62 — Chapter 62

The next day, Princess Jane—usually attended by nannies and tutors in the nursery—was brought to the salon. The normally energetic child had adopted a very ladylike manner; to her, Victoria-sama was Queen before she was a mother.

“Jane, today you shall learn sewing from Patience along with Margaret. There are home economics classes at the Academy, you know. And your work will be put on display.”

Princess Margaret and Princess Jane replied obediently, “Yes, Mother.” But—I’m the one teaching? Can I actually do this?

I started by teaching Princess Jane, who had likely never held a needle in her life, how to thread it.

“Pinch the tip of the thread, aim for the eye of the needle, and it will slide right through.”

Threading is difficult for a beginner. I even wondered if I could sell needle-threaders from my previous life—do they make wire that thin here?

“It’s impossible. The eye of the needle is far too small.”

Too small for a beginner, then. Let’s use an embroidery needle instead.

“Then, please pass the embroidery floss through this needle.”

Embroidery floss has several strands that must be threaded together, but somehow she managed.

“I did it!”

“Very well done. Now, make a knot at the end of the thread; otherwise, everything will come undone.”

I threaded my own needle with embroidery floss and demonstrated how to tie a knot. Princess Jane, who used physical-enhancement magic, unconsciously amplified her movements to copy exactly what I was doing.

“Look, I’ve made one.”

“That was excellent. Now take the cloth and try making a single stitch with the needle.”

Following the old teaching motto from my previous life—show, tell, let them try, and praise—I taught Princess Jane how to sew.

“You’ve sewn in a straight line. If you can sew like this with thin thread, you’ll pass the first-year assignments.”

This matched the spring semester’s home economics level. With her enhancement, Princess Jane would probably manage.

“My, Patience, you are a gifted teacher. Teach Margaret as well.”

Princess Margaret isn’t clumsy with her hands; she plays Hanon and Albert-senpai’s virtuoso pieces with ease. She simply lacked interest and motivation.

Time for the “carrot on a stick” strategy. (No—it’s not just because I rode a horse yesterday.)

“Margaret-sama, you’ll surely get bored just practicing stitches. Why not make a hair accessory?”

With the Queen’s permission, I had a lady-in-waiting bring over beautiful colored silks and lace.

“I wonder which color would be best?”

Princess Margaret, who had been practicing reluctantly, began choosing from the colorful fabrics with a happy expression.

“Mother, I want to make a hair accessory too.”

Princess Jane joined in as well.

“Making a ribbon is simple. Layer the fabric with the right sides together and sew around the edge, but leave the center unsewn. We’ll use that gap to turn it right-side out.”

I sewed quickly while explaining; after turning it and cinching the center, a ribbon was complete.

“Oh, it’s quite easy to make.”

Finally, Princess Margaret took an interest and began sewing in earnest.

“Once they are finished, the two of you can wear matching hair accessories and perform a duet of ‘Sonata for Two Hanons.’”

Motivated by the dangling carrot, Margaret sewed diligently, and the hair accessories were finished.

“Let’s perform with matching hair accessories in the Music Club as well!”

Her love for music was unstoppable.

“I’ve finished mine too.”

Princess Jane had struggled with the unfamiliar thin needle, but she looked satisfied with her creation.

“Patience, you really are just like Julianne. She was also very good at teaching others.”

Realizing Princess Margaret wasn’t actually clumsy, Queen Victoria excused her from further sewing lessons. That left me caught in a tug-of-war between Prince Keith and Princess Margaret.

“Patience lacks physical stamina. That is why she cannot manage even if Sister tries to make her take the dance certification. She must build her strength during summer vacation.”

Convinced by Prince Keith’s logic, Princess Margaret allowed me occasional sea bathing and riding. (No, really, I don’t need the riding.)

Under Prince Keith’s strict training, I finally graduated from the pony and learned to make a horse walk. I enjoyed the sea bathing—swimming and playing in the sand with Prince Marcus.

In the afternoons, I practiced the lute or played Hanon, and occasionally I’d pop into the kitchen to make sweets.

“Crushing tea leaves and putting them in pound cake is delicious. However, it might not suit children, so you could chop syrup-soaked fruit and put that in instead. Oh, but please don’t make the syrup too sweet.”

Those sweets and fragrant tea made for very elegant afternoons.

Still, I couldn’t shake my worries: are Nasius and Henry being looked after properly? Is George managing the garden and fields all by himself? I want to do my side jobs—I suppose you truly can’t be elegant when you’re poor.

While I was absentmindedly thinking about such things, Princess Margaret asked me to write a new song. Oh boy.

And so my summer vacation at the Summer Detached Palace passed.