis was following .e closely.
“Carsis?”
“What about class?”
“It’s break time now.”
"How is it?"
I should have been born with the grace and elegance of a noble lady. Unfortunately, I was only elegant on the outside, and my insides were far from grace and elegance.
So I tried to suppress the words that were stuck in my throat, saying that class was too hard and that I wanted to go home.
“It’s worth it. Sadly, classes have changed from one day a week to four days a week.”
Caroline immediately recognized my level and forced me to take additional lessons, saying that if I continued like this, I would be embarrassed at the wedding.
As expected, the Emperor had the vision to be awarded the title of Baroness even though she was of commoner origin.
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