It was surprisingly easy to get into the rhythm of things, and Olivia is not sure what to feel about that.
What Caliste told her had indeed come true, probably because the cook told the head maid about it. First thing in the morning, when the sun isn't even awake yet, Klara knocked on Olivia's door. "Young lady? It's time to get up. We have a long day ahead of us."
Unfortunately, it was easy to get Olivia to wake up. Her body was a little trained from the countless mornings she spent waking up early to study the material in advance for the classes, and so she quickly fixed herself up.
And by that, she meant having to sit there while maids brushed her hair and prepared her bath.
The nice thing about this room, aside from the space and the luxury items, is the bathroom. It wasn't modern and tiled, obviously, but it runs on hot water. The bath is a pool, too.
It was really nice.
It's also pretty uncomfortable for her, who was used to doing things on her own. "I'm sure I can wash my face?"
Klara gave her a look.
"...or maybe not."
The way Klara approached the lessons that day reminded Olivia of how classes in high school and college began in her school. With a short orientation on how Olivia will learn etiquette beginning today. Then she's given a written test to see how much she already knows.
Uh. It's probably to be expected that she flunked that one.
Physical test? At least she has great balance (which comes from working at a bakery while also having siblings, but that's a long story), but everything else leaves to be desired. According to Klara, anyway.
So, they start with dinner etiquette! Since she made those sugar crystals, or so the head maid says.
It shouldn't go too badly, right?
Yeah.
==
She picked up a random fork. "Uh. This is for the meat, right?"
"No, dear. That's for the snails."
"Right", Olivia placed it back down and picked up another fork. "This is--for the meat! Right?"
Klara gave her a look. This time, it was well-deserved, since the older woman had just told Olivia about the functions of each utensil only moments ago.
The only thing Olivia could do was laugh a little and try not to die inside. This is going to take a while...
...hm. While staring at the plates before her, Olivia suddenly had a thought. "Miss Klara? Quick question; do you know how the plates here are made?"
The head maid seemed genuinely perplexed at this. "No, I don't. Why is this relevant--"
"I don't know how, either! At least around here! But back home, plates are actually made of ceramic", Olivia held up the dinner plate. No use trying to keep her mouth shut now. "To make them, you need clay, sand, and feldspar! Specifically, potash feldspar--I think? I'm not sure about that one."
"...what's, erm. What did you call it? Feld...?"
"Oh! Feldspar! It's what you need to lower the melting temperature. Basically, you want to mold the clay into an intended shape, like this one. But you need the clay to be moldable first! So, Feldspar helps with the shape before firing."
"I...see. And--firing?"
Olivia nods. "It's a whole process, especially if you're looking to make several plates in one batch. Clay is used as powder and mixed with feldspar and sand, then put into molds to measure how much is used in each plate."
Klara blinked. She tapped her chin. "Does it matter how much is used for each...plate?"
"Of course! It's unfair if some get more than others."
Klara opened her mouth. But just then, the door from the left end of this dining hall opened, and a maid stepped out. "Miss Klara. We have a visitor."
Klara glanced at her. The head maid promptly steps away, dusting off her apron on her skirt. "Right. That's it for today, young lady Cecil. We shall continue tomorrow."
Olivia blinked rapidly. "But..."
Klara had this whole plan, though? Olivia hadn't even memorized anything yet, either.
Despite her thoughts, Klara still went on her way. Leaving her here.
--hm.
Olivia stands. She doesn't want to deal with guests, and if she's not required, perhaps she can stay in her room. There were still a lot of books in there that she hadn't read, so.
==
"Milady, the guests are asking for you."
Agh, dangnabbit.
==
Blue eyes sparkled the second they landed on Olivia from the top of the fancy staircase of Cecil Mansion. "Miss pretty lady! Crystal lady!"
Green eyes blinked rapidly.
"It's you again!", Olivia greeted the kid, as said kid ran up to her.
It's you again?? She wanted to scream her head off.
The third prince, Tederich. The kid that lunatic madwoman wants to kill. The kid who calls himself Deri and smiles up at her happily like normal children do. "Hi! I really love your crystals! Can I have more?"
And, ah. Well.
Too bad she's always been weak with children. "I-I don't think there's leftovers, but I can make more for you..."
Deri cheered. As the kid celebrated by himself, Olivia let her eyes raise upward.
Crimson were looking at her, something unreadable in them. Eric was wearing a different tunic this time, colored a dark grey, but his hair--
"Your hair's messy", Olivia points out. "I assume the trip here was long?"
Eric blinked at her. Then burst out into chuckles for some reason.
What. What's wrong with what she said?
"Yes, I'm very much fine", the man hums afterwards. "I'm here to go over the design for the craft you wanted. My little brother wanted to come with."
--huh? Little brother? This child prince?
Uh. No, that's probably not what Olivia thinks it is. No way.
Eric is probably a soldier, to be honest. Or a guard? Just here to make sure Deri is safe and sound!
Yeah, that makes more sense!! Okay!!
Olivia allowed a wide smile to appear on her face. "Okay. Right this way, then?"
She doesn't have the extensive knowledge of how machines from her world work when it comes to mass production. But she knows their functions and the expected products that come with them.
She wanted to make something that could mass produce sugar crystals, to make life easier for all of them.
With some help, surely that goal is doable. Surely.