Kirsten looked very busy.

Though it was natural for her to act this way as the host, seeing her like this made Saena newly appreciate how well Kirsten had treated her all this time.

Kirsten had said she was reluctant to share Saena, and Saena felt a similar sentiment.

“Saya?”

“Sister.”

Sensing her gaze, Kirsten called her name and approached from afar. Feeling the affection in her voice, Saena revised her earlier thought.

Non-exclusivity would benefit the world more than Kirsten’s exclusivity.

Meanwhile, Kirsten tilted her head as she looked Saena up and down.

“My, even though it’s my beloved Saya, I can’t allow you to attend with a dress code violation, hm?”

“I, I followed the code.”

Though they used informal speech in their private gatherings, they used formal speech as this was an official tea party. Still, hearing Kirsten’s formal speech felt slightly awkward.

“Where? Don’t tell me, your underwear? My, Saya. That’s a very passionate idea, but that’s not quite right~”

“…No. Not underwear.”

Instead of answering, Saena slightly lifted her dress hem and extended her foot.

A bright red high heel sparkled on the briefly revealed foot. They were shoes she had never worn despite buying them because of their intense color, but this occasion provided an opportunity to wear them.

“Oh my. Goodness, such a sensible one. Pass– Ah, no.”

“Pardon?”

“You need to draw first.”

Kirsten led Saena to tables placed on both sides of the entrance passage. On the tables were black boxes with round holes at the top just big enough for an arm to pass through.

“The number written on the paper you draw will be your seat.”

Kirsten and Evian’s tea parties were famous for their unique seating arrangement method.

Usually, seating arrangements were carefully planned by the host according to factions and connections. People who didn’t get along well would be seated far apart, while those the host wanted to befriend or close associates would be seated at the central table.

But not here. It was purely luck.

And the method was drawing lots.

Saena reached into the box with a slightly nervous heart and pulled out one of the papers she touched. Once out, she saw it wasn’t just a note but a small envelope about two finger joints in size.

Opening the envelope and taking out the small paper inside, she saw a number along with a fresh fragrance.

[2-4]

Meaning seat 4 at table 2.

In a normal tea party, table 1 would be the highest seat, but since seating was determined by drawing lots, that had no meaning.

While Saena was finding her seat, other attendees glanced at her. Being her first attendance, she naturally drew many gazes.

‘Hmm. It’s a bit awkward. If only there was one familiar face…’

In the end, Saena’s wish came true. Though it was the most distant of her three acquaintances.

Floria Aberdeen was at the same table.

“Hello, Lady.”

“Yes.”

Floria gave a light greeting, and when Saena checked her seat, she found they were not only at the same table but right next to each other. Saena sat down feeling slightly awkward.

She thought the initial awkwardness had eased through their several meetings, but perhaps that was a misconception.

Without Kirsten and Evian acting as buffers between them, the awkwardness immediately revived.

“We’re at the same table.”

“Yes.”

Feeling she should say something, Saena opened her mouth, but received only an embarrassingly simple response.

‘At least she’s responding.’

Thinking she should be grateful for not being ignored, Saena decided to just stay quiet.

But what was this? After a little time passed, she kept feeling glances from beside her.

She could sense Floria secretly stealing glances at her, but what should she do in this situation? Should she try speaking again?

‘…Why is she doing that?’

Saena thought she was truly terrible at socializing.

Having lived almost to thirty, shouldn’t her life experiences have increased somewhat normally? Yet there was no dramatic improvement in her conversational skills or the development of previously non-existent social abilities.

Though she fortunately got along like this because the sociable Kirsten took a liking to her, without Kirsten, she might still not have made a single friend.

Just as she was newly reflecting on herself—

“Oh my!”

“She really came!”

Exclamations mixed with admiration burst out. All eyes gathered toward the entrance.

Someone was entering the Garden of Masterpieces.

A tall woman with light sky-blue hair that rippled and sparkled. Madielle Macfeyden, the Imperial Princess.

All attendees stood up in respect for the imperial family member. The hosts, Kirsten and Evian, approached the entrance.

“You have graced us with your presence. We are humbled, Your Highness. May the great protection follow the noble bloodline eternally.”

“May the great protection follow the noble bloodline eternally.”

Kirsten spoke first and the other attendees repeated in chorus. It was the basic blessing said when meeting members of the imperial family.

“May the blessings of the Covenant be with you.”

The Princess responded to this.

Though there were many distinguished nobles, the imperial family existed above them all. Whether it was because the Princess, extraordinary from birth and had authority flowing in her blood, her presence was remarkable despite her gentle smile and softness.

Especially for Saena who had never seen the Princess this close before, it was more fascinating.

Though they were both members of the imperial family, while the Prince just made her uncomfortable, the Princess felt different. She had some power that captured people’s attention just by being there while simultaneously making them expect something.

“I will guide you to your seat. First, would you please draw a seat number?”

Wow. It seemed there were no exceptions even for the Princess. In some ways, this made Kirsten and Evian even more impressive.

“Ah, is this the famous drawing lots seating arrangement?”

“Yes. We would be grateful if you would participate, thinking of it as entertainment.”

“Though I wanted to use my host’s rights just for today to sit at the same table as Your Highness, I held back since all participants would feel the same.”

At Evian and Kirsten’s words, the attendees cheered and their eyes began to sparkle. They hoped the Princess would come to their table.

Everyone held their breath watching the Princess’s series of movements as she put her hand in the box, took it out, opened the envelope and removed the paper.

“Hmm. I drew 1-2.”

As soon as the Princess spoke, the participants at table 1 squealed with delight.

“This way to the table. I will guide you.”

“Very well.”

The Princess followed Kirsten with graceful steps. Saena watched, almost entranced, as that lofty presence drew closer, passed in front, and walked away.

In that brief moment as she passed, their eyes even met briefly. When Saena startled and bowed her head in respect, the Princess passed by with a light smile.

“I thank you for the warm welcome. Everyone please be seated.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Once the Princess’s seat was determined, Kirsten and Evian’s seats were naturally determined as well. The hosts sat in the last remaining numbers, meaning the empty seats.

Evian was at table 1 with the Princess, while Kirsten was at table 3. Though it was random seating, fortunately, at least one host was placed at the same table as the Princess.

As all the standing participants sat down, servants quickly moved between their assigned tables setting tea food plates, filling empty cups, and replacing cold tea. Seeing their swift yet quiet movements showed how well-trained these servants were.

She wondered if these people belonged to the Imperial Palace or if Sister Kiki had brought them privately. They were excellent enough to make her curious.

Apart from Saena’s random curiosity, once the table setting was complete and the servants withdrew to the perimeter, the tea party began in earnest.

Ting–

A light tapping of an empty glass demanded the participants’ attention.

“Hello everyone. I’m so glad to see you all today too. Have you all been well?”

Evian had stood up at her seat. She seemed about to give a short opening speech.

“Today we were able to have our gathering in this wonderful hall because Lady Hebeta Elaine Barnes opened the Garden of Masterpieces for us.”

People began murmuring at this shocking(?) news.

“What? Lady Hebeta did?”

“…I wonder why she did that?”

“I don’t understand what’s going on.”

It was normal not to understand. It made no sense that Elaine Barnes, one of the main figures of Lady Harper’s rival faction (though Kirsten didn’t seem to consider them rivals at all), had opened the Garden of Masterpieces to allow this tea party.

Moreover, when this news reached the ears of the ladies from the Harper faction, how many complaints would leak out? ‘Why did she open it for them and not us’, ‘won’t you open it for us too’, and so on — it would become quite troublesome.

It was a way to properly backstab Elaine Barnes while expressing gratitude.

“And we were also able to have Her Highness, the next generation of the imperial family, join us here.”

Saena let out a slight laugh seeing how they introduced her using the term ‘next generation of the imperial family.’

‘The Prince is probably trying to contain his anger right now.’

The Prince might be taking out his anger on his fiancée, claiming Elaine Barnes must have invited the Princess instead of him because she couldn’t express herself properly in the letter. From his personality that she briefly saw, he seemed more than capable of that.

“We’re once again thanking Your Highness for gracing this occasion. I hope this becomes a good time of exchange between the next generation of social circles.”

Bursting laughter and heightened atmosphere.