How Do You Do, Sire?

It's been two years since I arrived in this world—a time that feels both fleeting and endless. After all these years of keeping a low profile, I think my infamous reputation has finally begun to fade.

During this time, I've been careful, venturing out only to select gatherings and exclusive balls—small, private affairs where I could control the narrative. While many still hold onto their prejudices, I've managed to meet and establish stable connections with people my age. I wouldn't call them friends just yet—they're still wary of me—but at least the fear has lessened. The whispers about me being some terrifying, cruel noblewoman have quieted, and to my relief, those I've interacted with no longer look at me with outright suspicion.

More importantly, those closest to me—the ones who serve me daily—have fully accepted my change. No one trembles in my presence anymore.

I felt a sense of pride in this accomplishment. Proud of myself for pushing through, for not shutting myself away, for taking those first difficult steps to change. I am no longer a full-time homebody, and it no longer feels exhausting to smile and greet acquaintances when I step out to shop.

It's early in the morning. Maya and the others aren't here yet, so I use this extra time to stretch. It's going to be a long day—lots of preparation for today's main event: my coming-of-age ceremony. Aside from select people, I'll finally be seeing new faces outside my sanctuary. It's going to be a challenge.

I was in the middle of a squat set when I heard Maya's voice from the door.

"My lady, what in the world are you doing?" she exclaimed, clearly shocked at the sight of my vulgar pose. I couldn't help but laugh.

"You call it... exercising!" I responded energetically, finishing my last rep.

"You've been doing some odd things these past years, my lady..." Maya said, her tone a mix of concern and pride.

I just smiled at her as I wiped the sweat off my brow. Yes, a lot of things probably seemed odd to them. In an era where women wear nightgowns to sleep, I had requested a seamstress to make me satin shorts paired with a spaghetti strap top for my nightwear. Revolutionary, right?

Oh, and I might add that panties and bras aren't even a thing yet. So, I had those created as well—along with men's underwear. I even gifted the first pair to my father, and he's happy with them.

I couldn't help but laugh at the thought of the men here wandering around without proper underwear. How long had their... dong been jingling around as they walked?

"Pfft!" I snickered as the image flashed in my mind.

As for the women, they loved the panties, though their thoughts on the bras were divided. Some found them uncomfortable, especially since they already wore thick dresses. Others were thrilled, saying they added extra support.

These revolutionary ideas have only been introduced to the people in the duchy so far. My father's aid, sir Logan, urged me to turn them into merchandise and sell them across the entire empire—my first business venture, as he called it. My father even agreed to the idea, believing it would be a great opportunity.

But honestly, I'm not too keen on the idea. Business? That's not exactly my forte. Sure, I have knowledge from my past life, but incorporating modern ideas into this world isn't as easy as it sounds. It's overwhelming to think about handling production, distribution, and marketing on such a large scale. What if I run out of ideas too quickly? What if my designs don't catch on? I don't even have the confidence to put myself out there yet.

For now, I told them I'd think about it. Maybe instead of managing a business myself, I could just patent the designs. That way, merchants could pay me for the rights, and I'd still earn from them without the hassle of running an entire operation. But even that can wait. Right now, I'm not in a rush.

My father has settled to it for now as well, and I'm excited about the possibilities. Also, I've managed to mend the relationship with him. We're on good terms, and I even call him "dad" now—sometimes.

"What are your thoughts for today, my lady?" Maya asked, her concern evident. This would be the first time in two years I'd be showing myself to the whole world again—openly.

"I'm just as worried as you, Maya. But I know it will be fine," I smiled confidently.

My re-education has prepared me to understand society better and become the noble lady I was supposed to be. Though I don't remember Aerin's life, her body's muscle memory has come in handy. Being the daughter of a duke certainly has its perks.

Mastering table etiquette and maintaining a proper walking posture came effortlessly. Tea-time rituals, the meticulous art of setting the table, composing elegant letters with refined penmanship, dancing, and even horseback riding—all were skills that required little effort. Embroidery, drawing, and painting were second nature to Aerin, and fortunately, her body retained the muscle memory for them. All that remained for me was to refine the finer details and perfect each execution.

The true challenge lay in unraveling the vast history of the empire, yet even that did not take me long. Within two years, I had absorbed all the necessary knowledge, ensuring that I could navigate the aristocratic world with confidence.

And yet, despite my mastery of noble decorum, I could not fully suppress the remnants of my modern self—the instincts, habits, and mannerisms ingrained in me from another world. No matter how diligently I tried to present myself as the perfect noble lady, there were moments when my true nature would slip through the cracks.

Now, the time had come to step forward—not just to blend in, but to embrace my new place with confidence.

Resurfacing.

Was I excited? I believed so.

Was I nervous? Without a doubt.