Morning.
I woke up earlier than usual today. It’s a “Lady’s Day.” That’s just what I casually call it, it’s not some special occasion or anything. I named it that because the lectures on Lady’s Day are all about manners, dancing, and other refinements that noble daughters in this kingdom need to know. And waking up earlier than usual is part of that too.
It’s not like I’m attending a ball or anything, so I figured my usual clothes would be fine, but the people around me wouldn’t allow it. Especially the dance instructor and the maids. The instructor said it’s better to get used to wearing them regularly, so on Lady’s Day, I’m required to wear a dress every time. I get the feeling the maids just enjoy dressing me up like a doll. Still, I agree that getting accustomed to it is a good idea, so I spend the whole day in a dress.
Lady’s Day isn’t just about wearing a dress. It involves makeup, hair styling, and getting polished from head to toe, which takes time in the morning. That’s why I have to wake up early and head to the palace. After getting up and doing some basic prep, I leave for the palace in the early morning, before the sun’s fully risen. The maids are already waiting in the room prepared for me.
The room is stocked with colorful dresses, shoes, and accessories. All these outfits were provided by the palace. I was shocked at how perfectly the dresses and shoes fit me. I’d like to think they just gathered whatever was available and it wasn’t all made specifically for me. I’m tempted to ask the civil official about it, but if I did, I’d probably feel obligated to accept them, so I’ve been too scared to bring it up. For now, I’m treating the outfits as something I’m just borrowing from the palace. The maids, consulting each other about which dress to pick today, look like they’re having fun.
“You all seem to be enjoying yourselves.”
“Well, choosing from so many outfits is just so much fun.”
I said it with a wry smile to Marie-san, the leader of the maids standing nearby, and she replied with a wry smile of her own. The maids waiting for Lady’s Day are the same ones who helped me when I was summoned and got me ready for the audience. It kinda feels like they’ve become my personal attendants.
Among them, Marie-san is a bit older than me and seems to have worked at the palace for quite a while. She can be strict with the other maids under her, but she’s generally good with people. Since we’re close in age, I probably talk to her the most out of all the maids. Today, while the others picked out a dress, we chatted about the latest dress designs trending in the capital and things like snacks to pass the time.
“How about this dress for today?”
After a while, one of the maids came over with a dress in hand, apparently having made a decision. It was a fluffy, tangerine-colored dress. The design isn’t overly flashy and suits my taste, but the color is so vibrant that I worried it might be too bold for me.
“Isn’t the color a bit too bright for me?”
“Not at all. Look.”
I asked Marie-san for her opinion, feeling a little anxious, and she assured me it was fine. When they held it up to me in front of the mirror, it didn’t seem as flashy or out of place as I’d feared. Guess that’s what you’d expect from the palace maids’ eye for style.
“Seeing it like this, it’s not that flashy after all.”
“Shall we go with this one?”
“Yes, please.”
Once the dress was decided, it was time for makeup and hair. I leave those completely up to them. They do a much better job than I ever could myself. The most I do is ask them not to make the makeup too heavy.
While they’re doing my makeup, they pick out shoes and accessories to match the dress. Since I have my eyes closed most of the time during the makeup, I don’t know what they’re choosing. I can tell from their voices that they’re enjoying it just as much as when they picked the dress, though. I get it, choosing from so many options must be fun. Back in Japan, work kept me too busy to shop for clothes or accessories often, but when I did go out, browsing through stuff was enjoyable. The maids might feel the same way.
But when it’s me wearing it, that’s a different story. The outfits they prepare seem to reflect my preferences, leaning toward simpler styles. But that’s by this kingdom’s standards. Compared to Japan, they’re pretty extravagant. Wearing them myself, still carrying my Japanese sensibilities, feels overwhelming and makes me shrink back a bit. I could just refuse to wear them, but seeing how excited the maids get picking them out, I can’t bring myself to say no. So I’ve given up and decided to pretend the jewels are just imitations.
The real problem isn’t the dress or the accessories, though. Once the makeup’s done, it’s time to put on the dress, and that’s where the challenge lies.
“Here we go.”
At Marie-san’s signal, the ribbon is pulled tight. I almost let out an “ugh” but manage to swallow it down.
What the maid is tightening is the corset’s ribbon. In this kingdom, an impossibly tiny waist is the ideal, and noblewomen use corsets to cinch their waists as much as possible. Since I’m from another world, my dresses are apparently designed with a slightly wider waist by this kingdom’s standards. The maids take it easy on me since I’m not used to corsets. Even so, it feels like something’s about to come up. I totally get why people in the past fainted from this, it’s that bad. I’d lost even more weight since coming to this world, so I thought a corset wouldn’t be a big deal. I underestimated it. I didn’t expect it to be this tough… It gets a little less painful after a while, but I can only take shallow breaths. Will I ever get used to it enough that it stops being this bad?
“Are you okay?”
“Yes.”
Marie-san checked on me as I slumped after the ribbon was tied. I wanted to scream “No, I’m not!” but I held it in. Praying I’d get used to it someday, I made it through the ordeal again today. Once the corset’s on, the dress comes next. That part goes quickly. With everything finally ready, I can head to the lectures.
In the morning, I learn about manners. It covers walking, greeting, and all sorts of gestures, but it surprisingly takes a toll physically. Graceful movements apparently use muscles I don’t normally work. While my posture’s being corrected mid-bow, my leg muscles start trembling. For someone like me, who’s a bit out of shape, it’s kinda tough. The corset squeezing my waist might be making the stamina drain worse too.
The instructor for this lecture is supposedly a top-tier teacher who usually trains high-ranking noble daughters, so the guidance is a little strict. But that strictness pays off. When I move as instructed, it feels so elegant and polished, which makes it rewarding.
“You’ve improved a lot.”
“Thank you.”
I got some praise from the instructor during curtsy practice. Since she’s usually strict, it feels extra nice to be complimented. I wonder if it’s really necessary to be this thorough, but once I start, my personality makes me want to master it completely. I can’t help it. Still, I think the nobles here who live with this every day have it rough. Maybe it’s not so bad once you’re used to it.
In the afternoon, it’s dance lessons. It started with learning how to stand, then beginner steps, and lately, I’ve been able to dance with the instructor as a partner sometimes. The instructor says we’re moving a bit fast. Because of that, I secretly practice the steps in my room every day. Since it involves unfamiliar postures, I got sore muscles at first. The movements aren’t super intense, so it doesn’t drain my stamina as much as I expected, but I don’t know about the advanced stuff. Might be good to build up some endurance now.
In a slightly spacious room, it’s just me and the instructor. Today started with reviewing steps again, ending with a dance paired with the instructor. As I moved to the rhythm of the instructor’s counting, there was a knock at the door. No one’s ever come by during a lesson before. We stopped dancing, and the instructor went to the door. Wondering who it could be, I looked over and saw the captain.