Re-teaching manners to an aristocratic woman over the age of 20 could become a major scandal in the social world, no matter what had happened to that noble young girl.

Thus, the teacher that the Count had secured was not a famous etiquette teacher, but Madame Erene, who was known for teaching etiquette to the common people.

Madame Erene was from a well-known viscount family, but after the death of her son there was no one to succeed him in the title, thus she became a commoner. Her family, which she had spent her life establishing as the Mistress of the Viscount, was destroyed simply because there were no men in her household.

She only had a tiny fortune so she couldn't live as splendidly as she had as the Mistress to the Viscount. However, since she had lived as part of the Viscount's family for a long time and was diligent in keeping up with the etiquette formalities, her training was coveted by wealthy commoners. They longed for the life of the aristocrats but had no access to it.

So, she managed to earn her own livelihood by getting paid to educate the children of wealthy commoners, she even refused the help of her friends whom Madame Erene had been acquainted with. Then she was called by Count Aydin.

The County of Aydin was not an influential family but was family of the so-called Crown Prince, blood-lined with the first Empress, the Crown Prince's mother.

Madame Erene, who had been wondering who she could educate in such a family, was startled to find out that it was the Count’s daughter. If she was the daughter of the Count, she must have been educated from an early age by excellent teachers already.

At the same time, she was also worried. Although she had been out of her social circle for a long time, she knew from her ties with some aristocrats that Lucifella's personality did not match her beautiful face. And she also knew what Lucifella had done at the last Imperial Palace banquet.

It seemed that this was the reason she would receive a high payment. But no matter how much she taught commoners, she still had her own pride.

If the Count’s daughter was rude to her, she intended to return immediately. But Count Aydin's daughter had been both rude and polite, so it was unknown what kind of person she was.

“I lost my memory in an accident, so I was forced to take lessons from you, Madame,” she said.

She had lost her memory in the aftermath of 'that accident.' She lost her memory, so of course she forgot her manners.

Since Lucifella did not look down on her as a half-noble who had lost her title and instead respectfully asked her for instruction, Madame Erene thought she was a better person than she had expected.

But that thought lasted only for a short time. The Count’s daughter complied with her pretty well, but the pace of learning was slower than she had expected.

“How many times do I have to say it? Your steps should not be light, but moderately heavy. A light gait makes a person look frivolous."

“Yeah.”

As she tried to walk in the cumbersome skirt, her steps were heavy this time as if her feet were wrapped with lead. She oddly seemed to have a knack, but it appeared that Lucifella had never learned the concept of 'elegance.'

To Madame Erene, it seemed like Lucifella did not understand why she had to learn this. Sometimes Lucifella grabbed the hem of her skirt and shook it in frustration.

If she was not convinced of the necessity of learning, her speed would naturally slow down. It seemed that the manners that she had learned remained in her memory to some extent, but she was far short of attending the imperial banquet.

“My Lady, do you not understand what I am saying?”

“Elegantly, if it looks too light, it looks frivolous, so it needs to be heavy but elegant. That’s it.”

Although the girl was listening, Madame Erene was getting tired of teaching Lucifella, who was growing more and more frustrating. Lucifella lacked the enthusiasm for learning that was held by common girls.

“Sit down, My Lady.”

When Madame Erene pointed to the sofa to let her rest, she stomped over and leaned against the sofa. Madame Erene frowned.

"My Lady is obviously smart. But you seem unmotivated to do what you can."

At that, Lucifella sighed in exhaustion.

“It’s because I don’t understand.”

“What?”

"What is the standard of elegance? Why is it so important to know how to hold your skirt? No, I don't understand the dress either. Why do I have to wear a heavy skirt? There are many comfortable clothes. Why do women talk backward? If there's something you want to say, can't you just say it right away?"

It was a question not even asked by commoners. The common people simply followed the nobles, saying, ‘Like this?’.

“That’s what nobles should do.”

"That is not true. Men don't talk in a roundabout way. Male nobles just smile and move on even if their gait is a little awkward. Even if their behavior isn't elegant, it's not a big deal. It seems that such things are only asked of women.”

"You talk as if you've been hanging out with men, my Lady."

At those words, Lucifella closed her mouth. As she was older, Madame Erene recognized immediately that Lucifella was hiding something.

Indeed, what Lucifella had said was not wrong. When a man was clumsy in manners, it became only a light joke. He may even be praised for his free-spirited liberty.

However, if a woman were not good at her manners, other women would criticize her and not allow her to join the group. Thus, manners became more important to women.

“Men and women are not the same,” Madame Erene said calmly.

At those words, Lucifella's face hardened. Even as Lucifella, it was difficult for her to accept the situation as it was now. She used to think this was a matter for another person to worry about, not her, but she now was spending unbelievable mental energy on learning the so-called 'Lady's Culture.'

When she was called out for things she did naturally, like her steps, she became annoyed. If she had tossed her a sword and told her to practice swordsmanship, she wouldn't have thought like this.

'Men and women are not the same’ were the words that she had been fed up with hearing as Estelle, too. That was accepted as natural even in Ersha. In that monogamous society, the level of human rights for women was much higher than in Yansgar, where polygamy was allowed. Even though she had known, it was bittersweet when she actually faced it.

Madame Erene continued speaking.

“These manners are clearly ineffective in terms of behavior. Ineffective behavior is intentional. It shows that nobles have that kind of leeway.”

Leeway? Lucifella tilted her head.

“Do commoners have time to relax their footsteps? Can those who have to work all the time wear skirts as uncomfortable as those worn by a noblewoman?" Madame Erene continued.

It was natural. How could busy commoners wear cumbersome aristocratic skirts? Lucifella still did not understand Madame Erene's words.

“The difference between commoners and the nobles above them is time for leisure.”

At that, Lucifella felt as if she had been hit in the head.

In a way, that was the word that penetrated the central essence of etiquette. She had never thought about it from that perspective.

“Also, it is not just due to the vanity of women that women’s manners are more strictly enforced.”

“…….”

“The education of aristocratic women symbolizes the prestige of the family. The prestige of the state.”

Upon hearing this, Lucifella had doubts. If so, were women the same as family accessories? For Estelle, a commoner but semi-noble raised almost as a man, this part of women's etiquette was the most difficult to understand.

“It’s the same with men….”

"No. Men have many ways to show off their dominance other than through education. It is not only about etiquette but also learning and swordsmanship. But unlike men, women can only show it outwardly. There is nothing but the wrinkles on the skirt and the meticulousness of the words."

Madame Erene gave a straightforward answer, and Lucifella was at a loss for words. The women of the aristocracy were only able to 'show' because they became an accessorial part of the family name.

In addition to the rules of etiquette of the nobles, she had not thought deeply about typical women’s characteristics in terms of extravagance and vanity.

Lucifella reflected inwardly that when she had been Estelle, she had held a disagreeable attitude against ​​those 'Ladies.' In a way, she had been a woman who wasn't even given a chance to show anything. They were forced to protect the family before they could protect themselves, and in the case of Estelle, she was treated not as a woman but as a man.

She knew she had suffered because she held a sword as a woman, but she had forgotten that.

She sighed and looked up at the ceiling. Here, too, they had a reason of their own. They weren't just idiots who only cared about clothes.

If a family's prestige was to be armed with a fancy dress and tongue-like steel, their way of life should also be respected.

Thinking about it, it was amusing. The attitude of the men who made it impossible for women to do anything in the first place yet ridiculed the women's extravagance and scoffed at their meticulous adherence for manners was simply silly. Those who mocked them and acted superior for holding a sword were even more ridiculous. Well, she had been one of them, so she couldn’t say anything.

Madame Erene wondered inwardly whether she had offended Lucifella with her words. She had lost her title because there were no men in her household, and when her rank was effectively demoted, Madame Erene had finally thought about this. What was the difference between a man's role and a commoner and a nobleman? Lucifella had been curious about something similar, so she had answered her without realizing it.

"I see. I understand,” Lucifella finally said, smiling. “If this is their way, then I have to follow their way.”

She straightened her back and rose gracefully from her seat. Her somewhat rigid movements and free-spiritedness were gone.

“Then, shall we try our best until the banquet?”

Madame Erene agreed that Lucifella was beautiful, but that was only an evaluation of her appearance.

True to her nickname, the Morning Star of Yansgar, her silver-colored eyes were shining like stars. In those two eyes, Madame Erene felt her true beauty.

***

“What are you worrying about?”

At Yiojif’s words, the Empress lifted her head.

In the warm sunlight, the Empress stood in front of the golden birdcage, listening to the canaries singing. It was one of the things she did when she was worried.

“The banquet is in three days.”

"Yes, it is,” Yiojif nodded his head.

“The daughter of Count Aydin, I’m worried about that girl.”

At the words of the Empress, Yiojif looked at her softly.

"Count Aydin’s daughter brought such difficulties upon herself. You don't have to worry about it that much, mother."

His tone was soft, but the content was as cold as ever.

“The Crown Prince seems to be trying to create a rift between Count Aydin and me,” the Empress said, smiling bitterly.

“Is that so?”

She sent the invitation directly in the name of the Empress, so from the Count's point of view, it was apparent that he would resent the Empress.

The Crown Prince was not wary of his brother Yiojif but wary of the Empress, the Mistress of the Palace. When he became Emperor, she would become the Empress Dowager, of which he was on guard.

“Even though he needn’t do so.”

She sighed and placed her hand on her forehead. Her bangs, which made her look younger than her age, were lifted, revealing her forehead. On it was a scar that could not be covered with makeup.

“I think it’s just because brother's bad temperament was acting up.”

“You think so?”

“You know brother's personality well enough, don’t you?”

At that, the Empress nodded her head. They were both well aware of Temir's sadistic and ferocious character. Yiojif stood next to the Empress and looked at her birdcage.

“If more thought was put into it, he wouldn’t have done that.”

“Why do you think so?”

“Didn’t he offend Jed?”

Jedder Kyle Heint was engaged to Count Aydin's daughter. Mocking of his fiancée, even if she was flawed in many ways, was connected directly with the honor of the Duke. That would not be pleasant.

“Unlike Count Aydin, Jed would have immediately noticed that it was brother, not mother, who invited the Count’s daughter because he hates brother’s personality.”

Yiojif took off his glasses and rubbed the lenses with the hem of his robe.

"But in this case - just be offended a bit and then drop it. Do you think that the Duke of Heint would come to hate the Crown Prince just because of his fiancée? If it is believed that there is nothing to it, then there is no need to be insulted.”

“I know Jed's personality very well. Even though he looks like that, he's not a cold-hearted guy. Well, except towards me.”

Yiojif folded his glasses neatly and put them in his pocket, revealing his sharp eyes.

“Even if she is flawed and the engagement was forced, she is his fiancée. Inviting his fiancée there to insult her is an outright insult to Jed. Jed will never forget this.”

“……”

“If it were me, I wouldn’t have given an excuse to turn Jed into an enemy.”

Yiojif’s green eyes were shining sharply without his glasses. The gentle smile on his face had been replaced with a sneer.

***

Lucifella did the best she could to learn her manners. By the eve of the banquet, she was able to act like a noble to a certain extent.

Although she did not perfectly learn the basics of the nobles' family tree or manner of conversation, she succeeded in looking plausible outwardly in some way.

"With all due respect, there won’t be anyone who would want to bring up a conversation with you about what you have done."

“You mean the stupidly jumping into the lake begging the Crown Prince for his love?”

“That’s it. So, you do remember what you have done."

She was praised, but somehow it made her feel bad. Madame Erene let out a sigh at Lucifella’s expression.

“You will definitely be ridiculed at the banquet hall.”

"The easiest solution would be to not go, but I couldn't do that….”

‘How did I end up in a body like this and suffer?’ she thought. But if she was going to complain about her life in the first place, she decided she should start by thinking about why she struggled so hard in Ersha - that would be the right way.

If she had to attend a banquet in the future anyway, it was better to just get it over with. Estelle was not the type to avoid and run away.

‘So, it’s a banquet.’

She was acting as Lucifella, but the reality hadn't settled in yet. When she met Duke Heint, she became intensely aware of her original self as Estelle, but presently, her life seemed to be floating somewhere unknown.

“It’s like I’m dreaming.”

"What?"

“No, it’s nothing.”

Lucifella laughed bitterly. If she didn't accept that she was dreaming, she'd still not understand what was happening to her. How could she admit that she, a knight of Ersha, became a lady and attended Yansgar's banquet?

It was only natural that she wasn't intimidated by things that seemed like a dream.

***

On the day of the banquet, her maids were bustling from early in the morning. First, she had to soak in a bath full of scented water.

Seeing the maids already in a strong spirit to dress her up, she felt blank. She had never guessed the day would come when she had to wear a fancy dress. If Liam were to see her, he would laugh so hard until he fainted. She stood numbly as they put the dress on her.

“Are you ready, my Lady?” said her maid, Roisa, who was standing next to her. Lucifella nodded her head, and she almost fainted from the effort. Was a corset such a big deal?

“Stop- suck in!”

Putting her feet against the wall to tighten the corset, it was apparent that she had done this more than once or twice. Wouldn't it be harmful to compress the waist of someone with such weak muscles?

‘If there is a reason for women's manners, what is the reason for corsets? Is it to kill a woman? Or is it to deliberately weaken her?’

“Louisa, have you accumulated a lot of resentment against me?”

“Ah, no. How can I get mad at my dear Lady? Come on, suck in more.”

Now, in a different senee, she thought women should be respected. If looking pretty was a kind of job, indeed, they had always been working fiercely.

“Louisa, I was wrong!”

“I’m Roisa.”

When her name was called wrong again, Roisa pressed her foot against the wall and tightened her corset even more.

After finally finishing, Lucifella looked at her reflection in the mirror. She was definitely pretty.

“Pretty.”

The faces of her maids hardened at Lucifella's overly uninspired sentiment. She was, of course, aware of her own face standing here, but she was not impressed even with the decorations, as that face was Lucifella’s.

Her long hair was pulled up and pinned, and her pale face came alive as they seemed to have done something with the scented powder brought by her maids when she had her eyes closed. Her face, which she thought was a pretty face from the beginning, was transformed into a more beautiful look when she dressed up.

What did they call her? Was it the Morning Star of Yansgar? She compared that to herself, who had been called the Morning Star of Ersha. However, in the first place, Lucifella and Estelle were too different to be compared.

Lucifella looked at the dress she was wearing. The dress she was wearing 'for the first time’ was the same color as the uniform she had worn when she became a knight, a deep marine blue.

She remembered a dream she had a while ago.

A dream about when she became a knight and wore a uniform that did not fit her body. Unlike now, she had been a little more excited back then.

She could do something with her sword. She could rise to some significant position. She had been overjoyed that she could defend the people and the country. She had vowed to pay her allegiance to the country that gave a commoner the chance to fight with a sword.

Her mood dropped when she remembered the man who had stood next to her, but Lucifella shook her head to clear it.

'I am Lucifella. I have decided to live as Lucifella.'

She opened the door and went outside. When she went down to the lobby on the first floor, the Count was waiting for her wearing formal attire. He looked at her and seemed to be at a loss for a moment, but immediately smiled brightly.

She carefully gripped the hem of her skirt to keep it from wrinkling.

“You are so beautiful, Lucy.”

"I think so, too."

The Count burst into laughter at the unintentionally blurted words.

“You seem to be recovering your memories. An excellent sign."

Lucifella must have been a person who had confidence in her outer appearance. She understood because it wasn't unfounded.

The Count dressed very stylishly. It was not just talk that the County of Aydin was wealthy. Even she could see that his clothes were made of different, exquisite materials. Lucifella involuntarily reached out her hand and fiddled with her dress. The Count smiled.

“I’m sorry.”

"Why?"

"I am sorry for forcing you to go to the banquet."

"It's okay."

It didn’t need to be said. How many great aristocrats could have refused the Empress's invitation!

The Count seemed bewildered by Lucifella's bright reply, but he gently placed his hand on her head and stroked it.

Lucifella felt the affection from Count. It was a strangely warm feeling tickling her chest, but somehow it turned into tingling pain in the corner of her heart.

"I hope that today you don't make the same mistake as before. Please don’t do things that would place the Crown Prince in a predicament.”

"Okay,” Lucifella responded obediently and grabbed his arm, and the Count headed towards the carriage.

But, well, she wasn’t sure how she would react when she saw the Yansgar people eating and living a luxurious life. However, she wasn’t lying when she said that she would try to live as Lucifella and did not intend to cause trouble.

Guided by the Count's hand, she got into the carriage, and the carriage started running toward the Imperial Palace.

She had been relaxed, but she began to get nervous as she got closer to the Imperial Palace.