Chapter 62: The Invisible Battle

As Bliss entered the dining room, she approached and sat down with weary steps. She seemed lost in thought at times, then appeared conflicted as if her mind was blank. This continued throughout the meal. Though Mint attentively took care of her, Bliss occasionally lost her rhythm, spilling more food than she managed to eat. Unable to watch any longer, Caelan asked.

“You seem to have tossed and turned all night without sleep. Did something happen?”

“It feels like something did, but also like nothing did.”

“What does that mean?”

Caelan frowned before quickly switching to a smile. Though he couldn’t understand her words, he found her troubled expression amusing.

“Have you ever seen me do embroidery?”

“I don’t think I’ve seen you do that.”

“That’s the problem. Starting today, we’re gathering to do embroidery. Princess Jasmin, Princess Jenesha, and Duchess Blast will be there.”

“You’ve really gotten caught up in this.”

“Yes. Duchess Blast used Princess Jasmin to draw me in. I want to make beautiful embroidery, but I’m not even confident in my own abilities.”

Now understanding why Bliss was acting this way, Caelan handed her a glass of fruit juice.

“It’s sweet and refreshing, it’ll suit your taste. Drink this and cheer up. At least you’re not fighting with swords.”

Caelan wanted to comfort Bliss in his own way. But however his comfort was received, Bliss just held the fruit juice without drinking it.

“That’s not the only kind of fight there is.”

Bliss stood up weakly. Seeing her leave with the fruit juice, he worried whether she would collect herself before entering the palace.

***

Everyone, including the two princesses, sat around a round table and took out what they had prepared. Their lively voices created an excited atmosphere as they showed their items and asked what others had brought.

“What are you planning to make, Lady Azel?”

“I’m going to embroider a cloak. A cloak worn over armor – I’m already excited thinking about how beautiful it will look with my embroidery.”

Countess Azel hugged a cloak as red as her hair color, clearly delighted. Full of excitement, the lady sitting next to her gently stroked the cloak and tilted her head.

“It’s thick – can you really push a needle through this?”

“That’s why I got these large needles.”

Countess Azel proudly showed her needles, then asked what the other lady had brought. The woman held up a white handkerchief close to her face. She showed it not only to Countess Azel but to others as well.

“For tokens, handkerchiefs are the obvious choice.”

“Isn’t that too common and outdated?”

“You don’t understand. Things that have endured the longest have their reasons. The most classical choice can be the most effective.”

While everyone was asking what others had prepared, Bliss quietly took out her materials. As she prepared her small piece of cloth, needle, and thread, Countess Azel, sitting across from her, spoke up.

“What’s that cloth for? Is it a handkerchief? Or are you planning to embroider fabric to make clothes?”

Countess Azel had been the first person to talk with Bliss on the day she entered this social circle. Responding to her friendly smile, Bliss absently stroked the cloth.

“I haven’t thought about that yet. I’ll decide after I make it.”

“Such a small piece of cloth, how disappointing.”

Princess Jenesha suddenly interrupted. The princess, who had nothing in front of her, scoffed at Bliss’s materials instead of taking out her own.

“Aren’t you the one most likely to give a gift to our winner? With that possibility, you should be embroidering an entire outfit, yet you bring such a tiny piece.”

“Size isn’t important.”

“So they say. Lady Azel.”

As Princess Jenesha clicked her tongue in disappointment, Countess Azel stroked her cloak, trying to suppress her discomfort. After briefly looking at Bliss, who had led the conversation in this direction, she turned away. Bliss swallowed a sigh that threatened to escape.

She had expected to be belittled in some way, so there was no need to be surprised. Bliss stopped Princess Jasmin with her eyes when she tried to defend her, then held up her cloth.

“That’s not what I meant. I just thought everyone should prepare what suits them best.”

“That’s right.”

Jerian, who had interjected appropriately, gave Bliss an eye greeting. Though that seemingly friendly greeting was brief, Jerian covered her mouth to hide her laughter as she looked at the cloth. Not that it hid her narrowing eyes as she smiled.

“You’ve only ever bought ready-made items, never made anything yourself, right? I know Bliss- I mean, Marchioness Adrian very well. Don’t I?”

She seemed to deliberately call her Bliss, as if falling back on an old habit of using her name.

“Marquis Adrian is the strongest candidate to win, but his token maker is like this. She’s a top candidate because she chose the easiest option.”

Jerian’s sarcasm drew laughter from various corners. Though they didn’t laugh loudly out of consideration for Princess Jasmin, it was still loud enough for Bliss to hear. Not content with that, Jerian immediately attacked someone else.

“There’s someone else as serious as the Marchioness. Over there. Another top candidate.”

Someone flinched at Jerian’s mockery. She awkwardly handled the handkerchief she had been embroidering until just now.

“Latte, you’re making me, who recommended you, feel embarrassed. Make it well. At least well enough not to shame yourself in front of the princesses.”

Bliss’s eyes narrowed as she looked back and forth between Jerian and Latte. She had thought Latte might have become Princess Jenesha’s lady-in-waiting, but that wasn’t it. It was clear she had been brought in because of their past bad blood. Princess Jenesha’s eyes also held contempt for Latte following Jerian’s words.

While Jerian stepped forward to attack others and Princess Jenesha and her ladies-in-waiting sneered, Duchess Blast’s side was just watching.

‘With multiple factions within one group, enemies are everywhere.’

They were divided into three sides – Princess Jenesha, Duchess Blast, and Princess Jasmin – and Latte belonged to none of them, alone. Countess Azel was similar to Latte, but she was an exception as she got along well with everyone.

Latte, being the weakest, could only silently fidget with her handkerchief without saying a word.

“That’s enough.”

Unable to watch anymore, Princess Jasmin stepped in. Like Princess Jenesha, she had nothing in front of her, but she looked around at the various types of cloth on the table.

“What does it matter where we embroider?”

At first glance, it seemed similar to Bliss’s words about preparing what suits oneself. However, her next words took a completely different turn.

“After all, none of you will be better than me.”

No sooner had Princess Jasmin finished speaking than the door opened and maids filed in. They very carefully laid out various types of fabric in front of Princess Jasmin.

“No matter how beautifully you embroider on rough fabric that wrinkles easily, once it wrinkles, it’s over.”

Princess Jasmin held up one of her pieces and spread it out. The fabric looked soft to the eye, and even when Princess Jasmin gripped it tightly and released it, not a single wrinkle appeared. While watching this in amazement, an excited breath was heard from somewhere. It was Princess Jenesha.

“That……”

“Yes, Father gave it to me. Did you want this too?”

So that’s why she hadn’t taken anything out, Princess Jasmin calmly stirred up Princess Jenesha’s emotions.

“Well, we’re done comparing fabrics, what’s next?”

At these words that seemed to invite any challenge, Jerian closed her mouth. She had stepped forward to attack Bliss and Latte but couldn’t make a peep against Princess Jasmin.

“Shall we begin then? Jenesha, I’ll give you some of mine if you need it.”

As Princess Jasmin naturally took control and delivered a decisive blow to Jenesha, the situation was easily resolved. Princess Jenesha stormed out in anger.

In the notably calmer atmosphere, Bliss picked up her needle. As she was about to thread it, she looked up at the feeling of being watched.

It was Duchess Blast, who had been quiet all along. She watched silently, as if waiting to see how skilled Bliss was.

While Princess Jenesha was the type to openly express her dislike, Duchess Blast was the type to hide it until the right opportunity arose. She stared at Bliss as if warning her to stay alert, never knowing when she might show her claws, before looking away.

Just as Bliss was averting her gaze, unable to even sigh in the suffocating atmosphere, she met eyes with Countess Azel, who had been watching with great interest. Azel shrugged and waved, then looked back and forth between Duchess Blast and Bliss. She seemed to have noticed there was something between the two.

Turning away from Countess Azel, who seemed excited at the prospect of watching an interesting fight, Bliss met Latte’s eyes.

‘Why did you come here?’

While it made sense that she herself had been drawn in by the Duchess due to her connection with the ducal family, she wondered why Latte had come. A sense of regret washed over her, thinking Latte could have avoided this uncomfortable situation if she had just refused. As if reading Bliss’s concern, Latte’s lips moved slightly.

‘Thank you.’

Even at her silent expression of gratitude, Bliss couldn’t bring herself to smile. She couldn’t just smile at Latte when she was too aware of Countess Azel’s curiosity-filled gaze, Jerian’s angry huffing, and Duchess Blast quietly sharpening her knives.

‘When they see my skill level, they’ll all pounce on me.’