Chapter 87

The next day, not long after Lia finished an early lunch, Madame Evelyn arrived with the staff from the salon.

First, they measured her from head to toe.

Then, Isabella joined in, and together they selected the fabric materials and dress designs that suited Lia.

By the time everything was finished, Lia was completely exhausted.

Starting the next day, Isabella began teaching Lia noble etiquette.

Since she would have to have an audience with His Majesty the Emperor after marrying Johann, and because she would meet nobles at various balls to be held in the future, it was an essential education.

There was so much to learn—walking, posture, speech, table manners, conversation methods, and more.

‘…It seems being a noble really isn’t something one should do.’

It was only in the evening, when Lia returned to her room, that she collapsed onto the sofa.

“…Ugh, I’m dying.”

Maybe because she was so tired, she had no appetite.

‘I’ll just skip dinner tonight.’

Thinking about having to take etiquette lessons for four hours every day made her lose her appetite even more.

“Paula, I won’t have dinner tonight.”

“…Uh, but His Grace the Duke said he wanted to have dinner with you tonight, so I don’t think you can skip it.”

Paula replied awkwardly.

“The Duke has been busy lately, hasn’t he?”

“He came home a bit early today.”

“Ah… Then I’ll eat.”

She thought she should go and ask about the schedule ahead.

Lia changed her clothes and went to the dining room.

“You’re here?”

Johann greeted her in a gentle tone.

…It felt embarrassing.

“Yes, where’s Raffy?”

Seeing only two place settings, Lia asked.

“There are several things to discuss about the engagement, so I left Rafaella with Mother.”

Johann personally came to Lia’s seat and pulled out her chair.

“Sit down, let’s eat first and talk.”

“You really don’t have to go this far…”

“I’m doing it because I want to.”

Johann seated Lia and returned to his seat.

“I heard from Mother. You started etiquette lessons today?”

“…Yes.”

Lia answered with a short sigh she hadn’t even realized she let out.

“It must be tough.”

“There are so many manners to observe, even just for a meal.”

She replied in a slightly grumbling tone.

From ten in the morning to two in the afternoon, she took lessons with a ten-minute break every hour.

Even lunch was part of etiquette training, and she was busy learning about tableware and dining manners.

Even though the first day was supposed to be easy, she was drained from nerves.

“This isn’t etiquette class, so just eat comfortably.”

Johann chuckled as he picked up his utensils.

“Yes.”

Lia nodded, putting a bruschetta topped with tomato and basil—served as an appetizer—into her mouth.

‘Mm! Maybe because it’s something I like, I’m getting my appetite back.’

From appetizer to dessert, all the dishes were things Lia often enjoyed at the mansion.

She hadn’t planned to eat because she was tired, but since all her favorites were served, she couldn’t help but reach for more.

‘Why are all my favorite foods being served today?’

Lia thought as she ate the sweet peach tart prepared for dessert.

“The engagement ceremony will be simple, just taking vows at the temple.”

Usually, nobles held grand engagement ceremonies.

During the ceremony, a priest from the temple would conduct the engagement vows.

“Is it enough just to take the vows at the temple?”

“Yes. It’ll be a simple process—just praying and answering.”

“I see.”

“As I said before, once we’re engaged, you’ll officially become a member of the Blumhart family.”

Even though His Majesty the Emperor had approved it, it still didn’t feel real.

“From then on, your name will be ‘Lia von Blumhart’ on all documents. When you go to the Imperial Palace, you’ll be able to pass through easily, just like the direct descendants of the Five Great Houses.”

‘…Lia von Blumhart.’

Lia rolled the name around in her mouth.

“And take this.”

Johann handed Lia a piece of paper decorated with gold leaf.

“What’s this?”

“It’s an invitation to His Highness the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet.”

“What?”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you in advance.”

“His Highness invited me?”

Lia quickly read the writing on the letter and asked.

“His Highness thought his birthday banquet would be a good occasion for you to make your official debut among the noble society.”

Her first debut in society would be at the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet.

Her hands trembled.

“Don’t feel pressured; the banquet is not for you to be judged, but for people to know who you are.”

“Still, I’ve only just started etiquette lessons…”

Lia frowned anxiously.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be by your side, so even if you make a mistake, it’s fine.”

Johann gently took her trembling hand.

“Will Her Highness the Princess also attend?”

Lia asked anxiously.

“I’m not sure. Whether she comes or not, it’s not you who should be uncomfortable, but the Princess, so don’t worry about it.”

Johann reassured her.

Suddenly, her world had turned upside down.

From commoner Lia to Lia von Blumhart, fiancée of the Duke of Blumhart.

When she first came here, she thought she would just stay in the mansion and leave when the time came, but who could have guessed she would end up going to all sorts of balls at Johann’s side.

‘Wait, then will the Interim Empress and her attendants also come to the balls from now on?’

“…Will the Interim Empress attend the banquet?”

“Hmm, she usually does, but I’m not sure this time.”

They say to keep your enemies close.

She didn’t know if the Interim Empress would try to kill her again, as she did before her regression, but she needed to keep an eye on her.

‘The Interim Empress I saw in Raffy’s memories makes me uneasy…’

If she tried to use perfume or anything else on her again, this time she could take it to Dorothea for advice.

Thinking that, her nervous heart about attending the banquet calmed down.

“The birthday banquet is in a month, so it’ll be tight, but you’ll do well.”

“Yes. I’ll study hard.”

Lia nodded with determined eyes.

“Oh, and.”

Johann handed her an item wrapped in pink paper.

“It’s a thank-you for lending me your handkerchief last time.”

“Oh, really, you could have just washed it and returned it…”

“I already bought it, so just take it.”

Johann placed the gift in Lia’s hand.

“Then I’ll accept it.”

Lia accepted the gift with no choice.

“Wow, it’s so soft.”

When she opened it, it was a pale pink handkerchief embroidered with white lilies.

“…Oh? This flower is a lily, right?”

It’s my favorite flower.

He probably didn’t know that, but it was amazing.

“Why, don’t you like it?”

“No, I love it. This is my favorite flower.”

Lia’s eyes softened as she spoke.

“I’m glad you like it.”

He let out a small sigh of relief.

“There’s no one who wouldn’t like such a pretty handkerchief.”

She carefully folded the handkerchief again, touching the part embroidered with lilies.

‘Maybe it’s because of the flower, but I feel strange, like when Hart proposed to me.’

* * *

Johann escorted Lia to her room and then returned to his own.

When Lia moved her room to the fourth floor, he also moved his to the fourth floor.

He only replaced the oldest items in the room his father used, otherwise keeping everything the same.

Johann sat on the bed and picked up the handkerchief lying on the nightstand.

The plain white handkerchief was the one Lia had lent him.

It was washed clean, but since she had given it to him herself, he wanted to keep it.

‘Using that as an excuse, I ended up giving Lia a new handkerchief.’

He always wanted to give her many things for no reason, but knowing she would feel burdened, he had to use such excuses.

So while thinking about what kind of handkerchief to give, he remembered the flower from the day he proposed to her when they were young.

He couldn’t tell her right now that he was regaining memories about her.

‘…Just remembering one or two big things isn’t enough.’

He wanted to tell her when he remembered a bit more.

So, although he hadn’t told her yet, he ordered a handkerchief embroidered with that flower and gave it to her as a substitute.

He hoped the flower would bring her some comfort.

“…I’m sorry, I’ll remember soon.”

He murmured, burying his face in the handkerchief.

* * *

Lia’s week passed very quickly.

“Lia, you’re learning even better than I expected.”

Isabella praised Lia as they had lunch together.

“You don’t seem like someone who’s only studied for a week.”

Lia fumbled a bit only on the first day, but from the next day, she absorbed everything Isabella taught her quickly.

Almost as if she had learned it long ago.

“I think we can move on to the next step.”

“The next?”

She felt good at the praise, but her shoulders drooped a little at the thought of having more to learn.

Regardless of how quickly she picked it up, etiquette lessons were so boring.

“Since you’ll be going to balls, you need to learn to dance, and you should get familiar with the list of nobles, among other things.”

“Dance?”

Lia’s eyes widened.

“Yes, at His Highness the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet, you’ll have to dance with Johann at least once.”

Oh no, dancing means being really close together.

‘What if it gets awkward like that time during the fireworks?’

Lia touched her lips, recalling the kiss during the fireworks.

“Lia, is something wrong with your lips?”

“Oh, no!”

Lia waved her hand in visible embarrassment.

“If not, that’s fine. Keep practicing what you’ve learned here in the mansion, and from tomorrow, let’s start something else.”

Isabella stood up from her seat.

Does that mean today’s lesson is over?

“Lia, go change and head to the riding field.”

“The riding field?”

“Yes, Johann thinks it would be good for you to learn to ride for many reasons.”

Lia got up with a slightly gloomy expression.

‘Just when I thought I could rest today…’

The path to becoming the Duke of Blumhart’s fiancée was quite a rough one for Lia.