Although Liuli felt that as a Princess, she enjoyed a level of prosperity and wealth unimaginable to ordinary people and should therefore reciprocate such generous treatment, the idea of responding with her own beauty always made her feel a bit strange.
After all, her former self wasn’t particularly good-looking, so naturally, not many people would have developed feelings for her because of her appearance.
As for now, well, Liuli had to try to adapt to the gaze of those around her.
While she was loath to admit it, Lien’s teachings over this period had left an indelible mark on Liuli.
This made her wonder if Serveyia was taking this opportunity to give her a “feminization” education.
After all, ever since she became a Princess, Serveyia’s guidance had mostly followed a “free-range” approach; etiquette and necessary knowledge were only briefly mentioned and never systematically explained.
“Little Fox, how are the preparations coming along?”
This was the question Serveyia asked Liuli the night before the Academy Festival.
The café’s layout had been prepared days ago, and the coffee and other supplies were basically ready.
Now, the only thing left was to wait for the Academy Festival to begin tomorrow.
“Everything is ready, but… I’m still a bit nervous…”
It was inevitable.
After all, she was going to open a shop and receive guests, and she even had to dress up as a Maid to welcome them.
Anyone would be nervous thinking about it.
Not to mention, according to Serveyia, on the final night of the Academy Festival, as the Princess of the Academy, she was required to give a Speech.
Giving a Speech in front of so many people was a daunting task no matter how she looked at it.
Although some time had passed since her Inauguration Ceremony, truth be told, she hadn’t really practiced her social skills much during this period.
Even though she had chatted with her Guard as Serveyia suggested and had even become friends with Fina, that wouldn’t exactly make her bold in front of such a massive crowd, would it?
“What are you nervous about? The work at the Maid Café, or the Ball on the final night?”
“Both, but… I’m still really nervous about the Speech at the Ball.”
“Sigh, that can’t be helped. But at least you don’t have to write the Speech yourself, Little Fox, and you don’t need to memorize it. Does it feel a bit better when you think about it that way?”
“I can only say it feels a little better, but the nervousness is still there. I think… it would be great if someone could take the stage and give the Speech for me…”
Though Liuli knew this was impossible, well, it didn’t hurt to dream.
Probably.
“If all else fails, just keep your head down and look at the script. As long as you don’t look at the audience, you won’t be nervous.”
“But is it really okay to not look at the audience during a Speech?”
“Of course it’s okay. You are the Princess, Little Fox. No one will say anything to the Princess. After all, in the vast majority of cases, as long as your looks are up to par, there’s no problem.”
Although the old Liuli used to despise this world that judged people by their faces, now that she was a vested interest holder, she suddenly realized she didn’t seem to have the right to say anything more.
She just hoped things would truly go that smoothly when the time came.
“Speaking of which, it’s a Ball—why is there a Speech?”
While Liuli felt a Speech was necessary, why did it have to be during the Ball?
“Wouldn’t it be more effective to give the Speech at the very beginning? By the last day, will everyone even be able to listen?”
“Little Fox, don’t you think the act of giving a Speech before any event starts is inherently annoying?”
“Is a Speech at the very end any less annoying?”
“Because if the Speech is at the end, those who don’t want to listen can just choose not to.”
Uh, Liuli felt there wasn’t much of a difference.
In the end, it was all annoying.
Couldn’t they just cancel the Speech?
Of course, Liuli didn’t say this out loud in the end.
After all, she was well aware that even if she said it, it likely wouldn’t do any good.
“Sofia seems exceptionally dedicated to this Maid Café. Just how much has she invested here?”
Whether it was the rehearsals for the Maid work, the shop’s decoration, or even the promotion, Sofia had thought of everything.
Even though the actual Academy Festival was tomorrow, advertisements for the Maid Café were already appearing all over Saint Laia Academy.
With such large-scale promotion, Liuli truly couldn’t imagine how many people would come to the café.
Please, she had only started this café to satisfy a personal whim, not to actually run a business!
“I don’t know the exact amount, but it shouldn’t be small. In Sofia’s eyes, your Maid Café is undoubtedly a rare business opportunity, Little Fox. It’s normal for her to be willing to invest in it.”
“By the way, Little Fox, I’ve already ironed your Maid Uniform for you. Just put it on tomorrow morning.”
Liuli turned her gaze to the Maid Uniform Serveyia had hung on the coat rack.
Ever since the day that outfit was finished and she had tried it on once, she hadn’t worn it again.
Perhaps she wouldn’t wear it again after the Academy Festival either?
So was that the real reason she felt it was a waste?
Spending so much money on an outfit that couldn’t be worn for long—did that prove from another perspective that she was a wild boar who couldn’t appreciate fine grain?
“Serveyia, what happens to this outfit after I’m done wearing it?”
“Generally, it will just stay in the closet. After all, no one knows if there will be another chance to wear it in the future.”
“Hmm, is there any reason for me to continue wearing this outfit?”
Although the craftsmanship of the outfit was excellent, it couldn’t change the fact that it was a Maid Uniform.
Liuli truly couldn’t imagine when she would ever wear this outfit again.
“Well, you never know. After all, when the mood hits, who knows what might happen? Maybe you’ll meet someone in the future for whom you’ll want to wear this outfit, Little Fox… just like me?”
Serveyia’s words made it difficult for Liuli to respond for a moment.
She didn’t know if Serveyia was being serious or just joking.
If she responded too hastily, would she seem like she was being overly sentimental?
Although she didn’t know if there was some hidden emotion behind Serveyia’s words, it was undeniable that meeting someone important could indeed cause a person to change to some extent.
It was just… who exactly would be the person who could make her willingly put on a Maid Uniform?
Would it be Serveyia?
“Little Fox, looking at me so expectantly… are you trying to get some kind of answer from me?”
Liuli shook her head.
The answers she wanted were too private, and now was not the best time to seek them.
Whether their relationship had reached that point or not, the current atmosphere just didn’t feel like the right opportunity to ask such a question.
Wait a bit longer, just a bit longer.
Liuli believed that the time for her to ask that question would not be far off.