It was a beautiful day.
Time sped like an arrow, and the day of the royal palace’s tea celebration had arrived.
The venue was outside because it was June when the weather was normally at its best.
It was a rose garden, which noble families widely decorated.
“Oh, thank you for coming today…”
Princess Aloysia appeared overwhelmed by the attention of others as she barely finished her speech.
Even the obligatory welcome as the hostess seemed to be too much for her.
Though she tried not to show it, the elegantly dressed girls sat around her stiffened slightly.
“Please, enjoy yourselves…”
The princess looked pitiful as she cautiously assessed the emotions of the audience.
When our gazes connected, I groaned inwardly, and she opened her eyes wide like a rabbit, unsure what to do.
I’d heard she danced her first dance with her younger brother at the debutante ball, but I hadn’t heard anything since.
She must have been almost mute if speaking to others was a burden.
Such a person would not have willingly hosted a tea party.
It appeared to be a tea gathering organized by the Queen.
Whether royal or not, the hidden order in the social sphere is cruel.
Some young ladies were already looking down on her with disgust.
Out of politeness, a few perfunctory claps were heard.
“It is a privilege to be invited by you, Princess. Thank you very much.”
“Indeed, yes. The weather is beautiful.”
“Th-thank you…”
The palace maids approached silently to set up the refreshments.
I purposefully avoided the middle, where people congregated, instead heading for the fringes.
Elodie, the woman in the center, seemed to overshadow everyone.
Even with the princess beside her, Elodie appeared to be royalty.
Her silver hair was naturally let down with the ends braided, and she wore a light blue dress that exposed her arms, appropriate for the early summer temperature.
Many people approached Elodie, ignoring the worried princess, who appeared uncomfortable in her gown.
“I’ve wanted to meet Lady Elodie ever since I saw her at the debutante ball.”
“Oh, me, too. My gosh, what gorgeous silver hair. It’s just fascinating.”
There were few people there.
Possibly ten.
Elodie gets three or four; the princess gets two. One of the others was me.
What about the other one?
I became aware of a shadow beside me.
“Hello.”
I hadn’t expected anyone to approach me, so I responded with a brief smile.
A young lady with long navy blue hair approached.
She wasn’t a well-known face.
Given that I had only attended the debutante ball briefly before fleeing on the first day, it would have been even more shocking if someone had recognized me.
“I’m Beth from Count Durand’s family.”
“Oh, yes… I’m Emilia Claire.”
“I first encountered Lady Emilia at the debutante ball. You did an excellent job dancing.”
Was that irony?
I remembered how hard I had tried not to step on Cassio Brahamdorff’s toes that day. It’s a wonder I didn’t trip over my dress. There wasn’t much more to discuss with me.
The family of Count Durand…
Where is that?
Even if she appeared hesitant and stuttered, the princess was still a princess.
People were either targeting the princess or had been placed next to Elodie from the outset, indicating a clear division, but someone targeting me so soon was unexpected.
“I couldn’t greet you at the debutante ball due to the crowd, but I’m glad to meet you today.”
“Yes, me too.”
The nice-looking young lady scanned my face.
There was no swelling on my cheek.
Today, while not as spectacular as at the debutante, I wore an outfit that mirrored the richness of the Brahamdorff family.
As the temperature warmed up, the garments became lighter.
I wore a light pink dress with strategic cuts that flapped nicely in the wind instead of a skirt with numerous layers of cloth.
My hair was proudly tied up, and I wore long pink diamond earrings.
Of course, my clothing was not very noteworthy.
Princess Aloysia was dressed in a rich green gown that seemed to be made of gems rather than fabric.
Her light brown hair was coiled with large jeweled pins, and her head leaned slightly beneath the weight.
She appeared uneasy in her attire and the situation, shifting and fidgeting…
‘Why does she keep glancing over here?’
I was bothered by the young lady’s sidelong stares, not toward me or Elodie, but as if avoiding something else.
It was frightening, especially because the princess was hosting a tea party.
Her expression was terrified rather than intrigued.
Was she scared about Elodie and me getting into a fight here?
I felt a strong gaze piercing my cheek, considerably more intense than the princess’s.
“…Young Lady Beth?”
“Lady Emilia, I have a question for you.”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
Was she going to ask what I’d been up to all this time?
Or how I felt when Edmund slammed into me?
Something along those lines?
“Do you know how to get the second volume of ‘Amy and Polita’?”
“…What?”
Her sudden inquiry caught me off guard.
She began to explain when she noticed my reaction.
She was a count’s daughter who grew up in the countryside near the border and had come to the capital for the debutante season.
Staying at a relative’s house was pleasant, but at a tea party, a lady seated next to her showed her the novel ‘Amy and Polita.’
It was her first interaction with a romantic novel that depicted class disparities and ended with a spectacular elopement.
It completely captivated her.
However, due to her family’s stringent norms, being spotted reading such a novel would be scandalous, and she couldn’t enlist the assistance of the servants she had brought with her.
So she asked around at gatherings like this one.
That made perfect sense.
It’s no surprise she appreciated my dancing.
She didn’t remember me at all… it was all a ruse to start a conversation.
“The majority of books may be found in bookstores. Don’t you have anyone you could send on a secret errand?”
“No, it’s not that. Everyone has heard of the first volume, but no one has heard of the second. There have been reports regarding its existence, but no one has seen it. But, you know, some couples nowadays elope. They claim those couples are following the strategy outlined in the second volume of Amy and Polita.”
Beth sat next to me, relieved, and began to open up more.
Of course, she couldn’t bring up the subject with the princess.
She had to be looking for someone approachable, and with Elodie surrounded by fans and the princess being too high-profile, I was the only alternative.
This chat was also beneficial to me.
“…Following it?”
Beth spoke into my ear.
“Yes, but it’s a closely guarded secret. They think it’s a mystical book with a bliss enchantment made solely for lovers.”
“…”
What kind of crap is this?
“Young Lady Beth, you’re looking for this book is…”
“Don’t get me wrong, don’t get me wrong. I’m only interested in the book’s content.”
Beth quickly denied having any other intention.
“…In any case, I’ve never heard of it nor anything comparable.”
“Oh no… I expected it to be difficult to locate.”
Beth instantly became depressed.
I was still perplexed.
A ‘bliss enchantment made solely for lovers’?
Such a thing could not be made by magic, especially not by ordinary people with no magical aptitude.
Something didn’t feel right about this.
“You seem to be having a good time, Young Lady Beth.”
“Young Lady Betty.”
I maintained a calm posture as I approached the seemingly harmless young lady.
Brown hair, brown eyes, and a squirrel-like expression.
Her mother, like her and her sister, was enamored with ‘Ophelia’.
Young Lady Betty had sympathetically clung to Marchioness Windrose.
The kind-hearted duchess welcomed her, oblivious of any ulterior purposes.
Ophelia’s playmate, Young Lady Betty, had volunteered but was sent away in a huff after half a day.
She hadn’t ventured to approach the Marquis’s family again after being scared off, but when Elodie appeared, she and her mother gladly took their spot beside her.
It was almost comical from my perspective.
“It appears that you two are having a pleasant talk. Do you mind if I join?”
Beth cast a subtle glance her way.
“It wasn’t anything special. We were merely viewing Her Highness the Princess’ rose garden.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Young Lady Betty laughed.
“It’s a lovely garden, but aren’t more magnificent things? Lady Emilia appears to have gained simpler tastes after being absent from such meetings for a long time.”
‘Whatever you’ve been doing over the past two years, you’ve really lost touch,’ she was insinuating. ‘The rose garden is this place’s most ordinary and unremarkable feature.’
“At first glance, the roses in the royal garden may appear common, but even the most common rose here has its value. I’m just grateful to be able to enjoy this precious time.”
‘How dare you to say what is excellent or bad in the royal gardens? Are you talking bad about the royal garden?’
That was the essence of our quiet stalemate.
Beth seemed to be the only one uneasy between my calm grin and Young Lady Betty’s dismissive stares.
“After all, it would make more sense to say Lady Emilia’s non-existent tastes have changed, right?”
It was a beautiful day.
Time sped like an arrow, and the day of the royal palace’s tea celebration had arrived.
The venue was outside because it was June when the weather was normally at its best.
It was a rose garden, which noble families widely decorated.
“Oh, thank you for coming today…”
Princess Aloysia appeared overwhelmed by the attention of others as she barely finished her speech.
Even the obligatory welcome as the hostess seemed to be too much for her.
Though she tried not to show it, the elegantly dressed girls sat around her stiffened slightly.
“Please, enjoy yourselves…”
The princess looked pitiful as she cautiously assessed the emotions of the audience.
When our gazes connected, I groaned inwardly, and she opened her eyes wide like a rabbit, unsure what to do.
I’d heard she danced her first dance with her younger brother at the debutante ball, but I hadn’t heard anything since.
She must have been almost mute if speaking to others was a burden.
Such a person would not have willingly hosted a tea party.
It appeared to be a tea gathering organized by the Queen.
Whether royal or not, the hidden order in the social sphere is cruel.
Some young ladies were already looking down on her with disgust.
Out of politeness, a few perfunctory claps were heard.
“It is a privilege to be invited by you, Princess. Thank you very much.”
“Indeed, yes. The weather is beautiful.”
“Th-thank you…”
The palace maids approached silently to set up the refreshments.
I purposefully avoided the middle, where people congregated, instead heading for the fringes.
Elodie, the woman in the center, seemed to overshadow everyone.
Even with the princess beside her, Elodie appeared to be royalty.
Her silver hair was naturally let down with the ends braided, and she wore a light blue dress that exposed her arms, appropriate for the early summer temperature.
Many people approached Elodie, ignoring the worried princess, who appeared uncomfortable in her gown.
“I’ve wanted to meet Lady Elodie ever since I saw her at the debutante ball.”
“Oh, me, too. My gosh, what gorgeous silver hair. It’s just fascinating.”
There were few people there.
Possibly ten.
Elodie gets three or four; the princess gets two. One of the others was me.
What about the other one?
I became aware of a shadow beside me.
“Hello.”
I hadn’t expected anyone to approach me, so I responded with a brief smile.
A young lady with long navy blue hair approached.
She wasn’t a well-known face.
Given that I had only attended the debutante ball briefly before fleeing on the first day, it would have been even more shocking if someone had recognized me.
“I’m Beth from Count Durand’s family.”
“Oh, yes… I’m Emilia Claire.”
“I first encountered Lady Emilia at the debutante ball. You did an excellent job dancing.”
Was that irony?
I remembered how hard I had tried not to step on Cassio Brahamdorff’s toes that day. It’s a wonder I didn’t trip over my dress. There wasn’t much more to discuss with me.
The family of Count Durand…
Where is that?
Even if she appeared hesitant and stuttered, the princess was still a princess.
People were either targeting the princess or had been placed next to Elodie from the outset, indicating a clear division, but someone targeting me so soon was unexpected.
“I couldn’t greet you at the debutante ball due to the crowd, but I’m glad to meet you today.”
“Yes, me too.”
The nice-looking young lady scanned my face.
There was no swelling on my cheek.
Today, while not as spectacular as at the debutante, I wore an outfit that mirrored the richness of the Brahamdorff family.
As the temperature warmed up, the garments became lighter.
I wore a light pink dress with strategic cuts that flapped nicely in the wind instead of a skirt with numerous layers of cloth.
My hair was proudly tied up, and I wore long pink diamond earrings.
Of course, my clothing was not very noteworthy.
Princess Aloysia was dressed in a rich green gown that seemed to be made of gems rather than fabric.
Her light brown hair was coiled with large jeweled pins, and her head leaned slightly beneath the weight.
She appeared uneasy in her attire and the situation, shifting and fidgeting…
‘Why does she keep glancing over here?’
I was bothered by the young lady’s sidelong stares, not toward me or Elodie, but as if avoiding something else.
It was frightening, especially because the princess was hosting a tea party.
Her expression was terrified rather than intrigued.
Was she scared about Elodie and me getting into a fight here?
I felt a strong gaze piercing my cheek, considerably more intense than the princess’s.
“…Young Lady Beth?”
“Lady Emilia, I have a question for you.”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
Was she going to ask what I’d been up to all this time?
Or how I felt when Edmund slammed into me?
Something along those lines?
“Do you know how to get the second volume of ‘Amy and Polita’?”
“…What?”
Her sudden inquiry caught me off guard.
She began to explain when she noticed my reaction.
She was a count’s daughter who grew up in the countryside near the border and had come to the capital for the debutante season.
Staying at a relative’s house was pleasant, but at a tea party, a lady seated next to her showed her the novel ‘Amy and Polita.’
It was her first interaction with a romantic novel that depicted class disparities and ended with a spectacular elopement.
It completely captivated her.
However, due to her family’s stringent norms, being spotted reading such a novel would be scandalous, and she couldn’t enlist the assistance of the servants she had brought with her.
So she asked around at gatherings like this one.
That made perfect sense.
It’s no surprise she appreciated my dancing.
She didn’t remember me at all… it was all a ruse to start a conversation.
“The majority of books may be found in bookstores. Don’t you have anyone you could send on a secret errand?”
“No, it’s not that. Everyone has heard of the first volume, but no one has heard of the second. There have been reports regarding its existence, but no one has seen it. But, you know, some couples nowadays elope. They claim those couples are following the strategy outlined in the second volume of Amy and Polita.”
Beth sat next to me, relieved, and began to open up more.
Of course, she couldn’t bring up the subject with the princess.
She had to be looking for someone approachable, and with Elodie surrounded by fans and the princess being too high-profile, I was the only alternative.
This chat was also beneficial to me.
“…Following it?”
Beth spoke into my ear.
“Yes, but it’s a closely guarded secret. They think it’s a mystical book with a bliss enchantment made solely for lovers.”
“…”
What kind of crap is this?
“Young Lady Beth, you’re looking for this book is…”
“Don’t get me wrong, don’t get me wrong. I’m only interested in the book’s content.”
Beth quickly denied having any other intention.
“…In any case, I’ve never heard of it nor anything comparable.”
“Oh no… I expected it to be difficult to locate.”
Beth instantly became depressed.
I was still perplexed.
A ‘bliss enchantment made solely for lovers’?
Such a thing could not be made by magic, especially not by ordinary people with no magical aptitude.
Something didn’t feel right about this.
“You seem to be having a good time, Young Lady Beth.”
“Young Lady Betty.”
I maintained a calm posture as I approached the seemingly harmless young lady.
Brown hair, brown eyes, and a squirrel-like expression.
Her mother, like her and her sister, was enamored with ‘Ophelia’.
Young Lady Betty had sympathetically clung to Marchioness Windrose.
The kind-hearted duchess welcomed her, oblivious of any ulterior purposes.
Ophelia’s playmate, Young Lady Betty, had volunteered but was sent away in a huff after half a day.
She hadn’t ventured to approach the Marquis’s family again after being scared off, but when Elodie appeared, she and her mother gladly took their spot beside her.
It was almost comical from my perspective.
“It appears that you two are having a pleasant talk. Do you mind if I join?”
Beth cast a subtle glance her way.
“It wasn’t anything special. We were merely viewing Her Highness the Princess’ rose garden.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Young Lady Betty laughed.
“It’s a lovely garden, but aren’t more magnificent things? Lady Emilia appears to have gained simpler tastes after being absent from such meetings for a long time.”
‘Whatever you’ve been doing over the past two years, you’ve really lost touch,’ she was insinuating. ‘The rose garden is this place’s most ordinary and unremarkable feature.’
“At first glance, the roses in the royal garden may appear common, but even the most common rose here has its value. I’m just grateful to be able to enjoy this precious time.”
‘How dare you to say what is excellent or bad in the royal gardens? Are you talking bad about the royal garden?’
That was the essence of our quiet stalemate.
Beth seemed to be the only one uneasy between my calm grin and Young Lady Betty’s dismissive stares.
“After all, it would make more sense to say Lady Emilia’s non-existent tastes have changed, right?”
