You're slouching again.

"Stand up!"

Ashley flinched and immediately straightened her back. She held her breath as the Countess roamed her eyes around her body. From the tip of her hair to her feet, she couldn't help but look down. She was feeling very conscious. The Countess's observing glare almost melted her.

That lasted for seconds till the Countess directed her gaze to her face. It meant that she was done with her so-called inspection. She sighed with relief.

"It looks like we have a lot to work on."

When the Countess said that she bit her lips in shame. Was she really that bad?

'I mean, I know some stuff about table manners and courtesy.'

That was considered etiquette right?

"Your posture.... The way you address, your behaviour, hmm. What else?" she said and looked at the ceiling as if contemplating what else to say. She then turned her head back to Ashley and revealed a sarcastic smile. 

"Everything... Seems lacking."

Ouch. 

That was harsh.

Ashley wanted to crease her forehead but she knew that the Countess would surely consider that as disrespectful thus, would increase the things that she had to 'work on' Ashley. 

How can she say that? That was mean. How would she know? She wasn't from here so it was understandable. Why say harsh words like that? She wanted to retort.

She continued with her blank expression and just waited for the Countess to speak again. 

"As you know, you are now considered a citizen of Altria. Not just that. You are a legacy, the first of your kind."

"I don't know where you came from nor do I care but—You are now a part of this kingdom and hold an honorable title. You should act properly according to our customs and tradition." 

She gave a questioning look to Ashley. 

"That is if you really want to be a part of it." 

The Countess closed her mouth and waited for her response as if she was asking her a question. Ashley didn't know what to say. Will she say yes? If she did, is she willing to throw everything she used to believe in and just follow the ways of this newfound home she was sent to? 

She absentmindedly nodded. If she didn't, what would the Countess think? Her survival was her topmost priority at the moment and it was ungrateful of her to refuse. 

The Countess only raised her brow before deciding to start the lesson. 

"Good."

She turned her back from Ashley and started to rummage under her things. She brought a leather rectangular bag that resembles a suitcase in Ashley's world. 

She took out some books and paper then ushered Ashley to sit. She quickly followed her instructions and sat on the chair stiffly. She waited till the Countess was done with what she was doing. 

The Countess walked towards her and handed her three books. She took it and placed it in her lap as she waited for further instr

"These books contain the lessons you will take." she pointed at the red book in her lap. "That contains illustrations about things you will use in fine dining." 

"The others are about language, behaviour, dances and customs you must follow. I recommend that you will read them after our lessons and before our session next week." 

"For now, let's work on your posture. You look rather lazy and you do not exude the presence of a lady." 

Ashley just nodded and just followed everything she said. She didn't complain though her blunt words actually give multiple blows to her pride. She really wasn't the type of person to slouch before. She actually had great posture but due to being bedridden for three years her posture also deteriorated. She didn't want to tell the Countess that because she knew she would be indifferent. She sighed and just listened to the Countess attentively. She stood up when the Countess told her to. 

The Countess went near her. She grabbed her shoulders and pulled it to protrude her chest. She then pushed Ashley's lower abdomen to make her but stick out. She raised Ashley's chin. 

Ashley was surprised the countess did everything so fast she didn't have time to react. She felt her back stretch and just held her breath. She didn't know how long she would maintain the position. Her butt sticking out made her feel strange. 

"Now try to walk." 

Ashley immediately picked up her pace despite feeling weird. She felt like a poodle and was super conscious about her shoulders and butt. She walked and walked and the Countess didn't bother to tell her to stop. 

She increasingly felt her neck grow sore. It was because she was so stiff. She wanted to relax so bad and was just about to do it for just a little bit, when...

"You're slouching again." 

She held her breath in nervousness. It seemed like the Countess really had the eyes of a hawk. She thought she would notice but she saw it immediately even though she was just about to do it. 

She fixed her posture again and walked. 

That session continued for hours. After an hour of walking the Countess would let her rest by sitting but when her ten minutes were up she would proceed to making her do it again. She was very strict and would always pinpoint her mistakes. 

Ashley was so tired. It felt like she ran a marathon though she was just walking for hours. Her back really had some improvement but it hurt. She actually felt more flexible  but she knew her posture wasn't perfect yet. After all it would take weeks or months for her to fix it. Her butt didn't feel strange anymore and she grew slightly accustomed to the position. 

The session ended after 6 hours. She couldn't wait to jump to her bed. She wanted to rest her back but the Countess told her to sit or stand straight and don't rest immediately or else the session would be worthless. 

She didn't want to comply but it would be troublesome if she delayed her improvement. Of course she would just waste her efforts if she did that.