Chapter 23: The Royal Training

Chapter 23: The Royal Training "Please, your Highness, your posture is off. The shoulders, slightly more... yes, just like that. Now, place your left hand on the table, and your right holding the glass, lightly." Mikhailis glanced sideways at the maid speaking to him, Lira, who was instructing him on proper noble etiquette. She was a short woman, with chestnut hair tied neatly into a bun, her expression always serious but never harsh. He was in a special private royal room, specifically designed for lessons like this—an elegant space with rich, dark wood furniture, soft lighting, and a view of the garden through large windows. The room felt unnecessarily formal for something as basic as learning how to sit and drink properly, but here he was, going through the motions. "Shoulders back... glass raised... sip slowly..." Mikhailis muttered to himself, mimicking Lira's instructions. To be honest, it wasn't that hard. Back in Ruslania, he had attended various formal events with his brother Dimitri, where even the smallest details like the angle at which you held a glass were scrutinized. It wasn't a life he had chosen, but it did mean that these lessons felt a bit redundant. And yet, he found himself following along, allowing the maids to marvel at his 'natural talent.' "Perfect!" Lira exclaimed after a moment, her eyes wide in surprise. She stepped back and exchanged glances with the other maids standing nearby. "I must say, Your Highness, you move with such grace. It's as if... well, one might think you're of noble blood." Mikhailis shrugged, a small smile playing at his lips. "Ah, me? Noble? Nah. Maybe it's just... I don't know, raw talent?" Lira blinked, clearly caught off guard by his nonchalant response, but then she smiled softly. "Talent or not, your movements are impeccable. I was told this lesson might take at least four hours, but you've already mastered the basics in one. Remarkable." "Four hours, huh?" Mikhailis raised an eyebrow and stood up, stretching a bit. "I guess that means I get the rest of the day off?" Lira chuckled lightly, though it seemed she was still trying to figure him out. "I suppose you do, Your Highness." Mikhailis noticed the other maids whispering among themselves, their eyes still on him. He gave them a quick wink, causing them to giggle quietly before they bowed and left the room. Lira, however, lingered, watching him with a curious expression. "You really aren't from nobility?" she asked. He grinned, hands slipping into his pockets. "Nope. Just a guy who likes to watch anime, raise insects, and maybe crack a few jokes. Nothing too special." Lira's brow furrowed slightly, but she gave a small nod. "I see. Well, if you ever change your mind about that, I wouldn't be surprised. Then please excuse me, your highness. Please have a good rest," With a final polite bow, she left the room, leaving Mikhailis alone. He sighed, running a hand through his messy hair as he made his way back to the royal chamber. After a few minutes, Rodion's voice returned. Mikhailis raised an eyebrow. "Sounds like a classic good vs. evil setup." "Ah, so it's more like a moral gray area. Got it. More like, I've heard about it from Elowen already. What else?" Mikhailis leaned forward, intrigued. "A city full of adventurers? Now that sounds like my kind of place. Bet there's all sorts of interesting people there." Mikhailis raised an eyebrow. "I'm guessing that's where the nerds hang out?" Mikhailis chuckled. "Alright, alright. Anything else?" "Sounds like a fun place to visit. Maybe I'll head there one day," Mikhailis muttered, leaning back in his chair. Mikhailis smirked. "Yeah, sounds like a place to avoid." Mikhailis stretched his arms above his head, feeling the weight of all this new information sink in. "Alright, so Silvarion is all about preserving magic, and the Technomancers want to mess with it. There's a city full of adventurers, a city of bookworms, and some crazy wasteland to avoid. Got it." Mikhailis sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. Let's get this over with. Then we can proceed with our next experiment,"