"A lady should not slouch. Stand straight with confidence and never lower your gaze."

I badly want to breath out the heaviness inside of my chest that I'm feeling. Yet, I'm afraid that her sturdy eyes will catch me. She's the teacher that the Grand Duke hired and I don't have a single clue that she will be this absolute.

At dawn, when the sun was just about to rise and I was sleeping so deeply. Celine suddenly woke me up, saying that my mentor has arrived with her carriage. And so, I end up here. In this study room without having a proper breakfast, complying in her strict words.

I just hope, she wouldn't hear the grumbling sounds of my stomach. Lunch should arrive by now. Then, I reminded myself with my eyes close in mind. Madelaine, be patience.

"Stay still Grand Duchess," she ordered me strictly. Her footsteps walk around from my front to back while observing the posture I must have. I can feel the cold metal stick of the ruler that she placed under my chin, avoiding to make me look down.

It was three and I was a fool, alright. She let me chose three books, and I thought that she wanted me to read it for her, believing that reading was included in our lesson. And I know myself, a lover of historical thick pages so, I chose those kinds of books excitedly.

Then, I suffered the consequences. Supposedly, all I know that books were meant for learning, I didn't know placing it on the top of my head was the purpose. My smile had vanished and was replace by a feeling that my brain will be flat because of its heftiness.

"Now, in a conversation. Look into the eyes of the person who you speak to. It's rude if you avoid their stares. They might think that you weren't listening."

"I understand."

"Your voice must be enough to reach their ears with full of clarity. Remember in your mind, that only a fool will talk back. You must stand with elegance and full of dignity," she strictly implied. "You shall stay silent if you think it's not necessary for you to speak."

"Alright."

I flinched when she throws me a glare. "I just said earlier. Don't talk if it's not needed."

"A Grand Duchess is a higher position; you must not bow your head to anyone who is below to you even if it's your husband's lover. You rule many lands. You rule Celtic, you will manage them. Thus, you hold the power. Use that as your weapon."

The whole session made me learned a lot of things. She has the knowledge and experience that anyone wanted. Even if her teaching is strict, as long as it makes sense. Then, probably I don't mind enduring the pain.

"Alright. Were finish here."

Thank goodness. She removes those books and I can finally move freely. I thought my lesson were done yet, when she opened her mouth with the wrinkles that surround, my shoulder got discouraged.

"Now, for the next lesson," she paused before showing me a half-evil smile. "Etiquette."

I accidentally let out a sigh which she immediately scolded me for. This woman that looks in her fifties, I wonder if she's already in her menopausal stage. She didn't even let me rest from standing for two hours.

We sat down and the porcelain teacups that are luxury occupied the round table between us. Sadly, I don't like etiquette that much. Scratch that, I'm not fond of it. Even father would reprimand me because of how I was stubborn in refusing to learn manner.

"Holding a teacup should not be difficult. Watch me."

She demonstrates me how she drank her tea with just a little bit of sipping and raising her pinky finger. Each of her gesture looks so elegant and professional like she was in this industry for a long time. She then placed back the cup on the small plate without making a noise.

"You try."

I imitated just what I saw from her and I didn't know that I will screw it up immediately. Was drinking tea properly this hard? Literally, if I could, I would just gobble it up right now with my eyes close as my tongue savor the flavors. It was a good tea, after all.

"When you sip, you must make no sound. Again."

Once more, my lips touch the glass lid of the cup and did what she has said. Her face filled with grimace and shake her head in disagreement. What did I do wrong this time?

"You're slouching. Again."

Oh. I didn't even notice. Unbelievable, can't I just do it one at a time? Women that have learned these things are sure amazing.

"Raise your pinky finger to 45 degrees. Again," she sighed like she had grown tired of my mistakes. Isn't supposed the opposite?

"Grand Duchess, is etiquette a joke to you? In the future, you will surround by the ladies from different families and every move you make, you will be judge. Now, do it again."

This is why I hate social gatherings. I hate the idea that their eyes will criticize my fault and I rather to be alone than to entertain them. I swallow hard. I feel bloated for the tea filled my empty stomach.

And our lesson about etiquette just for today was drinking tea. What might happen to me for the next days. Perhaps, I wouldn't take it anymore and collapse.

It took me an endless second for me to get it right. I thought that I will never get the chance to see my meal for lunch however, after eating was a horrifying lesson to study. Doesn't she need time to digest what she dines? How diligent.

"The next thing we must learn is about financial."

My head suddenly turned blank and it made me dizzy yet I still nodded to her in response like I was actually listening. I should've have not requested to have the full authority. Now, I regretted it so much to deal with the papers on the table.

"You, as the Grand Duchess. Hold the power of this house. Make no mistake." She let me focused on the stack of documents with every part of them had a different huge amount.

"Remember. The currency in Claintery Empire and Arello are two different things."

I agreed. Noticing some of the value were written quite exotic that didn't even sink in my mind. All of these numbers are like dancing with their own rhythm, unbelievable.

"A copper is usually the price of a candy in the market. Five-hundred coppers is equivalent to one silver, the expense of a commoner for a whole month. Although, for a noble, is just a price of a single soft bread. And five-hundred silvers are equivalent to one gold."

"Then, what can I buy with a gold?"

"Necessities."

"Oh."

Commoners, doesn't have the funds to learn reading or writing. Their sons and daughters might only have the future of taking the path of being a servant. Sometimes, they will rather help their parents work under the sun until they cry with their aching back.

I sincerely pity them. Meanwhile; I sit here in this soft chair and yet I still have the time to complain. My job was only to sign papers and overlook the household compare to the others.

However, it wasn't also easy especially if you don't have background knowledge and in need to learn them from the start. All I can do for them was to make sure that I can help them with my utmost care.

"Then next. Salaries."

"Right." Basics, awfully essential. Good. By this, I'll know how much I can pay them with their service. The teacher has successfully landed some fresh thick papers on my table. She fixed the position of her eyeglass on her proud nose that made my mouth slightly parted. Another stress.

"Let's start with the butlers of this manor which they earn 10 silvers in a month."

"Hmm. That's quite a lot." For instance, a commoner's son earned more than a month living expenses, wouldn't that make them already decent? Yet, again. There are so much things needs to be pay such as the tax.

"A lot you say?" she chuckled. "You must live in a cage for your whole life Grand Duchess."

I pressed my lips. Perhaps, what she stated might be true. It really hit me on the core, the fact that I don't know anything. I kept running away from long before to the duties that was assigned as a successor of the Count family and now, I regret without knowing much.

"Compare to a butler, how much do you think your husband is earning in a month?"

"Perhaps, around thousand golds?" I guessed, not brave enough to meet her fierce gaze.

Once again, she let a soft laugh escaped from her mouth. "You quite think lowly of your position."

I played the quill around my fingers and sighed. Our lesson took so long to be finished. Seriously, I've been meaning to ask this to her. How many lessons that I need to learn in just a day?

It was dark already and the chefs are preparing for the supper. I'm overflowing with information as it was difficult enough to process it. I kept my mouth shut and didn't dare to complain at her.

And after a couple of hours, she finally decided to end the class.

"I'm leaving now. You don't have to see me off."

"Thank you for teaching me today."

She nodded before exiting the room. As she left, she didn't know how much I chase my breath that I was holding up. My knees became wobble and fell down on its own. Touching the carpet with my skin.

I finally relax my tense shoulder without worrying of the heavy pressure she casted. At long last, a feeling of ease from etiquette restrictions that covered my body. I hissed when I felt sore in some areas of my muscle.

Perhaps, this is due to not exercising regularly and a suddenly shock of movements. Now, what? I shall take a hot bath that will surely soothe all of my stiff muscles. I will have Celine prepare it for me.

While I was walking on the corridor, the path that I took some quite time to memorize. The way to my room from the study the area. With all of these aching muscles, I still tried my best to take a step without showing in my appearance how it felt like dying from the inside.

I didn't notice that I bump someone. And that person, totally hit my shoulder. Where the part hurt the most. I tightly closed my eyes and took a deep breath when the pain flow through my veins.

"Madam! Are you alright?"

"Y-yes," I smiled at the knight for me to hide how miserable my life was. Yet, it seems my cheeks have failed me for it was too rigid so, I returned to my blank face. He was tall and have broad shoulder, his muscles were firm due to training.

"Oh right," he just remembers the scrolls that he had drop. So, he picks them up. I would gladly help him despite the huge difference between our status but my back is betraying me. He must think that I'm a cruel wife of his leader.

"My apologies for not noticing your presence, Madam. Please forgive me," he bowed before me. I tried to twist my neck, contradicting him.

"No, it's partly my fault please raise your head however..." my eyes went down to the brown scroll that he was hugging.

"Sir. Knight, may I take a look of that?" I politely ask him.

"You can call me Josh. It's a map, Madam. His Excellency is currently planning for the war with Ivium."

I unrolled the paper and glance it's structure for a minute. When I was done criticizing the different places. I immediately showed him where I pointed my finger to a place that they might not know.

"Here, take this route. It's a shortcut."

"Then, I must leave now." I instantly massaged my left shoulder to relax it for a bit while walking away. This is the payment for keeping your chest out. Now, I can't wait for the hot water to stroll on my body.

"Madam, what might do you mean-"