By Zephyria 
Tuesday. As always, I entered the drawing-room to attend etiquette class.
Poplar Kiadris, who had arrived ten minutes before me and was waiting, was as flamboyant as ever today. She wore a black, form-fitting dress and a hat with fluttering decorations on her head. Looking at the pitch-black gloves that reached her elbows, I thought it was quite excessive, even though it wasn’t a party.
Following the etiquette I had learned, I seated the young lady and then sat down opposite her.
“What are we learning today?”
“Is there anything left to learn?”
I blinked at the sharp retort.
“Why? Are you tired of coming and going?”
“That’s not what I mean…!”
The young lady, about to erupt in anger, covered her front with her fan and sighed deeply, fanning herself slowly.
“I want to teach you more and extract more from you. But etiquette mostly involves practicing graceful movements, doesn’t it? How many people in this Empire are as skilled with their bodies as Lord Ernhardt?”
“Hmm.”
“How to smile, how to speak, how to be serious, how to entertain guests, what to possess as a guest, the proper order of tea parties and banquets, greetings, tea ceremony, Fan Language. I’ve taught you everything. There’s nothing left. All that remains is acting with tact, but I’ve given up on that. Lord Ernhardt is someone who doesn’t need to mind anyone’s tact. Just do as you please.”
If she were going to praise me like that, saying I did well and it was all finished, why did she have to retort so sharply?
“Besides, I heard that some slang and noble language will change drastically starting with this June’s Imperial Conference.”
“Oh? How so?”
“They say that if you act in a way that ostracizes someone right in front of you, you can report it and receive a fine. I don’t know if it will be properly enforced, but well, there’s no one bold enough to do such a thing in front of Lord Ernhardt, so just know that it exists.”
“Was that proposed by Duke Yeldidus?”
“….”
Silence was the answer.
In any case, if my teacher felt my manners were satisfactory, I had no intention of clinging on any longer.
“So, is the class completely concluded as of today?”
“Yes. Thank you for your hard work during this time.”
“If so, there is something I would like to give you.”
I took out the wedding invitation I always carried and handed it over. Poplar Kiadris currently held no titles. Therefore, invitations would naturally not have been distributed to her.
The young lady, whose eyes met the invitation written in my handwriting with my signature and Poplar’s name, gasped. However, she did not accept it.
“…Why are you giving me this…?”
“Thinking about it, you worked hard with me for my wedding, so I felt it wouldn’t be right not to give you a handwritten invitation. I will prepare a separate seat for you, so please come and celebrate.”
“…”.
After hesitating for a moment, Poplar pushed the corner of the invitation with her fingertips.
“I can’t accept this.”
“…Pardon?”
“I… that day.”
“…Hmm?”
“That day…”
Poplar Kiadris let out a sigh and covered her eyes with one hand. Her deeply bowed head and slender shoulders drooped.
“…Run away. Far away.”
“Pardon?”
“I trust you will keep my secret.”
What was this supposed to mean?
Poplar Kiadris poured Tea Water into my teacup and then filled her own. But neither of us took a sip.
I had a brief conversation with Hestia Yeldidus some time ago. I had clearly instructed her to treat the child well, but it seemed nothing had worked, which made me feel sympathetic and frustrated.
With concern, I asked cautiously.
“…What did Duke Yeldidus do?”
“No. No. He… he’s been treating me really well lately.”
“Then why?”
“It’s just…”
Poplar sighed deeply again. She tapped the corner of the table twice with her fan.
“Lately… he’s acting like a girl completely smitten with her first love.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?”
“It’s driving me absolutely insane. He’ll casually ask me out on a date, then suddenly get shy and run away, or linger around nearby, and seem jealous when I’m with other people.”
“…Hmm.”
“He’s incredibly sensitive, which makes me pay a lot of attention… but seeing him like that, I started thinking, ‘Why am I doing this?'”
“…Pardon?”
“Before, I went to see Melatia with you, Lord Ernhardt.”
“…Ah, yes. We did… didn’t we?”
Poplar’s gaze did not leave the rim of her teacup.
“…I don’t want to grow old like that.”
“…”.
“If you think about it, it’s true. I’m not much different from that woman. Becoming beautiful, marrying well. I don’t even know if that’s for my own sake. I just lived my life thinking marriage was the only way to escape my family from the moment I was born, but that wasn’t the case.”
“…Ah.”
“I’m no different from that woman, Melatia. I’ve never cooked or done anything else, never washed dishes, cleaned, or done laundry. I’ve never done any of the actions necessary for survival. I just lived miserably, taking for granted that someone would do those things for me. Do you know why I was miserable?”
“…Because Edwin tormented you?”
“…It was because I was looking in the mirror. If I gained a little weight, I’d eat only three grapes a day, and if that felt like too much, just one. When I came to my senses, I’d eat some salad… I wouldn’t touch any meat other than white fish and chicken breast. All to become beautiful. To look even a little prettier…”
I was simply bewildered by her incomprehensible words. Poplar continued.
“I’ve never ridden a horse in my life because I was afraid my thighs would get thick. Thinking, ‘I’m not interested in that.’ But that wasn’t it. I just hated being looked at. I was afraid of being gossiped about.”
“No, just for riding a horse…”
“Exactly! Just for riding a horse… I knew they’d have something to say no matter what I did.”
Poplar’s fingertips elegantly wrapped around the teacup.
Every movement, from taking a sip of tea to setting it down, was performed with a grace that did not deviate from etiquette, like a soft cloud or a gentle swan. It was exactly as she had taught me.
“So, I want to live freely for once while I’m a little younger.”
“…As a way to run away?”
“Yes. When I think about it, my mother doesn’t pay attention to me, so I wonder what Hestia was so worried and anxious about, being tied down like that. So, I just won’t do it. I don’t know if his liking me, or me liking him, is bothersome, difficult, or confusing.”
What should I reply? The first thing I had to ask was already decided.
“…Hmm. Have you secured protection?”
“Yes. Who do you think I am? I’ve already found reputable mercenaries. Do you know the Red Lion Mercenary Group?”
“…What? Who?”
“The Red Lion Mercenary Group. There’s a woman named Krem there who is truly excellent. I chose them because it would be easier to get along with them than a mercenary group composed only of men. They’ve also agreed to teach me basic swordsmanship and horseback riding.”
For some reason, I felt a strange sense of déjà vu. Had I heard of them before? I couldn’t recall at all.
“Shall I discreetly look into their reputation?”
“No, it’s fine. I have a good eye for people. It would be troublesome if Hestia found out beforehand because of some unnecessary action, so staying quiet is helping.”
“Hmm.”
I reached into my pocket and slipped my hand into the pouch Spiritus had given me earlier.
I took out a handful of gold coins and placed them on the wedding invitation, then pushed it back towards Poplar.
“Still, please take this.”
“…I told you I can’t go.”
“This is a wedding invitation personally signed by me and Lady Kiadris. I’ve written hundreds of invitations, so many people will be able to verify its authenticity. If you ever need to prove your identity somewhere unexpectedly, this is to let them know you are an acquaintance of mine and that you have someone to turn to if something happens.”
“…”.
“The gold coins are for your tuition. This is what I originally intended to do for the final lesson.”
“…”.
This time, Poplar did not refuse.
I watched as she carefully placed the invitation and gold coins into her small handbag. After packing everything, Poplar bit her lower lip several times until it left an imprint, then let out a soft laugh.
“…Thank you.”
“It’s nothing.”
“…It’s not exactly a payment, but speaking of mercenaries, if you have time, please take a look around the Imperial Knights. They’re terribly anxious because the prospective King Consort hasn’t summoned them, so they can’t go to him first.”
“Pardon?”
“They’re all eager to receive some training, but Lord Michael Ernhardt, the knight among knights, hasn’t set foot in the Imperial Knights’ Martial arts training ground since his return. I’m telling you this so you don’t incur their resentment before your wedding and go visit them with your retinue.”
“…Where did you hear such a thing?”
“Where do you think I heard it?”
I don’t know why she wouldn’t answer and just wriggled her body.
As I watched her tilt her chin up, lower her eyes, and nod her head with a strange and suspicious demeanor, she snapped irritably.
“From the Imperial Knights. I overheard them lamenting while they were trying to woo me.”
“Then why didn’t you just say so…”
“Ah, it’s so annoying…”
“…Hmm. Still, thank you for the advice. I’ll stop by.”
“Yes. And…”
Poplar Kiadris clutched her fan and handbag tightly, as if about to stand up.
“I don’t know if we’ll see each other again, but if we do.”
“Yes.”
“Let’s be friends then. I seem to get along well with people who aren’t tactful.”
“Haha! Alright, let’s do that.”
She thrust out her right hand, gloved, and I readily shook it.
As the saying goes, the younger brother is never as good as the elder. Poplar Kiadris seemed a little more human than Edwin, and just a tiny bit better-tempered.
Come to think of it, Edwin must have already received his invitation. He might get sulky again, so I should write him a personal invitation and send it again. I don’t know if he’ll even come to the wedding, but there’s no harm in being prepared.