Opening, Week Five, Jenna’s Secret
“Hmm, your posture doesn’t look quite elegant, does it?”
“Is it still not good…?”
“It’s getting better little by little. Keep it up!”
“Yes.”
Today was the shop’s regular day off.
I was using my day off to receive etiquette lessons from Jenna, specifically focusing on noble manners.
However, it seems that before I could even get into etiquette, I needed to work on my basic posture and such.
And that’s what I was currently struggling with.
This is quite challenging… Ogre hunting is easier…
“… Mhm. This standing posture should be okay? Next, we’ll work on your walking posture.”
“We’re going to do that too?”
“Of course. Even though you’re a merchant, if you start entering noble houses, you’ll be looked down upon if your manners aren’t proper.”
So, the lesson on walking began.
However, this was proving to be quite difficult for me.
It was completely different from how I usually walk.
My usual walking style is that of an adventurer, silently treading and not hesitating to kick or step on things as needed.
It might not be merchant-like, but because I’m involved in adventurer activities, I’m more accustomed to that style.
Jenna mentioned that it might be causing issues.
I’ve come to the conclusion that I’ll have to spend time learning this, as there’s no way I can forget my usual way of walking, especially since I need to use it when the situation calls for it.
It will be a rigorous study until I can switch between the two styles as needed.
Apart from this, it seemed there were other things to learn as well…
“Here, this is a collection of coded phrases used by nobles and merchants.”
“… There are so many of them?”
In front of me laid a book the size of a dictionary from my previous world.
It looks like I have to memorize this too.
While using coded phrases in transactions isn’t considered a good practice, using them incorrectly can lead to trouble.
So, I have to study to avoid making mistakes.
… This is tough.
“Tanya and I discussed it, and we added some recent expressions too. You never know when you might need them, so please remember them.”
“… Yes.”
This is tough.
I thought it would be easier at first.
During a break, I sipped the tea Tanya had brewed and casually skimmed through the collection of coded phrases.
It covered details like signals for bribes and how to specify dates and times.
Even nobles have to learn such things…
Wait, why does Jenna know all this?
I got curious and asked, and Jenna responded with a slightly awkward expression.
“Well, I was originally raised with the intention of marrying into a merchant family, so I became knowledgeable about these things.”
“Marriage into a merchant family? You didn’t get married?”
“Well, when I turned 15, I was supposed to get married, but about half a year before the wedding, the merchant family I was supposed to marry into went bankrupt and disappeared, so the marriage was canceled. That left me in a somewhat precarious position, and I decided to pursue the path of a knight to do what I loved.”
… Life is so unpredictable.
I mean, if she was considered for marriage to a merchant family, they must have been quite wealthy, right?
And for them to suddenly go bankrupt and disappear…
Perhaps it’s because they were a wealthy family that they were involved in various dealings behind the scenes, and it came to light?
There are quite a few coded phrases related to underground dealings in this collection, so maybe it’s just my suspicious nature?
There doesn’t seem to be any fault on her part, and if Lord Vardmoi recommended her, he must trust her a lot, so it should be fine.