Etiquette Training

The next day after the etiquette lesson, I had a dining table set up in Era's quarters. Today's topic was table manners. If she couldn't even hold a fork properly in front of nobles, it would all be over in an instant.

The table was lined with every kind of utensil imaginable. Three forks, two knives, several spoons. Plates of varying sizes too. Era's eyes widened as she stared at the spread.

"...Leon. What is all this?"

"Utensils."

"We have to use all of them? For one meal?"

"Yeah. Different ones for each course."

"Wow... Rich people even eat like they're planning a military operation."

Era picked up one of the forks and turned it over in her hands, inspecting it from every angle.

"...Hey. What do you think you'll see by staring at it like that?"

"...I just don't get why we need three of them. It makes no sense."

"One for appetizers, one for fish, one for meat."

"...By the time you switch forks in the middle of eating, won't everything get cold?"

"...That's how it is."

"Rich people sure live exhausting lives."

Era wore an expression of genuine pity. I barely managed to hold back a laugh.

"Pfft— Ahem... Ahem..."

"For now, sit down."

When I pulled out a chair for her, Era plopped down heavily. Legs spread wide, back slouched.

...No, this is just—

"...Era."

"Yes?"

"...That's how a farmer uncle eats his afternoon snack."

"...Then how am I supposed to sit?"

"First, like th— ...Never mind."

I walked over and stood behind her.

"Straighten your back. Keep your legs together. Don't perch on the edge—sit properly."

Since words alone clearly weren't getting through, I placed my hands on both her shoulders and gently pulled her back.

"...!"

Era flinched at the contact.

"What?"

"...Nothing. Your hands. They suddenly landed on my shoulders."

"I'm just correcting your posture. Stay still."

Up close, I caught the faint scent of soap rising from the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠crown of her head.

...I used to like that faint earthy smell she had before.

"...Back straight like this. Chin slightly tucked."

When I lightly tapped her chin with my fingertips, Era froze in that exact position.

"Why are you freezing up again?"

"...It's just. You're too close. I don't know where to breathe."

"Breathe through your nose."

"That's not what I mean!"

Era protested, her face flushed pink. I took a step back.

"There. Hold that posture. I'll teach you how to hold the utensils."

"Start with the ones on the outside. For each course, work your way inward from the outermost piece."

"...Why from the outside?"

"Because that's the order that's been decided."

"Can't I just use whatever's closest?"

"...No."

"Who decided that? I'd like to have a word with them."

"...They died hundreds of years ago."

"Ah, then I can't meet them, hee."

Era looked genuinely disappointed.

"...Here."

I picked up a fork and placed it in her hand.

"Okay!"

But Era gripped it in a tight fist, like she was holding a pickaxe.

"Ugh, hey."

"...?"

"Are you heading out to plow a field right now?"

"...?? I'm holding a fork, aren't I?"

"That's not holding a fork. That's subduing one."

I pried her fingers open one by one and repositioned the fork properly. Index finger here, thumb there. As I adjusted each joint, Era quietly watched my hands.

"...Aren't you paying attention?"

"...I am."

"Then what are you looking at?"

"...Leon's fingers. They're really long."

Era compared her fingers to mine.

"...Mine are short and chubby. Yours are long and slender. I'm jealous."

"What does finger length have to do with holding a fork?"

"It does. Long fingers look more elegant."

Era lightly tapped the tip of my finger.

"...Hey."

"...What? I'm just comparing lengths."

Her face was perfectly innocent. I cleared my throat and pulled my hand away.

"Ahem..."

After that, I placed an empty plate in front of her and had her practice eating motions. But Era gripped the knife and viciously scraped at the plate.

Screeech— screeech—

The sound of metal grinding against porcelain filled the air.

"...Hey. I told you not to saw at it."

"I'm cutting!"

"There's nothing to cut. Can't you see the plate is empty?"

"...Oh. Right."

Era finally stopped.

"Imagine there's meat here."

"...Imaginary meat?"

"Yeah."

Era stared at the empty plate for a long moment.

"What does imaginary meat taste like?"

"...Take this seriously."

"I am being serious! If I'm going to imagine it, I want to imagine something expensive."

"...Honestly, I don't remember the taste of meat that well either."

I was momentarily at a loss for words.

"...Fine. Something expensive. Veal tenderloin."

"Wow. Then I should ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠cut gently. It's expensive meat."

Suddenly, Era began moving the knife with delicate care, slicing the imaginary veal tenderloin as if it were something precious. She looked so earnest that I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Pfft—"

"...Why are you laughing!"

"...No, it's just... you're treating nonexistent meat with such care."

"You said it was expensive! It'd be a waste to hack at it!"

"...It's not even there."

"You told me to imagine it was!"

Era pouted, looking wronged. Yet her hands continued to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠carefully slice the imaginary meat with utmost caution.

Next came the lesson on drinking tea.

A maid brought out real black tea, steam curling gently from the cup.

"..."

I stared hard at the maid and said, "...You're not calling her a lowly thing this time?"

"Ah... No, how could someone like me possibly dare to address Her Highness the Crown Princess..."

...Better to fix that attitude early so things are easier later.

With that thought, I picked up the teacup and approached Era.

"Hold the teacup lightly by the handle. Don't put all your fingers through it."

Era lifted the cup. But she stuck her pinky finger straight up into the air.

"...Hey. What's with that finger?"

"It's elegant. I heard nobles do it like this?"

"...Who told you that?"

"The traveling merchant uncle in the village. He was imitating nobles."

"...That uncle's a con artist. People would laugh at you if you did that nowadays."

"Eh? Really?"

Era looked shocked as she lowered her pinky.

"I got tricked by that uncle... I was so happy thinking I'd learned something elegant."

"...That's definitely not elegant. Forget it."

Era looked a bit downcast as she tried to take a sip, then—

"Ouch, hot!"

It must have been scalding. She stuck her tongue out and fanned it frantically.

"...Drink slowly. Can't you see the steam?"

"...I was so focused on drinking elegantly that I forgot to check the temperature."

Era blew on her tongue with a soft hoo hoo. A tiny drop of tea clung to the corner of her lip.

I unconsciously pulled out a handkerchief to wipe it away, but—

"...!"

My hand stopped just short of her mouth. Era stared at it intently.

"...Were you going to wipe it for me?"

"...Yeah. It's there."

"...Yourself?"

"How else would I do it?"

Era looked at me for a moment, then smiled mischievously and leaned her face forward slightly.

"...Then. Please wipe it."

I gently dabbed the drop of tea from the corner of her mouth with the handkerchief. The whole time, Era kept her eyes wide open, staring straight at me.

...Like a cat.

She was looking at me so directly that I didn't know where to put my own gaze.

"...Done."

As I pulled the handkerchief away, the corner of Era's mouth twitched upward.

"...Leon, you seem really used to using a handkerchief."

"Well, I am a prince."

"...And you're used to wiping other people's mouths too?"

"...Not that part."

"Hee, then is this your first time?"

Era asked with a strangely excited expression.

"...Shut it."

I put the handkerchief away, avoiding the question.

This time, it was how to curtsy.

"A noblewoman's greeting is done by lightly holding the skirt, bending the knees, and lowering the head."

I had to demonstrate it myself. It was ridiculous for a prince to be mimicking a lady's curtsy, but... I was teaching her, after all.

...My sister would be much better at this than me.

Maybe I should invite her as a tutor next time?

...Knowing her tsundere personality, she might actually do it.

As I pretended to hold a skirt and bent my knees, Era burst out laughing.

"Pfft— Hahaha! Leon! What is that! It's too funny!"

"...Stop laughing and copy me."

"Hehe, okay."

Era grabbed her skirt and bent her knees. But she quickly lost her balance and wobbled sideways.

"...Whoa?"

"Whoa??"

I reached out to catch her before she fell—

"Whew... got y—"

She ended up leaning against my arm as if embraced by it.

"..."

"..."

Our eyes met at point-blank range. Her black eyes were right in front of me, so close I could count her eyelashes.

"..."

"..."

For a moment, neither of us said a word. We just stayed like that.

Era's lips twitched faintly.

"...Leon."

"...Yeah."

"Can you hear it? The sound of my heart beating?"

"...What?"

"...Mine. It's pounding like crazy right now."

Era whispered. Her words made my own heart feel like it was malfunctioning.

"...Get up. You didn't actually fall."

"Just a little longer. Like this."

Era showed no intention of standing, content to remain leaning on my arm. I narrowed my eyes.

"...Hey. I'm letting go."

"Hee. I'm joking."

Only then did she straighten up. Though the look on ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her face was far too sincere for it to have been a joke.

After that, I taught her how to walk properly. No mincing steps—keep a steady stride.

But Era, in her attempt to walk elegantly, spread both arms out to her sides and took exaggerated steps. She looked like a tightrope-walking clown.

"...Hey. That's tightrope walking."

"I'm balancing!"

"Put your arms down. You look like a clown."

"Walking elegantly is hard, okay!"

Era pouted and lowered her arms. Then, as she tried walking again, she stepped on her own hem and nearly pitched forward.

"Whoa!"

Again... again! I caught her once more. This time head-on. Era fell straight into my chest.

"......"

She slowly lifted her head.

"Leon."

"...What?"

"...This is the third time today. That you've caught me."

"...Because you keep falling."

"Or maybe..."

Still leaning against my chest, Era rolled her eyes playfully.

"...Maybe I'm falling on purpose?"

"......"

"...Hehe."

"Because every time you catch me, we end up this close."

Era beamed. I couldn't find any words to respond. I simply set her upright.

But my hands didn't want to leave her shoulders.

"...Focus and walk properly. Don't fall again."

"Then you'll catch me again, right?"

"...I won't."

"Liar. You just did."

Era smiled as she gently removed my hand from her shoulder. Or rather, while pretending to remove it, she squeezed my hand once, tightly, before letting go.

By the time the sun began to set, Era had managed to roughly imitate how to use utensils, drink tea, and curtsy. She was still clumsy, but for a first day, it wasn't bad at all.

"That's it for today."

"Your learning speed isn't bad... considering how it was with writing too."

"Already? That's a shame."

"...Your legs are shaking. You fell three times."

"...Hee, that's true."

Era sat down in the chair. This time, she used the exact posture I'd taught her earlier—back straight, legs together.

"...Leon. Look. I can sit like this now."

She struck a pose, trying to look elegant, then stuck her tongue out at me. It completely ruined the elegance.

"Bleeeh..."

"...The posture is good, but why stick your tongue out?"

"Oh, right."

She quickly pulled her tongue back in and tried to look prim again.

"Ahem, ahem..."

"...How about now?"

"...It's passable as long as you don't stick your tongue out."

"Hehe. Good."

Still in that proper posture, Era neatly placed both hands on her knees and suddenly looked up at me.

"..."

Those black eyes were staring at me so directly that I ended up averting my gaze first.

"...Tomorrow is writing practice. Get some good rest."

As I headed for the door, Era called out from behind.

"Leon!"

"...What?"

When I turned around, she had both hands clasped together and was smiling brightly.

"...Today was really fun."

"......"

"I hope tomorrow comes quickly too."

I looked at her smiling face for a moment.

"...Yeah. See you tomorrow."

I closed the door.

"...Haaaa—!!!"

"Hoooo..."

Only after stepping into the hallway did I finally release the breath I'd been unconsciously holding. Every time I stayed close to Era, I seemed to stop breathing without realizing it.

I decided not to think too deeply about why that was.

The spot where Era had pretended to let go but had squeezed my hand tightly earlier... for some strange reason, the feeling lingered for a long time.