All the summer flowers had withered, and the autumn leaves set the water on fire. The steelcolored migratory birds floated their smooth bodies on the lake, and the wind was getting colder. The children filled themselves with the tea food and hot tea prepared at the lakeside arbor and admired the white daisies and marguerites.

“The scent is nice.”

Megara was wearing a cape embroidered with golden threads today and had a yellow carnation pinned to the buttonhole.

Her honeyblond hair, which trickled down her pale and fluffy cheeks, matched her attire very well. Indeed, the children attending the social class couldn’t take their eyes off her.

The person who praised the scent of the flowers with grace was Idalia.

Idalia knew that her ashbeige hair did not attract as much attention as Megara’s honey blonde. And she thought it was not a good thing to strive to be more popular than her friend.

Yes, a ‘graceful’ person like her shouldn’t struggle to gain popularity from others. Megara wasn’t popular because she tried hard. She excelled, so friends naturally approached her.

Idalia thought so and then glanced at a child sitting alone in the corner.

The least popular child in the class was normally Angarad Nine, but recently, Lianon Berta joined that group too.

She paid the price for ignoring one of the most popular boys in school without knowing the subject. The children thought poorly of her, including the fact that she pretended not to know about that letter.

“Dali, don’t look.”

Megara warned. Idalia obeyed, but the resentment didn’t disappear. The boy sitting at the same table cracked his knuckles behind his head.

“She acts all high and mighty, thinking she’s better than Angarad Nine. Her father, without any titles. Lower nobles are like this.”

“Nick.”

Megara also warned the boy. Nicholas Yende pouted his lips and shrugged his shoulders.

When the generally gentle atmosphere of the party was in full swing, Sheridan, the duke, walked to a conspicuous spot and attracted attention.
As previously mentioned, today we will be reciting poems. Recitation is indispensable in indoor gatherings these days because it can entertain people and reveal the reciter’s personality. Especially, one must memorize several classical poems to engage in smooth social activities.

Sheridan, the Duke, did not explain why recitation is trendy these days or why one must memorize classical poems specifically. However, Neris knew that the Empress was interested enough in classical poetry to sponsor and create an association.

Neris remembered attending a party to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of the Classical Poetry Association when she was the Crown Princess, so by now the association must have been established.

“Real classical poetry is complex and long, so today I have prepared short texts suitable for your ages. It’s a fourteenline poem, written in classical format by a teacher’s friend. Leave the interpretation of rhymes or poetic language to the literary teacher, and today, let’s have a time to recite poems with dignity and style.”