Royal Etiquette Lessons

Lily has been staying in the palace for a week and she was exhausted after all those etiquette lessons. Plus, one thing that hate the most, she hasn't got the time to call her parents at all ever since she stepped in the palace. She wanted to share everything to them and also to Amelia. But she just can't. During lessons, the tutor would take her phone. But once the lessons ends, it was already midnight as she was too sleepy to hold her phone.

Apart from that, ever since she met Ren in the waiting room, she hasn't got any chance to meet him. She's been waiting for Ren to drop by to say hi or anything. But no. he was nowhere to be seen. Sometimes, during her break, she would ask some of the servants asking where he is, but they have no idea as they are not allowed to know about his private schedule.

As for today, Lily was in the dining hall as she has a lesson regarding on dining etiquette.

"Sir, can I just eat like how I normally eat? Because this is so not comfortable for me." Said Lily as her body was tied to the chair. The distance between the table and her body was kinda far for her to eat.

"I'm sorry miss, but this is how I supposed to train you. Now please, remember you should be seated." Said the tutor firmly.

Without saying any words, Lily began to sit properly like how she was trained yesterday. Which is the Cambridge Cross position which is placing one leg behind and the other one and slightly bending her knees for comfort.

"Good." Said the tutor and Lily smiled proudly.

Then, they begin to start their lessons. There are so many etiquette that Lily has to learn. From the way she pick up the cutlery, the way she could eat and many more. One thing that she found it ridiculous as the she can only bite the food three times.

"Three times?!" asked Lily in surprised.

"Is there any problem?" asked the tutor in cold voice.

"N-no ma'am I'm fine with three bites." Said Lily. "good." Said the tutor.

"And please remember, you are forbid to start eating before the queen. And please, it's a necessary to watch the pace at which the queen is eating. If she stops, then all of the people at the people shall stop too. Understood?" explained the tutor and Lily nodded.

"Yeah. Understood." Answered Lily. How wish she could end the lessons early for today.

The lessons ended with how she should hold the teacup. Once the tutor was satisfied by how she hold the cup and Lily was surprised to know that the lessons ends pretty early for today.

"Here," said the tutor as she gave her hand phone back.

"Oh my god, our lessons has ended for today? For real?" asked Lily in excitement.

"Why, you want me to extend it?" asked her tutor as she raised her eyebrows but Lily shook her head. "Alright then, I'll be seeing you tomorrow with our last lessons, which is walking." Said the tutor. "Alright, thank you ma'am, I need to call my parents now because I missed them so much!" said Lily happily and left the dining hall while holding her phone.

Lily decided to take a sit at the palace garden. Then, she noticed that there's a few servants were following her from behind too.

"That's okay everyone… you can do your own things… I need my own private time… thank you so much for today~" smiled Lily.

"Alright Miss, we will meet you again after dinner preparing for your bed." Said her butler, Madam Nina and bowed politely to her before she left.

Once she was alone at the palace garden, she starts to video call her parents.

"Hello sweetheart, it's been a week~ how are you?" asked her mom.

"Mommmm I miss you so muchhh" pouted Lily. "I'm sorry I couldn't call you every day… I was so busy with the royal etiquette lesson that I don't even have the time for myself…" said Lily.

"Oh really?" asked her father and Lily nodded. "Yeah, the lessons ended pretty late and when midnight comes, I was too tired and fall asleep. Then, I need to wake up pretty early to start my lessons. But, there is one thing that I love the most." Said Lily.

"And what was that, sweetheart?" asked her mom.

"I don't have to choose what to wear. I have people who choose for me. And, my clothes are different every single day." Answered Lily.

"So… did you spend a lot of time together?" asked her mom.

"W-well… not really… he was pretty busy but don't worry mom, we're fine~" said Lily giving her dry smiles. Truth to be told, the last time she met Ren was the day she came into the palace. Ever since then, Ren was nowhere to be seen.

Then, Lily was being silent for a few seconds making her parents worried. "Sweetheart, what's wrong?" asked her father.

"No that… I'm just too tired… I just ended my dining etiquette lessons but I'm okay… you're daughter here is a very strong girl~" said Lily trying to cheer up the situations.

"Lily, if there's anything you find it hard to do, don't push yourself. Instead, take a break and start again. And remember, never give up." Said her mom and Lily nodded. Tears was about to dropped from her face but she held in.

She wanted to see Ren. She wanted the etiquette lessons to end. She just wanna be herself. She was too tired with all of this. She was so glad that she could call her parents and share some of her thoughts with them.

"Alright mom, I gotta go now…" said Lily. "Alright, goodbye dear~" waved her mom. "Bye, I love you both." Said Lily and blow a kiss to her parents and ended the call. Once the video call ended, the tears that she's been holding on just now, rolled down her cheeks.

"I don't even wanna be here anymore." Muttered Lily alone while wiping her tears using her hands. "He never care about me." Said Lily while kicking some pebbles with her feet. While she was muttering alone, she heard and unfamiliar voice from behind and that really surprised her.

"You mean Nicholas?"

Lily was too surprised with the sudden voice, scared if Augustin or Ren himself came towards her. Thank god, it wasn't them.

*who is he?* thought Lily as she has never seen his face before. He looked sophisticated. With those dark blue suits and black formal shoes. Indeed, this man is handsome but at the same time, he has a very different aura compared to Ren. He seems, like a gentleman.

"W-who are you?" asked Lily.

"Well," said the man as he walked towards her and take a seat next to Lily.

"My name is Lucas. Im Nicholas cousin." Said Lucas as he held out his hand to handshake with Lily.

"If you're his cousin, that means… you're a prince too?" asked Lily and Lucas nodded. "im sorry, Your highness, I wasn't supposed to-" said Lily but Lucas cut off her words before she could even finish her lines.

"There's no need to be that graceful, polite, manners and everything to me. Im okay with it. You can just call me Lucas. I'm not like Nicholas~" said Lucas as he smiles. And he looked so charming with those smiles. "Oh, okay then~" said Lily softly as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"So… you were calling your mom?" asked Lucas and Lily nodded. "I just missed them so much…" said Lily. "And Nicholas hasn't been visiting you at all?" asked Lucas and Lily nodded. "Gosh that workaholic guy. Don't worry, he is indeed busy for the past few days… im sure he'll make some time for you…" said Lucas.

"I'm here today to meet him…" said Lucas. "He's back?" asked Lily in excitement and Lucas nodded. "Well, he's back doesn't mean he's gonna meet me~" pouted Lily and Nicholas found her cute.

While both of them were talking, the sky has turned darker and the weather was getting pretty chilly. Lucas noticed that Lily was shivering and took of his blazer and put it on Lily.

"Thank you." Smiled Lily. "Should we go inside and have some hot coffee?" suggested Lily and Lucas nodded. "Yeah, sure~" said Lucas. Then, both of them left the garden. While both of them were walking, to Lily surprised she saw Ren was walking along the hallway too.

Ren who just came back from working, noticed that Lily was talking happily with Lucas. *isn't that Lucas's blazer? Why is she wearing it?* thought Ren as he walked towards them.

"Nicholas." Greeted Lucas as he fist bumped with him and smiled. They're cousin so of course they're close.

"I was talking with your fiancée while waiting because I need to discuss something with you." Said Lucas.

Lily was too surprised when Lucas mentioned she was his 'fiancée'

"w-were not engaged yet…" said Lily. "He chose you as his wife to-be so you deserved to be call as his fiancée." said Lucas. Then, Lily looked towards Ren and found out that he was looking at her too. But he did not say any words. "Shall we have dinner together?" asked Lucas.

"Yeah, Augustin, tell them to prepare a dinner for the three of us." Ordered Ren.