It's been 8 years, and I have finally reached adulthood.

So, before anything else, let's confirm my progress over the last eight years.

First of all, I can proudly say I've finished my queen's training. It still took most of my time of the day during the last eight years, but it always ended in the early afternoon, so there was time for my physical and combat training that would last until evening.

Of course it was a pain to keep the training secret. Especially since there were always some sneaky people among the new people we hired.

Anyway, when I began practicing the art of the sword, I won over Eric in all but two aspects. Endurance and reflexes. I beat him until I reached the point of exhaustion, whereafter that I ended up being mostly defenseless. As such, I have focused on endurance and reflex training.

I admit I quite enjoy the long evenings of training and the early morning run. Compared to before I feel relaxed and it feels a bit like being back home...

As for my more Lady like classes... I- I just can't embroider. I hate it. It's pointless labour that should be considered below the rank of nobles. My teacher tells me that it is a beautiful sign on favor to give, if Alstair is ever to go to war... but like I would let myself be left behind for a war. No matter who my future husband is.

So, since I am not doing all too well at embroidery, and averagely at everything else... mother demanded that, if nothing else, I must excel at dancing.

Apparently the dance with Lionel had impressed her and the adults around her, so they were expecting to see more.

Dancing is indeed a good way of displaying both physical but also some mental skills, used to plan the dancing route if your are a man, and the exchanging of information between the two parts when it comes to moves.

All in all, I am fine with most parts of dancing. Just not being as physically close to random men as the dances this culture demands.

For now I'm avoiding the non-mandatory class of singing. Not that I cannot sing... but whenever I try my throat knots up.

...either way, while I am stuck in embroidery class, Eric is practicing strategy and swordplay.

Of course, as the years pass by Eric got to my level. If not for the many other classes he had to take, then he would likely have overtaken me as well. Time and dedication makes a big difference. I do feel like I've reached a new insight in using the sword though. My style now is likely a mix of classical swordplay from home, and whatever moves fit in. Surprisingly Father actually helped a lot in working out the next steps in the style.

Eric has been studying with hardly any rest ever since the siege. To be quite honest I am amazed at his determination. However, Ameline has scolded me for making Eric grow up too quickly. That I've gone too far.

I don't think so, but it's probably because of the memories of my former life, where I suppose we are forced to grow up faster there. My former world was quite different. We didn't have as much time to grow up.

Eric asked me once about my former world, but explaining an intelligent sickness that makes you go mad and hunger for human flesh is... difficult. Not to mention zombies.

Furthermore, the sickness rate was higher, the wealth lower. The weather a good deal worse. Yearly skirmishes on all borders is almost a given, war isn't though. Killing is a duty, and I suppose the way we deal with commoners was different too. One insult from them towards us and their lives were forfeit. At least in our clan. Others were more tolerant.

Eric had muttered something along the lines of 'brutal control caused by brutal conditions'.

I do suppose that it could be scary that all dead that do not get burned can turn into monsters.

After I'd told him of my previous world Eric had watched me curiously for a while before going back to normal. In the end I suppose he didn't think it was important. We do get along far better now though.

All in all, Eric has matured into a wonderful heir in the span of those 8 years. He is now 19, and searching for a wife. It isn't that he wasn't looking before, but whenever he found someone, it was as if fate deemed it wrong, and something would happen to break the engagement. Usually a 'higher bidder' or 'true love' got in the way, but sickness and after one of the girls died in an accident... he stopped looking for a while.

He is waiting until graduation, to which he has one year left. None of us ever worded out 'curse', but we probably both thought it.

While on the subject of curses. Remember how I've ripped Alstair's clothes in the past? Apparently it wasn't supposed to stop there. After the fifteenth time both of us were exhausted and began to look up actual curses... of course, when I askered Lumere, Lumere named itself the culprit.

Apparently Alstair's clothes are blessed and woven with threads of fire. At the same time, my entire body is blessed by water. So, upon touch, my blessing cancels his, and the shirt then technically has no strings in the seams... thus it falls off, or rips off. Because it was amusing, and because Alstair uses fire, Lumere was just enjoying the show until I asked for the reason, and demanded a pretty big compensation in return for telling me... as such... our pond now has stepping stones.

Since neither of our blessings are removable, we've decided on a 'no touching' policy, to let Alstair keep a little bit of decency, and for me to have a break from being viewed as a molester.

While Alstair has definitely become more of a sight since we were young, I still prefer someone a little more... well, battle hardened.

Those are my personal preferences at least.

It is not that the prince is unfit for the role of a fighter, but as I thought, I want to feel myself pressed up against a hard chest when I can no longer move in the heat of battle.

...

Errr... we went off a side track there.

...

Now, you may wonder why I have not mentioned these sorts of interests before, however, now where the guys around me are finally beginning to look like adults I can actually think of them as 'attractive' rather than 'cute'.

"How rare for you to be blushing Ojou-sama."

Ameline voices out quite pleased while brushing my hair.

After the incident where I slapped her she didn't resign from her post. She greeted me home after the party with tears in her eyes, and upon seeing my scars she cried while counting them... over and over...

She still nags once in a while, but nothing like she used to do. You could say she has decided to stop trying to turn me into something I cannot be. She started looking at me like an adult instead of a child... and in return I can rest when we are alone. Still, she appears to enjoy my more lady-like moments.

"I am merely looking forward to attending the Academy."

I pause and look up at her through the mirror. She actually has a child now. A boy. As far as I recall her son is four years old as of last fall. Remember when I visited the infirmary with Eric during the siege? The first guy to stand up just barely survived standing on the wall later that day. He had been stumbling back towards the infirmary again with blood pouring out when Ameline found him while looking for me, and she ended up saving him.

Apparently he proposed to her while I was in the capital.

Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if their relationship is what keeps Ameline going.

"Will you be going with me to the academy?"

She looks back at me with a calm smile.

"I will, for a short while, Ojou-sama," she replies softly.

"Very well."

I don't mind, I never had the need of a maid anyway. Though, Ameline is incredible at setting my hair. Right now she has braided multiple strands and gathered all my hair in the back in a swirl like circle. I have no idea how she managed to hide all the ends of my hair or make it look so smooth, but it is quite beautiful. As the cherry on top she clips a small flower ornament onto the side of my head. A cute white flower.

Back onto the topic of progress, I'm mostly at neutral ground with most of the noble girls around my age. At the very least it doesn't seem like I've made any new enemies.

Except for perhaps Bridgette.

She has fully taken on the role I used to have.

There is one more thing... Iris.

Ah, my head hurts thinking about it. This little sister of mine-

"Are you ready to try out your new uniform? It arrived from the tailor this morning."

I shake off the thought of Iris' recent misdemeanor and focus on what is going on instead.

I rise from my seat and undo the buttons on my night gown.

"Of course."

Eric has been attending the academy for three years already, so I have an idea how the male uniform is designed, and as such I had an idea of what customizations I would be allowed to make on my own uniform.

The basic uniform is a calm and standard brownish black, with edges of the cuffs and notch lapel having a golden trim. Even the buttons shone a golden like color. I can imagine that some nobles would indeed put actual gold leaf on their buttons as well. For the notch lapel, our year had a burgundy shade.

As for my personal changes: First of all, a golden tie instead of a golden bow. I prefer the more sleek design. After all, I don't have a lot in the chest area to get in the way of a tie. Furthermore a layer of frills under the end of each sleeve to accentuate the white gloves I am planning to wear with it.

The girls usually have the frills up between the cuff and sleeve instead. Or if they don't use ribbons then they use a cravat together with a jewelry pin from their family.

The only thing I haven't gotten any knowledge of is the bottom part of the female uniform. For some reason it feels like it has been kept from me.

Either way, I start getting dressed, and even accept the oddly long socks, and simple frill less underwear. Actually, it all sticks to me closely. Ameline hands me a piece of... long black underwear that sticks close to my skin and is on top of my other underwear. Usually these are very loose and see through, but these hide everything, though still leave a good bit of bare flesh of my thighs until they reach the socks which are around my mid-thigh...

I am quite certain I will wear a skirt with this... but... something feels off...

Ameline then holds up the final piece. The skirt... that... won't that just barely reach my knees? Ameline looks happy and insistent... so I give in and take it on... onto to find out... to my horror... that the skirt is fastened a good deal up further than I expected. As a result the skirt is actually so short that a bit of my bare flesh is exposed between the skirt and the socks.

"My my, you look beautiful Ojou-Sama."

She looks unfazed.

"N-no no, this is in all ways too short, were the waist and hip measurements taken correctly?"

The pitch of my voice raises a bit as I tug down on the edge of the skirt. Ameline just tilts her head.

"Mmm no, the skirt is intended to be fastened there. That is the standard uniform. Since ojou-sama is shy I made the skirt as long as possible as well and had them add the extra piece to hide your underwear."

Eh?

"EEEHHHHHH?!"

My voice echo through the mansion and my cheeks end up flushing red.

"What happened to never even showing your ankles?! Why is this uniform so indecent?!"

I feel heat rise to my head at the thought of going out in public like this. I refuse! This is the same thing as Adela's dress just when I arrived here! This is not acceptable!

"It's just a uniform, Ojou-sama, there is nothing indecent about it." Ameline even blinks confused at my words.

"HAAAH?!" I burst out again and tug the skirt down further.

"If it had been any other dress you would have all called it shameful!" I sneer back at her in frustration. The only thing that is even slightly better than Adela's dress from back then is the lack of gems!

"This is the honorable uniform of the Camellia Academy, Ojou-sama." She insists without flinching.

There is no reasoning with her so I walk to the door instead.

"ERIC!"

He should know that this is wrong. He agreed with me about Adela's dressing style back then and should understand that this is unacceptable.

Eric appears as he is called. He's making preparations for the journey. Seeing me he stops and then gives a brief nod.

"Oh, the uniform suits you well, Lily."

Eh?

No. That is the wrong reaction you bastard!

You have to be kidding me!

I have never been shamed as much as I have today... or the day Lionel walked in on me...

I feel faint from blood rushing to my head.