The sound of applause echoed through the study.
“Bravo! Oh, bravo, Lady Evelyn!”
I turned around in bewilderment to see my tutor, whom I called Madam, clapping vigorously with tears glistening in her eyes.
“Um, Madam, I only walked across the room...”
“Oh, goodness, Lady Evelyn, no need to be so humble! That was magnificent walking!”
“But the walking lesson only just started!” I pleaded desperately.
Last month, I—Evelyn—had become engaged to Lord Theodore, the young count of House Manilas. The family was held in high esteem by the king and governed the town of Semme near the capital. Their every move was watched by high society.
So Lord Theodore and his father, Lord Jackson, had advised me to take lessons in aristocratic manners from private tutors.
Which I agreed to...
House Safka, to which I’d been born, was known for having produced generations of saints. Thanks to that, the royal family had granted them the special noble rank of pioutor. But since I’d spent most of my years as the saint, I’d received almost no education as a noble lady. Studying was essential for my future, and so I’d eagerly accepted their suggestion, ready to work hard.
I had thought I’d work hard, at least.
“I’ve yet to learn anything!” I protested, then pointed at a stack of books piled on the desk. “Look, Madam, you prepared a stack of heavy-looking books, didn’t you? Could you please place them on my head and teach me proper posture first? Please? I’d like to try!”
When I tried to grab a book, Madam intercepted me.
“You have no need for such things, Lady Evelyn! Let us burn all the books!”
“No, don’t burn them! Put them on my head! I can’t walk gracefully at all!”
“Lady Evelyn, excessive modesty comes across as boasting.”
“I’m not being modest! I’m being honest!”
“I disagree. I have nothing more to teach you. It was an honor to meet such a perfect lady. Farewell, now!”
“Ah, wait! Madam! Madaaam!”
What happened to the Madam who told me that “Ladies are constantly being watched and thus must be intelligent, elegant, and graceful in every gesture and expression, you see”?! I wasn’t even at the first syllable of “intelligent” yet!
But Madam ignored my attempts to stop her, grabbed her purse, and swept out of the room like a brisk breeze.
I slumped my shoulders and drifted toward the window. The refreshing early summer air carried with it the scent of grass, yet my heart felt like it had just been rained on. A deep sigh escaped my lips.
“How many times now have tutors left before I learned anything?” I lamented.
Etiquette, embroidery, dance lessons—a slew of tutors had been called to the mansion already. At first, they’d actually offer me some manner of instruction, but once they saw me in action, they’d invariably claim to “have nothing more to teach me” and leave.
I was a bit proud of it at first, but...
I mean, was it possible I actually had a little talent? Maybe I’d unconsciously picked up elegant manners? Such thoughts had swirled in my head over and over.
But then I’d stepped on the dance instructor’s foot. Between pained sobs, the instructor had said, “Oh, the agony! You’re the perfect dancer, and I have nothing more to teach you!”
It became obvious it had all been wishful thinking.
“I would expect nothing but such perfect steps from you, Lady Evelyn.”
“They aren’t perfect!”
“Your very existence is lovely. I see no issues here.”
“All I see here are issues!”
“Oh, what an adorable crocodile you’ve embroidered!”
“It was supposed to be a kitty!”
“I am honored to exist in the same era as you.”
“I can’t take this anymooore!”
Genius, prodigy, a natural talent, darling of the ages, beloved by the gods—how many words of praise had I been showered with this past month? I had learned, very thoroughly, how painful flattery truly was.
And worse, it wasn’t helping me learn at all! A month had passed since the engagement, and my potential remained entirely dormant.
Please! Please, someone give me actual lessons!
At the end of the day, it would be Lord Theodore and his family who would suffer the embarrassment of my inadequacy. If I couldn’t conduct myself properly as the wife of an aristocrat, I would bring shame upon their household!
I’d tried many times to explain the situation to Lord Theodore, but lately he’d been very busy studying estate management under Lord Jackson. He’d come back late at night, visit me at the guesthouse, and grip my hands apologetically.
Oh, by the way, in Snasile, it was considered somewhat improper for engaged couples to live under the same roof, so I couldn’t stay in the main house and had remained with Kira in the estate’s guesthouse.
“You’re struggling every day, Evelyn,” Lord Theodore had said. “I’m so, so very sorry.”
“Um, it’s not...”
I mean, it was. Hard, that is. In a certain sense. Incredibly hard. But my struggles had little to do with what I presumed Lord Theodore had in mind.
He touched my cheek and peered into my eyes, his brow furrowed in frustration. “Ah, you look so worn out... Are you all right? Have you been sleeping well?”
“Yes, mostly...”
“I’ll tell your instructors to ease up. Please, don’t push yourself.”
I stared at him, my eyes glazing over. This very attitude of his was inviting flattery from the instructors, wasn’t it?
Lately, his aristocratic handsomeness had deteriorated, somehow. He had large bags under his eyes and always looked a little disheveled. Lord Jackson had to be really drilling him. But this made me envious, actually! I wanted strict instructions too! Which was just not happening!
So I decided to gather my courage and just say as much. If things continued like this, I would never make any progress.
“L-Lord Theodore,” I stammered. “The truth is, the instructors aren’t teaching me at all!”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
I explained from the beginning to make sure he understood exactly what was happening. That no matter what mistakes I made, the instructors would only heap praise upon me, and I wasn’t learning anything. That at this rate, I could only dream of becoming a proper aristocratic wife.
Lord Theodore listened quietly as I spoke, his expression serious. It gave me hope that he’d understood the gravity of the situation.
But when I finished, he flushed red and asked, “So you mean you’ve graduated before finishing any lessons at all?”
“Um, that’s not what I’m—”
“Ah, Evelyn, you’re amazing! You’re always amazing.”
I was floored. That wasn’t it. That wasn’t it at all! Why couldn’t he understand?!
Before I knew it, my nose was tingling and tears were welling up in my eyes, and I’d pushed myself to my feet.
Serves me right for expecting a bumbling detective to understand anything!
Not wanting him to see my tears, I spun around.
“Fine! I don’t care about you anymore, Lord Theodore!” I snapped.
“Evelyn?!”
“Good night! Don’t let the bedbugs bite!”
“Don’t ‘good night’ me, Evelyn! Wait!”
He was still saying something, but I wasn’t having it and shut myself in my room. Lord Theodore called and knocked from outside several times, but I just covered my ears.