Zylith.

Actually, the so-called Royal etiquette was not only limited to the Countess's 'Ready-to-go' command. Everyone, including the Queen Dowager and the nobles were keenly observing my movements from the moment they set foot into this ballroom.

I could tell they were trying hard to nit-pick my mannerisms and the way I carried myself. My inspection had started the moment I was surrounded by there bloodhounds and vipers. So I had to be very careful when I socialized with these supposed high-end bigwigs.

In fact, the Royal customs were not really something mere nobles could be a judge of. While being under the torturous tutoring of Old Hag Wroth, I discovered that all the etiquettes and proprieties I had previously learnt were nothing but a child's play. The Royal customs were much more complicated than that. Even though the Hag's classes sucked and to be truthful, I didn't really gain much out of her nagging but the books on etiquette provided me with a much vivid and in-depth knowledge about the royal customs of Reveldron.

It was soooo stupidly hard that I felt like I was reborn again as I adapted myself with the customs of the palace. It wasn't only related to walking or dressing up in a more royal manner, but it was more about the spirit. It was all about the mindset that put you above all else. In a way, you must be mindful of even a strand of your hair that had been misplaced. About the amount of noise you make while you walk or talk or even the simplest of actions like picking up a teacup to take a sip; Oh! And even the sound of the sip had to be controlled and meticulous.

If you ask my opinion, it was all a real big-ass hassle in the name of customs. Because come on! Who the hell gives a f•ck about the sound of your sip of tea. But sadly so, the Royals of Reveldron did, so I had no choice but to adapt with this crazy farce.

Countess Wroth waved at me to walk up to her, and I readily complied. Walking in a regal demeanour was a chore all on its own. Specially with high heels on, you have to always be mindful of your posture and you cant look down, your hands had to be tucked in front of you in a placid gesture befitting your status and your back, straight like a firm pole. You were not allowed to show even the hint of diffidence in front of your subjects and you are to be as confident and arrogant as though you are the master of this world.

I walked slowly but gracefully in front of my audience, putting everything that I had learnt in the past month in this one performance.

When I reached the Countess after exhibiting my performance, I reached out for my fan and in a swift flap, covered my mouth to showcase a royal's conduct while speaking, "Lady Wroth." I muttered in a clear but gentle tone.

"Yes, (Ahem!) Her Highness's performance was rather amusing, I must say. Though I was expecting a little better than that. Your walk just now was a bit tipsy on the side, don't you say?" I could hear hushed murmurs around me, people trying to gossip but not willing to get in trouble due to His Majesty's (Alexteris) presence.

"Well then, shall we proceed to the next test?" The countess continued and I nodded in silence.

The next inspection was on table manners where, as described earlier, normal noble were not allowed to make any noise with the cutlery, but the Royals were different. They had the privilege to make limited amount of noise while they ate, but it was Limited, and you should know the expanse of limited it was. When you were having food on the same table as the nobles, you are to cover your mouth with a fancy fan while you ate. Your food was to be cut into bitesize pieces by your personal maid-in-waiting(Training your maid-in-waiting was also one of the Queen's responsibility as the spouse of a monarch) while you sat, your spine is supposed to be erect in a dignified manner, and not a little of your inner emotion is to be visible on your face. I'd rather starve than maintain such table etiquettes which doesn't let you even breathe since you also have to be mindful of your attire. As I've said before, not a single strand of hair should be out of place as you carried out such rigorous customs.

When I first started learning such ridiculously demanding customs, I was stumped to say the least, and it took me a while to get used to these absurd rules and regulations. But I am proud to say I managed to get the gist of things here (At least I think I did).

All of us, including the nobles, Alexteris, Lord Xavier, Queen Beatrice and the princess took their places on the dining table and the lunch was served.

Liana got to work while I sat on my chair in a slow fluid motion. There was pin-drop silence while everyone had their lunch, only the occasional clanging and clinging of silverwares were heard. Countess Regina Wroth on the other hand, sat right in front of me and observed me with a hawk's eyes. Actually, I could tell that no one was in a mood for food. All of them were rather eyeing my every move as I ate my steak in silence.

And as such, the lunch went by in a very tensed and edgy atmosphere.

When we were finally done, Countess Wroth still had more words of demean for me. "Your Highness, I suggest you hold your fan in a more composed manner, and a bit lower than you currently are holding. And please train your maid with better conduct the next time you bring her to an inspection." Poor Liana visibly stiffened when she heard the Countess's snide remarks, but I signalled her to not lose her cool. These nobles were a pack of wolves who will not shy away from shredding you to pieces if they find a single fault of yours. You can't afford to show them a single weakness.

And on we went to the dance floor next; the Reveldronian Royal's way of dancing was a more peculiar than the rest of the crowd. Even though you are on your heels, you have to be always on your tiptoes as you danced. I don't exactly know how to well describe it but it was very complicated to say the least. You have to get the hang of things after you first start your dancing lessons. When I first did start my lessons I had a kind of body ache that was unique all on its own. It was the kind of pain that made you feel someone was stretching your muscles out of your bones. You just felt like why are you even alive! I wanted to applaud the Mummy siblings back then for being able to hold on for this long in this Royal family of ridiculous etiquettes.

Today, I was given a partner for my dance who was specifically chosen by the Countess herself. This partner in front of me was Clodian Wroth, the grandson of Countess Wroth. I heard he was reputed to be the best dancer in the nation of Reveldron, and so the Countess invited him today to be my dance partner for the inspection.

Young Count Clodian Wroth was a youth with a high nose-bridge and beady dark brown eyes like that of the Countess. He had brownish blond hair and looked very tall at a glance. He wasn't good-looking, but he wasn't bad looking either. All in all, he didn't stand out much from the crowd, but held a high status in the noble society due to his heritage.

He came forward from amidst the crowd and smiled slightly at me while offering me a stern gentlemanly bow. I nodded at him once to acknowledge his greeting and then held out my hand for him to take.

He swiftly took my hand without delay and cued the music to begin.

We walked into the centre of the dance floor and as the sweet melodious music slowly filled the air of the ballroom, the young Count took charge and pulled me closer towards himself while placing a hand on my lower waist.

He was unnaturally close as we danced, normally it couldn't be helped when one was dancing such an intimate dance but there was a propriety in every dance, which the duo was not allowed to cross during a dance if they were not well-acquainted.

Slowly but surely, the guy got so close to me that I could even feel his breath on my face. I looked at him in an austere manner and saw a flimsy lopsided little smile hanging on his lips. His wayward hands crept from my waist to the small of my back as he pulled me in even closer. At this point I wished so bad that I was an octopus so that I could slap this guy's face eight times all at once. It was so blatantly obvious now that this guy wanted to get nasty with me, I couldn't ignore such advances even if I wanted to. But I could not show my disgust on my face, so I somehow endured.

However, the last of my patience dwindled away and the thin string of tolerance snapped when I felt a slimy mouth suddenly attacking me. Yes folks, you have heard right. This shameless Count had the gall to kiss the First Queen of Reveldron in front of the entire noble crowd.

For a moment, I was beyond comprehension, and then I violently struggled to get away from this lusty swine. The very next moment, he was aggressively pulled away from me and thrown to the ground. And I saw Alexteris punch him like he wanted to kill him. Liana got behind me to support my unstable form while glaring at the sorry excuse of a Count who lay sprawled on the floor.

Everything happened so fast that no one had any time to grasp or analyse the situation. Lord Xavier had his sword pulled out from his scabbard and the blade laid sharp on the neck of Count Clodian Wroth, whereas Fredurd rushed to my side and also pulled his long sword out and stood in front of me in a protective stance.

The hall was suddenly filled with cries and chaos, everyone going berserk over the outlandish turn of events.

"How dare you!" Alexteris growled like a goaded beast.

"N-No No Your Majesty, listen to me! I-I found the First Queen rather intriguing... NO! T-That's not what I meant. I mean Queen Elizabeth just piqued my interest..." He abruptly covered his mouth with his two hands to stop talking, as if his mouth was not listening to him at all and had a mind of its own.

Alexteris and Lord Xavier's auras got darker and darker with each passing second while both Liana and Fredurd looked at Count Clodian as if he were mad while pulling me a few notches back in alarm.

"Oh? What else did the Count find intriguing about me?" I smiled lightly as I spoke.

The count shook his head from side to side as if he was refusing to talk anymore but Lord Xavier grabbed his two hands and forcefully held them away from his mouth, as a result, his mouth opened.

"H-Her Highness is just the kind of woman who.... can fan my flames of desire. I... ugh.... I can't stop myself from imagining my nights with Queen Elizabeth... I... Ughhh.... I wish to ravage her so much so that I could see all of that so-called nobility of hers fade away as she screams under me... Ughhhhh!" His eyes were red as he glared at me like he could gobble me up if he were given the opportunity, biting and gnawing onto his tongue to stop his vulgar speech.

His vulgarity was so crude that there were loud gasps and grunts all around me, people pointing and blethering in hushed hums.

At that moment, the otherwise stupefied Countess Regina came to her senses and scampered forward to defend her grandson.

"Majesty! Your Majesty! This is all but a ruse; this is ploy to destroy this old Countess's household. Beseeching Your Majesty to not be deceived and look for the real culprit!" She howled like a wounded animal as she got on her knees to hold back her grandson.

"Really? Why do you think so Countess Wroth?" I sardonically raised an eyebrow.

She, in turn glared at me as if she could just bite my head off, all of her prior façade gone with the wind and her hostility lay bare for all to see, "You!" She screamed, "It was all you!"

Yes. It was all me.

To be Continued.........