Chapter 21.1

Chapter 2 The Crown Princess Who Broke the Code

Episode 21: The Fearsome Crown Princess Consort When She Loses Her Temper (1)

It is in my nature not to leave things half done. If I’m going to do something, I have to do it thoroughly. That is my policy.

Therefore, even though I became the Crown Princess Consort through a series of unplanned events, I did not slack off. I can tolerate being laughed at for being incompetent, but I cannot tolerate being mocked for being lazy. That’s why I wholeheartedly dedicated myself to the life of the Crown Princess Consort.

Fundamentally, the duties of the Crown Princess Consort revolved around socializing and ceremonial events. However, as the Empress, I would also become involved in political affairs, considering that I am a member of the Senate.

So is the Crown Princess’s work easier? The Crown Princess has a lot of important social meetings that she has to attend. It is very important to present the opinions gathered at social gatherings to her husband, the Crown Prince, and to Her Majesty the Queen, so that they can be reflected in politics. if one understands the importance of this, it should be clear that the Crown Princess Consort is not being underestimated or sidelined due to the lack of political duties.

Therefore, what is required of the Crown Princess is a high level of refined social skills. She should dress elegantly, use elegant language and interact with elegance, which happens to be my weakest point.

I did my best to learn proper etiquette, but compared to noblewomen who have been trained in such matters since birth, I, who had only earnestly started studying half a year ago, would be at a disadvantage. Consequently, there are numerous etiquette rules that I still don’t understand—why they are the way they are and why they must be followed—and there are also certain mysterious gestures that I can’t seem to memorize.

After all, even the placement of hands during tea ceremonies carries significance. Normally, one would place their right hand on top and overlap their hands. However, if the left hand is placed on top, it signifies boredom. If I accidentally do this, it would imply my dissatisfaction with the tea ceremony, and the attendees would turn pale with discomfort.

There are other gestures to be cautious about as well. Placing a hand on the cheek indicates confusion. Covering the mouth denotes surprise, touching the nose evokes discomfort, and placing a hand near the eyes suggests interest. Each gesture has its own specific meaning, so even accidentally brushing my nose could cause trouble. Smiling is the default expression, but there are various types of smiles. A slightly lowered gaze with a hint of upward glance expresses the greatest affection, while looking with a sidelong glance to the right indicates a somewhat dismissive attitude towards the other person. Mistakes in these expressions can lead to serious consequences.

Aristocratic conversation avoids direct expressions, preferring to use roundabout phrases. This is also difficult to understand, and until I got used to it, I couldn’t understand what they were saying and had to ask Estesia, who was standing behind me, to teach me every single word.

“For the cosmos flowers in the eastern region, it seems they have been infested by pests.”

“This means Count Kelbertz has taken a lover.”

The reason behind this expression is that Count Kelbertz possesses territories in the eastern part of the empire, and the cosmos flower is featured in his family crest. In many cases, pests are used to symbolize a lover. I wonder how everyone manages to understand these things.

However, most of these phrases are standardized, and once you know what they are, it’s not so difficult to understand them. However, there are some people who invent their own pretentious phrases and force others to understand them.

This is not surprising, as the Crown Princess is regarded as a master of social interaction. This is because the position of Crown Princess is originally reserved for thoroughly educated aristocratic daughters, and people like me are the exception. Therefore, my every move is even regarded as a model for aristocratic women. It’s troublesome. What do they think of me? I want to say, “I’m a country-raised girl!” but I promised myself not to say that.

Therefore, I pay close attention to etiquette and make sure to consult with Estesia even after returning to the palace to correct any flaws. By working hard in this way, it seemed that I no longer made fatal mistakes, even with the constant nagging from the noble ladies. I try not to mind their detailed criticisms since those kinds of ladies always find fault with anyone..

As I become more proficient in manners and gain some confidence, I gradually realize the enjoyment of socializing. After all, socializing is essentially a gathering of the nobility. In other words, it’s a “let’s get along” party. I have friends and followers in both my territory and the capital. I am good at personal interactions.

There is a clear hierarchy in the social world. Firstly, it’s based on rank and status. Then, it’s generally based on age. However, when it comes to the position of one’s husband or father in the political realm, things get complicated. For example, my father was a Marquis, and among the Marquis, he was the fifth in rank. But due to the Emperor’s accession and the resulting conflict, he was kept away from power. As a result, families with lower rank and status but favored by the Emperor were more valued in the social world. So, my mother felt somewhat inferior in the social circle. Now, she has undergone a drastic change in position since she became the mother of the Crown Princess.

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