Chapter 5 Courtly Conduct

Liandra

I slipped my pinky finger into my ear and scratched it.

“How scandalous! You must not do that!” The Governess scolded me, smacking my hand with her fan.

“Ow! That hurts.” I pulled my hand away and rubbed it. “Even as a governess, are you allowed to smack a noble?”

“The handbook permits it.” She pointed to the thick book resting in front of me.

The Imperial Guide to Courtly Conduct.

Here I was, in the courtyard of the Daemistre estate, being taught etiquette. It had been a day since I'd last been outside. I spent most of yesterday recovering in my room from the accident.

I still had no idea how I'd ended up in this world or why I'd woken up in Carmilla's body. Yet instead of figuring that out, I was learning how to behave like a noblewoman.

I wasn't even sure where to begin with the rest of my problems.

“Don't worry, madam. I deliver when it matters.”

The words came out confidently enough, but I couldn't help thinking about the dozens of unfinished manuscripts gathering dust in my laptop files.

I'd made that promise to myself plenty of times before.

“I'm just a little out of it because of the accident. Surely you've heard what happened.” I gave her my best puppy eyes, hoping she'd let me off early, even though we barely started.

The Governess didn't seem convinced. She opened the handbook and gestured for me to stand.

“We'll begin with posture. Stand up, Lady Carmilla.”

I obeyed, only for her expression to turn horrified.

“Goddess! What has the Daemistre family been teaching you? You stand like a camel!”

A little offended, I straightened my back and forced a smile. “I can stand properly.”

“Then you won't mind walking along that pole, will you, my lady?” She pointed to a narrow, raised pole beside the courtyard railing. It was barely wider than my foot. “A proper lady should be able to walk across it without her gown shifting out of place.”

I stared at the pole, then at my gown. “That’s impossible.”

“Perhaps I should report your progress to the Emperor. I'm sure he'd be delighted to observe your training himself—”

“No! I-I'll do it.”

I hadn't seen Feivel since yesterday, and I had no desire to give him another reason to approach me.

Whenever we met, he seemed to find some excuse to touch me, and I was getting tired of having to fend him off.

With a sigh, I walked over to the pole and removed my heels. Climbing onto it was difficult enough with my gown getting in the way, but I eventually managed to pull myself up.

I tried to straighten my back, only to wobble and throw my hands forward to keep my balance.

A moment later, I was on all fours, my hair falling over my face.

“Lady Carmilla, you must learn to control your body.”

“I'm trying.” I pushed my hair aside and struggled to free my legs from the folds of my gown. “It's difficult to move in this dress.”

“If you cannot correct your posture before the Emperor's Ball in less than a week, you will bring shame upon His Majesty.”

I glanced at her, then down at the pole beneath me.

Taking a deep breath, I braced my hands against the pole and pushed myself upright.

My knees trembled as I slowly straightened, but this time, I managed to stay on my feet.

Pleased with myself, I turned toward the Governess, ready to show her that I could do it after all. Then the world tilted around me.

“Motherfucker!”

My foot slipped, and I flailed for balance. Before I could hit the ground, a pair of strong arms caught me around the waist and back.

“You know, a lady isn't supposed to curse.”

I looked up and found Feivel gazing down at me, amusement playing on his face. He held me securely against his chest, as if catching me had been the most natural thing in the world.

I immediately tried to pull away, only to realize I was still a distance from the ground.

“How long have you been here?”

“Long enough to hear you being called a camel.”

“I'm glad you enjoyed the show.”

His lips twitched, but rather than setting me down, he continued studying my face. His expression grew softer, and I had a feeling I wasn't going to like whatever he said next.

“You know, Carmilla, you've been different since you woke up. It makes you more interesting.”

I knew that line. I'd written enough romance novels to recognize where it usually led, and I wanted no part of it.

“Nope. Put me down.”

He raised an eyebrow. “You might fall.”

“That's a risk I'm willing to take.”

He seemed entertained by my answer, which only made me more determined to get away from him.

I pushed against his chest with all my might.

The sudden movement caught him off guard, and his arms loosened.

And I fell straight to the ground with a loud thud.

“Carmilla!”

“My lady!”

Feivel and the Governess called out at the same time.

I grabbed my lower back, wincing as pain shot through it. For a moment, I could do nothing but sit there and regret every decision that had led me to this point.

Still, at least I was no longer in Feivel's arms.

He crouched beside me and reached out to help, but I raised both hands to stop him.

“Don't touch me. I'll hate you for the rest of my life if you do.”

He froze, his brows drawing together. “What am I supposed to do, then?”

“Give me a chance to stand up on my own.”

“Even if you're hurt?”

“Yes!”

He withdrew his hand, though he didn't move far. I pushed myself up slowly, wincing as I straightened.

My back ached with every movement, and by the time I was standing, I was beginning to wish I'd chosen a less painful way to get out of his arms.

I brushed the dust from my gown and pressed a hand to my lower back before turning to him.

“You. Aren't you supposed to be Elaina's fated mate? Why are you constantly pestering me?”

Feivel didn't answer immediately. Instead, he glanced past me at the Governess, who quickly gathered her things and excused herself.

Within seconds, she had left us alone in the courtyard.

I turned back to him. “Well? I'm waiting.”

“And who says I have to follow fate when the woman I'm destined for isn't the one I want?”

I blinked at him.

His gaze stayed on mine, and the faint smile on his lips suggested he expected me to ask the obvious question.

Then who do you want?

I wasn't going to ask.

Instead, I crossed my arms over my chest. “That's your problem. You don't get to be fated to someone and still act like I'm your fiancée.”

For a moment, I thought he might finally take me seriously. Then his mouth curved into a smile, and I knew I wasn't getting a straightforward answer from him anytime soon.

“Is that jealousy I hear, Carmilla?”