YURA’S expectations, based on Leila’s words, were very much exceeded.
After Yura endured the chapel service, fighting back yawns and dealing with an empty stomach, the moment she returned to her room, she was rushed into the adjoining room. There, Leila awaited her.
“We will begin your training today, Lady Yuura, and continue for the next three days.”
There it is.
Yura took a step back.
“We will mold you into a worthy, well-mannered person. That being said, it should all be fairly simple.”
“That sounds far from simple!”
Leila brushed off Yura’s complaint.
“What I would like you to learn are the appropriate movements, basic posture, manners during tea and brunch, and three basic points regarding conversation.”
“Uhh…”
“And I have the perfect person to instruct you. Benechka Fandine. Formerly of Astania, she is a well-regarded etiquette instructor.”
“Does she teach everyone?”
Leila shook her head. She narrowed her shoulders with a serious expression. She looked like she had something to say, but it was difficult.
“N-Mo. And because time is short, I’m afraid she won’t be able to teach you everything. So…”
“Then who will teach me?”
Leila’s head popped up and she suddenly looked resolved, giving Yura a start. She had the excited energy of someone trying to make a once-in-a-lifetime confession.
“Please forgive my presumption! But with only three days left, please leave the fundamentals to me!” Leila exclaimed.
Yura stared at her.
Oh, so that’s what she meant. Why is she being so formal?
“You’re going to teach me? That’s fine…but will you be okay, Leila?” She hastily added, “Y-Your face looks pale.”
At that moment, Leila staggered and clung to a chair. But when she rushed over to help her, Leila grabbed Yura’s arm.
“I’m all right,” she said softly. “I was just so relieved, everything got a little dark.”
“Then you really aren’t okay!”
“To be honest, even suggesting I should be the one to teach you such things is extremely disrespectful…”
Yura pulled a face. “How is that disrespectful…?”
I guess I don’t have a choice. She dropped her shoulders. She couldn’t keep worrying Leila like this.
“Okay, I’ll do it. Please teach me what you know,” she said.
For as long as I’m here, I’ll need to know this stuff anyway.
“I’d rather have you teach me anyway, Leila. I’m counting on you.”
That was how she really felt. With Leila as her teacher, she could do these embarrassing things with ease, even if it meant she’d be exhausted. At least Leila wouldn’t run her ragged.
Yura had no idea how naïve that thought would soon seem…
✦ ✦ ✦
“NO, you mustn’t be so stiff in the front! Lower your shoulders!”
Leila’s guidance—or rather, her secret training—was unfathomable. If Yura thought Leila was overzealous before, this was on a whole other level. She was tired of being yelled at by Leila, whose face was turning bright red by this point.
“Please keep your basic posture! Keep your feet together! Shift back and forth, placing your center of gravity over your back leg! Gently turn your forward knee–GENTLY! Do it so your back knee is hidden. Now bring both knees together. Yes, yes, that’s it! That’s perfect!”
“Descend lightly into the chair please! All young ladies know there are no real backs to chairs. It’s more conducive to wearing a dress, isn’t it? If you don’t sit that way, they’ll be able to see your legs through the dress.”
“Please be sure not to stick your elbows out too far! Your hands should rest along your navel to give your waist a more slender appearance. Try to use your right hand—bring it beneath your left in an oval shape. Why is your mouth always open like that?”
Yura became frustrated over the several hours of training. Madame Benechka, having finally arrived, was an incredibly slender woman with large eyes. She wore an emerald green dress and, in contrast to what one might expect, carried a large, plump long-eared hedgehog. Yura ogled when she saw it.
“When holding a saucer, use your middle and ring finger to support it. Yes, yes. That’s very good.”
Yura was so distracted by the hedgehog climbing around her skirt that she couldn’t concentrate.
“We don’t merely hold the cup with our hands. We use our entire arms, pulling back with our elbows to our chests. This is one of the secrets to graceful arm movement. Yes, yes. That’s quite good.”
By the time evening rolled around, the women had taught Yura everything, down to how she should blink. Under the auspices of going for a stroll to stretch her muscles, Yura made her way to the garden she always visited.
Sei, who’d arrived before her and perhaps seen the look on her face, stood up, his own expression clouding over.
“Are you tired? You look worn—”
“I can’t take any more of this Spartan training, Sei~!”
They sat on the edge of the water fountain. Sei said nothing as Yura told him everything that’d happened. He merely looked down, a wry grin on his face as he occasionally interjected to let her know he was listening.
“I don’t think I can handle this for ‘the next three days…’”
“But I think you’re already benefiting from it.”
Sei flashed Yura a smile, attempting to comfort her amid her stream of complaints. Perhaps because of the training drilled into her over the course of the day, Yura now sat up noticeably straighter. Her arms were also neatly placed along her abdomen, as she’d been instructed. As soon as he brought her attention to it, she rounded her back and kicked her legs out.
“Don’t say something like that, you meanie! Until these high society types leave, I won’t be able to do any investigating!”