Half a Year to My Debutante
Today, I came to the castle to attend a briefing about the Debutante.
Though it's called a castle, it's not the main royal residence or a government hall. It's a small detached palace—large enough for a private soirée. Nobles can reserve it for tea parties or gatherings. I've been here before with Mother for such events, so the place feels familiar.
Inside, several people were already talking. Three young ladies sat at the table on the right, while two young lords occupied the one on the left.
With more ladies than lords, the gentlemen looked a little uncomfortable.
I approached the young ladies' table.
All three faces were familiar.
"I apologize for keeping you waiting. I'm Spica, daughter of Count Emmental. It's been a while, everyone."
"Oh, Spica-sama, you're here too! I'm so glad."
The one who greeted me warmly was Patricia-sama, daughter of Duke Mitzberg—one year my senior and the highest-ranking among us. Her sharp eyes and blonde hair make her look bold, but she loves cute things and always notices when someone feels uneasy.
"It's an honor to sit with the famous Lady Spica... I'm nervous already."
That timid voice came from Sharylya-sama of House Margrave Mar. She'll enroll in the academy the same year I do. Her ash-blonde hair swayed lightly, giving her a fragile air.
"Elder Sister Spica, it's been too long~desuwa. I feel so reassured to have you here."
The speaker was Yunaria-sama of the Canalzan family—one year younger, with soft curves and a gentle, dreamy expression. She had the endearing presence of a small animal.
After we exchanged bows, a palace maid served us tea.
"I wonder who else is coming?" Patricia-sama tilted her head, equally curious.
The answer arrived soon enough.
The door opened, and a single lady entered.
"Ah, everyone's already here."
We all stood and curtsied.
"We offer our greetings to Her Highness, Princess Altera of the Imperial Nation."
Patricia-sama spoke for us, but in truth, all rank in this room shifted the moment the princess arrived.
"Raise your heads. This is a simple meeting, after all. Let me see your faces."
We obeyed.
Her Highness had silver hair and crimson eyes—beauty so perfect it bordered on divine. Not quite a woman yet, not quite a girl either—she shone in that brief, mysterious stage between. And like all members of the Imperial Clan, her charisma commanded obedience without effort.
The two young lords flushed crimson but held their composure. Grandmother would have called that "barely passing" for noble behavior. If I recall, they were Baron Rossini's son and Viscount Tottuna's son.
Her Highness didn't look their way. She walked straight toward our table.
"May I join you?"
None of us would refuse. Every noble child grows up knowing that a royal's "request" is a command in gentler form.
"It's an honor."
Patricia-sama's graceful invitation and Her Highness's easy smile revealed their closeness—they were childhood friends.
We spent a while chatting. The mood turned warm and easy, likely because everyone had met before at tea parties. We talked about the season and recent gatherings—safe topics, polite and pleasant.
When the conversation lulled, Her Highness spoke again.
"I'm looking forward to celebrating our Debutante together. Please, call me Ana. We'll be comrades enduring the same lessons from the chief lady-in-waiting, after all."
"Then I'll be Sia! What shall we call everyone else?" Patricia-sama's mischievous grin lightened the room.
"It feels too great an honor... but please call me Shasha." Sharylya-sama smiled shyly.
"I'd love to be called Yuna! May I call you all Elder Sister? I've always dreamed of having one." Yunaria-sama's eyes sparkled, her cheeks glowing pink. We all smiled and nodded.
When it came to me, I hesitated.
"Please call me Spica, as my family does. My name is short—there's never been a need for a nickname."
"That won't do," Ana-sama said, her lips curving thoughtfully. "Spica... the first-magnitude star in Virgo, yes?"
She paused, then her eyes brightened.
"What if we, and only we, call you Pearl? Spica's other name is the pearl star, and your family's emblem is a pearl. It suits the Jewel Princess of House Emmental, don't you think?"
I didn't know what she meant by "Jewel Princess," but the name sparkled with wit. My chest fluttered at the thought—only my dearest friends would call me by such a special name.
"Then it's settled! Sia, Shasha, Yuna, and Pearl! Let's work hard for our Debutante!"
A voice interrupted softly yet firmly.
"That's the spirit, Your Highness."
We turned toward a small elderly woman. Her wrinkles ran deep, her hair white and tied tightly atop her head. Unlike Ana-sama's shining silver, it held no luster.
We rose at once to greet her.
"Thank you all for gathering today," she said. "I am Nefertiti, the Chief Lady-in-Waiting overseeing this Debutante. You'll see me often in the coming months, so please call me Nefera. Remember: within this residence, my word carries the same weight as His Majesty's. Is that clear?"
Nefera-sama's sharp gaze swept across the room.
I placed my hand on my chest and bowed deeply.
If Lady Nefera's words carried the same weight as His Majesty's, then I had to act as though I stood before the Emperor himself.
So, I offered the bow reserved for expressing agreement with an imperial decree.
"Of course, Chief Lady-in-Waiting Nefera. Are there any other points we should note?"
Ana-sama spoke first.
Though I couldn't see Nefera-sama's face, her long sigh filled the air—a sigh that seemed to say good grief.
"Your Highness Altera, please look around you."
Ana-sama shifted, and the faint sound of fabric brushing reached my ears.
"From today onward, within this venue, Your Highness will be treated as the equivalent of a Grand Duke's daughter.
The same rule applied when your elder brothers made their debut.
This is an opportunity to learn the perspective of a subject rather than a member of the Imperial Clan. Take it seriously."
Ana-sama froze, clearly unsure how to react.
"Nefera-sama," I said, unable to remain silent. "Forgive my boldness, but may I speak?"
She answered simply, "You may."
I straightened my back and dissolved my earlier bow.
"It may be difficult to adjust so suddenly to a different station. If you would allow, I suggest you first explain what behavior you expect of Her Highness."
"Lady Emmental, you've studied well. Your grandmother was Francesca-sama, yes? She was an excellent woman."
Her tone softened, though her face remained unreadable. Her gaze lingered on me with a faint, wistful air.
"I intended to test your current level of understanding, and I apologize if that seemed discourteous.
However, among you, only Lady Emmental met the passing line.
The rest will receive personal instruction.
Especially Her Highness—this will not be easy, but I expect diligence."
Nefera-sama's tone stayed steady. Ana-sama's eyes wandered, uncertain and anxious.
Later, we were all dismissed to the anteroom to change into dance practice attire.
I waited alone with a cup of tea and a slim poetry collection, reading until a maid called my name.
The room I entered was dim—only the northern light reached the figure at the desk.
I bowed as I would before a member of the Imperial Clan.
"I offer my respects once again to Chief Lady-in-Waiting Nefertiti, who upholds the stars of the Empire."
I held the deep curtsy longer than comfort allowed, waiting for permission to rise.
"You may rise, Lady Emmental. Did your Mother teach you this courtesy?"
"Of course. Both Mother and my Grandmother in our territory trained me."
"I see... As I said earlier, I have no fault to find in your conduct.
But tell me, why did you perform the bow reserved for His Majesty?"
"You said your words carried the Emperor's authority.
I interpreted that to mean you spoke as His Majesty.
Therefore, I used the proper bow for that circumstance."
"That's correct. Few your age would reason so clearly."
"I'm fortunate to have excellent teachers."
"Francesca-sama was my junior and colleague once. I see much of her in you.
Perhaps age makes me sentimental, but I feel her presence strongly today."
It seemed Nefera-sama and Grandmother had known each other well.
"After these interviews," Nefera-sama continued, "you'll return to the hall for the introduction of your Cavaliers.
You cannot refuse your assigned partner. That would defy the Emperor's command.
However, the court may later approve a reassignment based on health, height, or family conflicts.
Do you have any questions?"
"Yes," I asked quietly. "Has a Cavalier ever been changed before?"
"Yes. When height differences caused difficulty, when illness made training impossible, or when families became political enemies.
Also, if either party behaves in an ungentlemanly—or unladylike—manner, including inappropriate relations."
My face flushed crimson.
"Inappropriate relations" meant acts reserved for married adults.
I lowered my head, mortified.
"My, how innocent. How refreshing," Nefera-sama chuckled softly.
I wondered what she truly thought of me.
* * *
After my interview, I re-entered the hall through a side door.
Tables had been pushed aside. Facing the wall stood Ana-sama and Patricia-sama in matching practice dresses, shoulders slumped in exhaustion.
Apparently, the interviews followed family rank order.
"Are you both all right?"
They turned with teary eyes.
"Pearl, it's your fault for being too perfect~desuwa!"
They clung to me, half crying, half laughing. Each had five thick etiquette textbooks stacked in front of them—the same I'd seen in Grandmother's study.
Before long, Shasha-sama entered with the same weary look and the same mountain of books.
Then came Yuna-sama, followed by the two young lords.
Every one of them carried identical textbooks and tired faces.
Apparently, none of them escaped Nefera-sama's lessons unscathed.
Yet somehow, our shared misery united us. Someone—probably Patricia-sama—declared, "Defeat the Chief Lady-in-Waiting! Aim for Pearl's level!"
The laughter that followed washed away the tension.
Just as the energy began to settle, the grand doors opened.
Nefera-sama entered first, followed by four gentlemen and two ladies.
I recognized two of the men—the Second and Third Princes.
The two ladies, both familiar faces from previous tea parties, had already made their debut last year.
Notes:
• Patricia - Duke Mitzberg’s daughter; joins pre-Debutante meeting; supports Ana’s friendly circle (direct: lesson prep; underlying: peer bonding); childhood friend of Ana; allied with Spica; bold yet kind, loves cute things.
• Sharylya - Margrave Mar’s daughter; meets Spica at briefing; gains etiquette training under Nefera (direct: debut prep; underlying: social refinement); peer to Ana and Spica; shy and gentle.
• Yuna - Count Yunaria’s daughter, youngest at the retreat before the Debutante. She overeats sweets and discusses dresses with peers. The training is led by Lady Nefera. She admires her older peers. No romantic links. Cheerful, gluttonous, youthful charm.
• Yunaria - Viscoun Canalzant’s daughter; joins debut group; learns etiquette with others (direct: debut lessons; underlying: noble education); admires Spica as elder sister; soft-spoken and affectionate.
• Altera - First Princess appearing at the etiquette retreat three months before the Debutante. She joins discussions on etiquette and dresses under Lady Nefera’s instruction. The retreat trains nobles by Imperial command. She bonds with Pearl and others. Known for wit and candid speech.
• Ana - Altera’s cousin, at the retreat before the Debutante. She shows her jacquard gown gifted by the Crown Prince, symbolizing alliance. The Imperial family hosts the event. She mentors younger nobles and shares affection with the Crown Prince. Elegant and composed.
• Nefera - Nefertiti the Chief Lady-in-Waiting.
• Nefertiti - Chief lady-in-waiting; leads debut program; tests nobles’ manners (direct: imperial order; underlying: preserve decorum); once colleague of Spica’s grandmother Francesca; mentor to debut group; strict, insightful teacher.
• Francesca - Former Countess, niece of an emperor, first appearing at the castle greeting. She enforces strict etiquette toward Spica. Wife of Elbam, step-mother to Spica’s mother. Stern, intelligent, rigid in rules.