“We will teach you the basic etiquette, as well as knowledge about the empire’s culture as a whole. Lady Shanen specifically volunteered because she wanted to help the princess.”
“I’ll do my best to learn.”
“You’ll do great, Your Highness.”
I was working hard to show Delight a completely different version of myself when he returned.
Although I already knew everything, it would be odd if I suddenly acted as if I had mastered it without ever learning.
Plus, etiquette wasn’t exactly my strongest area.
In the past, I found it frustrating and uncomfortable, so I barely learned it.
But this time, I knew I had to learn it properly, no matter how bothersome it was.
“Shall we go?”
“Yeah!”
With Monia’s encouragement, I finished getting ready.
As we headed toward the room where I’d be receiving lessons, a woman dressed impeccably was already waiting for me.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Highness. My name is Lianne Shanen.”
Her luxurious golden hair, which fell as she bowed slightly towards me, was so splendid that it felt like an accessory that accentuated her beauty.
She had an air of pride that seemed like she would never lower her head to anyone and a confidence that radiated naturally, as if she had never failed to get anything she desired in life.
“Hi.”
So I smiled even more brightly and waved.
“I think it’s best if we start by learning the proper way to greet others. From now on, you shouldn’t greet people like that.”
It seemed like this was going to be tiring from the start.
“This is how you should greet me from now on.”
Lianne slightly lifted the hem of her dress and gave a small nod.
“Could you try it?”
Before I could even sit down, I had to mimic her greeting.
“You did it perfectly even after being shown just once. You’ll soon embody the dignity of a princess, Your Highness.”
Lianne smiled warmly and gently patted my shoulder.
“Monia, it must have been hard taking care of the princess on your own. You don’t need to worry from now on since I’m here.”
“Thank you for your concern. But I’ve always enjoyed serving her.”
“That’s good to hear.”
On the surface, it seemed like a warm and considerate conversation, but for some reason, there was an odd tension between them, like the subtle competition between a father and a husband at a wedding.
Caught between the two, I couldn’t help but glance back and forth at them.
A light snack was prepared, and Lianne turned to Monia once again.
“I think it would be better if you didn’t stay during the lessons. If you’re here, the princess might rely on you, which could be a distraction.”
“I’ll be right outside the door, so if you need anything, please call for me.”
“Don’t worry.”
Although her tone was gentle and polite, her slight nod dismissed Monia.
I wasn’t too happy about how she sweetly worded her way into kicking Monia out.
Something felt off.
Sure enough, after Monia left and it was just the two of us, Lianne’s attitude changed dramatically.
First, she moved her seat closer to mine. She gave me a radiant smile.
“You’re the first person I’m teaching other than my niece Bella. I’ve only ever taught my family proper etiquette before. But since you’re special to me, I’ll help you with more than just etiquette, Princess.”
The smooth, flattering greetings made me certain of one thing.
I know this.
I’ve seen that kind of enchanting, attention-grabbing smile at a banquet where I was forced to be present.
That’s the kind of expression someone wears when they have a hidden agenda.
Sure enough, she slightly lowered her eyes to put on a pitiful expression.
This was a signal that she was about to get to the main point.
“You must have felt uncomfortable in many ways, even if you haven’t mentioned it, Your Highness.”
“Huh? I haven’t felt uncomfortable at all.”
What is she talking about, all of a sudden?
Looking even more sympathetic, she spoke again.
“Oh dear, you don’t even realize what’s lacking. Hearing that makes me feel even worse.”
Hmm?
“Don’t worry from now on. I’ll teach you everything you should have learned from your mother.”
She said this in a gentle voice as she lightly hugged me.
So, that’s her game.
Now I understood her intentions clearly.
I was already bored because Delight hadn’t come back yet, but it seemed like something interesting was about to happen.
She kept insisting that I was special to her and talking about playing a motherly role. It reminded me of something. Even before Delight left, people were cautiously bringing up this idea.
“It’s been many years since His Majesty has been alone. And as the princess grows, she’ll need a mother’s presence more and more.”
The true meaning behind these concerned-sounding suggestions was clear.
They were implying the need for a new empress.
Of course, Delight had completely ignored them.
I didn’t pay much attention either. What they were aiming for was obvious, but it wasn’t going to work anyway.
Since Delight was so firm, those suggestions were mentioned a few times and then disappeared like smoke.
That’s how it had been, but now that Delight had been gone for a while, it seemed she was trying to win me over in his absence. She probably thought she could use her closeness to me to secure the position of empress when Delight returned.
In her eyes, I was just a naive princess, too young and pampered by the emperor’s affection to understand the ways of the world.
I must look like an easy target to her.
Many people in the past have tried to use me.
I could see it clearly—the way they feared me, tiptoeing around, worried about offending me, yet always scheming.
Thinking back, it was similar to how they tried to get on my good side.
Greedy people, whether in the past or present, are truly exhausting.
“Your Highness, you can rely on me for anything.”
She smiled confidently at me, as if she was certain I wouldn’t refuse. So I returned her smile.
“Yeah! Sounds great!”
***
As soon as she stepped out of the palace, a maid was waiting to shade Lianne’s head with a parasol.
Lianne Shanen was someone who was used to, and expected, the people around her to serve her.
She was the type to receive service rather than give it. Just before getting into the carriage, she took a satisfied look around the palace.
“For a start, this wasn’t bad at all.”
Once she got into the carriage, her father, the Duke of Shanen, was there.
“So, how was it seeing the princess in person?”
“Haha, the princess is very cute. I don’t think it will be difficult to get along with her.”
“Lianne, you must win the princess over. If you don’t, things could get complicated when the emperor returns.”
“I’ve already heard that enough times to be sick of it. Don’t worry. After all, she’s just a child.”
“You still need to be careful. Even though she’s young, the emperor dotes on her.”
“Trust me. Even without you telling me, I plan to use the princess to secure the position of empress.”
She smiled with arrogant confidence.
***
“You’re here?”
As I entered the dining hall after morning lessons, Serdin greeted me as if he had been waiting.
Since Delight left the palace, Serdin and I had been having lunch together.
Usually, Serdin would arrive first, wait for me, and then personally help me sit on the chair and take care of things since I was still small.
“How are your lessons going these days? If anything is hard, let me know. I’ll help you.”
“Ugh. I already know everything. There’s nothing I need to ask.”
“Still, remember that I’m here if you find anything difficult.”
As if he expected my reaction, Serdin chuckled and ruffled my hair.
He keeps acting like my big brother!
I protected my head with both hands and glared at him.
“Hey! Monia worked so hard on my hair today!”
“Don’t worry. I can fix it for you if it gets messy.”
And then he messed up my hair again!
“Serdin!”
“Stop it. The princess doesn’t like it.”
“Huh…?”
It was just a joke.
I turned to look at the person who had suddenly doused the situation with cold water, and it was Lianne.
“So, you were here.”
“There’s no lesson today, though?”
“There’s no lesson, but I came because I was thinking of the princess. I also brought a gift.”
She casually walked over to me as she spoke, glancing at Serdin.
“Prince Serdin, you’re with the princess again today?”
“Yes.”
“But Prince Serdin seems to be uncomfortable with me. Whenever I come, he suddenly talks less.”
“That’s not true.”
“Am I interrupting something?”
Lianne was clearly trying to provoke Serdin.
