It’s serious.

He thought it was serious that his guard and reason were eroded by Barlock’s warmth, but…

“Eek!”

Bianca averted her gaze from Julie, who was spilling tea leaves all over.

Being enthusiastic and spirited was good, but Julie was only up to that.

She had expected perfect attendance because her appearance was agile and her movements were swift, but that was not the case at all.

Julie’s attendance was heartfelt, but clumsy, often missing things, and mistakes were even more frequent.

“Ouch.”

Ouch…?

No young lady makes that sound with her mouth.

Somehow feeling helpless, Bianca stared into space before finally opening her mouth.

“How long has Julie been here?”

“Ah, yes. Madam, one month.”

At Julie’s stiff tone, Bianca sighed, trying not to let it show.

She was nervous.

Though it had not been a long time, Bianca had figured out a lot.

Because it was in her nature to be discreet and observant all her life.

Here in Barlock, there were overwhelmingly many knights.

More than half of the garrison’s nature was also knights.

It was inevitable to face the monsters, but for that reason, the people here acted like knights even if they were not.

Especially when nervous.

Presumably, the situation that would make them nervous would be when they encountered a monster.

At that time, they must have inadvertently picked up the word ‘knight’ from all around.

Of course, she understood.

But Julie was a maid.

Although she understands her environmental peculiarity, will everyone consider Julie’s situation?

In front of her, it was fine.

But Julie was a maid of the ducal house.

‘Won’t the other children feel uncomfortable? Being so young.’

A child who claims to be an adult and even claims her share, even Barlock’s owner has not recognized her.

This means, in other words, that she does not arrogantly proclaim herself the mistress of Barlock and teach a maid in a grand manner.

It was just a small wish to help this child be recognized.

‘Is it hard for you to straighten your little finger?’

The etiquette teacher mercilessly beat young Bianca with a thin cane, imprinting ‘etiquette’ into her body rather than her mind.

Thanks to that, Bianca was able to avoid being caught on ‘etiquette’ even once by anyone since her debutante ball, even in the notoriously picky capital’s social world.

Let’s try.

Taking a small breath, Bianca, who was busy sweeping up the scattered tea leaves, called Julie.

“Julie. Will you prepare tea for us?”

“Yes?”

“It’s difficult to explain how I enjoy it in words. Bring it.”

Julie’s expression crumbled at the affectionate call.

“I will do better.”

“Yes, you will. So watch closely. It’s quite tricky.”

She knows that’s not what Julie meant.

But Bianca casually replied and flicked her hand again.

“Go get it.”

Normally, you don’t make such direct gestures.

But she felt that Julie wouldn’t understand the use of a fan or the smooth, socializing language of the capital’s social circles, so she had no choice.

Standing firm, Julie finally gave in to the gesture and brought the teapot.

For a moment, Bianca made an effort not to frown.

Bringing it not on a trolley but piled like a mountain on a tray!

There was more than one thing to teach.

“I’m ready.”

Clank.

At the sound of the tray colliding with the table, Bianca said,

“Again.”

Not knowing what she meant, Julie’s eyes widened, and Bianca spoke in a gentle but firm tone.

“Again, put it down.”

Her pale finger pointed at the tray.

Etiquette had to be learned until it came out unconsciously.

For that, the best way was to repeat it until it sank into the body.

‘Again.’

Beyond the thick wooden door, Hailey’s hand, about to knock, hesitated at the sound of Bianca’s voice.

‘It’s okay. It’s never easy.’

‘I’m sorry.’

What did I do wrong?

Though I hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, my steps didn’t falter as it seemed Julie was heeding instructions.

Without knowing it, Hailey focused her ears intently on the voices inside the room.

“For a first time, it’s excellent. However, people won’t consider that it’s your first time when evaluating you.”

“Yes, madam.”

“So let’s try again. For today, let’s just perfect setting down the teacup without making a sound.”

“Setting down the teacup without making a sound…?”

As she was following Bianca’s words, Hailey’s mouth snapped shut for a moment.

How could this be!

She had forgotten.

Julie was a knight from the commoner class.

How could such a Julie know the etiquette of high society?

Of course, she had overlooked the obvious because she was too engrossed in attaching someone to the side of the wary Duchess, someone who could perform the roles of both a guard and a maid.

It was a failure.

“Good, you’re doing well. But one edge of the bottom feels like it’s hastily touching. If so, the tea will wobble.”

This was serious.

Though she was almost disowned, the other party was a princess.

A princess who had survived in the everchanging fashions of the capital’s social scene.