Chapter 74
“I apologize. I got a little carried away.”
After gathering his thoughts, he pulled a document from his coat.
“Anyway, I’ve gone through the Empress education materials. I thought it would be best to know exactly which areas Your Highness is lacking so we can find the right teacher.”
Taking the document, Riana skimmed it. It outlined the Empress education curriculum, divided into fields. After reviewing it, she decided that the parts she needed to learn in advance were dancing and hosting tea parties.
“Excuse me, but have you learned practical matters, like bookkeeping?”
“I attended the same classes my half-brother took for about four years.”
“You mean the classes the Crown Prince of Roun attended?”
“Yes.”
Riana nodded lightly. The classes she had taken alongside the kind and gentle Lineidel had once made her feel inferior, but now she realized they were not entirely useless—they had been helpful in some ways.
“They were classes I took as a child, but I’ll remember if I practice a few times. I’m not exactly slow,” Riana added, smiling.
Bernian looked satisfied.
“Very well. Then I’ll have someone send you the simple materials later for reference.”
“Please do.”
They continued discussing other topics, eventually reaching the two areas Riana had identified as her weak points.
After a moment’s thought, Bernian spoke.
“For dancing, we have some time, so I’ll think further. We need a proper teacher. For now, it’s best to focus on tea parties.”
“Alright.”
Riana had no further comments and simply nodded.
“Also, it might be better to keep the tea party lessons secret. Do you think there’s a suitable person?”
It would not do to reveal that Riana hadn’t been properly raised as royalty in Roun. The cautious Count Chadwick had already warned her that many nobles in the Empire might disapprove of her, so secrecy was wise.
“I already considered who would be discreet and suitable. For tea parties, I’ve found the perfect candidate.”
That was welcome news.
“Who is it?”
Riana asked eagerly, her determination evident.
“You know her—Lady Giselle.”
Riana’s eyes widened.
“Lady Giselle?”
“Yes. Lady Giselle has extensive experience in high society. She has been active in social circles since the time she was Count Chadwick’s daughter and is perfectly versed in etiquette and social traditions, serving as a role model for many young ladies.”
By Bernian’s description, Lady Laura Giselle fit Riana’s requirements perfectly.
“If Lady Giselle teaches me, it will be easier to learn.”
“She is your head maid, Your Highness. I believe she is the optimal teacher for learning discreetly.”
This was far easier than finding a separate teacher. If Laura Giselle became her instructor, there would be no need to find a hidden location or coordinate schedules. The biggest advantage was that there was no risk of information leaking. It would be disastrous if it became known that a foreign princess, soon to be Empress, was clueless about social events.
“Are you alright with that, Your Highness?”
“As long as Lady Giselle is fine, I welcome it,” Riana replied, shrugging.
Bernian nodded, satisfied, and continued to explain.
“Lady Giselle will teach you about tea parties and the Empire’s social etiquette, including important nobles and cultural practices you need to know.”
Though social life had always been distant from Riana, she now had no choice but to engage with it. Being Empress didn’t necessarily require social skill, but Riana did not want to become a historical disgrace. She already had enough blemishes in life, being born of a cursed royal line.
“It looks like I’ll be busy for a while…” she murmured.
“My apologies,” Bernian replied, bowing slightly. He seemed mildly embarrassed at giving her extra responsibilities so soon after her arrival in the Empire.
“It’s not a matter of apology, Chancellor. I just thought, if I had known, I might have studied in advance even if it meant causing a fuss,” Riana said lightly with a smile.
“Your Highness…”
Bernian couldn’t share in her light-hearted tone. He had provided Emperor Ianhart with detailed information about Riana, having investigated her life thoroughly after giving the initial report. He knew almost everything about how she had lived.
‘…She’s had a hard life,’ he thought.
Bernian Delcaron was not a particularly sentimental man. If he had followed emotion over reason, the Empire’s closest aides wouldn’t have been rumored to be cold-blooded, as they were. Yet selectively, he could feel sympathy for the people he chose to include within his circle.
“Anyway, having Lady Giselle as the instructor eases my worries. I heard you also prepared the identities of my knights.”
Riana, sensing Bernian’s complex thoughts, tilted her head to change the subject.
“…Ah, yes. I was going to tell you about that today.”
Bernian, unsure of what to say, replied a half-beat later. Since the topic wasn’t entirely pleasant, he refrained from elaborating and instead pulled another document from his coat.
Riana watched him closely, narrowing her eyes.
‘…That jacket might actually be an artifact,’ she thought, noticing the heavy stack of documents he kept pulling.
After straightening the documents and adjusting his monocle, Bernian spoke.
“First, I’ll briefly explain the current knight system in the Empire. Do you know how many knight orders there are in total?”
Riana tilted her head slowly.
“I believe there are eight knight orders within the Imperial Palace.”
Counting only the palace knights, this was correct, though including other forces would increase the number.
“Correct. There are eight palace knight orders in total.”
“Eight in total… Ah, including the Belraum Knights?”
The Belraum Knights, led by Kion Laviel, were newly established after Emperor Ianhart’s ascension. Unlike other palace orders numbered as First, Second, etc., the Belraum Knights did not receive a numbered title, as they were the Emperor’s personal guard.
“Yes, including Belraum Knights, there are nine. But technically, the Belraum Knights are not palace knights, so there are still eight traditional orders.”
“So, they are like my personal guard.”
“In a sense, yes. The concept is similar to Your Highness’s guard.”
Bernian nodded, recalling events from a few years prior.
“You’re creating another knight order! And including people of uncertain status…!”
“Yes! And naming it Belraum is quite extravagant. It even contains three letters from the imperial family name!”
“And appointing Sir Kion Laviel as its commander… Isn’t he expected to lead the First Palace Knight Order in the future?”
“That’s not all. Do you know how much budget goes into a knight order? And now it’s being used for these untrained individuals!”
While Emperor Ianhart’s faction accepted this, the nobles were quick to object. Though they dared not voice their complaints openly to the Emperor, they vented their selective anger in private gatherings, striking empty tables in frustration.
They knew the Emperor’s treasury was inexhaustible and that they could not stop him. Their protests were merely attempts to find flaws in his actions.
“The Belraum Knights will belong to me personally. They won’t carry the title of palace knights.”
“Not palace knights…?”
“You can consider them my personal guard.”
“Y-Yes, Your Highness…”
“Now, what else… Ah, you were worried about the imperial budget. Seriously… If you’re worried about that, why don’t you account for all the funds being misused behind the scenes first, huh?”
Bernian tilted his head sharply, and the summoned nobles broke into nervous sweat.
