“Cecil?”
While I smiled wryly, reflecting on the events of the previous night, Bertia sat next to me, cradling Kuro on her lap, and looked at me with evident concern. Clearly, my thoughtful silence had drawn her attention.
“Tia, do I smell like alcohol today?” I asked, hoping not to offend with any lingering aroma. Even though I had bathed before bed and didn’t feel particularly inebriated, I had indeed been drinking late into the night.
“Alcohol smell?” Bertia appeared confused by my inquiry. She leaned in closer, taking a gentle sniff. “Not at all. You have your typical refreshing scent.”
“Oh, could it be the soap? At least there’s no scent of alcohol. I’m relieved.” I exhaled in relief.
“You were out with Prince Ramtak last night, correct? Did things go smoothly between you two?”
Bertia’s fascination with the previous evening lingered, indicating her keen interest.
“It began with only Prince Ramtak and me enjoying drinks, but then Prince Izlarich interrupted us. Once Prince Ramtak was sent home for excessive drinking, I ended up spending the majority of my time with Prince Izlarich.”
In reality, it was more about listening to Prince Izlarich’s drunken rants and love woes than consuming alcohol.
Upon hearing Prince Izlarich’s name, Bertia’s response was electric. Her eyes shone with excitement as she leaned forward eagerly, causing me to chuckle without meaning to.
What should I tell her?
That her role as a stand-in villainess has been unexpectedly effective might thrill her to the point of further recklessness.
With the royal wedding approaching and more international guests arriving by the day, it was a delicate time for any unpredictable actions on her part. Perhaps it’s best not to mention just how successfully she’s played her part.
Yet simply saying their relationship had deteriorated wouldn’t do either. It was a tricky situation.
“It seems Prince Izlarich is at a point where he’s reconsidering his relationship with Miss June. It’s more than childhood friendship, yet he hasn’t fully realized his romantic feelings. He misses her but doesn’t understand why. It’s quite a delicate situation.”
After some thought, I decided to speak only of his emotional turmoil, omitting any mention of the tea parties causing it. This way, Bertia could see that things might be moving in a positive direction without feeling the need to intervene rashly.
“Well, well, well! That’s rather sweet and sour, isn’t it?” she exclaimed, even though he had actually spent the evening drunkenly venting to me.
“Yes, so maybe it’s best to just watch over them for a while without interfering too much. If someone (Bertia) were to act rashly, it could complicate things.”
“Indeed! We wouldn’t want him (Prince Izlarich) to act rashly and create unnecessary misunderstandings.”
Although I noticed the misunderstanding, I chose not to address it and merely nodded at Bertia. Since we had agreed to “watch without meddling,” it should be fine.
“By the way, how have your tea parties been going lately?” I inquired, intrigued by the current vibe.
Bertia’s demeanor changed upon hearing my question. “Initially, I believed I was playing the role of the stand-in villainess effectively… but recently, I’ve grown quite close to Miss June.”
“Ah, you two appear quite close,” I noted, remembering a recent time I walked by their tea party. They were smiling and chatting joyfully.
She’s completely forgotten about playing the villainess, I thought as I walked by, but it seemed this was not a one-off occurrence.
I had my suspicions, particularly since Bertia frequently returned to our rented villa accompanied by Miss June.
“Why? I believed I was playing my part as the villainess flawlessly!” Bertia lamented, distressed.
It’s fine. While I didn’t say it, Bertia’s role as a villainess had effectively affected Prince Izlarich.
“Additionally, when Miss June starts acting all affectionate, repeatedly addressing me as ‘Lady Bertia, Lady Bertia,’ I feel too guilty to push her away and ultimately end up spoiling her!”
“Is that so? That sounds tough,” I responded, realizing that Bertia might not be suited to be a villainess after all. A real “villainess” would readily brush her off as bothersome. Furthermore, in the classic villainess role, she wouldn’t even be in a position to be approached affectionately from the start.
“I’ve never felt this close to a younger woman before. The moment I began to see her in a somewhat sisterly way, it was game over for me…”
“That’s understandable,” I noted, reflecting on Bertia’s affection for her younger brother, Anes. Her behavior was predictable; she had a strong tendency to dote on younger people, particularly her siblings. Although she reprimanded them when necessary, always considering their best interests, her approach remained largely affectionate. It was impossible for her to be strict with someone she perceived as family. “Until recently, I believed I could handle things… but the other day, when I proposed organizing a tea party to assist Princess Lysonna, considering all the foreign guests, Miss June reacted with an enormous smile and a great willingness to help, which made me realize it was futile,” Bertia said, recounting her recent experience.
“I see.”
The goal appeared to be expanding Princess Lysonna’s social network amid many international visitors by hosting a small tea party. Though it would have been perfect for Princess Lysonna to serve as host, she was currently swamped with wedding arrangements and attending to guests, which left her little time to manage such an event.
In Umyuve’s usual situation, she could have turned to her family or entourage for help. However, being in a foreign country without familiar faces made this difficult. Although she realized that hosting the event would be advantageous in the long run, she felt stuck and nearly despaired—until Bertia suggested they co-host the event. Miss June appeared especially eager to support Bertia.
It was evident that she had formed a strong attachment. Though there could be an underlying motive, her actions appeared more influenced by admiration and a wish to be helpful to someone she held in high regard.
“Our Crown Princess really excels at socializing, doesn’t she? Ah, but there might be one piece of advice worth giving.
“I’m willing to assist with the tea party; however, it may be more effective if it’s framed as a request from Princess Lysonna. Involving the Dowager Queen and the Queen of Seahealby might also prove advantageous,” I proposed.
“Involving the Dowager Queen and the Queen?” Bertia repeated, tilting her head in confusion. She likely hadn’t considered their inclusion. In Alphasta, she wouldn’t have hesitated to consult my mother for advice.
Perhaps she views this as an extension of their usual afternoon tea gatherings.
“The Dowager Queen will be Princess Lysonna’s future mother-in-law. To nurture a positive relationship, seeking her assistance now is prudent. This approach also pays respect to the Dowager Queen,” I clarified.
The previous king of Seahealby was still living. Even after declaring his retirement when Crown Prince Aleis came of age and transferring the throne to his elder brother, he continued to be an important figure with substantial influence. The Dowager Queen, who had also stepped back from her role, maintained considerable power, particularly among the women at court. Gaining her cooperation was essential for everyone.
Should someone wish to enlist the Dowager Queen’s help due to her connections, it would be wise to also involve the Queen to ensure respect for the current royal couple. This was especially vital considering Crown Prince Aleis’s sensitive position.
“Taking independent actions may be perceived as overstepping by outsiders. Depending exclusively on the Dowager Queen might suggest a disregard for the present king and queen. Focusing solely on the Queen could be considered disrespectful to the Dowager Queen. Given Crown Prince Aleis’s role, it is essential to proceed carefully,” I continued.
Bertia seemed to understand, nodding seriously at my explanation.
“Although none of these actions are fundamentally incorrect, considering the sensitive nature of marrying into a different country, it’s wise not to ignore these factors. Additionally, Bertia’s participation adds noteworthy significance to the issue.”
“What does it mean for me to help? Isn’t my desire to assist a friend enough?” Bertia inquired, tilting her head in curiosity, her expression brimming with wonder.
Bertia frequently influenced those around her positively, often without realizing her effect. While she endeavored to learn, her understanding of political nuances was somewhat limited. Nevertheless, her friends, especially Cynthia, skillfully made up for this by supporting Bertia, ensuring she seldom encountered difficulties. It seemed that Cynthia permitted Bertia the freedom to act as she wished, fully aware of the consequences.
Princess Lysonna should have thought about involving the Dowager Queen and the Queen. Her friends were adamant about not meddling in the affairs of foreign royals, in contrast to Bertia.
“As I previously stated when you began aiding with the wedding plans, supporting foreign royalty not only highlights the establishment of cordial relations but also creates a favor that may be called in later. In this instance, your participation facilitates engaging the Queen, who could have been a potential opponent, in addition to the already probable support from the Dowager Queen.”
“My assistance makes it easier to involve the Queen? Oh! I see! It’s because the Queen might feel inclined to show kindness to me! Just like how my mother doesn’t complain when I receive sweets from guests, even though I’m usually only allowed one. It’s like that, isn’t it?!”
“Sweets. Yeah, well, something like that, I suppose?”
When Bertia explains it, the intricate dynamics between nations are simplified to the level of receiving sweets from a guest. While I think it’s better for her to stay true to her nature rather than overthink, it’s uniquely Bertia.
“Nonetheless, it’s clear that the royal couple seeks to build a strong connection with us. Consequently, they’re likely to support a tea party that encourages a favorable relationship with you. At the very least, they would probably feel pressured to prevent the Dowager Queen from overshadowing them.”
Regardless of Prince Ramtak’s attitude toward him, the dynamic between the royal couple and Crown Prince Aleis was not especially tense. There appeared to be an underlying sense of apology toward Prince Ramtak’s behavior. Consequently, Princess Lysonna might have been able to secure their cooperation independently, but Bertia’s participation almost ensured it.
“It’s a bit complicated, but it would be wonderful if everyone could get along well! I’ll talk to Princess Lysonna about this idea!” Bertia’s understanding might not have been perfect, yet her enthusiasm was unmistakable. Princess Lysonna, a true royal at heart, surely grasped these intricacies. Though currently overwhelmed by her duties, a nudge from Bertia should prompt appropriate action.
“That would be great. I hope it turns into a lovely tea party.”
“Yes, absolutely!” Bertia’s bright smile washed away any complexity from my mind.
“Do your best.” This tea gathering wasn’t formal—it simply provided an opportunity for individuals from different countries to meet in a relaxed atmosphere. Although there was no reason for excessive worry, I was prepared to extend my help whenever needed.