Chapter 41

‘I can’t miss this opportunity!’

After Vasago later makes her debutante, she will definitely participate in the salon hosted by Madam Creed. If I didn’t make a connection with her there, it would be difficult to even approach Vasago. And the salon’s invitation was given through rigorous screening.

‘There is a rumor that the selection of the one who will receive the invitation is based on etiquette… so even if you suffer from the hardship of life, you have to pretend it was nothing.’

As I gave eyes that I was ready to follow any of her education, Madam Maquil stood up from her seat with a stern look.

“All right. Let’s start our first class right from today.”

“Yes, Madam. Thank you!”

Up until now, I couldn’t understand why she had a bad expression on her face. So, I couldn’t ask a question recklessly while thinking that Ronwe’s last will might have offended her.

A few minutes later.

I changed into a comfortable indoor dress at the orders of Madam Maquil. Afterward, I headed to the front of the tea table in the back of her mansion. There, Madam Maquil was already sitting and waiting.

‘Studying outside like this?’

The garden near the mansion’s back door had quiet scenery and many shades, and a cool breeze blew. However, I, who was looking at the garden, suddenly received an order.

“Say greetings to me, Lady Vanora.”

“Pardon?”

We have already said greetings before. I almost asked her back why I should do that.

Madam Maquil coughed and spoke more authoritatively as I stood silent and spaced out.

“Today, I will evaluate the basic etiquette of Lady Celcius.”

“…!”

“All socializing starts with greetings. First of all, I should look at how you greet each other.”

Only then did I understand Madam Maquil’s true intentions and properly greet her. With my right leg in the back and my knees slightly bent, I gazed down a little and put my hand on the collarbone, making me look like a flower that quietly withered to death.  It was the same greeting that I repeated hundreds of times in my life until I was 21.

“Greetings, Madam. My name is Vanora, the eldest daughter of Count Celcius.”

“…”

Then, the eyes of Madam Maquil, sitting in her seat, widened.

“?”

As I finished my greeting and lifted my head, Madam Maquil straightened her expression and covered her mouth with a fan, then said,

“This time, think of me like a royalty and offer your greetings.”

I perfectly showed her the latest method of greeting.

“…”

When the evaluation of the greeting was over, Madam Maquil pointed to the table. As I sat down at her command, the next evaluation immediately began.

“This time, I want to see your tea-drinking etiquette. From now on, use the tools in front of you to fill up my teacup.”

“Is anything really fine?”

I obeyed Madam’s orders without saying a word. As naturally as possible, I used the teapot carefully and moistened my throat with the tea without making a sound.

‘Oh? It’s delicious.’

In the midst of this, the tea prepared for my education was luxurious. It was so delicious with the soft scent of flowers drifting down my throat, and my thoughts were distracted for a moment.

“…next.”

The schedule after that went by slowly. I sat at the table and discussed various topics to grasp the basic knowledge I had, learn table manners at lunch, and play various instruments until the sun went down…

“Next!”

And before I knew it, it was already the time for dinner at the mansion, leaving only the evaluation of dancing.

‘I remember the class I took when I was young. My mother always looked at me with a stinging gaze, so I couldn’t eat comfortably.’

Rattle.

I seemed to be having trouble digesting my food because I kept my back straight in etiquette that didn’t fit my body. However, I couldn’t show my discomfort in front of Madam, so I quietly pushed the food into my mouth.

But then, Madam, who watched me eat my meal, quietly spoke her first words.

“Honestly, you’re doing great.”

Tuk.

I put the glass back down on the table.

“Your understanding of art history and the language Gamiel still need to be improved, but your basic etiquette is beyond my expectations.”

“…”

“What was especially surprising was the greeting. I could even say it was ingrained in your body at such a young age… I wonder if Hanar taught you about it?”

For the first time in my life, I was praised by my teacher. It made me feel strange for a moment, so I avoided looking at her gaze.

“…”

If I wanted to, I could pretend to be a fool at this age, but… I had to show my best in every evaluation because it would put me in a higher class if I showed all the skills I had built. The only thing that makes me look splendid now is that I’m doing something like this at my age. If I had stood next to a real genius like Vasago, I would have looked like an idiot again.

“I…”

If so, how should I explain the good manners that have already been ingrained for my age?

“I just… tried. In order not to be a nuisance to my parents…”

It was just a silly reason.

“Vanora…”

However, Madam’s reaction to my expression was unexpected. Where did her stern face go so far as she gave me an unfamiliar look for a while.

‘She looks like about to cry.’

I realized that I had never seen her eyes being like that, even at the funeral. However, Madam’s expression became calm again.

“You’ve done a good job.”

“…”

“This was enough, and it won’t take long for you to adjust your posture. Classes will start in earnest from tomorrow… Yes, that’s right. I asked an acquaintance in advance to find you a teacher for the dance.”

“Thank you, Madam.”

“And…”

Madam Maquil put down the tableware in her hands and spoke calmly.

“How about calling me Godmother from now on?”

“!”

I said calmly without thinking much about it, “Yes, Godmother.”

Madam Maquil seemed to be satisfied with that.

The dinner was over.

It was said that the vitality to accomplish great things comes from health, and Madam Maquil sent her servant to send me herbs and good quality honey that are good for the body. The herbs were enough, but I wondered why she sent me honey.

‘She must have thought that my skin was ugly.’

I was forced to lie on the bed even though I didn’t want to lie down yet, and my arms, legs, and face were covered with honey.

‘Smell so sweet.’

As I lay down, I wiggled my sticky toes.

Still, if I learn properly here, I’m sure I will be able to successfully make my debutante.’

I was scheduled to participate in debutante on 3rd February of the following year. Since there was only a short time left, it was better for me to focus on my studies than to kill my enemies for the time being. Compared to my relatively easy-to-deal enemies such as Ronwe, Shuteri, and Seir, big players like Vasago, Naverius, and Hanar were still out of reach.

‘For the next two years, this Kingdom will be at peace. I’ll think about it carefully…’

I thought about it with my eyes firmly closed.

‘Let’s think about how to kill them lightly.’

Vengeance was like a curse. The curse that I had to suffer forever until I achieved my goal.

「#1. Training Ground (Dawn)

Vasago, who came out to the training ground in the dawn for sword training, wields a wooden sword. Some of the knights who came out to practice stared at her.

Knight 1: Lady Vasago is also beautiful when she wields a sword.

Knight 2: Besides, her swordsmanship is excellent!

Knight 1: She is also the daughter of the Duke and the only princess in Kingdom Kasius. What kind of person will marry her, who is like the God’s agent…?」

I looked back at the diary that recorded the content of a midnight novel early in the morning. Today too, the novel’s content is only about ‘Vasago is really amazing.’

As Vasago in the novel passed the road, men who met her fell in love with her beauty and made a fuss that the fairy of wisdom appeared when she barely threw a single word at the salon. In the final, when Vasago showed her versatility that can do anything, a scene portrayed those around looked at her with admiration.

‘What a waste of ink as I copied it for nothing.’

What is the usefulness of the information of Vasago practice with the knights at the training ground every 3 days for my revenge?

I got up from my seat with a sigh.

Today’s schedule is not as tough as yesterday’s, so I had to finish the dance evaluation in the main hall first.

“You’re here.”

“Oh my god! What’s all this for, Godmother?”

“I already said I’ll see Lady Celcius’s dance skills today. In addition, the musicians here are the court orchestra members before their retirement, so they will teach you harp after the evaluation.”

However, the atmosphere in the hall when I arrived was unusual. The musicians lined up in the form of a semi-circle were waiting for only one person, me, to dance.

“It will be your first dance today, so I will play the man’s role. Come on, Lady Vanora put up your hand.”

“Yes? Yes…!”

There are many different ways to make money.

I was bewildered at first but was able to quickly focus on the Madam’s education at a rapid pace.

I had to kill a few people. Even at this moment, when I closed my eyes, blue water approached me calmly. The anger that had accumulated over the years was already completely engulfed in my heart. My revenge didn’t stop easily just because one season had passed.

‘I have to be a better person. Then I have to approach Vasago.’

The painstaking intent to kill became my ferocious motivation.

“Just 20 years ago, the act of two people dancing together was criticized for being vulgar, but under Princess Marina’s influence, there was a change in the trend of ballrooms from a group ballroom dance to a pairing form as it is today.”

“…”

“The traditional ballroom dance is still being done at parties hosted by the capitalists, but it would be helpful for Lady Vanora to learn about this.”

I listened to Madam Maquil, paying attention to her words, so I didn’t miss a single word.

Then after a while, Madam stood right in front of me as she demonstrated the man’s dance application etiquette. She soon asked me,

“Vanora, do you know the basic movement of dancing?”

“Yes.”

I nodded quietly and put my hand on her shoulder while the other hand clasped with her hand. As I presented the first move as excellent in the textbook, a smile came from Madam Maquil’s lips.

“Then, let’s start with a slow song.”

One, two, three.

The sound of the band’s performance began with the gentle voice of the Madam. In the shiny hall of the mansion, our steps were mixed.

“!”

“But our dance didn’t last long.

“Stop.”

This is because Madam Maquil stopped all the musicians before they could even perform the fast tunes song. I was then notified after a short conversation.

“Dance lessons are not suitable for you. I will cancel all the lectures about it.”