After some time, Flora was taken to a room. This was where she was going to study and train in etiquette.
The moment she pushed open the door, she froze.
It was a room so wide it was almost empty. The four walls were all mirrors, reflecting countless Floras with slightly sleepy eyes, messy hair, and a confused expression.
It made her feel as if she were surrounded by dozens of her equally lost selves.
Lena nervously held an etiquette book so thick it could be used as a brick to hit people. She tried to stand up straight, looking even more worried than Flora.
Ilya stood in the center of the room, her deep blue hair falling down her back. When she looked up at Flora, her expression was so calm it made Flora’s soles tighten involuntarily.
“Today, we will only learn two things,” Ilya said softly, yet there was no room for bargaining in her tone. “Walking and sitting.”
Flora’s first reaction was: ‘Can you really spend a whole day learning two movements?!’
Her second reaction was: ‘In that case, I’m dead.’
Flora had originally thought she would wear her usual dress, since she was here to learn how to walk.
But Lena came over carrying a dress so magnificent it looked like it could be worn to a coronation. She said weakly, “Your Highness… for the visit in 3 days, you will be wearing this…”
Flora froze. “You — you’re joking, right?!”
Ilya gave her no way out. “Put it on.”
After changing, Flora felt like she hadn’t just put on a dress, but had been locked inside a mobile prison of fabric. The skirt had a full four layers, and the hem was wide enough to cover almost half a bed.
The corset was so tight she felt like she would pass away on the spot if she took one deep breath.
Flora stood before the mirror, looking like a little white flower swallowed by fabric.
“I really have to wear this to learn how to walk?”
“Yes,” Ilya replied.
“Are you sure the demon race didn’t design this dress on purpose to kill me?”
Ilya said indifferently, “No. At most, you’ll fall.”
Flora remained silent.
Lena couldn’t help but add, “When you fall… I’ll support you!”
‘I think you’ll be dragged down with me.’
“Come, take the first step.” Ilya spoke casually, as if saying, “Walk forward 3 centimeters and you’ll become an immortal.”
Flora took a deep breath, her mindset reaching a level of ‘giving it her all.’
She lifted her leg, but the skirt seemed to have heard her rebellion and suddenly wrapped around her from both sides. As soon as her foot landed, it was swallowed by the fabric.
As a result, she stepped on the lower layer of the dress, and Flora leaned forward.
“Your Highness, be careful!”
Ilya raised her hand and steadily caught her by the waist. Flora had almost fallen. The touch was as steady as a tree, and Flora’s face flushed instantly. “I — I don’t need your help!!!”
“I know. But I’ll support you even if you don’t need it,” Ilya replied, her tone so calm it was infuriating.
“The skirt moves first, then the person.” Ilya stood by her side, her fingertips lightly touching Flora’s waistline as if guiding a certain rhythm. “Your center of gravity moved forward by 0.5 inches.”
Flora blushed. “H — How do you know that?!”
“Because I can see it.”
Flora was speechless.
Ilya seemed to fear she was nervous, so her voice softened. “Slower. Let the skirt sway open gently first.”
She demonstrated a step. The hem opened and closed slowly under the light like a wave. That wasn’t walking; it was an incredibly elegant flow.
Flora stared, stunned. “You’re not walking, you’re gliding, right?”
“You can do it too.”
Flora inhaled and tried to mimic Ilya’s steps from just now. She took the first step, and the skirt actually moved!
Then she took the second step, and the skirt… wrapped around her ankle in the opposite direction. By the third step, she started using small shuffling steps to compensate, looking like a student caught skipping class.
Lena was almost in tears. “Your Highness, please don’t run… this is a walking lesson…”
“I AM NOT RUNNING!! THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN I’M TRYING TO MAINTAIN MY BALANCE!!!”
Ilya nodded slightly. “Good, much better than before.”
Flora stopped, looking shocked. “Are you serious?”
“Of course.”
For the first time, Flora felt that the demon queen’s praise… felt a bit like an insult.
She walked for a long time. From stepping on the hem and getting slapped in the face by fabric to almost slipping and tipping over, Ilya corrected her calmly every time.
“Relax your shoulders.”
“Keep your back straight.”
“Let the skirt lead you.”
“Don’t lift your feet so high; you’re not trying to kick down a door.”
Flora was being driven crazy. “H — How can I possibly be elegant in this dress?!”
Ilya lightly touched her palm. “Take it slow.”
It was this sentence that suddenly calmed her down. She took a deep breath and tried again. This time, the first step allowed the skirt to open smoothly.
On the second step, her toes lightly touched the ground. Taking the third step, her upper body remained steady. On the fourth step, she actually… didn’t fall.
Lena’s eyes lit up instantly. “Your Highness!!”
Flora herself was stunned. ‘…I succeeded?’
Ilya nodded. “Yes, very good.”
Flora suddenly felt a strange sense of accomplishment swell in her chest.
It was just walking, but for the first time, she felt like she had a little bit of control over this body, this dress, and this “Princess” role. Even if it was just a negligible amount.
Flora prepared to sit down, full of confidence. The next second, the skirt exploded into a large wave with a *rustle*. She fell into a pile of petals, submerged in fabric.
‘Does this dress have a consciousness of its own?’ Flora wondered.
Lena hurried to explain, “No, no… it’s because Your Highness sat down too quickly, too straight, and with too much force…”
“Then how should I sit?”
“More elegantly…”
“I AM ALREADY BEING ELEGANT!!!”
Ilya finally spoke. “Let me teach you.”
She lightly lifted the side of the skirt, and the fabric flowed away as if following a command.
Then her upper body leaned slightly, her waist as soft as silk, and in an instant, she landed lightly on the chair. No wrinkles, no noise, and no extra movements. It was as beautiful as a painting.
Flora bit her lower lip. “I — I can’t learn that.”
“You can,” Ilya’s tone was soft yet firm.
On the first attempt, Flora had just lifted the skirt, but she put it back down because the position was wrong.
On the second attempt, the skirt was accidentally lifted too high, and she almost pinned Ilya’s hand. On the third attempt, she sat down with too much force, and a *pffft* sound of air being squeezed out came from under the skirt.
Flora was so embarrassed she wanted to die on the spot. ‘You guys… didn’t hear that, right?’
Lena stammered, “…I — I didn’t hear anything!”
In reality, she had heard it crystal clear.
On the fourth attempt, Flora’s movements were so fast it was like she was scrambling for a seat. It wasn’t until the seventh time that Ilya finally walked directly behind her and reached out to lightly press her shoulder.
“Flora, relax.”
She subconsciously looked up, only to be shrouded in Ilya’s shadow. Then, Ilya leaned down, her hands gently supporting Flora’s wrists.
“Use two fingers… lightly pinch the skirt… like this.”
The warmth touched her skin; it was grounding. The tips of Flora’s ears began to heat up again. “W — What are you doing so close?!”
“Teaching you, of course.”
“You can, you can stand further away to teach!”
“You need me to stand here.”
Flora was left speechless. ‘Who needs you to stand so close!’
But… it really was a bit more reassuring.