TFAR 41

Where Is Elise? (1)

Three more days passed.

One by one, the masterpieces Lady Hailey and her assistants had created through sleepless nights filled the garment racks. Thanks to Abigail’s strict guidance, Serena had improved to the point where she could at least passably imitate the etiquette of the imperial palace.

“Ugh, I’m exhausted… I was already irritated just thinking about the wedding, but if I have to live like this, it’d honestly be better to just get the wedding over with.”

It wasn’t Anna’s original intention, but hearing Serena say she would choose the wedding nonetheless made her feel noticeably lighter.

“By the way, still no news?”

Serena, who had been lying on the bed, immediately sat up and asked Anna.

“Pardon?”

“Elise.”

Although only the two of them were present, Serena lowered her voice. Seeing that, Anna couldn’t help wondering who Elise was and why she mattered so much—but for now, there was no room to press further.

“She’s not in the capital’s noble district, at least.”

“That’s what you said on the first day. We need to search more broadly.”

“You know how capable Peter is, miss.”

Serena nodded weakly. Peter and Anna were far too competent to be wasted merely attending to a duke’s daughter.

“Peter even made secret contact with information brokers, and I tried to gather rumors from ladies and maids.”

“I know… I know you’ve both been doing your best.”

“But the name Elise never came up. There’s no lady or young noblewoman by that name. Today, just in case, I even checked among the household staff—but nothing.”

If Peter and Anna had searched for three whole days with no results, then Elise was either someone living hidden away behind an enormous secret—or someone who didn’t exist here yet.

“Still nothing, huh.”

Elise was the protagonist, so the latter seemed more likely. Especially since, when she first appeared, discussions about Serena’s deposition had already begun—perhaps they had simply started looking too early.

“For now, let’s keep searching while we’re here. And even if we don’t find anything, I’ll ask Peter to keep an eye out periodically, waiting for someone named Elise to appear.”

Anna usually avoided asking unnecessary questions, but seeing Serena cling so seriously to an unfamiliar name, she couldn’t help herself.

“Miss… who exactly is Elise, that you’re searching for her so desperately?”

If Elise were an important figure, that would make sense. But Serena didn’t even know Elise’s status or origin—only her name—which made it all the more suspicious.

“Is she that important?”

“Probably… no, definitely important.”

Elise was the protagonist of this story. Compared to Serena, who was only mentioned a few times, her role was entirely different. And since the story changed depending on the protagonist’s actions, there was no telling what the future might hold.

“I’m sorry. I can’t tell anyone more than this.”

Serena cut her off firmly.

It was impossible to tell anyone that she had originally lived in another world, that she had entered a strange story, and that the protagonist of that story was Elise.

Even if she tried to explain it to Anna now, she would only end up moving her lips soundlessly like a fool.

“All I can say is that I absolutely have to find Elise. I can’t say anything beyond that. I know it’s difficult, but please understand.”

That was the best Serena could do. Thankfully, Anna nodded without asking further questions. Peter, too, would silently nod if he heard the same explanation.

“But you do know that preparing for the state wedding comes first, right?”

“Yes.”

“Fortunately, thanks to Lady Hailey working through the night, we’ve managed to secure a decent number of dresses before the wedding.”

It had been a decision forced by the marchioness, who had practically treated the clothes Serena originally brought as rags. But once Serena put on the dresses Lady Hailey had completed, she realized how important clothing and appearance truly were.

“The rest can be tailored at the imperial palace.”

“More…?”

Anna had already ordered thirty dresses. What more could possibly be needed?

“Dresses are a woman’s weapons. Hats, shoes, and fans are the same.”

She couldn’t refute that—it wasn’t entirely wrong.

Unlike the clothes she wore while roaming the Astel territory, the elegant, refined dresses accentuated Serena’s slender, pure beauty and were a great help during Abigail’s etiquette lessons.

“More importantly, we should summon a jeweler tomorrow. After a lot of inquiries, Peter finally managed to secure an appointment with the most skilled and trustworthy artisan.”

Lucas had said Serena only needed to show up, but no matter how much they simplified things, it was still the crown prince’s wedding. A minimum level of preparation was necessary.

“I’d like to keep jewelry and accessories to a minimum, if possible.”

“Yes. We’ll have the jewels the Duke of Astel gave you when he left reworked, and order just a few more that aren’t too flashy.”

“Right. It wouldn’t be good to appear overly extravagant the moment I enter the palace.”

“Yes. You’re very wise, miss. Everyone’s attention will be focused on the appearance of the crown princess, so you must present yourself with elegance and dignity. That’s why you’re going through all this trouble to prepare.”

Even marriages between nobles were significant affairs—this was a state wedding, no less.

Duke Astel knew that, which was why he had entrusted Serena to the Sherwood marquisate, where there was a lady to look after her carefully. Of course, that had turned out to be completely counterproductive.

“I’ll bring some tea. Please get some rest for today. Lady Abigail will be coming again tomorrow.”

At that, Serena pouted slightly, but there was no helping it. The more she learned etiquette, the more she realized how humiliating it would have been to enter the palace knowing none of this.

“Oh my.”

Anna, about to leave the room, stopped at the sound of a knock and glanced at Serena. No one should have been visiting at this hour, but Serena nodded calmly.

“I greet the marchioness.”

Anna offered a light bow to the utterly unexpected guest.

“I have something important to discuss with the duke’s daughter…”

It was a very abrupt request, but Serena’s expression remained composed.

“I was just about to have some tea. Please, join me.”

With Serena’s permission, Anna quickly prepared tea for two and discreetly withdrew.

“With the schedule being so tight, there’s been so much to prepare that I feel I haven’t been able to give you proper attention. I’m sorry.”

After taking a sip of tea, the marchioness said something that hardly sounded sincere. Serena, following what she’d learned from Abigail, simply held a faint, dignified smile.

“My husband, the Marquis of Sherwood, is extremely busy and often away from the estate… Managing everything alone has left me neither elegant nor at ease.”

Listening to Miranda’s nauseating self-reproach nearly twisted Serena’s carefully maintained smile—but she had her own thoughts.

“It’s I who should feel sorry and grateful, that you’re preparing for the state wedding for someone like me, who lost her mother early.”

The new marchioness was Miranda. And in the future, the one she would push as an empress candidate was her daughter, Laura. By then, the protagonist Elise would surely have appeared and would make use of that ambition.

“I happened to hear that you suggested Laura attend Lady Abigail’s lessons with you?”

Her ulterior motive was painfully obvious. Without that reason, there would be no need to come all this way at night just to put on such a show.

“Ah, that is…”

As the topic finally reached its core, a smile naturally spread across Miranda’s lips.

“Laura is still young—just a child who doesn’t know much.”

She took another leisurely sip of tea.

“But she’s already had her debut. I thought she might be of some help to the duke’s daughter.”

It was a ridiculous notion, and Serena had no desire to hear it at length.

“You mean, have her receive etiquette lessons with me?”

“Yes. Normally, young ladies of noble families in the capital invite a tutor and learn etiquette together with peers from a very young age. They learn by watching one another as well.”

What Miranda said was true—but it didn’t apply to this situation at all.

How could basic etiquette lessons for young girls be the same as the intensive, exclusive training meant solely for someone about to become the crown princess? And the instructor was a legendary former chief lady-in-waiting who had already retired.

“That’s quite an interesting suggestion.”

“…Pardon?”

Serena smiled gently.

“I was actually thinking it might be nice to have someone learning alongside me. As you said, we could learn by observing each other…”

“Exactly, isn’t it? You’re so intelligent, my lady—having one more student will multiply the learning tenfold.”

Was the marchioness really capable of smiling so warmly?

Considering Miranda’s future actions, her greatest goal in life was to properly educate Laura and make her empress. How could she possibly miss this chance to be guided by Lady Abigail?

“Hearing you say that, I almost regret not starting together from the beginning.”

“Then… how about starting tomorrow, together with Laura?”

Seeing the earnest look in Miranda’s eyes, Serena nodded. Miranda’s face immediately filled with joy.

“As long as the young marchioness is all right with it, I’d be grateful.”

She had only been in the imperial capital for a few days, but her ability to lie and maneuver had already grown remarkably.

“For your sake, my lady, Laura will do her utmost. I, and the entire House of Sherwood, are all waiting solely for your state wedding.”

“All right.”

There was a reason she played along with such transparent lies.

“After Lady Abigail leaves, I’d like to have a tea time alone with Laura as practice… would that be all right?”

“Of course. It would be an honor for Laura to serve as your practice partner.”

Peter had combed through every information network in the capital, and Anna had listened to all the women’s gossip—but they still couldn’t find Elise.

However, there was still one area left unexplored.

Someone who hadn’t yet stepped out into the wider world, someone who could barely even be called a woman—

A girl.
Laura.