~Chapter 87~
The next day, not long after Leah had an early lunch, Madame Evelyn came over with her salon staff.
First, they took her measurements from head to toe.
Then Isabella joined them to help pick out fabrics and dress designs that would suit Leah.
By the time everything was done, Leah was completely exhausted.
The next day, Isabella started teaching Leah noble etiquette.
Since she’d be marrying Johann, she would have to meet the emperor and attend many noble parties, so learning this stuff was important.
How to walk, sit, speak, eat, have conversations—there was a lot to learn.
“Ugh… Being a noble sounds like way too much work.”
That evening, Leah collapsed onto the sofa in her room.
“…Ugh, I’m dying here.”
She was so tired, she didn’t even feel like eating.
“I’ll just skip dinner today.”
Just thinking about doing four hours of etiquette lessons every day made her lose her appetite.
“Pola, I’m gonna skip dinner tonight.”
“Um… Actually, the Duke said he’d like to have dinner with you today… should I tell him you’re not feeling up to it?” Pola replied awkwardly.
“Hasn’t he been super busy lately?”
“He came home a bit early today.”
“Oh… Okay, then I’ll eat.”
I should ask him about the upcoming schedule anyway.
Leah changed clothes and went to the dining room.
“You’re here,”
Johann greeted her warmly.
…That voice is way too smooth.
“Yes. Where’s Rafi?”
Seeing only two place settings, Leah asked.
“We had a lot to talk about regarding the engagement, so I left her with Mother,”
Johann said as he pulled out a chair for her.
“Sit down, let’s eat and talk.”
“You didn’t have to go this far…”
“I wanted to.”
He helped her sit, then took his own seat.
“Mother told me you’re starting etiquette lessons today?”
“…Yeah,”
Leah sighed without meaning to.
“Sounds like it’s tough.”
“There are way too many rules for just eating a meal.”
She replied with a bit of a grumble.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., she had classes with only ten-minute breaks every hour.
Even lunch was part of the lesson—practicing table manners and proper use of cutlery.
Even though it was the first day and a bit easier, she felt completely drained.
“You’re not in class now, so just relax and eat.”
Johann chuckled and picked up his utensils.
“Okay.”
Leah nodded and took a bite of bruschetta with tomato and basil, which was served as an appetizer.
Mmm! I like this one—it actually makes me hungry.
From starters to dessert, the meal was full of dishes Leah enjoyed eating at the mansion.
Even though she was tired, she couldn’t stop eating once her favorites came out.
All my favorite dishes today, huh…?
She thought while enjoying a sweet peach tart for dessert.
“The engagement ceremony will be simple—just a vow at the temple.”
Usually, nobles held grand engagement parties.
But for theirs, it would just be a priest at the temple officiating the vow.
“So it’s just making a vow at the temple?”
“Yeah. A prayer, a short response, and that’s it.”
“I see.”
“Like I mentioned before, once we’re engaged, you’ll officially be part of the Blumhardt family.”
Even though the emperor had given his approval, it still didn’t feel real to Leah.
“From then on, you’ll be called ‘Leah von Blumhardt’ on all documents. And you’ll be able to go through palace gates just like other top noble families.”
‘Leah von Blumhardt’…
She repeated the name in her mind.
“Here, take this.”
Johann handed her a gold-trimmed envelope.
“What is it?”
“An invitation to the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet.”
“Huh?”
“Sorry I didn’t tell you earlier.”
“Wait… The Crown Prince invited me?”
She quickly scanned the letter and asked.
“He thought it would be the perfect event to introduce you to society as an official noble.”
The Crown Prince’s birthday banquet as my first society event…?
Her hands began to tremble.
“Don’t stress too much. It’s not about being judged—it’s just to show people who you are.”
“But I’ve just started etiquette lessons…”
Leah frowned anxiously.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be with you. Even if you mess up, it’s fine.”
Johann gently took her shaking hand.
“Will Her Highness the Princess be there too?”
Leah asked with concern.
“Not sure. Either way, you don’t need to worry. If anyone should be uncomfortable, it’s her, not you.”
He reassured her.
Her whole world had flipped upside down.
From a commoner Leah… to Johann Blumhardt’s fiancée, Leah von Blumhardt.
When she first arrived here, she thought she’d stay in the mansion until it was time to leave.
Who could’ve imagined she’d end up attending fancy balls next to Johann?
Wait, so will the Empress and her ladies be at those balls too?
“…Will Her Majesty the Empress be at the banquet?”
“She usually comes to these things, but not sure about this one.”
You’re supposed to keep your enemies close.
Whether or not the Empress would try to harm her like in her past life, Leah needed to keep an eye on her.
That memory of the Empress from Rafi’s mind still gives me a bad feeling…
If the Empress tried anything weird again—like perfume or poison—Leah could take it straight to Dorothea.
That thought helped calm her nerves.
“The banquet is a month away. It’ll be a tight schedule, but you’ll manage.”
“Okay. I’ll study hard.”
Leah nodded with determined eyes.
“Oh, and this.”
Johann pulled out a pink-wrapped gift.
“This is to thank you for lending me your handkerchief the other day.”
“Oh, you really didn’t have to… Washing it would’ve been enough.”
“I already bought it, so just take it.”
He placed it in her hands.
“Well… thanks then.”
Leah accepted it.
“Wow, it’s super soft.”
Inside was a soft pink handkerchief embroidered with white lilies.
“…Wait, are these lilies?”
That’s my favorite flower.
No way he knew that, right? But still… weirdly coincidental.
“Why? You don’t like it?”
“No, I love it. It’s my favorite flower.”
Leah smiled warmly.
“I’m glad.”
Johann let out a quiet sigh of relief.
“Who would dislike such a pretty handkerchief?”
She gently folded it again, brushing over the lily design.
Seeing the flower… maybe it’s reminding me of when Hart proposed back then.
—
Later that night
Johann walked Leah back to her room, then went to his own.
Since Leah moved to the 4th floor, so did he—into his father’s old room, just updated a bit.
He sat on the bed and picked up a white handkerchief on the side table.
It was the plain one Leah had lent him.
It had been washed, but since she’d handed it to him herself, he wanted to keep it.
That was my excuse to give her a new handkerchief.
He honestly wanted to give her gifts all the time, but he knew she’d feel awkward about it.
So he needed excuses like this.
When choosing what to give her, he thought about the flower from the day he’d proposed as a child.
He still couldn’t tell her that he was starting to remember things about their past.
…Just remembering one or two big things isn’t enough.
He wanted to tell her when he had more memories back.
So instead, he gave her a handkerchief with that flower on it, hoping it would comfort her even a little.
“…Sorry. I’ll remember everything soon.”
He whispered, burying his face in the handkerchief.
—
A week flew by for Leah.
“Leah, you’re picking things up faster than I expected,”
Isabella praised them during their lunch.
“You don’t seem like someone who’s only been learning for a week.”
Leah struggled only on the first day.
After that, she absorbed the lessons quickly—almost like she’d learned it before.
“We can move on to the next part now.”
“The next part?”
Her happy mood sank a bit—more things to learn.
Even though she was good at it, etiquette lessons were just… boring.
“Since you’re going to the banquet, you’ll need to learn to dance, and get familiar with the major noble families too.”
“Dance?”
Leah’s eyes widened.
“Of course. At the Crown Prince’s banquet, you’ll definitely dance at least once with Johann.”
Oh no—dancing meant getting super close.
What if it ends up like last time, with that whole romantic vibe…?
She absentmindedly touched her lips, remembering the kiss during the fireworks.
“Leah, are your lips hurting?”
“Huh? N-No!”
She waved her hands, clearly flustered.
“If not, then good. Keep practicing what you’ve learned so far, and starting tomorrow, we’ll move on.”
Isabella stood up.
Wait, does that mean today’s over?
“Leah, go change and head to the stables.”
“The stables?”
“Yes. Johann thought it’d be good for you to learn horseback riding too.”
Leah stood up with a gloomy face.
I thought I could finally rest today…
The path to becoming Duke Blumhardt’s fiancée was definitely not an easy one.
