And my worries couldn’t be more founded. Before that, let tell you what happened.
My instructor was a woman around her thirties. She was seemingly kind when we greeted each other. However, judging from the mories, this one was quite strict.
And the mories were not wrong at all. Even the slightest mistake, she was able to spot it, like a sharp sniper. She even scolded that during our greetings, I didn’t use the traditional formal noble greeting. My mories did have that, but that wasn’t mine and I didn’t experience it, and since I didn’t think it would be that important, I well... greeted her formally in my own way. Plus, she didn’t even say to greet that way last ti she taught Estelia.
By the way, the instructor was also an aristocrat, bearing the status of a Marquess. She was the lady of their household, and was asked by Father to teach . Their family was apparently close with ours.
Actually, this instructor of mine was quite scary, well for others it would be. But not really that scary for . Compared to the organization on which you make a small mistake they would slap you on the face hard, this was on a much brighter side.
Then when we were working about the way I walked, I was confident in that regard. Oh boy, I was perfect… though that was what I expected.
“You have improved compared the last ti we t. However, you have yet to reach perfection.”
Yup, that's what she said. Years of assassination training wasted. I was quite hurt to be honest.
She placed a book on top of my head and had walk around the hall several tis. I would start again if it fell. Well, as it was expected of , it did not fall. But she was not yet satisfied, so I walked straighter than a straight pole.
My hips swayed hypnotizingly. I delicately clasp my hands before my belly, movent so graceful, and a facial expression so regal. We were at it for who knows how long, I think around an hour or more? Although I didn’t think much of how long it would take, so I didn’t count.
It took a long ti since she had repeat it several tis even though I was already doing fine. She must have wanted my performance to be impeccable.
She was surprised though that I was able to do well in that short ti fra. Estelia was not that enthusiastic about improvent here, and only provided a small effort for developnt. Therefore, progress took a lot of ti. However, I was used to learning and practice. Therefore, I was able to follow and improve in a short ti.
That was even though it was my first ti being taught here. The only thing I had were mories, and mories alone. They were not muscle mories or sothing like that, but only akin to images, you could say. So I could only rember how the movent goes. That being said, I did have my regal skills from assassinations which helped a lot. Gracefulness was useful in so missions after all. In short, I was already familiar with this type of thing, so I did not need much improvent.
Then, after that, we had a short break.
After that break, we had language lessons. Manner of speaking, formalities, like that. Not that much noteworthy or hard.
Then dining etiquette. Be graceful and neat. There were a lot of restrictions. But I guess that was to be expected during formal events, or banquets, or sothing similar in nature. She had show her how to dine like a proper royal. The mories of Estelia were a lot of help.
Thankfully, she gave a passing remark.
Everything was going swimmingly well.
Then after a short break, it was ti for dancing.
I groaned painfully.
First let explain okay? I know how to dance from my past life. However, that was not entirely applicable here. Sure I do have Estelia’s mories, but then again, I didn’t have any muscle mories here. I can only rember images of the dance. How the movent goes, sothing like that.
And recalling it was not the sa as morizing it. Thus, well… I guess you might have expected it… I suck.
“Princess! Do it properly.”
I was being shouted at by my instructor.
“What has happened to you, Estelia?”
I had my head lowered as I visibly flinched. I was that bad to the point that she was making her frustration show.
“It appeared like we had returned to the beginning! Care to give an explanation? Why have we returned to square one?”
How cruel! It was not back to square one, at least.
“I… I have no excuse, Mada Eleanore.”
It’s not that I wasn’t fond of dancing that I was bad at it… okay maybe that was one of the reasons. But — But co on!
I glanced up at Marquess Eleanore Moira Yveno, my instructor. She had golden hair and beautiful peach eyes. She had three words in her na, like us in the royal family. Because they were a high ranking aristocrat family, they were granted a na between the first and surna. And the title of Marquess or Marquis was just below the King. Oh yes, the royal family are the ones to grant the na in the middle.
In addition, after marriage, the forr surna of the woman would be erased and changed into her husband’s. Which ans, unlike the world where I ca from, they don’t have such things as middle nas in the form of the old surna of the wife, therefore, the children also wouldn’t inherit the forr surna of their mother.
Eleanore massaged her temples.
“Why have I been teaching you for a long ti?”
I pursed my lips as I gripped my arm.
“You should have been familiar with it in the first place since it was taught to you when you were still a young child. Then why are you struggling with having a partner?”
Okay! How long are you gonna keep beating up?!
Sorry okay! Sorry I suck!
“Mother, maybe we can take it slow for the ti being?”
I directed a grateful and hopeful superficial look to the young man beside . He was two years older than , he had a charming face, golden hair and bluish eyes. He bead a smile which would captivate ladies who were easily fallen or fooled.
Eleanore let out an exasperated sigh.
“Jalen,” she uttered his na as she contemplated. “... Very well. To your poses.”
I should also ntion the other why I was failing other than the fact that I suck at dancing and not quite fond of it. You see, last dancing sessions were solo, aning I didn’t, or rather Estelia, didn’t have a partner. This was the first session to have a partner, and what Eleanore brought was none other than his son, Jalen Moira Yveno.
We faced each other. Eleanore picked up a string instrunt, a vynelin. It resembles a violin, strings and bow, while the musician would play it by their shoulder, basically a violin. She had only brought it twice, so this was my first ti seeing it personally.
“I shall be playing the music slowly.”
She said as a slow and gentle music spread throughout the hall.
I looked at Jalen with concerned expressions. I also had a thought, he was smiling all while, ever since this began. I was sure it wasn’t because he was amused by . I bet this guy was happy she had to dance with . And have a chance to touch . I am confident about that conjecture.
Good thing Estelia wasn’t here doing this now. I imagine she would be uneasy.
I extended my hand as he extended his. With our palm touching, we revolved, and stepped back, the footwork was a bit complicated since we have to be in sync, or else we would step on each other. But since it was slowed down, I was barely managing.
But, I would almost trip occasionally which I imagine prompted Eleanore to grimace.
Of course my brain was at its full speed, trying to recall what was next. And it was the footwork was what I was having fucking difficulties with.
In addition, syncing with my partner was also the part I was struggling hard.
He pulled towards him, his hand behind my waist as his body pressed into , while my hand was by the side of his shoulder. Our other hand raised just about shoulder level as they clasped each other. Our face was completely close so that I could hear his breathing.
I sort of wanted to play him around, but Estelia must be silent for the ti being.
With a turn, he let go of . I was delayed for a bit since I montarily forgot this was what was next.
This was the part where the lady would dance solo on the dance floor. My hands waved with magnificent grace as I beautifully spun around slowly. Of course I was not to focus only on the gracefulness of the hands, but also the movents of my feet and legs. I was exceedingly graceful overall… or that was what supposed to be if I knew this dance very well.
I know I must be around just a little above average. I could catched the disappointed glare of Eleanore from the corner of my eye.
Then after the solo, the gentleman, Jalen returned to and I catched his offered hand. After so movents, while holding each other’s hand, our arms extended, distancing ourselves. Then with a quick pull, I returned to him with a spin as let my body fall and let him catch . I looked up at his eyes as he looked at mine.
My breathing was rough since this body didn’t have much stamina.
After a short stare down, he carefully carried up. We faced Eleanore, he bowed deeply and I curtsied.
Eleanore sighed, apparently not satisfied. But Jalen was still all smiles as he turned to look at .
“That was a better performance compared before, your highness.”
I timidly stepped back as my eyes went around, as though trying to co up with a response.
“This was only possible due to your suggestion of slowing the dance… You have my thanks, Jalen.”
“Please think nothing of it. We improve in due ti, I am sure you will perfect the dance “Fluttering Petals”.”
Fluttering Petals, it was apparently the na of the dance.
I grinned widely within my heart, impressed by what this man was trying to do.
He’s trying to get on my good sides it seems. I see.
He wanted to win this maiden’s heart.
Good luck on that.
I could see through his motives, and I could also get a grasp on what he was thinking about . Since I was a ek lady, he must be thinking that I was an easy target. If he complinted , and tried to give the impression that I could rely on him, he must have thought that I would fall for him. It may not be for an instant, but at least it would happen slowly.
I stole a glance at Eleanore with my innocent gaze.
Was this perhaps also a sche of that woman?
Having your family enter into the royal family circle, that would be quite an achievent. It would undoubtedly reap incredible benefits for their family. It was comical actually, that they were targeting because I was the one who appeared so vulnerable.
That being said, I didn’t have that impression from Eleanore. So I must be wrong that she was scheming sothing like it. For all I know, this could be Jalen’s personal plans. Perhaps driven by the rits he would receive, or by his manly instinct. But then again, it could be both.
But I shouldn’t be thinking much about this. I would do very well to prioritize my dancing skills.
Shit. Screw dancing.
“After a short break, we shall be returning to practice at once. Do you understand, Estelia?”
“U-Um, yes Madam! I understand.”
Then we have our short break, with Jalen offering a towel to wipe away my sweat.
Of course, Jalen was striking conversations with . Which I was obliged to respond to. I wasn’t annoyed by this, but rather it was quite entertaining, the way he was trying. He also seed to be showing his handso appearance as he often fixed his hair.
But of course, this didn’t cause any change within .
Then we spent another round of practice. Once it was done, it was ti to say goodbye.
“Estelia, please rember to practice if you have free ti to do so. I expect so improvent next week.”
Eleanore said as she went for the door.
Jalen looked at .
“I enjoyed the ti I spent with you, your highness. I am looking forward to next week for the ti we may et again.”
“... I as well, Jalen. Take care on your way back ho.”
With that, they left.
ra then ca to , she had already prepared the bath, so I imdiately went there to wash myself clean.
***
I had dinner then with my family with the exception of my father. He has yet to co ho, but this often happened whenever he was out of a mission to exterminate monsters in the forest.
Of course, with my father gone for the ti being, mother was visibly tired. She must have handled the jobs that were supposed to be father’s.
You can do it, mother!
I cheered her on from the inside.
My brother on the other hand was incredibly chatty as he asked about how I was during the tutor of Eleanore. I told him honestly what happened, then he encouraged as I appeared to have lost motivation and upset.
I sort of wanted to go out to take a look at the wisteria since it was now night ti. However, this over protective family of mine adamantly compelled to go back to my room to rest.
Thus, I have no choice but to comply. I was planning to do sothing anyways.
When I returned to my room, I stood up as I stared out from the window. I waited for the food in my stomach to digest. Otherwise, a full stomach would complicate what I was going to do later.
Around more than half an hour, I began stretching.
I was to exercise this body.
Yes, in my personal room, I did stationary jogging, I began to sweat profusely as I breathed rapidly. Once I was no longer able to keep jogging, I rested for a while, of course I didn’t sit down. I rested with trained breathing. I sort of wanted to shout, but that was a no go.
Then after a while of rest, I exercised my arms, carrying what was heavy in the room and stressed my arms. Did a few sit ups, curl ups, and a couple of push ups.
A short ti passed, I deed it was ti to stop. Wiping off the sweat in my body and resting for about an hour while waiting for my evening clothes to dry up, then after that, I went to bed. I will have to do this routine for several days.
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