Chapter 0031
Agnes
I was jolted awake by the sound of my bedroom door swinging open. Squinting against the early morning light, I saw a group of
maids bustling into the room, their arms filled with piles of fabric, brushes, and all sorts of random beauty tools.
“Good morning, Luna Agnes,” one of them chirped, setting down a tray of ornate hairpins on my vanity.
“What’s going on?” I mumbled, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. I glanced at the clock, and I still had a solid two hours before I was supposed to get up.
“It’s time to prepare you for your etiquette lesson,” another maid replied, roughly pulling back my covers. The cold morning air
hit my bare skin, making me yelp with surprise.
Before I could protest, the maids suddenly whisked me out of bed and began their work. My hair was yanked this way and that, twisted into an elaborate updo adorned with too many bows to count. Layers of makeup were applied to my face, making my skin
feel heavy and uncomfortable.
“Is all this really necessary?” I asked, glancing at my reflection with a grimace. I looked like a modern Maria Antoinette, and not
in a good wa
“Absolutely, my lady,” the head maid insisted. “Appearances are paramount for your lessons.”
Next, they squeezed me into a stuffy pink dress, its corset tightened so much I could barely breathe. The fabric was stiff, the sleeves puffed absurdly at my shoulders, and the skirt was weighed down with layers of frills and even more bows.
“I feel like a cupcake,” I muttered under my breath.
“Nonsense,” one maid said with a tight smile. “You look perfect.”
Feeling more like a decorated doll than myself, I was escorted down the hallway toward the grand ballroom where my lesson was to take place. As I entered, I noticed Elijah standing beside an older woman with gray hair pulled into a tight bun.
He turned at the sound of my heeled footsteps, and upon seeing me, he let out a snort. His eyes flickered with amusement as he
tried–and failed–to suppress a grin.
I felt my cheeks flush. “What?” I demanded, suddenly feeling self–conscious.
“Nothing.” he said. “You just look… different.”
The older woman stepped forward, eyeing me critically. “Luna Agnes, I presume?” she said in a clipped voice.
“Yes,” I replied, smoothing down the ridiculous skirt. “And you are?”
“I am Rosa, your etiquette instructor.” She circled me like a hawk, her sharp gaze taking in every detail. “This simply won’t do,”
she tutted.
1/2
+15 BONUS
Before I could react, she began plucking bows out of my hair, letting the curls tumble down my back. “What are you doing?” I
asked, bewildered.
“Correcting a travesty,” she replied sharply. She wiped a cloth across my face, removing the layers of makeup, and with swift movements, tore off the excessive frills from my dress, removed the layers of puffy underskirts, and pulled the sleeves down so
they were off my shoulders.
Elijah watched the whole transformation with raised eyebrows. When Rosa stepped back, I felt lighter, more like myself. The simple dress now complemented my figure without overwhelming it, my hair fell naturally around my shoulders, and my face
wasn’t caked with makeup.
“There,” Rosa said, nodding to herself. “Much better. A natural beauty.”
Elijah’s gaze lingered on me, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “You look… lovely,” he said softly.
I felt warmth rise to my cheeks as I turned to a nearby mirror and took a look at myself. Rosa really did an excellent job. I wasn’t
even sure if I felt this pretty at the Mate Trial ball.
Rosa clapped her hands, drawing my attention once more. “First lesson: a proper lady should never capitulate to her
handmaids,” she scolded me. “If you’re not satisfied with your appearance, it’s your duty to instruct your staff accordingly.”
I blinked as the puzzle pieces began to fall into place. “Wait… Did you set this up?”
She gave me a tight–lipped smile. “I paid the maids to see if you would assert yourself. Clearly, we have much work to do.”
I sighed, feeling a little irritated, but also impressed at the same time. “I suppose we should get started, then.”
“Indeed,” Rosa agreed. “We will begin with the basics. Show me your curtsy.”
My eyes widened a little, glancing at Elijah in the background. He was watching me, leaning against the window frame. Taking a
deep breath, I attempted a curtsy, bending my knees and lowering my gaze. It had been years since I’d practiced such formalities,
and I felt awkward as hell.
