On the second day of being a personal maid, Lena’s presence followed Flora like a shadow.
In the morning, she would knock softly on the door to ask if the princess had slept well. During meals, she stood by her side, carefully observing her expressions.
During walks, she would quietly step in front of her, as if terrified she might trip again.
At first, Flora was extremely unaccustomed to it and quite angry, feeling like a child under constant surveillance.
However, after two days, she had to admit something.
Lena’s cautious and somewhat clumsy companionship brought a sense of warmth to her life, allowing her a moment to breathe.
Sometimes, while Flora sat dazed on the soft couch, Lena would whisper, “Would your highness like some water?”
Flora would reply, “No.”
Lena would then quietly place it by her hand. “Then I will leave it here… Your highness can drink it when you are thirsty.”
Ten minutes later, Flora actually drank it, then slammed the cup back down in annoyance.
Other times, Flora would accidentally step on her hem while walking and nearly slip, but Lena would immediately steady her. “Careful, your highness!”
Flora’s face would turn slightly red. “The floor is just slippery, that’s all!”
After several days of this routine, Flora gradually adapted to having a cautious shadow by her side.
A few more days passed.
Today’s sunlight was brighter than usual, and the air was so fresh it hardly felt like the demon king city. Flora, however, remained buried under her covers, too lazy to even move her eyelashes.
Now that her grounding had ended, Flora could breathe the air of freedom again. Her mood had improved significantly, and she could finally sleep peacefully.
That was until a series of urgent knocks rang out.
“Knock, knock, knock — bang!!”
The sound dragged her out of a soft dream, and Flora sat bolt upright as if she had exploded. “Who is it now?”
“Your highness!!! Your highness, please open the door!!!”
The voice sounded so urgent it was as if the girl were about to cry.
Flora rubbed her half-open eyes. ‘Is it another emergency?’
The door was pushed open, and Lena rushed in, her face as white as a sheet.
“Your highness!! Something… something big has happened!”
Flora spoke in a voice still raspy from sleep, “What is it? Where’s the invasion? Don’t disturb my dreams unless it’s important.”
“No, it’s not that… The blood clan! The blood clan!!!”
Flora’s sleepiness vanished instantly. “What?”
Lena took a deep breath, her voice trembling as if a cold wind had blown through it. “In three days… the Queen and Princess of the blood clan are coming to visit our castle! And, and her majesty wants you to participate!”
Flora stared. “Huh?”
For a moment, she doubted she was even awake.
“The blood clan you’re talking about… is it *that* blood clan?”
“Yes! That blood clan!” Lena nodded frantically. “The legendary noble, terrifying, and powerful… and very, very picky blood clan!!”
Terrified, Flora retreated back into her blankets, covering her entire head and leaving only a patch of white hair visible.
“I won’t see them, absolutely not!”
“Your highness, you can’t refuse!” Lena stamped her feet in anxiety. “You are the demon princess… you must attend!”
Flora took a sharp breath. “I, I don’t know etiquette… I’ve only learned a tiny bit…”
Hearing this, Lena was overcome with distress. “I know, that’s why this is so urgent! It’s… they have been that way since they were children, their indoctrination was too perfect!”
“So you mean… I have to act like a real noble within three days?”
Lena replied, “Pretty much…”
Flora poked her head out and screamed in a breakdown, “How is that even possible?!”
After a moment, Flora calmed down slightly.
She swallowed hard. “At least tell me who they are.”
Lena became even more nervous at the question.
“The Queen of the blood clan is one of the strongest existences on the continent. It is said that when she gets serious…”
“Stop, stop, stop.” Flora covered her ears. “No horror stories.”
Lena immediately changed her tune. “Then, then I’ll talk about the princess.”
Flora asked, “How impressive can a princess be… Hmm?”
Lena straightened her back like a devoted fan. “She is known as the ‘flower of the crimson moon’ and is the idol of every noble girl in this era!”
“Her etiquette is perfect, her power is immense, her aura is impeccable, and her personality is steady and calm. She has reached the pinnacle of every attribute!”
Flora stared at her. “Are you secretly in love with her?”
Lena’s face instantly turned as red as jam. “No, it’s not just me! Everyone thinks she’s perfect!”
Flora fell silent.
She was finished.
She had failed to escape, her grounding had just ended, and now she had to face a “perfect noble”?
She felt her stomach churning.
Lena added in a small voice, “And… the blood clan has extremely high standards for etiquette. Very, very high. They can tell at a glance if someone hasn’t been formally trained.”
Flora closed her eyes. “I really haven’t learned it!! What do you expect me to do!”
Lena kept her head bowed as she added, “Her majesty said… starting today, you must practice intensely.”
“Ugh, how can I learn everything in three days!” Flora could already imagine herself standing awkwardly in front of the two blood clan members in public.
Flora stared into space, feeling as if her soul were leaving her body. “How… how can I learn this?”
“Your highness… I will practice with you!” Lena sounded like she was swearing a military oath.
“I will tell you what you don’t understand! I will correct your posture! I will memorize the rules with you! I will help you the entire time!”
Flora looked at her “I will give my life for the princess” expression.
Suddenly, her emotions became complicated.
“Lena.”
“Your highness?”
“Are you even more nervous than I am?”
Lena immediately shook her head with tears in her eyes. “I’m, I’m okay, but I am a little nervous. After all, it’s my first time facing a scene like this…”
Flora sighed.
Flora hugged her pillow and curled into a ball.
“I don’t want to see them… I’m not ready… Right now, I’m basically like… a fake princess who was caught just a few days ago…”
Lena hurried over to her side. “Your highness! You are a real princess! You aren’t a fake!”
“Then is there a qualified princess who doesn’t even know etiquette?”
“Your highness, please lower your voice.”
Flora let out a long sigh. “I suppose for these three days, I’ll be dragged off by her majesty for some devilish training.”
“Yes… her majesty said she would teach you personally.”
Flora looked up, a look of total despair on her face. “That’s even more terrifying.”
Lena encouraged her, “Your highness, don’t give up! I’ll learn with you!”
Flora stared at her silently.
Well, at least for these three days, she still had Lena by her side.