Chapter Text
“Do you guys think Tee is embarrassed by me?”
“What makes you say that Ringo?”
“Well we rarely ever go on dates that aren’t in Suzuran or Primp. And if we do, we only ever stay on his starship. I mean he’s royalty, right? Surely there must be fancy balls he goes to with lots of dancing right?”
“Ringo I think you’ve been reading a few too many books, I’m sure Tee likes you just the way you are” replied Arle. She knew that Ringo was smart, but she sometimes had a bad habit of overthinking things.
Amitie’s response was a bit different. “Oh, you should talk to Raffina! She’s always going on about being “refined” and “ladylike”, I bet you could get a ton of pointers!”
“You think so?”
“Oh yeah, she’s the best!”
—————-
“Well this is the place,” said Ringo as she knocked on the door. As she waited, she began to wonder if Amitie had given her the right address. This looked more like a royal palace rather than a place where a family would live.
Eventually a pink-haired girl in an orange school uniform answered the door. “Yes, what is it,” she asked, rather annoyed.
“Hi, are you Raffina?” The pink-haired girl nodded. “Amitie said that you would be able to teach me how to be “ladylike” and “refined”.”
Immediately Raffina's expression changed. “Oh perfect! Come in, come in!”
Raffina led Ringo through a seemingly endless labyrinth of hallways and doors until finally, they arrived in a quaint little room.
“Here is where we shall start practice. Please take a seat on the couch”
Ringo almost didn’t want to, the couch looked like it belonged in some sort of museum, however, she figured that upsetting Raffina before she even agreed to teach her would not be too wise. As she sat down, Ringo explained her situation to Raffina.
“Ah, a king. Hmm...that does sound like quite the challenge. But not to worry, after the proper training from me, you will practically be a queen. Now repeat after me, “Raffina I promise I will listen and do what you ask without question so that I may become a proper lady.”
“Um…Raffina I promise I will listen and do what you ask without question so that I may become a proper lady.”
“Good, now then pass me those books.”
Ringo could have never guessed what Raffina would do with those books next, she began to stack them on her own head.
“Now Ringo, tell me what you see?”
“A rather inefficient way to carry your books?”
“No, no, they are balancing on my head, do you know why that is?”
“You have a very flat head?”
“No! It’s because my posture is perfect. And that’s the first step of being a proper lady, having perfect posture”
Raffina began stacking books on Ringo’s head. Ringo strained under the weight of the books. “I’m beginning to see why Arle isn’t a fan of this stuff,” she groaned.
As the days passed by, slowly but surely Ringo learned how to be a proper lady. She learned how to act, the right utensils to use when dining, and much, much more. Soon the last day of Raffina’s little class arrived, with Ringo somewhat dreading it.
“Oh I wonder what today has in store,” she thought, “I almost didn’t survive yesterday’s, I mean I didn’t even know there was a wrong way to eat soup!”
Indeed, yesterday was all about proper table manners. Any time Ringo did something wrong, she got a slap on the wrist. Needless to say by the end of the day her wrist was about as red as her hair.
“We now reach the last and most important part of being refined,” began Raffina, “looking the part. Wait here a moment.” Raffina ran out of the room to grab something.
She eventually came back with a mannequin. On it was a blue dress that had a red cape attached to it, and on its feet were a pair of matching red heels.
Ringo felt like it was a bit much. “Eh, do you happen to have anything less gaudy?”
“Now Ringo, who is the expert here?”
Ringo sighed, there wasn’t much point in arguing, “So I just need to put this on and I’ll be ready?”
“Not entirely,” said Raffina
——————
“Raffina are you sure this part is-ack! necessary,” grunted Ringo.
“Ringo,” began Raffina
“Yes, yes, you’re the expert here,” finished Ringo
“Hmph, that’s more like it. Now stand still, this corset isn’t going to tighten itself.”
Once that part was over with, Ringo was finally able to put on the outfit. She had to admit that she did feel very fancy wearing it.
“Ah beautiful, you look tres magnifique!”
“I do,” said Ringo as she admired herself in the mirror. “Oh! When should I give you the dress back?”
“Keep it!”
“Y-you mean it!?”
“Yes, keep it, wear it with pride knowing you’re the first person to pass my lessons in being refined”
Ringo wasn’t at all surprised that she was the first person to do so. However, she kept that thought to herself and instead gave her thanks to Raffina.
“Yes, yes, I know, I’m great. Now go knock the socks off this boy!”
Ringo wasn’t exactly sure if Tee even wore socks, but she knew what Raffina meant. She happily headed off, prepared for her date with Tee.