"……okay, stop."

Together with the sound of clapping, I stopped my movements.

"Mellice-san's posture is very good. I wonder if it's because of your military training?"

In response to Aurelisama's words, I could only smile while tilting my head ambiguously.

Because though she was asking me a question, I unfortunately did not have any answers for it.

"However, you movements are too brisk. If quick movements are necessary, then that could be considered fine, but……what high society desires is elegance. It is not for each individual movement to be interrupted, but for all of them to connect together like a flowing stream…….like this."

After saying that and standing up, Aurelisama stood on the spot and took a bow.

……it resembled what I did earlier, yet it also did not.

Although she was in a relatively rough state of dress compared to how she was dressed in the parlour during the day, in my eyes, it felt like Aurelisama was dressed up with the scene of a party hall behind her.

After Aurelisama showed me her example, she once again took her seat.

"Now then, could you start again from the beginning?"

Under Aurelisama's instruction, I once again was put in dire distress due to the handling of the hem of my dress.

……throughout the morning were lessons in foreign languages, and with a lunch break inserted between them, the afternoon had lessons in manners. The lessons came one after the other, and before I knew it, the sun was already setting outside.

Because I had been concentrating, it felt like the pa.s.sage of time was faster than expected.

……honestly speaking, since I was not used to these lessons at the beginning, by the time they finished quite a bit of mental fatigue had acc.u.mulated.

In comparison, though I was concentrating, to think that I now wouldn't even notice the time pa.s.sing…..

I suppose it meant that I was unexpectedly becoming accustom to Aurelisama's lessons.

When I thought about that, a cup filled with tea was placed on the table before me.

"That is enough for today. Please, do take a breather."

"Yes, thank you very much for today as well."

Slowly, I brought the received tea to my mouth.

"This is something from your home……it is a product of Salbill from the Anderson territory's southern area."

After the physical lessons were finished, we would have a tea party as both a reward and an opportunity to review the day's lessons. At that time, Aurelisama certainly will continue to grant me her teachings like this freely.

…….leaving that aside, though it is the territory that my house is managing, this is the first time I knew that the Anderson territory was producing black tea leaves, so I felt a bit embarra.s.sed.

Just what in the world have I been learning up until now? ……the military arts, I guess.

As I pointed that out myself, I felt that it wouldn't do anything even if I felt down about it and lifted my head.

"It is very delicious. While this is embarra.s.sing to admit, this is the first time I've learned that our territory is producing black tea."

"Is that so? If I am not mistaken, the Anderson territory is famous for producing honey and ores, correct?"

"Yes, that is right."

"This black tea is something that has recently become popular in the Capital. Originally, I am told that it was cultivated with great attention by a single region. It is particularly rumoured to go superbly when consumed together with the honey sold by the Anderson territory's shops."

"I see."

"Creating such fads is also a reason for the existence of high society, and is a duty of a wife and daughter."

Inside of Aurelisama's eyes was a strength that one wouldn't imagine just based on her graceful figure.

"For example, this tea. Due to the craze over it, the tea plantations of the region producing them have expanded, and new jobs were born. With the people being able to obtain a steady income, the public order of that region has become better, and from the profits of it, the investment allowed a new industry to be created…….this is an important duty that we carry in order to enrich our own territory's sales."

"……the public order became better…….you say?"

I unconsciously bit onto those words.

"Yes, that is the case. In order to live, a steady income is indispensable. However, without a job to obtain that income, nothing can be done. Examples of what may conceivable occur in such cases are the efflux of the population leaving to work away from home, or an increase in crime due to people resorting to thievery. If it's for the sake of living, concepts such as good or evil become mere trifles, leading to the worsening of public order, further causing the hearts of the people to run to waste……and then that vicious cycles continues…….of course, that is not the sole cause, but it could be said to be one of the major causes. Maintaining public order is important, but cutting off the root cause in and of itself……the one that can do that is the territory's lord, while it is the duty of his wife to a.s.sist in that."

Cutting off the root cause.

It felt like that single phrase caused something to fall into place inside of me.

A road that would connect my wish together with Rui and Elder Brother's words up until now.

"For that reason, one must be sensitive to the current trends. What is being sought out in the marketplace, and what is lacking in it - knowing all that is just the beginning. In order to win a battle you must know your enemy and know yourself……was it? In other words, it is like that."

"……would it be alright if I ask a single question?"

At my words, Aurelisama simply smiled silently.

Taking that as an affirmative answer, I opened my mouth to continue my words.

"As you may be aware, I have not debuted in high society. My mother has already pa.s.sed away, and my father is someone who is rather estranged from the recent trends. There is my elder brother, but he is at the Academy and likely does not appear much in high society…….you said that it has recently gained attention, but just who propagated this tea?"

Aurelisama's smile deepened at my question.

"……my husband asked me to. He was wondering if there was anything that could be of use as teaching materials for you. It just so happened that something that the marketplace was seeking and I was seeking overlapped."

Aurelisama did not give a precise answer as to who it was.

However, those words alone were sufficient.

"Is that so? ……thank you very much for your wonderful teachings."

At my words, Aurelisama simply smiled softly.