Madame Brun’s Lesson
Chloe shrugged. "As you know, I come from a semi-noble background, so I've never hosted a banquet, let alone attended one. The banquet where it was announced I would marry the Grand Duke was my very first."
"Oh, goodness gracious!" The lady feigned shock with an exaggerated gesture, as if she had never heard of anything so tragic. "For someone bearing the title of the Grand Duchess of Berk to ask how to host a banquet!"
"What's the problem? I'd appreciate it if you could tell me what mistake I made." Seeing Chloe ask so nonchalantly, Madame Brun's face filled with disbelief before she quickly shifted into a patronizing tone.
"Listen closely, Your Highness. You are currently the third highest-ranking woman in the royal family, right after the Crown Princess and the Marquise of Flandre. Someone of your standing must not expose your ignorance so publicly."
"Is not knowing a disgrace?"
"Of course it is!" Madame Brun raised her voice sharply. "With high status comes the expectations of the people! A ruler must know everything! Goodness, this is exactly why His Majesty the King opposed this marriage..."
Chloe tilted her head. "Which is why I'm asking you right now, aren't I?"
"In the first place... pardon?" Madame Brun, who had been about to rant further, sputtered.
Chloe crossed her arms and leaned back deeply into her chair, staring at Madame Brun. "His Majesty the King sent you to me to help me meet those expectations. How thoughtful of him."
"B-but..."
"A ruler must know everything, but surely they aren't born with that knowledge from their mother's womb."
Madame Brun's eyes flickered with unease. Chloe smiled. "I haven't had many good things happen since marrying the Grand Duke, but I do like this part. The fact that Madame Brun will mold me into a true ruler."
"...That's not what I meant!"
"Is it not?" Chloe tilted her head. "Then surely you didn't come here just to scold me?"
"..."
"Me, who holds the third highest rank in the royal family, right after the Crown Princess and the Marquise of Flandre?"
Out of the corner of her eye, Chloe could see the administrative officers and even Lieutenant Noel craning their necks toward the doorway of the aide's office. They seemed dying to see Madame Brun's expression.
There was one thing Chloe had learned while serving as Curtis Shan Berk's aide. High-ranking people didn't need to look into everything themselves. Of course, they had to handle and think about the important matters personally. To be precise, high-ranking people were irreplaceable assets. The point was, they didn't need to deal with trivial chores directly; they could simply delegate them to replaceable personnel.
Preparing for a royal banquet? Naturally, Chloe Le David Berk had to do it. But as for how to do it from start to finish, she didn't need to research it herself. Because she was now one of those high-ranking people. Someone else had to teach her.
Consequently, the conversation between Madame Brun and Chloe took on the following pattern. Madame Brun was the first to speak.
"First, you must identify the purpose of the banquet and select the key figures who must attend."
"What is the purpose?"
"...It is the 28th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Glintland."
"Then who should I select?"
"...Aside from the Glintland diplomatic mission, key figures who have exchanges or business dealings with that nation..."
"And who are they? Since you were sent by our gracious King, surely you know them all?"
If you don't tell me, it's your fault. Madame Brun trembled but managed to list several names. There was a chance she might lie, but seeing Lieutenant Noel in the background winking and forming an 'O' with his hands, the list seemed appropriate enough for public ears.
"And then you must send invitations to them."
"Ah... and the content?"
"...You must carefully write a sincere message inviting them to joyfully commemorate the 28th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Glintland."
At Madame Brun's look, which practically screamed, Surely you don't expect me to dictate the entire message for you? Chloe offered a bright smile.
"Ah. I'll just look through some of the invitations I used to send under the Brigadier General's name and adapt them."
She had worked as the aide to the notorious Brigadier General Berk for three months. Do you really think that man would have let it slide if there was even a single blemish on a letter sent in his name? At Chloe's knowing look, Madame Brun's eyes narrowed sharply.
"...They must be written in your own hand."
"Meaning they shouldn't look like chicken scratch? How fortunate. The very first thing I learned after being commissioned under Brigadier General Berk was how to write beautifully."
These were official communications of the Royal Guard. If the handwriting was atrocious, the Grand Duke would be the one ridiculed. Not only that, but all documents circulating within the Royal Castle used a standardized script. This was to prevent administrative errors caused by illegible handwriting. The very first thing Noel had taught Chloe was how to write beautifully and quickly. And the best part of all this was...
"But what to do? Thanks to that, my handwriting is the official script of the Royal Castle. I'll write them all 'by hand,' but I wonder if everyone will recognize my sincerity?"
...Meaning that even if the administrative officers wrote them for her, no one would be able to tell the difference. Naturally, Madame Brun understood the implication of Chloe's words. Just look at her face turning red and blue.
"...And of course, you must memorize the names and faces of the high nobility!"
"Ah, you must have been so worried, Madame Brun. Don't worry. I memorized them all before the wedding."
She never thought she would be grateful for having her waist squeezed to death while being forced to memorize the list of nobles behind a partition. Madame Brun raised her voice, practically trembling with spite.
"You must also receive the guests!"
"Oh dear, what a worry. I'll manage somehow. I've already had an audience with His Majesty, and he didn't seem to have much to say to me."
That was true. Of course, it wasn't because Chloe had been polite, but because the Grand Duke had dropped a bomb. Madame Brun shot back, her face practically bursting with things she wanted to say.
"Forgive me, Your Highness, but do you know how to greet foreign nobility? What about the Glintland style of greeting?"
"Well. 'Hello? Good morning.' Ah, since the banquet is in the evening, would 'Good evening' be more appropriate?" Chloe raised both hands next to her face and waved them in a sparkling motion. It was the greeting Iris loved. Madame Brun looked as if she were about to faint.
"A Glintland greeting requires bending your knees while keeping your back straight, and placing your right hand...!"
"Madame." The elderly woman, who had been rambling on, flinched and looked at her. Chloe smiled brightly. "Instead of just explaining it, could you perhaps show me? Embarrassingly, I am still lacking in many ways. I need your guidance."
The lady's brow furrowed slightly. Why was she suddenly acting so humble? However, Madame Brun had no excuse to refuse Chloe's request. Since she had fallen into her own trap while trying to humiliate Chloe by bringing up the King, she now had to properly teach what she knew. The lady clicked her tongue, adjusted her stiff dress supports, and stood up.
"Watch closely. You must engage your core while standing so your back does not bend. First, slide your left toe back about two steps, and while supporting yourself on that toe, bend your right knee first."
"Wow." There was a reason the King had sent her. Indeed, Madame Brun possessed a perfectly upright posture that matched her stern impression. Despite her advanced age, her shoulders were straight, and there was not a single wasted movement. Setting aside her terrible temper, she was an exceptionally elegant elderly lady.
"Then, naturally, your left leg will lower as well. However, your knee must not touch the floor. And with your right hand placed over your heart on the left, you bow your head. Like this."
Chloe offered praise for the graceful movement. "You greet very well."
"..." It looked like she had just stumbled slightly while trying to stand up quickly. Of course, an elderly person's slip-up was nothing to criticize, so Chloe pretended not to notice. Standing up, Madame Brun clutched the hem of her dress and trembled.
"Your Highness."
"Speak."
"Is the attitude you have shown me thus far truly born of pure admiration and humble ignorance?"