32 Spare Me

The afternoon session is a royal etiquette class taught by Susana. She looked at me and Vivian with cold eyes. Her eyes seemed to be a ruler to measure our movements, and every mistake we made was caught and scolded.

"Vivian, raise your hand."

I made a standard gesture and looked at Susana's unkind eyes in Vivian's direction. The bell between my wrists rang softly, and I could not help but remind her anxiously in my heart.

"Ah, sister, I don't like this etiquette lesson."

Vivian, with a sad face, raised her arm again with difficulty. The bell carried the sound of her heart. Among the trained maids, Vivian is like a duckling among the Swans. In the fluttering pink fluffy dance skirt, her non-standard posture is always obvious.

"Hang in there, Vivian. This class will be over soon. How about having the chef bring you your favorite cranberry cake tonight?"

I stretched my arms on the polished wooden floor as Susana asked, practicing the ballroom dance that royalty must learn, and peering o