Chapter 60: Women’s Gathering

“None.”

His answer was so brief that Bliss’s lips parted slightly before closing again. She had belatedly remembered the food in her mouth. As she diligently chewed and swallowed the strawberry, she heard Caelan laugh.

“None?”

“I didn’t request one from anyone.”

“Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

Caelan briefly touched Bliss’s lips before withdrawing his hand. Her honey-sticky lips drew his attention.

“Ah, because making it public would mean marriage?”

Princess Jasmin had said that. What knight would dare confess to the princess publicly? Since she had said it would be no different from declaring marriage intentions, Bliss thought that must be Caelan’s reason too.

“There was nothing to make public. I simply had no one to ask.”

When Caelan gave such a simple reason, Bliss had nothing to say.

‘Then when did he and Latte… No. There’s no need to bring Latte into this.’

“But why didn’t you tell me earlier? When it was such a simple answer.”

“Because I didn’t think you’d just accept it and move on.”

Caelan pulled up a chair and sat beside Bliss. He turned halfway toward her and propped his chin up, showing only his back to the serving maid. As the maid hesitated about what to do, Bliss gave her a look indicating she could leave.

“You’re not expecting me to feed you this time, are you?”

“I just came to watch you eat.”

Bliss, who had kept guessing wrong, straightened her posture. Ignoring Caelan’s steady gaze, she took some bread and cut it into bite-sized pieces. When she put the bread in her mouth and savored it, the taste didn’t come through immediately as Caelan had said. Still, as she was eating and enjoying its nutty flavor, Caelan, who hadn’t taken his eyes off her, dropped a meaningful comment.

“This time I’ll receive one from you, so prepare well. Your skills will be revealed to everyone…”

Bliss stuffed a large piece of bread into Caelan’s mouth. She even gave it a slight push though it wasn’t even halfway in. Though she had resolved not to feed him anything, it was the only way to stop Caelan’s strange words.

***

In the carriage heading to the palace, Bliss recalled her conversation with Caelan from yesterday. His words about not requesting a token from anyone when he won last time, and his confidence about receiving one from her this time, had stayed with her all night.

“Caelan was thinking about winning from the start.”

That’s why he had said it was fine even if Duke Blast sent dozens of knights. And she had criticized him for giving such favorable conditions to the Duke without realizing this.

“But if he loses, he’ll lose too much.”

If he wins, people would say it’s expected of the Imperial Guard Captain, but if he loses to the Duke’s knight… It was dizzying to think about everything he would lose.

“And all I can do is watch…”

Though Caelan had stepped up, it somehow felt like he was cleaning up after her mistake. She felt so sorry and worried for him that she couldn’t sleep properly last night.

Feeling the carriage stop, Bliss lifted her skirt slightly and stood up. She wanted to talk more about the knights’ tournament with Princess Jasmin. Then she suddenly remembered how she had come to associate with Princess Jasmin.

“I became her lady-in-waiting by listening to Her Highness’s concerns, but lately I haven’t been able to do that at all.”

Feeling guilty, she decided not to mention the knights’ tournament. Moreover, it probably wouldn’t be an interesting topic for an unmarried princess anyway.

Just as she was about to head to the princess’s room, a knight blocked her path.

“Princess Jasmin has requested your presence at the main palace.”

“Why the main palace?”

Recalling her recent luncheon with His Majesty the Emperor, Bliss became wary, but instead of explaining, the knight offered to guide her and took the lead. In the end, without knowing why she needed to go to the main palace, Bliss started walking.

The knight who had said Princess Jasmin would be inside seemed to consider his duty done and disappeared after paying his respects to Bliss. Now with only guards standing at the door, Bliss felt alone.

Yesterday Caelan hadn’t given her a straight answer, and now she had to move without even knowing why Princess Jasmin had called her – her body felt reluctant to move. Bliss forced her heavy feet forward. When she indicated her intention to enter, the guard opened the door.

Taking one step inside, Bliss’s initial amazement at the vast interior was quickly replaced by the realization that others were present, their laughter and conversation filling the air.

“Marchioness? Please come this way.”

Princess Jasmin, spotting Bliss amid the bustling atmosphere, waved her hand. The gazes directed at her were so intense that Bliss felt she might burn up before reaching the princess. She walked toward Princess Jasmin without turning her head toward the dozen or so women present.

“I’m sorry for suddenly calling you here. I didn’t expect the gathering to be arranged so quickly…”

Princess Jasmin’s trailing off suggested this wasn’t a welcome situation for her either, and Bliss gave an awkward smile. It seemed even Princess Jasmin hadn’t expected this. When Bliss sat in the empty seat beside Princess Jasmin, the ladies exchanged subtle smiles with each other.

“There might be some familiar faces, but I’ll introduce everyone. First, the Duchess of Blast who arranged this gathering, and next to her is Countess Azel.”

Princess Jasmin provided brief explanations for the curious Bliss. The Duchess of Blast gave Bliss a meaningful look, while Countess Azel waved warmly. Seeing Jerian whom she had met at the banquet, Bliss realized it was a mix of noble ladies and young ladies, but when she spotted Latte, she couldn’t hide her surprised expression.

“And lastly, my sister, Princess Jenesha.”

Before she could recover from the shock of seeing Latte, she had to bow to another princess she hadn’t known existed. Princess Jenesha, who had been watching Bliss, narrowed her eyes.

“So you’re the Imperial Guard Captain’s wife?”

Having unintentionally ended up seated between Princess Jasmin and Princess Jenesha, Bliss answered with discomfort.

“Yes, I am Bliss Adrian, Your Highness.”

“I heard you were my sister’s only lady-in-waiting, but you seem rather ordinary. Different from the rumors, you seem quite quiet too.”

“Jenesha.”

Though Princess Jasmin frowned and gave her a look to moderate her behavior, Princess Jenesha showed an even more intense smile. As she gently stroked her black hair, Jerian, who was beside her, tactfully helped arrange it.

“Since sister hasn’t taken any ladies-in-waiting for so long, I was curious about who would be extraordinary enough to be chosen.”

“I simply didn’t need to take any. Unlike you with over ten ladies-in-waiting – just imagining that gives me a headache.”

Princess Jasmin’s gaze fell on several people including Jerian.

“But then the person you took as your lady-in-waiting turns out to be Marchioness Adrian. There have been so many rumors about the Marchioness that I wanted to see her at least once, but I’m a bit disappointed to see how docile she appears. Don’t you agree, Marchioness?”

Several others laughed along with Princess Jenesha’s laughter. The mockery hidden in her words was unmistakable. Moreover, the gazes directed at her had been unfriendly from the start. Faced with Princess Jenesha’s challenging look, Bliss kept her mouth shut.

‘She won’t take anything I say positively.’

Not knowing much about Princess Jenesha yet, Bliss thought it better to let things slide rather than respond hastily. But before she could speak, Princess Jasmin picked up her teacup and answered quietly.

“There’s no need to meet your expectations, so I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that.”

Seeing Princess Jenesha’s face harden, Bliss quietly turned her head. She had wondered why this seat was empty. She had thought Princess Jasmin had reserved it, but there was another reason.

Amid the tension between the two princesses, Bliss picked up the cup set before her. Drinking tea while ignoring this uncomfortable atmosphere was the best she could do right now.

She had completely forgotten what she had planned to discuss with Princess Jasmin today.

“Now that everyone seems to be here, would the Duchess like to speak?”

At Princess Jasmin’s signal, the Duchess stood up. She showed a satisfied smile as she felt all eyes focus on her.

“As everyone expects, the knights’ tournament is coming up soon. I arranged this gathering so we could make tokens together for our husbands, or for knights who would make us their ladies.”

The Duchess of Blast showed a smile full of goodwill toward the princess, but when her eyes met Bliss’s, she gave that same subtle smile from earlier.

A gathering to make tokens – Bliss realized why Princess Jasmin had been reluctant about this gathering.

And the Duchess of Blast.

“The Marchioness Adrian, who has the highest chance of having a winning husband, should be the most careful, right? I look forward to it.”

Seeing the subtle hostility in the Duchess’s eyes, she clearly knew about the wager between Caelan and Duke Blast.

“I hope this will be a harmonious time where we help each other.”

Was it just her imagination that it sounded more like ‘I hope this will be a time of watching each other and engaging in mind games’?

“Well then, let’s think about what each of us will make and start tomorrow. Jenesha, I’ll be leaving first.”

When Princess Jasmin stood up, Bliss followed suit. She surveyed the people she would likely meet daily unless something special happened, as she followed Princess Jasmin.

‘Latte.’

Her expression was somehow melancholic yet determined, as if trying to overcome everything. The afterimage of Latte sitting alone, seemingly separated from the other women who appeared close as they chatted with each other, seemed likely to linger for quite a while.