12. Garden of Masterpieces

The day to meet Elizabeth arrived.

She had wanted to meet the very next day after her visit. When Saena declined saying she had prior engagements, Elizabeth asked her to make time the day after that. Though she didn’t know why, her response showed an urgency that seemed time-sensitive.

And on the day of the appointment…

Though Saena wasn’t going to run away anywhere, Elizabeth barged in early in the morning.

“Where do you want to go so badly? I’m not going anywhere.”

“…That’s not it. I just woke up early this morning. That’s why.”

Elizabeth’s usually gentle smiling face wore a slightly cracked smile unlike usual.

“Hmm……”

Something felt off, but hadn’t she decided to endure all this and observe a bit more? She could only hope it would be worth it.

“That beast from last time, you made sure to lock it up properly, right?”

“Yes. I closed the door well before coming out.”

“No, shouldn’t you at least put it on a leash, or in a cage or something?”

The shock of Yolly baring his teeth and lunging at her last time must have left an impression — Elizabeth kept anxiously glancing at the doorway.

“That’s why I said we should meet outside.”

“……”

Since that was the only time Yolly had shown such open hostility, though she felt sorry for Elizabeth, Saena didn’t think she needed to take any special measures. She certainly had no intention of caging him up.

Still, she did check twice that the door was properly closed.

“But where are we going?”

“Oh, huh?”

“I need to know where we’re going so I can dress appropriately.”

“Oh, just dress similarly to me like this. We’re not going to a party! We’ll chat, meet some nice people, things like that!”

“…Are we going to some gathering?”

“Ah, hehe. You’ll see when we get there. Hurry and get dressed! At this rate it’ll take all morning!”

Something feels suspicious…

Though she sensed something vaguely unsettling, Saena thought to herself that she would overlook most things as long as it wasn’t George Hollander.

Perhaps she was becoming this generous because she kept thinking that Elizabeth might become the sacrificial lamb in this life since her marriage to George Hollander wouldn’t happen.

‘No, but this is a bit…’

What was this feeling of wanting to immediately retract her thought of overlooking most things?

She said anything but George Hollander would be fine, but what if she took her to Elaine Barnes?!

This wasn’t the Imperial Palace. Saena, who had thought they were just going to some gathering since the carriage entered the noble district (such things had happened quite often in her past life), was very surprised.

“Finally, you’re here.”

…Finally? Her tone suggested she had been very much waiting for her.

Elaine Barnes stared intently at Saena with gleaming eyes.

‘…This person seems a bit strange.’

Elaine Barnes had that peculiar look in her eyes that people backed into a corner tend to have.

‘Thinking about her situation, it’s not unthinkable.’

Growing up in a lower noble family without much power, when she got the chance to become Hebeta, she must have had her own ambitions. She probably entered the Imperial Palace determined to become the Crown Princess, and eventually the Empress.

But pregnancy is a goal difficult to achieve by willpower alone.

‘From what I saw last time, there doesn’t seem to be much affection between her and the Prince.’

If the Prince cherished her, he would have personally extended the time limit and tried somehow. But that didn’t seem to be the case, so she must feel like she’s at a dead end.

With such pressure, even a possible pregnancy would become impossible.

‘Still, why did she call for me?’

She couldn’t understand the reason at all. But she should still greet her, right?

“Hello, Lady Hebeta.”

Though she couldn’t show the respect due to a Crown Princess as she wished, Hebeta was still a position of status. Certainly a higher status than Saena, who was just a Count’s daughter. Saena offered her greeting first.

“You, come here and answer my questions properly.”

She hadn’t expected such immediate rudeness. Elaine Barnes flicked her finger and abruptly ordered the surrounding ladies.

“Make that one kneel before me.”

“Pardon?”

“What are you waiting for! Quickly!”

What did she just say? Make her kneel? What in the world…

Too dumbfounded, Saena looked at Elizabeth who had brought her here. Though Elizabeth also seemed caught off guard by this situation, she just rolled her eyes around without any intention of stepping in to stop it.

The other ladies also bustled about in confusion. Though they approached Saena, they couldn’t bring themselves to touch her and fidgeted anxiously.

“I don’t understand what’s happening right now…”

“What are you all doing! Quickly!”

“If you insist on making me kneel, I will leave this place immediately.”

“What? How dare you try to leave before I’m finished speaking? Who said you could leave!”

Smila certainly had good instincts. Watching the situation from a corner far away, she slipped out of the room as soon as she sensed the atmosphere turning strange. She had surely gone to call Sir Rupert.

“I don’t understand why I should kneel.”

“I am Hebeta!”

“Yes, you are Hebeta.”

Even though Hebeta was an independent position, it was just Hebeta. It was merely an honorary and temporary position. If she didn’t become Crown Princess, it wouldn’t as ‘just’ Hebeta.

Elaine Barnes must know this too. Those pursed lips were proof of that.

“Miss. Shall we return?”

Rupert appeared right on cue. The sharp-witted Rupert seemed to grasp the situation at a glance, entering the reception room with his playfulness completely gone and a sharp aura as he asked Saena.

As the large man entered the room full of only ladies and exuded coldness, the atmosphere immediately sank.

“Yes, let’s go back.”

“Wait!”

Though Elaine shouted, Saena ignored her and turned around.

“You! Don’t attend the Garden of Masterpieces tea party! Don’t you dare attend! Understand?!”

That’s what she shouted when Saena reached the doorway.

The tea party at the Garden of Masterpieces… Well, since the letter had arrived using Elaine’s name, of course she would know about it.

Could that have been the main point?

Saena slightly turned her head to look at Elaine.

“I mean it! If you attend, I won’t let you off!”

Didn’t she know that when they sent the invitation to Kirsten’s side, it included Saena? Why was she acting like this only toward her?

Watching her shouting as if possessed by evil, Saena thought it strange. Though she had no intention of following Elaine Barnes’s tantrum.

Before turning completely away, she paused to turn her gaze on Elizabeth. Seeing her avoid eye contact, apparently feeling guilty, Saena thought to herself.

‘You broke one promise as soon as it was made. Amazing, Elizabeth Valdez.’

It seemed she had brought Saena here, unable to resist Elaine Barnes’s pressure, but if she really thought of her as a friend, she should have given her some warning beforehand. For Elizabeth’s sake, she wouldn’t have gone.

Slightly shaking her head, she turned without regret. She returned straight home under Rupert’s escort.

* * *

The day arrived for attending the much-anticipated ‘Garden of Masterpieces tea party’ that had been a central event lately.

In Kirsten’s words, it was also the day for ‘Saena’s non-exclusivity launch.’

Though they could hold their simple gatherings of the four friends weekly without issue, since this was a formal tea party, they proceeded according to the original schedule. Moreover, with the venue being the Imperial Palace, Kirsten and Evian, who had many more things to consider, looked very busy lately even at a glance.

As befitting trendsetters, Kirsten and Evian’s tea parties had several unique points, one of which was the dress code.

Unlike their casual gatherings where they just met to chat, this definitely felt like the axis of a social gathering.

[Garden of Masterpieces Opening Commemoration Dress Code: Red accent color mandatory!]

Red… unique as expected. It wasn’t a color unmarried ladies easily attempted. Saena too had almost no experience wearing clothes with red as a base color.

For Kirsten, who was a beautiful woman with a striking impression and red hair as her signature, handling red might not be a big challenge, but Saena had to think long and hard.

It was her first time at the Garden of Masterpieces.

Though perhaps it was natural since she didn’t have many occasions to visit the Imperial Palace in her life, her first impression upon entering was ‘Ah, this is indeed the Imperial Palace.’

From the high ceiling with its colorful patterns, down to the smallest details — each pillar, finishing material, molding, and door handle was beautifully carved to create a sense of grandeur.

Though it was called a ‘garden,’ the Garden of Masterpieces wasn’t actually a garden but a large hall. It was the name given to the hall where masterpieces collected and supported by generations of the imperial family were exhibited. It was called the Garden of Masterpieces because its size was quite large and good for visitors to stroll around appreciating art like in a garden.

While the attendant at the entrance checked Saena’s invitation, she lightly looked around inside.

The structure inside the door didn’t allow direct viewing of the inside, with a wall initially blocking the line of sight, and a massive painting the size of a door hung on that wall. It was a work by a famous painter from 3-4 generations ago.

Upon receiving permission to enter and stepping inside, the first thing that caught her eye was naturally Kirsten. Rather than just an accent color, she wore a bold patterned dress with navy and red in two tones.

‘Wow, beautiful.’

Her ability to choose and match colors and designs that not just anyone could pull off was remarkable.