In this Chaotic World, I Am Doing Fine - Chapter 14

The meaning became clear immediately.

Hearing Acelia’s words, Ensia put on a surprised face – it was obviously an act, which made it disgusting —.

“Oh my! Julia was Your Highness’s maid. Don’t tell me you’re still holding onto what happened back then…?”

‘What happened back then?!’

It seemed Acelia was the only one in this place who didn’t know about that incident. The glances from the ladies conveyed meanings like ‘She really holds grudges.’ and ‘Still, completely ignoring it is a bit…’

‘Come to think of it, they did say Ensia’s maid was from the palace. But she was my maid? I’m starting to get the picture.’

It seemed Ensia had stolen Julia from Acelia, and that woman had betrayed the Princess and left in a dirty manner.

Judging by the reactions, they must have been close for a long time, or something like that.

Acelia barely managed to keep her head from turning to her nanny, who hadn’t told her about this important fact beforehand. She could roughly guess the reason.

The Princess of the past must have been terribly saddened by losing that maid. The nanny, believing the current Acelia had amnesia, probably didn’t want to bring up painful memories unnecessarily.

This was her defeat. Acelia’s defeat for not properly handling her pawns, for not understanding what weapons the enemy possessed.

‘But there’s no need to show that, right?’

Even bluffing is a tactic. Acelia skillfully hid her bewilderment and cupped her cheek with her hand.

A deep smile played on her lips.

“Ensia. Would the owner of a horse that broke free and ran away really miss that horse?”

“Pardon?”

Ensia furrowed her brows at the sudden change of topic, as if to say ‘What are you talking about?’

With a profound gaze, Acelia paused for a moment.

The gesture of her hand tracing her facial contours created a strange tension. It naturally made everyone focus on her words.

“Leaving means abandoning everything one has enjoyed until now. Isn’t it the same with relationships?”

Although she was speaking to Ensia, everyone was listening. As she shifted her gaze, Acelia’s eyes met with a blonde lady.

The lady, who flinched and avoided Acelia’s gaze, clearly seemed to have some history with Acelia, unable to raise her head again.

‘Ah. It seems this lady is also among those Ensia stole.’

If she remembered correctly, she was the daughter of a palace official. The same age as herself.

Were they friends? But why did she betray her?

‘Poor, kind-hearted Acelia. Left all alone after having her maid, friend, and fiancé all stolen.’

“Just because one has learned the harshness of the world, a horse that has left shouldn’t expect warmth from its former owner, right?”

‘But I’m not the type to just take it lying down.’

The more she thought about it, the more frustrated she felt. What on earth was Ensia’s purpose in doing this?

When Acelia first learned that Ensia was the one Liam had cheated with, she had just thought ‘Ugh, what a mess;’ and moved on.

This was a messy world ruled by the crazy roulette, and the people around her felt like characters in a play.

Honestly, even now, she sometimes viewed situations from a third-person perspective.

But as she formed relationships with people and Acelia herself was forcibly pulled onto the stage, she could no longer completely separate herself from her surroundings.

There must be a reason for Ensia’s actions. A reason for her obsession with Acelia.

“……”

A chilling silence descended. There was no one here who didn’t understand her words.

It meant that Julia was just a maid to Acelia, and seeing that she still couldn’t let go of her attachment to her former master, it seemed she was having a hard time under Ensia, but she shouldn’t even dream of coming back.

Julia’s face turned deathly pale, and Ensia’s expression hardened.

Acelia, who had been coldly glaring just moments ago, quickly changed her expression as if nothing had happened.

It was a satisfactory opening.

“I’ve kept the ladies standing for too long. Shall we start the tea party then?”

***

Ensia sensed that something was wrong. She first felt it when Acelia appeared wearing a purple dress.

Purple, the symbol of the imperial family, was originally a color Acelia avoided. When asked about it once, she had said that everyone already knew she was of the imperial family without having to show off, and she didn’t want to wear clothes made by sacrificing specific animals.

She had then complimented Ensia’s purple hair.

The rare, noble purple hair that was born even in the Monium family was Ensia’s pride, and she had felt smug about it.

Thinking she was better than the Princess who didn’t know how to properly enjoy what she had.

But now, with Acelia appearing in a purple dress.

Although Ensia had specially made a dress for today, it couldn’t compare to Acelia’s outfit.

The symbolism of the purple color had already filled her mind.

Ensia unconsciously touched her own hair as she stared intently at Acelia.

‘Whatever you’re thinking, people don’t change easily. You’re still the sickly and timid Princess.’

Thinking that way, spite bubbled up. At this gathering were the maid the Princess had once cherished and the lady who had been her close friend.

It was a shame Liam wasn’t here, but his absence was actually helpful. That man who couldn’t live up to his size.

Would Acelia be able to maintain her composure upon seeing them?

Ensia hid her sneer as she deliberately made Julia and Acelia greet each other. But then…

“Would the owner of a horse that broke free and ran away really miss that horse?”

The Princess’s response was cold.

Even when she first said to Ensia, “Do I have to greet your maid?”, it didn’t seem like she was acting.

It was as if she had truly forgotten who Julia was.

Her gaze towards the lady who had been her close friend was also devoid of emotion.

Ensia was taken aback, seeing the Princess make such a face for the first time.

‘What’s going on here?’

Those two were special to Acelia.

Because they had been her only support in her lonely life in the palace.

Even after Ensia had taken them away, Acelia had consistently sent letters, unable to let go of her attachment.

Ensia had bound those two, who were suffering from guilt, with both a whip and a carrot.

—What future does the Princess have? Do you want to grow old in a corner of the palace? Lonely? Like flowers that fade without meaning, do you want to be forgotten without receiving anyone’s gaze or touch?
But I’m different. The Monium family has produced an Empress, and I’m at the center of young ladies in high society. You’ll gain a lot, right? I’ll even arrange good marriages for you.

There was no such thing as eternal loyalty or friendship in noble society.

Having succeeded in stealing the maid and friend, and becoming the lover of the Princess’s fiancé, Ensia thought she had perfectly isolated Acelia.

Until the Third Prince suddenly intervened.

“……”

The atmosphere of the tea party, which had started with a battle of wills, was naturally not good.

The ladies watched Acelia and Ensia’s expressions with stiff faces.

While the maids poured cold tea and retreated, the ladies quickly exchanged glances.

The lady in the mint-green dress, who lost the battle of wits, clapped her hands as if to change the topic, exclaiming, “Come to think of it!”

“You’ve all heard about Lord Felix, right? An attack at the imperial banquet, it’s really scary.”

“I heard. They say Lord Felix noticed in advance and stopped rebels who had sneaked in to attack the First Prince, right? That’s amazing.”

“I was far away at the time so I couldn’t see properly, but I heard he was badly injured?”

“If he needs recuperation even after High Priest Joachim personally treated him, it must be serious. Duke Wade must be very worried.”

“Indeed.”

Acelia, who had momentarily thought ‘Who is Lord Felix?’, realized it was her incompetent fiancé and sneered.

‘What rebels? If real rebels attacked, he’d be the first to run away with his tail between his legs. At least make up a more convincing lie.’

When strange rumors started circulating in high society about Liam not leaving his house, Duke Wade spread false rumors.

Since it was impossible to know who the culprit was, even the imperial family turned a blind eye despite knowing it was a lie.

It was better to pin it on a tangible enemy than to leave the culprit unknown, as it helped unite the internal ranks.

However, the conversation that started with Liam’s injury took a strange turn.

“Miss Ensia, you were escorted by Lord Felix at the banquet, right? Was that necklace you wore a gift?”

“Yes. He gave it to me as a memento of becoming partners.”

“I thought so! Lord Felix has a good eye for jewels. It matched your dress so well that day.”

“Is that necklace the ‘Goddess’s Glory’ that set the highest price at the Platea auction?”

Ensia smiled as warmly as the spring sun, as if she had never had a cold expression.

“That’s right. He said it reminded him of the color of my eyes and he really wanted to give me that necklace.”

“Kyaa! Lord Felix is really sweet.”

“How did you two become close? When I see the dependable and chivalrous Lord Felix together with Miss Ensia, who is a model of ladyship, even I get excited~”

“We found that we conversed well. He knows many cheerful and interesting topics.”

“Oh my, I’d love to have a conversation with him sometime too.”

The ladies who had been chattering excitedly suddenly pretended to be mindful of someone.

“Ah… Is it inappropriate to talk about this in front of Your Highness, his fiancée?”

‘Ha, look at these women?’