Chapter 3 (Part 8)

And the day of the much-worried tea party arrived.

The Empress, with a haggard face, looked in the mirror and waited for the entrance time.

For joint tea parties, the person of lower status should greet those who arrived first. And the host of higher status should enter last.

“Please, don’t let her say anything. I hope Lady Meryl behaves quietly…”

For the first time in her life, the Empress found herself earnestly praying and seeking divine intervention.

***

Meryl was in a bad mood. Despite coming to the palace every day, she was scolded.

Moreover, she couldn’t understand why the Empress wanted her to plan and execute a complex tea party concept.

She felt like a completely old version of Meia. No, she was worse than Meia.

At least Meia would only say things once, but the Empress repeated the same things like a parrot, making her ears hurt.

Most importantly, the social etiquette and manner of speaking were too complicated.

She would rather have a drink with young noblemen and enjoy their attention.

‘I want to see the handsome young Earl of Kurundal.’

Meryl was very displeased to be forced to attend this tea party.

“Sigh…”

Noticing Meryl’s sigh, a noblewoman cautiously asked,

“Lady Meryl, is something troubling you?”

“No. Please, everyone, enjoy yourselves.”

Most of the noblewomen from noble families were at the tea party. The conversations were so dull that Meryl had to stifle her yawns.

“Have you heard the news about Lady Vitalla?”

“I’ve heard. Since she has no children… In the end.”

“Apparently, she registered a child born to a maid as her own.”

“I expected that.”

“I heard she dismissed the maid.”

Listening to the noblewomen’s conversation, Meryl put down her fork and spoke irritably.

“Registering a maid’s child because she couldn’t have children herself? If it were me, I would never recognize such a child. Lady Vitalla must be very kind… but not very wise.”

Her words brought a silence over the group. Viscountess Norman awkwardly responded.

“But… Lady Meryl, isn’t it fortunate that there’s an heir?”

“Hmph, it would be better to find someone from branch families. Or take a concubine to have a child.”

Meryl’s words made the noblewomen’s eyes turn cold.

Countess Sanahuruna spoke up.

“I heard from my daughter that you, Lady Meryl, are against taking concubines. Yet you so easily suggest it for others.”

Next to her, Baroness Beigrans chimed in,

“Concubines can be noble ladies, commoners, or courtesans. Do you know what you’re talking about?”

Meryl innocently replied,

“I mean, it’s better than registering a maid’s child. You all don’t seem to understand my words.”

Seeing Meryl’s carefree attitude, the ladies fell silent. 

In fact, the ladies had brought up the topic to test Meryl’s responses, but her disappointing answers left them quite dissatisfied.

They couldn’t help but recall their conversations with Meia.

Ding ding.

Meia would tap her spoon against the teacup to draw everyone’s attention.

<Speaking behind someone’s back is improper behavior for a noble. Please everyone, mind your words.>

At that, everyone fell silent. Meia would assertively control the conversation, only allowing appropriate comments. 

Her charismatic presence, decisive words, and haughty demeanor made her seem the natural choice for a future Empress.

But seeing Meryl, the new fiancée, not only fail to stop gossip but also join in mocking, their feelings soured.

It was clear without seeing that she would enjoy gossiping.

And since they could be the subject of her gossip, their gazes toward Meryl were not kind.

Meryl was enduring the tedious tea party by thinking about the young Earl Thomas of the Kurundal family, who had asked to meet her today.

<Now that you, Lady Meryl, is the Crown Prince’s fiancée, I dare not look up to you.>

<What are you saying, Young Master Thomas? You are my close friend. You are the only one who embraced me when I suddenly became a lady and came to the capital from the countryside.>

<It makes my heart flutter when you call my name, Lady Meryl.>

<Thomas.>

<Lady Meryl.>

Thinking of Thomas, who looked at her with affectionate eyes, Meryl swallowed a sigh.

Thomas was deeply knowledgeable in painting and music and had a free spirit like herself.

He was not bound by etiquette and social norms, just like her.

Most of all, his blue hair was attractive.

<In my family, men are born with blue hair for generations.>

<Really? Then Earl Kurundal must have blue hair too.>

<Yes.>

His hair looked like the sky but also like the sea when observed closely. She always wanted to smell more of his fragrant freesia scent whenever he came close.

However, he always reminded her that as the Crown Prince’s fiancée and future Empress, she should only be friends. His constant drawing of the line made her even more anxious.

Thus, she had been reducing her visits to the palace to meet Thomas.

The reason she had turned her attention to someone else was because of Crown Prince Patzraelli.

He left her feeling lonely and only nagged like Meia. She wondered if she had rushed into the engagement with the Crown Prince. She just didn’t want to bow her head to Meia, who would become the Empress…

She kept sighing.

As Meryl’s expression worsened, the noblewomen at the tea party cautiously watched her.

One of them opened the conversation by asking Meryl a question.

“What hobbies do you have, Lady Meryl?”

“Well, I drink tea and read books.”

“Oh my, books? You must enjoy reading. What kind of books do you read?”

Meryl answered indifferently.

“I read various kinds, so I don’t remember.”

The noblewoman who had asked the question covered her mouth with her fan, indicating she wouldn’t ask any more questions and didn’t want to continue the conversation. The other noblewomen exchanged glances, silently expressing their displeasure with Meryl’s behavior and words.

A servant entered the room and announced.

“Marchioness Ferzen has arrived.”

Everyone murmured and whispered.

“Why has the Marchioness suddenly come?”

“Obviously, she’s here to see the new Crown Prince’s fiancée, Lady Meryl.”

“She’s still so beautiful.”

“Indeed.”

And they all thought the same thing.

If Meryl didn’t correct her behavior, the strict Marchioness Ferzen wouldn’t stand idly by.

Marchioness Laila Ferzen moved to the seat guided by her maid and sat down.

“It’s been a long time, everyone.”

“Oh my, Marchioness Ferzen, I’ve missed you.”

“My goodness, your dress is so beautiful today.”

“Oh my, that dress! Isn’t it a design by Clairira?”

“As expected, Marchioness Ferzen has a keen eye.”

“Of course. I’m a fan of that designer too.”

With Laila’s entrance, the noblewomen’s expressions softened, and the atmosphere became lively.

As the mood improved, Meryl’s expression grew more troubled.

The reason was that Marchioness Ferzen hadn’t properly greeted her.

“Marchioness Ferzen!”

“Ah, Lady Hatzbellua.”

“Lady? Not Lady Meryl? What do you see me as, Marchioness Ferzen?”

Despite Meryl’s aggressive tone, Laila remained composed.

“But of course, you are Lady Hatzbellua.”

“I am the Crown Prince’s fiancée. Shouldn’t you have greeted me first upon entering?”

Meryl said, her face contorted in a frown.

“No. You should have greeted me first.”

“What did you say?”

The noblewomen tried to suppress their laughter, their faces turning red.

“Why are you all acting like this? Am I wrong?”

The noblewoman who had been covering her mouth with her fan closed it and spoke.

“Yes, Lady Meryl, you are wrong.”

Everyone nodded in agreement with the noblewoman’s words.

Meryl was taken aback by the confident demeanor of the noblewomen.

“But I am the future Crown Princess. I will become the Empress! You should show me respect!”

Laila laughed at Meryl.

“Are you angry because I didn’t greet you first? Lady Meia never raised her voice like this…”

At Laila’s comparison to Meia, Meryl flared up.

“Why are you bringing up Meia here! The important thing is that Marchioness Ferzen didn’t greet me, the Crown Prince’s fiancée!”

“Lady Meia used to greet me first.”

“I am different from Meia.”

“Yes, very different in many ways.”

The more Meryl spoke, the more she felt things were turning against her.

The noblewomen were trying to suppress their laughter, and Marchioness Ferzen looked relaxed, continuously bringing up Meia, who wasn’t even there.

Meryl stood up.

She didn’t want to stay there any longer.

“I’m leaving because I’m not feeling well. Please inform Her Majesty the Empress.”

Marchioness Ferzen is the Emperor’s sister. Everyone knows that.

So, regardless of the Marchioness title, it was appropriate for Meryl to greet Laila first.

A maid urgently grabbed Meryl and said,

“You must not, Lady Meryl.”

“What?”

“You must not leave. Her Majesty the Empress is waiting…”

Slap!

Meryl raised her hand and slapped the maid hard on the cheek.

“I said I’m not feeling well. Are you stopping me? Who do you think you are!”

The maid, whose head had snapped to the side from the slap, immediately knelt and began trembling.

“I-I’m sorry.”

The maid, trembling pitifully after being slapped by Meryl, began to cry.

But she still had to tell Meryl not to leave.

Leaving the tea party would disgrace the Empress.

“Don’t ever show yourself in front of me again.”

The maid, who had heard the storm of abusive words, cried, and all the noblewomen glared sharply at Meryl.

Laila was greatly angered by Meryl’s actions. The maid’s actions were correct.

But instead of being praised, the maid was assaulted by Meryl.

Moreover, even if the maid had made a mistake, raising a hand in front of others showed a lack of regard for people.

It was behavior that made everyone watching feel uncomfortable.

Meryl leaving the tea party now was akin to slapping the Empress in the face.

“What do you think you’re doing, Lady Meryl!”

Startled by Laila’s stern voice, Meryl slightly shrank her shoulders.

But she was the Crown Prince’s fiancée. A mere Marchioness couldn’t scold her.

“Marchioness Ferzen, are you raising your voice at me?”

“Are you raising your hand at a maid in front of people?”

“It’s not your place to tell me what to do, Marchioness.”

“I have every right to tell you what to do, Meryl.”

Laila no longer used honorifics with Meryl.

“Are you speaking informally to me? I am the Crown Prince’s fiancée. How can a mere Marchioness be so disrespectful?”

“If I continue talking to you, it will only ruin my mood. I miss Lady Meia today.”

“That Meia, Meia. Everyone only talks about Meia! Ha…”

In fact, Meryl had wanted to see Meia’s twisted, sorrowful face after taking her place as the fiancée.

But Meia had left the duchy with a calm and relieved expression.

She should have felt victorious as the new fiancée, but she didn’t feel like she had won at all.

And people kept seeking Meia and avoiding her.

“Meia, Meia! Everyone seeks Meia, but I am the fiancée now! With the approval of Her Majesty the Empress and the Crown Prince!”

No matter how hard she tried, she could never be Meia. But people only wanted Meia.

They didn’t want her.

“Hng.”

Tears fell from Meryl’s eyes. Laila coldly spoke.

“If you want to cry, do it where no one can see…”

But Laila’s words were cut off.

Crash.

Meryl, glaring at Laila for irritating her, picked up a vase from the table and threw it near Laila’s feet.

The noblewomen, shocked by Meryl’s actions, stood up abruptly, and the maids and servants exchanged nervous glances.

“Like mother, like daughter! No manners, always provoking people, only looking for Meia.”

Meryl wiped her tears with her hand and stormed out of the tea party.

“My goodness.”

“Did she just throw a vase at Marchioness Ferzen?”

“She even badmouthed Lady Olivia? I can’t believe what I’m hearing.”

The noblewomen were stunned by Meryl’s actions. No matter how angry she was, but to throw a vase and leave like that was unacceptable.