Code of Greeting

Lady can only stare in awe for a moment.

Her grandmother, Penelope Mireille, looks fashionably regal with such a youthful appearance – a slender figure of fair skin, a pair of purple pupils, and golden-yellow hair cut into a sharp bob with short bangs that frame her face. Her enigmatic, nearly emotionless, expression gives off a different impression, though. Maximilian definitely took after her – at least, in terms of their looks, that is.

Her grandfather, Benedict Mireille, on the other hand, appears fierce and stoic. He is a tall, bulky man that has a fair skin tone with a rosy tint. Somewhat contrasting to Maximilian's bright features, he has pale grayish-cerulean eyes and combed-back light gray hair. He, however, is similar to him when it comes to their appeal and charisma. They've got that same imposing presence.

Lady could have stared more if it was not for Maximilian's call.

"Fallon has just finished greeting them. You're up next, Lady."

Then, she froze.

She completely zoned out there. Worse, she didn't get to see how her cousins greeted their grandparents. She was so drawn to them that she failed to understand what was even going on.

She starts to panic.

"What's the matter? Go up there and introduce yourself already," Maximilian urged on, oblivious to Lady's distress.

This is bad. Very bad.

Everybody there is really watching. Even her three idiotic cousins will be spectating the epic fail of a greeting that she is about to let them all witness.

'What the heck is this proper way of greeting, anyway?! Can't I just go there and say 'yo, wassup?' or something?! I can't remember writing anything about some secret code of greeting the elderly!'

She looks up at Maximilian in horror, her mouth slightly agape. To Lady's relief, she sees a look of understanding cross his expression at that moment.

But then, in response, he just scowls at her and mutters with a raised brow, "What? You wanna pee?"

"No…!" she could not help but shout in frustration, which, of course, earned a displeased look from him.

"I-I mean, y-yes, Father! T-The comfort room! I wanna go pee-pee there-"

"Now, don't go shouting that out, too. People are gonna hear you."

She's got the warning from his cold glare alone – or more like the threat. Appalled, she immediately zipped her mouth.

And here she thought she could use the restroom as a way to escape.

"I'll take you there once you're done greeting your grandparents. It's just a greeting, for goodness' sake. Just get it over with," he said before heaving out a sigh.

Lady nodded at that, taking note that Maximilian has stated himself that it was 'just' a greeting.

With that, she gathered all the courage and confidence she could get at that moment as she started marching forward. Right then, he saw how funny and awkward she was walking. His brow twitches. At that point, though, she could no longer hear him remind her of her posture as she was already fully focused on what was ahead.

Benedict and Penelope soon noticed Lady going up the stairs and coming their way.

"Oh, my… You are…" her grandmother was the first to speak, her once impassive expression turning into an astonished one.

"Are you our granddaughter?"

"Lady is what I recall your name is…" her grandfather chimed in from beside her, leaning down at her for a bit and peering at her intently.

"Hmmm… Well, I guess they are right. You do look like my son and wife."

They appear to be dubious. Of course, they would be.