After a few days Rose was able to get permission for me to be her mentor for etiquette. On the sole condition that her grade improves before the end of the week. She is going to have Ren join us just in case something happens. The first day, I walk into the room where we are holding our 'etiquette class' and I see Rose. Looking absolutely beautiful in her school uniform. Her hair is a little bit of a mess and more so than usual per the script. I scold her, "Commoner, if you are to walk these hallowed halls of this institution, you need to at least present yourself in a manner befitting of a noble. You will have to try harder to impress me." I snap my fan I hardly ever used for social gatherings in my hand. Again, per the script. I continue, "If you need help with your hair, feel free to ask Heather or Mia. Both of them can help you make whatever that is into something acceptable."
I approach her and drag my fan up her back slowly and whisper in her ear, "Commoner, straighten up your back. Only peons slouch like you. You want your suitors to see your chest on display, right?" I glance over to Ren to signal to him I am still in control and everything is going to plan. I look back to Rose and she is blushing and standing up straight. She is looking so cute right now and I just want to hug her, but I can't. Just thinking this and I start to feel sick.
I open the fan and turn to hide the sickening feeling I have and compose myself. I clear my throat and turn back to Rose and say harshly, "Now greet me as if I just walked into this room, commoner." She says while doing a sloppy curtsy, "Good morning, Violet." I snapped back, "You call that a curtsy? Let me show you how it is done, you plebeian." I then show her a proper and perfect curtsy while grabbing my imaginary skirt since I am wearing pants, "Good morning, plebeian." I say with elegance. I straighten back up gracefully and continue, "That is how it is done. Now take note of my grace and try to emulate it yourself. You will never reach my level, but what can one expect from a commoner?" I ask rhetorically. As per the script. I hate how she is making me say these things, but I do like being close to her at least. I really would love to touch her, but I am quite sure that would probably set off the curse. I am too scared to find out.
She blushes and does another curtsy and this one is a lot better. I say, "Still needs work, commoner, but at least you aren't embarrassing yourself as much. You will need to practice a lot more to reach my level." I snap the fan on my hand, "Now with the greeting." Rose curtsies, "Good morning, Violet." I open the fan and hold it in front of my face, "Much better, plebeian. With more practice it may even be passable. Whatever you did with your voice I will need you to fix. Now again." She greets me again and we go back and forth a while while I nitpick her overall form and tone of her voice. The nitpicking here is all improv since Rose actually did need help with etiquette. All by Rose's design.
After school when it was time to talk, Rose took the cup and tugged on it excitedly, "Violet, that was amazing. I learned so much today. Thank you so much." She says with a beautiful smile. I tug back, "You are most welcome, Rose. You are my most treasured friend." Rose tugs on the line and asks, "So how did you feel today? That is most important." I tug the line back, "It felt like I was walking a tightrope. One misstep from falling into the curse. You were being really adorable and when I got an urge to hug you, I felt sick."
Rose tugs on the line and says dejectedly, "I will then try to not let my real feelings show to make it easier for you. I am sorry." I tug on the line, "Don't apologize for being cute… Though I will really appreciate the help. Thank you." Rose tugs on the line, "I really wish we didn't have to worry about setting the curse off with your touch. I would really love to feel your touch during these classes." I tug on the line feeling particularly worried, "I am just terrified that it will set off the curse. I just merely thought of hugging you today and I felt sick. I know I won't be able to handle touching you. I just like you too much." Rose tugs on the line wearing a big smile, "I like you a lot too, Violet."
We had a few more lessons this week and every one is similar to this one. I talk to her harshly while teaching her class. Walking the invisible tight rope to prevent from setting off the curse. Rose's performance at her evaluation at the end of the week scored glowing marks from her professor and we got permitted to keep the etiquette classes going, but they want to add another student who is also struggling to raise their grades as well. I really hate how we have to share our alone time now.
During our next session there is a big bosomed girl that probably has back issues. She has long black hair and is beautiful. Though beautiful as she may be, she is not Rose. I walk up to her and do a formal greeting since we are in an etiquette class and bow slightly saying, "Good morning, miss. My name is Violet. Would you do me the honor of telling me your name?" She responds with a decent curtsy, "Good morning, Violet. My name is Lily. I will be in your care." I respond while standing back up gracefully, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lily." Our script is going to be rough now with another person in the fray. That and rumors of my treatment of Rose might circulate.
I look at Rose and she has a weird face. I look back to Lily and ask, "So what part of etiquette do you need assistance with, Lily?" Lily says, "I struggle with tea etiquette." I responded, "Then today's lesson shall be on tea etiquette." There is a tea station in this room which works out for us. I start off by saying, "First things first. Tea parties are all about the kind of tea. Hence the name. You want to make sure everything about the party is centered around the tea you are presenting. Snacks are determined by the type of tea served and should serve to elevate your tea. Both of you sit down while I prepare the spread." I turn to Ren who is chilling at the side of the room spectating, "Why don't you join us, Ren? You can be their tea party guest."
They come and take a seat at the table while I prepare the table for today's tea party. Lily asks, "What is he doing here if he isn't taking the etiquette class?" I respond in a cold tone, "Does a woman need an excuse to have her fiance join her for tea?" Lily responds a tad dejectedly, "No. I guess not." As the tea water is coming to a boil I quiz them, "Commoner, what type of snacks are best for black teas generally speaking?" Rose says unsure, "Brownies?" I smack my teeth, "Brownies would go good with black tea but that was not the answer I was looking for you plebeian. Lily, do you by chance know the answer I am looking for?" Lily is making a weird face and says, "Cookies." I reply, "Not wrong, but again. Not what I am looking for. The answer I was looking for was rich foods and/or baked goods. If it has flour and sugar, then it will probably be a good pair for black tea. The key word in my question was 'generally speaking'. Make sure you pay attention to the wording on exams because sometimes the professors will try and trip you up."
Right now I am brewing an herbal tea since herbal teas are the most complicated in terms of pairing which is probably what is confusing them. Once I get the first batch steeping I start the next batch of herbal tea. Once the first batch is done steeping I pour some into the cups for them, "Examine the tea and tell me generally speaking what type of tea it is and pick the snack of the assortment in front of you that would best pair with it." Ren takes a sip and says, "I don't know, but it is really sweet." Lily sniffs it and says, "It kind of smells fruity?" I say, "Speak with conviction, Lily. When you state it like a question, you sound plebeian like her." I say pointing to Rose. Rose picks up a scone, Lily picks up a cookie and Ren picks up a sandwich.
I approach Rose and throw the scone away, "As expected of a plebeian. That is a fruity tea in front of you and therefore the fruit salad here, the tart here, and the fruit filled pastry there all would have been correct answers. Go ahead and pick one of them up and eat them with your tea so you can experience an elevated palate. You should be thankful we are sharing these with a commoner like yourself." Lily looks shocked, "Why would you throw that scone and talk to her like that?" I get my fan and place it under Rose's chin lifting her face, "She said it herself that she needs to learn this way. Go ahead and ask her." Ren is just observing eating his sandwich almost as if it were popcorn.
Lily looks to Rose worried, "Did you really ask to be taught in such a manner, Rose?" Rose lightly nods since my fan is still under her chin and she says, "It is as she says." While looking at Lily. Lily makes a weird face and we continue teaching and by now the next pot is screaming ready to be steeped. I go start steeping a spicy herbal tea. As that is steeping I sit down and enjoy my tea with them. I look over and see Rose slouching, "Commoner, your back should be straight and elegant. Your plebeian is showing." Lily makes another weird face I don't understand and we continue with today's lesson.
News spread by the next day of my harsh treatment of Rose during the etiquette lesson. I heard murmurs about it everywhere I went. Everyone thinks it is because of jealousy over Ren. JUST LIKE IN THE NOVEL. I sigh knowing this would happen when another person came into the fold. I am a villainess after all. What can I expect out of this narrative besides being ostracized by my peers? It was written to be this way so I don't really have much hope for changing it. I sigh again looking out the window.