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chapter 36
The Initiative is Mine
The humiliation Serena had suffered that morning was only the beginning.
The Marquess instructed that all the dresses Serena had brought were inappropriate and should be removed. She was then told to wear the Marquess’ daughter’s dress for the etiquette lessons.
But there was no way that Laura’s dress—so delicate it looked barely wearable—could fit Serena’s tall, slender frame.
“I don’t understand.”
Serena muttered as she looked at the dress, which seemed made for a child.
“Indeed… you can tell at a glance it won’t fit.”
Anna said cautiously. Serena had gained confidence in her body after her high fever following the previous engagement, but during adolescence, she had been embarrassed by her larger-than-average frame.
“The Marquess’ daughter is so petite, and she’s only eighteen.”
“Anna, don’t worry. I’m not upset about that.”
Serena smiled, and Anna nodded in relief.
It was all in the past, but Serena remembered fainting from hunger after being forced to wear the formal attire the Empress had worn during her engagement at the royal palace. Anna had worried over her high fever then, hoping such a thing would never happen again.
“What I can’t understand is the Marquess’ strangely aggressive attitude.”
Anna agreed silently.
“The state wedding is fixed. I will become the crown princess. Everything is already decided, and I have less than fifteen days here.”
Fifteen days was far too short to transform someone completely. The Marquess’ strictness under the guise of “education” was nothing more than a pretext.
“She’s a cousin of Astelle and has an important role in the wedding, so I get the pressure, but how much can I realistically change in just fifteen days?”
It was a fair point.
“The Marquess seemed smart. She can’t possibly believe I don’t know anything.”
The Marquess and her daughter had displayed textbook noblewoman etiquette yesterday, the kind expected in high society. Laura, despite being only eighteen, executed it with composure and grace—clearly meticulously taught by her mother.
“The royal court’s etiquette is even stricter. Maybe that’s why she’s so particular.”
“Anna, don’t say that. She raised her daughter well—does she really think I’ll change in just fifteen days?”
“That’s true too.”
“She’ll probably look at me and disdain me as pathetic.”
Serena’s prediction was accurate.
“Of course not. That would be unacceptable.”
Kind-hearted Anna shook her head, refusing to believe such a thing, but Serena recalled Miranda’s oddly delighted expression while observing her.
“Then who were the voices mocking me at the engagement?”
“Lady, do not pay attention to such people.”
“I know. I’ve lived like that already.”
Serena refused to squeeze herself into the tiny dress. Instead, she had a garment tailored to her tall, elegant frame.
Instantly, her hunched back and slouched posture straightened. Seeing herself in the mirror brought an internal change as well.
“The children of Astelle always tell me they want to be tall and graceful like me someday.”
Why hadn’t she realized it before? The problem wasn’t the clothes—it was the forced mindset and rigid expectations.
The greatest torment had never been the gazes or finger-pointing of others, but the self-critical eyes reflected in the mirror.
“I like myself this way. When children said that, I sometimes felt proud.”
For the first time since arriving at the estate, Serena genuinely smiled, energized by the memory of Astelle’s spirited, innocent children.
“Right… I can’t lose to a mere Marquess’ wife.”
Not that she was boastful, but Serena had faced countless challenges before. She had even been lucky considering her indifferent father and noble status—something she hadn’t enjoyed in her previous life.
“If I follow the etiquette that the Marquess so cherishes, my rank is higher anyway, isn’t it?”
“Of course. You are already as good as the crown princess, so the Marquess shows you respect.”
“Even if not by rank, I don’t have to be scolded by her.”
Rank mattered in this world, yes, but the confidence Serena gained from rejecting Duke Pharell’s persistent courtship and daringly refusing the Crown Prince came from her self-respect.
She had become someone of value to others, not just a tall noblewoman.
“There’s no reason to be cowed by such ridiculous posturing.”
The Marquess’ seemingly pleasant smile was far from friendly. To Serena, it felt like an attempt to suppress her spirit and tame her before she entered high society as the future crown princess.
“I need to seize the initiative first.”
Serena glared at the tiny Laura dress. She had expected to confront Lucas, but the road to him was proving more complicated than anticipated.
Perhaps he assumed the world was easy because he had ignored etiquette and tolerated her antics in Astelle.
“Time to get serious.”
Here, there were no people like those in Astelle who supported her eccentricity, no one like Duke Pharell or the Crown Prince who would understand.
“First, have them take this useless cloth away.”
“Yes!”
Anna responded cheerfully, encouraged by Serena’s regained resolve.
“If they say anything…”
“I’ll handle it. As long as my mind is set, I can do anything.”
Thankfully, she had allies who trusted her without conditions.
“What about Peter?”
“Of course, he’s here. He’s coming into the palace with us.”
“Good. With the steward here, I can handle anything. No matter the state wedding, I’m the bride.”
Though she did not want to admit it, she could not simply yield to the Marquess. If the engagement was already fixed, she might as well use it to her advantage.
“Tell Peter to find the best dressmaker in the capital and make sure my outfit is tailored immediately, by any means necessary.”
“Yes! The best in the capital would be Mrs. Hailey. She’s unmatched in skill and style.”
“Then have her do it. Money?”
“The funds from the Duke are sufficient.”
Serena allowed herself a rare satisfied smile. Forcing herself into a tiny dress today would only mean continuing that farce tomorrow.
“Fitting my body into clothes is foolish.”
More importantly, people like the Marquess would keep testing her. If she backed down now, she’d have to back down again in the future.
“I’ll have clothes made that suit me.”
It was time for the capital to recognize Serena for who she was. Whether in the Sherwood estate or the royal palace, she would not adjust herself to others’ standards.
The Marquess beamed as she welcomed a guest from the royal palace.
“Welcome, madam. It is our Sherwood family’s honor that the palace sent you personally.”
“Not at all. I trust the Marquess is well?”
Abigail, a retired head maid sent from the palace to educate the future crown princess, was regarded as the ultimate etiquette teacher among noblewomen with daughters.
“Indeed. It is a truly honorable responsibility.”
“Yes. The state wedding is a major imperial event, and I trust no one can handle it as well as you, Marquess.”
Miranda’s face could not hide her genuine delight. Once a poor baron’s daughter, she had caught the eye of the young Marquess and risen to her current position—but satisfaction still eluded her.
“Where is the Duke’s daughter?”
“Ah… unfortunately, the Lady Astelle will not be present today.”
Miranda raised her eyebrows in mock regret.
“We should have informed you in advance, but the Lady Astelle only notified us suddenly… She has no appropriate dress, nor one that fits her size.”
Her voice lowered as if revealing a secret, but if she truly cared to keep it, she would have fabricated another excuse.
“Well, the Lady must be tired from the long journey. A day of rest is necessary.”
Thanks to her experience as a long-time head maid, Abigail arranged everything smoothly.
“Since you have made the effort to come, please allow me to serve you tea.”
Miranda intercepted Abigail with a polite smile.
“Please, I insist.”
Abigail nodded, unable to refuse. As expected, the reception room Miranda led them to had the eighteen-year-old Marquess’ daughter, tense yet maintaining proper etiquette.
“Madam, I am Laura, Sherwood Marquess’ daughter.”
Miranda observed Laura’s flawless posture with satisfaction.
“My humble daughter feels ashamed.”
“Not at all… She is a very polite young lady.”
“You flatter me. She is still inexperienced, but today she will serve the tea.”
Abigail narrowed her eyes, smiling faintly. The Marquess’ intent was clear: if the future crown princess rejected this rare opportunity, she would seize the chance to showcase her own daughter and gain favor.
“Now, let’s see… Let us ask the Marquess’ daughter for assistance.”
Though smiling kindly, Abigail’s eyes monitored Laura’s every movement like a hawk.
“Please, take care of us.”
Despite her nerves, Laura managed not to tremble as she lifted the teapot. Miranda’s expression grew even more tense, witnessing the clumsy performance of the Marquess’ daughter—a golden opportunity squandered by someone so utterly incompetent.
