"Alright, let's proceed with today's lesson: dining etiquette."
Queen Renaldi waited for her granddaughter to space out for a while before speaking up to interrupt her and arrange today's lesson.
The Queen had been young once herself and knew from her granddaughter's expression that she was clearly lost in sweet romantic fantasies.
"Joseph, please prepare dinner for our lovely Princess," Queen Renaldi then instructed her butler.
"As you wish." Joseph nodded in acknowledgment and quickly went to the dining room.
Joseph, from a professional standpoint, was the Queen's personal butler, also serving as a bodyguard and advisor.
Therefore, this middle-aged man with a handsome mustache was actually a polymath.
A little later, when Mia followed her grandmother, the Queen, to the dining room, a lavish feast had already been set on a large table, prepared according to royal dinner standards.
"Oh my goodness, is all of this for me?" Mia couldn't help but exclaim, looking at the exquisite food and delicate tableware on the table.
At this moment, this country bumpkin finally gained some concrete understanding of the luxury of the Genovia Royal Family.
"This is a two-person dinner prepared according to the Royal Family's banquet specifications. Of course, you may enjoy it…" Queen Renaldi smiled as she led her granddaughter to her seat, then sat down opposite her and continued, "Now, let us dine while learning dining etiquette. I will prompt you at any time…"
"Oh, alright—" Mia sat in her seat, looking left and right, everything seemed so new.
"First, after sitting down, you must maintain a dignified posture. Unless absolutely necessary, your bottom should not leave the chair. Wriggling around is even less acceptable; it is very impolite." Queen Renaldi watched her granddaughter's fidgety demeanor and patiently explained the dining etiquette.
"Okay—" Mia's eyes darted around, and she honestly sat up straight.
But it wasn't long before she became interested in a strangely shaped drink bottle in the center of the table.
"Is this brandy? Is it wine? I've never had it…" The girl boisterously got up and took the exquisite wine bottle into her hand.
"First, brandy is not wine; it is a distilled spirit obtained through distillation. Secondly, I must apologize, because due to time constraints, today we can only use a lower-grade alcoholic beverage instead of royal wine…"
Queen Renaldi's tone was calm and very patient: "Finally, you seem to have forgotten the dining etiquette I taught you earlier."
"I know, my bottom can't leave the chair," Mia stuck out her tongue, trying to muddle through with cuteness.
When she noticed that her grandmother wasn't paying attention to her, the girl curiously opened the brandy in her hand.
The slightly fruity liquid poured into the crystal glass, emitting an alluring aroma.
Mia impatiently raised the stemmed glass and took a large gulp, then, with a flushed face, slammed the glass back onto the table.
The loud noise made the tableware on the table jiggle.
Across from her, Queen Renaldi watched her granddaughter's crude actions, her eyebrows twitching several times, finally suppressing the urge to continue lecturing.
'This is the heir I chose; everything will be fine. She needs more time to adapt…'
If anyone could hear the Queen's murmuring, that would probably be the content.
"Ha, that's so spicy!"
At this moment, Mia, who had finally swallowed the liquid in her mouth, was exhaling and fanning her face with her hand.
Unlike ordinary wines of a dozen degrees, distilled brandy has an alcohol content exceeding forty degrees, definitely falling into the category of strong liquor.
People drinking it for the first time would certainly not be accustomed to it, let alone taking such a large gulp at once like Mia did.
"Oh, is that beef?"
Mia, desperately needing a solid dish to counter the alcohol taste, saw a plate of sauced beef in front of her grandmother, then got up again and speared two slices with a fork.
Only then did she sit down contentedly and chew heartily.
Queen Renaldi, who had maintained elegance her entire life, truly could not tolerate her granddaughter's rudeness this time.
"Joseph, go find a ribbon and tie Mia to the chair," the Queen instructed the butler.
Soon after, Joseph went outside and found a ribbon like a scarf.
"My apologies, Princess Mia."
After a brief apology, the butler used the ribbon to wrap around Mia's shoulders, securing her to the back of the chair.
"Why?" Mia stretched her arms, finding it very inconvenient.
"The first rule of Royal Family dining etiquette…" Queen Renaldi patiently explained again.
"My bottom can't leave the chair, I can recite it by heart," Mia had already learned to answer quickly, and then she asked confusedly, "But what if there's a dish on the table I can't reach?"
"You can summon the attendant beside you for help. For example, Joseph, who is next to you, can help you," Queen Renaldi replied.
"Now I understand." A smile appeared on Mia's face, and she turned to the butler beside her and said, "Joseph, could you help me get two more pieces of beef?"
Upon hearing this, the butler stepped forward, picked up two pieces of beef, and neatly arranged them on the plate in front of Mia.
"How amazing!" Mia exclaimed, looking at the beef neatly arranged on her plate in one go.
Then, the girl's gaze fell on the other delicacies on the table: "Are those shrimp chips? I haven't eaten those either. And that foie gras over there…"
Mia, who had grown up with her artist mother and hadn't eaten many good things, was clearly captivated by this table of exquisite and high-end food.
Following the girl's command, the butler stepped forward again.
However, the butler's speed couldn't keep up with the girl's greedy pace.
So, the impatient girl began to "thump-thump-thump" her chair, personally going to pick up the delicacies she wanted to eat.
Across from her, Queen Renaldi was stunned by this comical scene.
She's hopeless, just destroy it all—
The Queen covered her face and stood up: "Joseph, call me when Mia has finished eating."
With that, Queen Renaldi quickly left the dining room.
Years of royal etiquette education made her unable to bear the scenes unfolding in the dining room.
Half an hour later, Mia, full and satisfied, slumped in her chair, holding her stomach.
As for the ribbon on her shoulders, it had long since vanished.
Immediately after, when Queen Renaldi was called back by Joseph, the girl quickly stood up, an embarrassed expression on her face.
In truth, the girl also wanted to be elegant, but this feast was simply too tempting.
"Are you full?" Queen Renaldi asked with a stern face, looking as if she was still angry.
"I'm full," Mia answered cautiously, looking as if she was waiting to be scolded.
"If you're full, then go back. Today's etiquette lesson ends here. We'll continue tomorrow," Queen Renaldi maintained her elegance.
"Oh, okay, okay!" Not receiving the expected lecture, Mia looked up and showed a brilliant smile: "Goodbye, Grandma! And Joseph, see you tomorrow!"
Watching the girl happily run out of the villa with her large backpack, a warm smile unconsciously appeared on Queen Renaldi's face.
"What do you think of her?" Queen Renaldi turned to look at the butler.
"Are you referring to Princess Mia? She is undoubtedly very lovely," Joseph gave a fair assessment.
"Yes, just like me when I was young…" Queen Renaldi sat on the sofa, lost in thought.
A moment later, she came back to her senses: "Joseph, remember to remind me tomorrow to get some funds for Mia's family."
The simplest way to turn a girl into a princess is to let her live a princess's life.
Both materially and psychologically.
"Also, I want to know what happened to Mia at school today. Perhaps it will help her become a princess," Queen Renaldi said again.
Three months later, the Genovia Royal Family was to have a grand royal family gathering, and Queen Renaldi intended to use that opportunity to introduce Mia to other royal family members.
Therefore, it was not surprising that Queen Renaldi was strict with her granddaughter; there simply wasn't much time left for Mia.
If all went well, that day Mia would receive the title of Princess of the Kingdom and simultaneously become the future heir to the Kingdom.
To help Mia complete this task, Queen Renaldi had actually turned down several meeting invitations from leaders of small countries in the past few days.
Genovia is a small country not far from America, its land area less than one state of America.
Yet, this small country is rich in liquid gold and various minerals.
Guarding these riches and ensuring the happiness of her people were far more things for Queen Renaldi to consider than imagined.