CHAPTER THREE
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The tea-tasting party, which hadn’t been held for a long time, was finally here. The atmosphere was lively and everyone was enjoying each other’s company.
"Lady Veronica, your necklace is gorgeous!” Catherine complimented.
In response, Veronica lifted her chin to show off the accessory. Although it wasn’t flashy, the floral ornaments were lovely.
"I personally designed it not long ago,” she boasted.
Oblivious, Catherine asked, "In which workshop did you have it made?”
Veronica took a sip of her tea and sneered. "Hmm, I wonder,” she said, feigning ignorance. "Where do you think I had it done?”
"Come on, tell us!”
Furrowing her brows, Veronica harshly set her teacup down on its saucer. "Why don’t you tell me why you ladies played card games without me?” To make it worse, you played with someone from the Nayren family?! You all know that our families are at odds.”
"Oh, please! We’ve already apologized for that matter several times!”
I watched the two ladies quarrel over what had happened at the banquet for a bit before I turned to Bea. She was sitting across from me, staring at her teacup in silence. She looked quite annoyed. Perhaps Rose, who was sitting next to her, noticed this as well.
"Is something the matter, Your Highness?” she asked.
Bea quickly glanced at me before shaking her head.
"No,” she said. "Nothing’s the matter.”
I was about to join in on the two ladies’ conversation when Catherine suddenly shifted the blame onto me.
"Lady Jubelian also agreed to play card games back then!” she cried. "Stop criticizing me alone!”
She must have done that because she knew Veronica was particularly kind to me. Sure enough, Veronica stiffened in her seat. "Th-That’s because Lady Jubelian was probably swept away by the atmosphere. I don’t believe she would have done it intentionally!”
Actually, I did it on purpose to avoid Max—or rather, the crown prince—and to play card games with Lord Elios, but I stayed quiet since I had nothing I could say.
Then, someone spoke up for me.
"That’s right, she was just swept away,” Bea said. "I can vouch for that.”
My eyes began trembling. I looked at her. Why was she...
Then, I realized everyone was now wearing stony expressions, so I decided to change the topic and hopefully lighten the mood.
"By the way,” I began, "I had some questions about holding a banquet—”
"Oh, I can help!”
"Me, too!”
Rose and Mary Ann perked up in unison like they had been waiting for me to ask.
Glancing at Veronica and Catherine, who were still pouting, I continued. "My coming-of-age ceremony is less than two months away. I’m trying to plan it by myself… but it’s proving more difficult than I thought.”
Only then did Veronica and Catherine join in, saying that they wanted to help too. Now, only one person was left. Bea had been motionless.
I looked at her and asked, "Your Highness, could you help me as well?”
Meeting my eyes, she gave me a slight smile. "There are only a few women in this empire as well-informed as me when it comes to banquets.”
I smiled at her confident tone.
"It’s better for the curtains to have a lighter hue.”
"I agree with Lady Veronica. Dark curtains tend to ruin the atmosphere.”
Beatrice looked back and forth between Catherine and Veronica with a curious expression. They were fighting just moments ago. How could they talk to each other as if nothing happened? She turned to Jubelian. Despite being the one who had livened up the atmosphere, Jubelian was simply observing everything, sipping her tea.
Then, she began to speak. "Thank you two for your input on the decorations. As for how the banquet will be organized, I thank Rose and Mary Ann for the advice.”
Each of the members smiled in delight once they received her gratitude. Beatrice, as the only one who had yet to receive a compliment from Jubelian, was feeling a bit down.
Thankfully, however, Jubelian still had one last thing to say: "And thank you, Your Highness, for helping the most today.”
Beatrice’s mood improved instantly. Jubelian was certainly something else when it came to charming her. She seemed quiet, but she was magically skilled at socializing.
If people were quarreling in front of Beatrice, she would have threatened them. She reflected on this as she watched the gentle lady sit in harmony with the others. In Beatrice’s eyes, she was dazzling.
Perhaps this is why I’m so attracted to you,”she mused silently, smiling faintly.
"The hunting competition will be held a month before Lady Jubelian’s banquet, it seems,” Rose noted.
Beatrice sighed, suddenly reminded of the event she had just forgotten about. She knew that the emperor and empress would do anything to tie her up with Mikhail. The knight would gladly accept the gesture and he might even offer her some game after the contest was over. If that happened, the nobles would believe there was a romantic relationship brewing between the two, and there was no question that the empress would appreciate that situation.
Her mother would gladly welcome any circumstance for her as long as it would help her brother, who was still growing in her mother’s womb. Beatrice felt her stomach turn. If she could, she would give up her position as the royal princess and run away from the palace.
Unaware of the dire situation she was in, the members of the tea party talked amongst themselves in peace.
"I would like to cheer on Lord Elios that day,” Catherine said.
"Me too!” Mary Ann chirped, agreeing with her.
Rose sighed. "I’m planning on cheering for my older brother. What about you, Lady Jubelian?”
"Oh, I… I don’t have anyone to cheer for.”
Suddenly, the members of the tea party remembered that Jubelian’s lover was a commoner. Beatrice immediately thought of her stepbrother. Why didn’t that guy announce his relationship with Jubelian already? Having seen how coy Max acted around Jubelian, Beatrice didn’t doubt that he was charmed by her. Moreover, he was the type of person to obsess over what was his. No matter how much she thought about it, she just couldn’t understand why he wasn’t making their relationship public.
It felt like he was planning something…
Beatrice pondered over this, catching Jubelian’s eye. "Your Highness, what are you so deep in thought for?” she asked. Her face was the picture of innocence.
Smiling, Bea made up an excuse. "Ah, I was thinking of what to give you for your coming-of-age present,” she said. Genuine enthusiasm began to burn through her. Right. She shouldn’t care too much about the hunting contest. The most important thing was to make sure Jubelian enjoyed her banquet.
Just before sunset, I returned home from the outing. I was going to say hello to my dad, but unfortunately, he wasn’t home.
"Master has been out for a while, Lady Jubelian,” a servant told me. "He requested that you eat dinner without him since he would be returning late.”
I contemplated whether I should discuss the ideas I had for the banquet with Madam Perez, but I was too tired, so I decided to meet with her tomorrow. Instead, I got ready for bed.