Yuri's lessons for this week are now focused on recognizing manipulation, reading body language, and responding to social cues.
"Every noble has an agenda," Yuri explained one evening as they sat in a candlelit room, sipping tea. "You need to see past the words they speak and hear the ones they don't."
Laverna frowned, setting down her cup. "So, I'm supposed to smile while someone insults me? That sounds ridiculous."
Yuri smirked, swirling her tea thoughtfully. "No, you smile while insulting them back... gracefully. It's an art, one you'll need to master."
She leaned forward, tapping her fingers against the table. "Let's try again. Suppose you're at a noble gathering, and a lady sneers at you, saying, 'How refreshing to see someone with such a… unique sense of fashion.' What do you say?"
Laverna rolled her eyes. "I tell her to choke on her wine?"
Yuri sighed, rubbing her temple. "Wrong. Again."
Laverna groaned, shifting in her seat. "Alright, fine. How about, 'Oh, you're too kind! I do love setting trends. Perhaps in a few years, you'll catch up?'"
Yuri's lips curled in approval. "Better. A subtle dig while remaining polite. Now, try another."
They went through dozens of hypothetical situations, each one forcing Laverna to think sharper, respond quicker. The mental strain was almost worse than Shin's training. By the end of the session, she slumped back in her chair, rubbing her temples.
"This is exhausting," she muttered. "How do nobles even talk to each other without constantly wanting to strangle someone?"
Yuri chuckled. "Oh, they do. They've just learned how to do it with words instead of daggers. You'll get there."
Laverna exhaled, her fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her teacup. The conversation stirred something familiar in her memory, Magdalene and Abigail.
She had seen them use the same tactics before, their words like honey-laced poison, cutting deeper than any blade. She had once dismissed their games as pointless, but now, as she pieced together Yuri's lessons, she realized how effective they truly were.
Maybe, one day, she would use their methods herself. Perhaps she already was.
Laverna was made to practice entering rooms as though she belonged in them, maintaining eye contact with men of status without appearing either weak or confrontational. She had to hold herself with enough poise to demand respect while remaining just mysterious enough to draw attention.
"Confidence is power," Yuri told her. "If you act like you belong, others will believe you do. Hesitation, uncertainty, those are the first signs of weakness in noble circles. Show them, and you'll be dismissed before you even open your mouth."
Yuri gestured toward the doorway. "Again. Walk in as if you own the room."
Laverna sighed but straightened her posture. She took a breath, then strode inside, keeping her chin high and her steps slow and deliberate.
"Better," Yuri admitted. "But your shoulders are still too tense. You look like you're ready to pounce, not socialize. Ease into it, but don't lose that edge. You want them to notice you, but not be able to place why."
Laverna exhaled and tried again, this time relaxing her stance just slightly. The effect was immediate, less aggressive, more composed. She glanced at Yuri, who gave a nod of approval.
"See? Even if you don't feel like you belong, act like you do. The rest will follow."
It was unnatural at first, but by the end of the week, Laverna found herself slipping into the role more easily than she expected. It wasn't just about posture or presence, it was about control.
Yuri prepared mock conversations where Laverna had to navigate verbal traps and political maneuvering. Shin often sat in as a guest, throwing subtle challenges her way, forcing her to think quickly.
"Oh? And here I thought you were merely a street rat playing dress-up," Shin teased during one such exercise, lounging lazily in a chair across from her.
Laverna gave him a practiced smile, tilting her head just slightly. "And I thought you were a warrior, not a house cat who enjoys hearing himself talk."
Yuri choked on her tea, coughing as she tried to stifle a laugh. "Well played," she murmured, dabbing her mouth with a napkin. "But remember, wit is not just about landing a sharp retort. It's about control. The more confident you sound, the more power you wield in any conversation."
Laverna folded her arms. "So, if I act like I know what I'm doing, they'll believe it?"
Yuri nodded. "Exactly. And sometimes, perception matters more than reality. A noble who stumbles over their words loses credibility. One who speaks with certainty, even if they are bluffing, can command an entire room."
Shin smirked. "You're getting better at this, Laverna."
The words hit her harder than she expected. A jolt rushed through her, sharp and exhilarating, like a spark lighting something deep inside her.
Her tail swished instinctively, as if responding to the praise like an eager pup receiving a reward. The realization made her tense, her ears twitching as she forced herself to stillness, pressing her lips into a thin line to suppress the pleased smile threatening to form.
She shouldn't love this. She shouldn't love the way he looked at her when she impressed him, the way his voice wrapped around those words, low and approving. And yet, a warmth settled in her chest, blooming with unspoken satisfaction.
Yuri caught the moment, raising an eyebrow but saying nothing. Instead, she sipped her tea and smiled knowingly. "Let's try another scenario. This time, you'll be facing someone with far more arrogance. Ready?"
Laverna straightened, masking the lingering heat on her face. "Always."
Laverna was no longer just surviving these lessons, she was beginning to own them. She could slip into the skin of a noblewoman with practiced ease and disappear into the shadows without a trace. She still had much to learn, but for the first time, she no longer felt like an outsider in either world.
Shin pushed her harder, testing her endurance beyond anything she had ever experienced. She trained until her muscles burned, until exhaustion threatened to consume her. And yet, she still found the strength to rise every time he knocked her down.
As she sat in the quiet of the evening, rubbing a sore shoulder from another sparring session, Shin approached her.
"You're improving," he said, his voice softer than usual.
Laverna sighed, exhaustion settling deep in her bones. "You keep saying that."
He knelt beside her, his gaze steady. "Because it's true. You're getting stronger, faster, and more controlled. I can see it."
The words struck her harder than she expected, sending an involuntary shiver through her. A warmth spread in her chest, unfamiliar but undeniably satisfying.
Her tail twitched, betraying her, flicking once before she could stop it. She pressed her lips together, trying to ignore the sudden rush of pleasure at the compliment. It felt... good. Too good.
She met his eyes, and for a fleeting moment, something passed between them, an understanding, a tension she couldn't name.
She looked away first, her voice quieter than before. "Don't get used to me listening to you."
His smirk was slow, knowing. "Too late."
Her tail gave another small flick, and she forced herself to stillness, swallowing down the ridiculous feeling bubbling inside her. And despite herself, she found she didn't mind as much as she once did.
As the fourth week loomed ahead, Laverna knew she was close to... something. Something dangerous, something exhilarating.
She was no longer just adapting to this life. She was becoming a part of it.