"These marks aren't very good, Shinju."said Kunzite sternly.
Ceres was viewing her parents. Her father was referring to her marks in arithmetic.
"I can't do arithmetic, Papa."she said.
"You can. And you will."Minako told her. "Most of the other things we've received from your tutors look very good. It's just the arithmetic you need to work on. Some of your languages, as well."
"I like your marks in Terran."Kunzite told her.
"I can even carry on an entire conversation on my own. I don't need any gestures or interpreters, even. Sometimes we speak it all the time instead of Lunarian or Venusian."she said proudly, in Terran. "I do better in that than any of the other girls. And in history."she added, hoping her good marks in those subjects would make up for her bad marks in arithmetic.
"Your arithmetic is very low, however."Kunzite continued.
"I believe we will cut your allowance."said Minako. "That way you can use the time to work more on your mathematics."she pointed out.
"But not my allowance! I'll work very very hard!"
"And if your marks still don't improve, you will be given an early curfew."Kunzite added.
"I'm supposed to do more arithmetic."Ceres grimaced, as she sat for a portrait.
For the portrait, Ceres wore a pink dress with seed pearls embroidered on it designed in patterns of acorns and scallop shells, as well as the planetary symbols of Venus and Ceres. On her girdle pearls were also more precious gems from the Middle East sewn into them, especially kunzite, and the buckle was made of pure gold. Her jewelry was of kunzite and pearls.
While the painter painted the dress or the background, Malwina and Fayruza sat not too far away talking to her.
"My tutor told Papa my arithmetic is terrible. All of it."she said, stamping her foot.
"Your Grace, the light."said the painter, reminding her to sit still.
She glared at him, and looked angry enough to throw something at him. Ceres had a somewhat forceful personality, but then both of her parents did. Her father certainly did. Most Venusians did, Fayruza had noticed, but it seemed to her Ceres more so. Just like she didn't hide her affection for people, she didn't hide her anger or displeasure, when people usually denied her something.
Fayruza wondered if her anger could match that of her father. Although Ceres was not as calm and contained as her father, except on occasions that etiquette required it, her anger was probably be as frightening as his. She only gave way to her temper around her most immediate circle, which included them.
"What a gossip."said Malwina, not remembering she herself was an excellent gossip.
Launcekrona made sure Malwina was usually the one who attended her most, combing out her hair, handing her her gloves. Launcekrona didn't particularly like when Ceres liked to practice her Terran with Fayruza.
Ceres had initially shown more favor to Malwina for being Launcekrona's niece, but Fayruza didn't exactly have a difficult time winning her favor, either. Launcekrona was mostly concerned about the competition for Ceres's favor she presented to Malwina than anything else. Malwina only had the upper hand because her aunt was Ceres's governess and had been her nurse, and Ceres was very fond of Launcekrona. However, Fayruza had much more to tell her about Earth, and to help her practice her Terran.
"I'm to have my allowance cut, and do extra arithmetic. I won't!"
"You did better than me! And I did all right!"Malwina said.
"The tutor rates yours. My parents rate mine."Ceres replied. "Mama and Papa do not like my marks in arithmetic."
"If Your Grace is to have your allowance cut, what about everyone else's!"exclaimed Malwina.
"I don't know. I don't think so. Just me."
Ceres was allowed more privileges than she had at her age, or even now. It must have been the influence of her Venusian mother. Everyone knew the Venusians were very pleasure loving people.
One of the things done most often at Ceres's court was games of cards, and they loved to bet, something Fayruza had never been allowed to do before coming here, and it seemed she had taken to it quickly, which her father would not be happy to hear, especially given the fact that she often lost. The other girls said she had an easy face to read. Ceres, however, resembled her father in that. Not even the other Venusians could read her face when she was holding a set of cards. During a game, she looked as serious as her father, and never gave anything away, never even raising an eyebrow.
Between herself and Malwina, however, they seemed to be gathering up huge debts. Malwina loved to gamble, not only at cards, but at any other games at court. It seemed Fayruza had caught on as well. Malwina usually asked Launcekrona to cover their debts for them. Fortunately, she had no idea she had been paying both. Kunzite would be furious if Fayruza were to ask for a bigger allowance for debts, even though her allowance was still higher than Malwina's.
Her birth had never been an issue here the way she had imagined it would. Just about all the girls were noble born. Oddly, it was mostly among the Terrans who either resented or scoffed at her. The Venusians would regard her birth as odd at most, like Malwina and Ceres had, but would simply shrug it aside.
"But how in the galaxy could they ever cut Your Grace's allowance?"Malwina asked.
"By telling my treasurer. She keeps track of my court's expenses and will give me less pocket money."
"Oh! Right."
Malwina would sometimes forget that even a duchess, Ceres was also a little girl, whose parents would discipline her, as well. And she was just as upset as any other girl would be. She herself would be. She knew she would be seething.
"I will never listen to a single work my arithmetic tutor says again! And I won't do more! I hate it. I do well in everything else. I have to do extra of what I don't like."Ceres sighed. "You know I won't."her eyes lit up. "You should do the exercises for me!"she told them, even though it was almost pleadingly.
Malwina did not want to spend more time in the schoolroom. They spent enough time there as it was. If Ceres were to spend more time there, they would have to, as well. They were both expected to be with her. Not only in the schoolroom, but sharing her favorite pastimes. And when there were so many enjoyable things to do! Riding, dancing, picnics, putting on plays, masques, playing billiards, poker, among other things.
"His Lordship would know it wasn't you who had done the exercises."Fayruza said knowingly. "Don't tantrum, Your Grace. Please. Think what your parents would say about that."
"That it wouldn't be becoming of me. It wouldn't be a good example, either."
"Does this mean Your Grace will have less time for dancing lessons?"asked Malwina.
It was the only lessons Malwina enjoyed. Fayruza looked up at her, with an amused expression.
"I don't think so. Mama and Papa say it's important that I learn to dance well, especially with the Cerealia celebration. I have to open the dance. I also want to ride on horseback in some of procession, not just in a carriage. What if I can't because of my bad marks? So if I tell them I want to put more effort into important things. The arithmetic doesn't exactly have priority right now. I can say that for now, I want to concentrate on those."
"He apparently sets high store on Your Grace's education. I never thought girls were taught in some of those subjects."
Even though she was younger, Ceres had been educated much more extensively than she had been back on Earth. In languages, in reading, in writing, in arithmetic(which she hated), in mineralogy, in history, in dancing, in horseback riding, in statecraft, and even in things such as politics, military tactics and martial law, even though she was a girl.
Other people who saw Ceres as a princess would wonder what she would be complaining about. She was dressed in the finest silks, surrounded by people who would fulfill her every wish. Malwina and Fayruza who spent so much time with her, she was more as a companion or a friend.
"After our next lesson, I'll say you're doing exceptionally well in Terran."
When Ceres did particularly well in a subject, she would be allowed to have a dish of her favorite caramel popcorn or sugared almonds she so favored. As one of her tutors, Fayruza would sometimes ask that she be given some.