Chapter 41

A thin sheet of paper was placed in front of her, its pristine surface promising challenges she wasn't sure she was ready for.

"Answer each question as best you can," Lady Orita said, her voice crisp as freshly ironed linens. "Take your time, but remember: hesitation often betrays a lack of preparation."

Q gulped, gripping her quill like it might sprout legs and run off.

She hadn't slept much the night before, determined to cram as much as possible into her overworked brain. The manual had proved both helpful and maddening—its pages crammed with etiquette, protocol, and obscure tidbits she couldn't believe anyone actually needed to know. She'd spent hours flipping through chapters, learning everything from the correct tilt of a teacup to the precise way to announce a royal guest at a banquet.