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chapter 35
When Awakening from a Dream
Despite Anna’s protests, Serena changed clothes and immediately collapsed onto the bed, falling into a sleep so deep it seemed like unconsciousness. Though the unfamiliar bedding could have been uncomfortable, after the harrowing carriage journey, this place felt like heaven.
“Lady, wake up!”
Anna shook her vigorously, but Serena remained drowsy.
“Lady!”
Why all the fuss the moment she lay down? Miffed, Serena buried her face deeper in the pillow—only for the blanket to be yanked off, letting a chill sweep over her entire body.
“What… what is this…?”
Rubbing her eyes and forcing herself awake, Serena saw Anna stomping impatiently and a stranger: an elderly woman. Seeing the blanket in the woman’s hands made the culprit obvious.
“What? I just fell asleep.”
Serena’s irritated words didn’t faze the old woman, who gestured to the young maid. The curtains were flung open, flooding the room with blinding sunlight.
“My apologies, but it is already morning.”
Just lying down had somehow consumed the entire night? Serena couldn’t believe it, but with the sun streaming in, there was no arguing.
“I am Nora, head maid of this estate.”
Only now did Serena realize this was the head maid the Marquess had introduced yesterday.
“Isn’t Anna supposed to attend to me?”
Now fully awake, Serena sat up, her delicate face clouded with displeasure—not at being woken, but at the insolent method.
“Yes. I reminded Lady Anna repeatedly to wake you, but since time was delayed, I assisted.”
“Assisted? By snatching the blanket from a sleeping person?”
Nora, without a hint of fear, knelt slightly in a bow and handed the blanket to the young maid.
“I could not lay a hand on the Lady herself, so I merely helped you wake.”
The Marquess had been exceedingly kind last night, but seeing the head maid’s strict approach, Serena realized this would not be simple.
“There are only fifteen days left until the state wedding. You must rise early from now on, as there is much to prepare.”
Serena had always been an early riser in the Astelle estates. Today, fatigue from travel had delayed her rest, yet this strict attitude grated on her nerves.
“All preparations for the bride’s side have been entrusted to the Marquess, so nothing must go awry.”
So it was for her own sake. Roger must have thought that, as the Sherwoods were family, they would care for her—but seeing the head maid’s demeanor, that wasn’t entirely true.
“First, let me inform the head maid… I normally rise at seven in the morning to start my day.”
Serena eyed Nora while gulping the water at her bedside.
“And also…”
Before she could continue, Nora knelt again and spoke in a stern tone.
“My apologies, but the Marquess commands that all of Lady Astelle’s mistakes be corrected immediately.”
“…What?”
“Please call me Lady Nora. I will assist you in all matters within this estate from now on.”
Anna, displeased, didn’t intervene, possibly intimidated by Serena’s presence.
“You needn’t rise at seven. With state wedding preparations, nine is sufficient, but by etiquette, the lady should only be awakened after ten if the maid comes to rouse her.”
Serena had entered this unfamiliar position just before the engagement. Her only family, Duke Astelle, had been away, and Anna had only fussed over the feverish girl.
“Now, the head maid… no, Lady Nora, seems intent on teaching me etiquette.”
“That is correct. From today, you shall learn imperial etiquette.”
Serena’s frown deepened. She had never considered courtly etiquette and, since the dreadful engagement, had lived freely in Astelle, enjoying liberty. This was the first time she had to abide by noble constraints.
“What if I do not need instruction?”
“The Marquess awaits, so once you are ready, you may report to her.”
At least the head maid would not overstep. Nora told Anna to hurry the dressing and exited.
“Sorry, Lady.”
“No, it’s not Anna’s fault.”
Serena felt a pang of guilt for oversleeping, knowing Anna was caught in the middle. Still, Nora’s attitude was irritating.
“The Marquess is too harsh. Surely she knew the journey exhausted you, yet insisted this morning…”
Anna had said what Serena thought, leaving nothing more to add.
“Yes. You’ll see for yourself soon enough.”
Serena’s sharp gaze pierced the air.
After finishing her grooming, Serena entered the first-floor reception room. The Marquess, sipping tea, rose with a smile and offered a light bow.
“You must be weary from the journey. I hope you have rested. I had wanted to let you rest even longer today, but the schedule is tight… I hope you will understand.”
Miranda’s initiative left Serena with nothing to argue. The Marquess, after all, was overseeing the bride’s side preparations, and with only fifteen days left, urgency was natural.
“I understand the haste, but the head maid’s attitude was somewhat insolent.”
Serena spoke bluntly, yet Miranda remained smiling.
“In what way was she insolent? I will correct her thoroughly.”
“Even though I have my own maid, she entered my room and took my blanket—doesn’t that count as insolence?”
“Oh my.”
Miranda’s expression, as she toyed with her fan, showed not a trace of embarrassment.
“My daughter, when young, was roused like that too. Often with water poured on her face—but since you are of noble status, I could not do that for you.”
It was impossible to curse her with that polite smile, though it irritated Serena. Moreover, Miranda was implying that Serena’s behavior was inferior even to her own daughter’s childhood.
“There are only fifteen days left until the state wedding. Time is short.”
“I know the date.”
Miranda shook her head slowly, still smiling.
“Lady Serena, at this rate, you will neither be ready for the state wedding nor even able to properly greet society.”
Her navy eyes fixed on Serena.
“If that happens, it would tarnish the long-standing reputation of the Astelle Dukedom.”
It was an insult to be told she lacked etiquette as a duke’s daughter, yet Serena had no desire to deny it. She had chosen this way of life, and in six years of abandoning ceremonial pretenses, Astelle had prospered.
“Standards of honor vary by perspective.”
Serena had faced harsher voices in her past. A smiling person delivering barbed words was nothing new.
“The Crown Prince himself visited Astelle estates and stayed at the ducal residence for several days.”
Miranda’s blue eyes gleamed with intelligence.
“His Highness approved all my behavior, yet you seem to suggest the Marquess lacks taste or judgment?”
Serena was a more formidable opponent than Miranda expected. Though her hand tightened on her fan, her smile remained.
“Of course not. However… there are rules of conduct for noble ladies that men do not know. As the future crown princess, you must learn them thoroughly.”
“Must I know etiquette to become crown princess?”
Perfect. Serena wanted nothing more than to continue behaving recklessly, just to get thrown out. Yet Lucas would never break the engagement, no matter how odd her actions.
“You will find it difficult to become an exemplary crown princess.”
A careful, cold reply—just as a noblewoman mocking Serena’s imposing stature at the engagement would speak.
“By the way, your luggage arrived earlier… Upon inspection, many items were inappropriate for the palace.”
“What about my belongings?”
“They do not suit the palace’s dignity.”
Serena had selected only a few treasured items, full of Astelle memories. Of course, worn personal items could hardly meet such standards.
“Do not worry, Lady. Anything you need will be provided anew by the Sherwood estate.”
“I don’t need that. I like the things I brought.”
“Oh my…”
Seeing the corner of Miranda’s lips lift unnervingly, Serena felt a foreboding.
“To be frank, we assumed the luggage belonged to our staff, so some items were discarded.”
“You threw my things away? Without my permission?”
“Our steward was mistaken. But if the Marquess’s staff deemed them unfit for the palace, they could not have been included anyway… Please forgive us.”
Miranda showed no genuine sign of apology, yet having disposed of the items, there was nothing more to contest. She would have acted the same regardless of ownership, for the sake of the bride’s preparations.
“Now, you must finish dressing. Soon, a lady will arrive to teach palace etiquette.”
Serena had already been dressed by Anna—she could not fathom what Miranda meant.
“Ah… our head maid must have rushed waking you, leaving no time to change into proper attire. I will admonish her firmly.”
Seeing Miranda’s smile, Serena felt that enduring Lucas and Hyde’s scoldings would have been preferable.
