Chapter 1 (Part 8)

Everyone responded with a courteous greeting to Meia. The only one sitting was Meryl.

Seeing this, Meryl reluctantly stood up from her seat.

When Meia told everyone to sit down, they all took their seats.

Meryl found this very displeasing.

“Is everyone ignoring what I said…”

At Meryl’s harsh tone, Meia spoke earnestly.

“Cousin Meryl, please use respectful language.”

Annoyed by Meia’s constant lecturing, Meryl spoke her mind.

“I said I’m now the Crown Prince’s fiancée, so why are they greeting you?”

The tea party venue quickly turned cold.

It took a moment for everyone to understand Meryl’s words about being the fiancée.

Meia barely suppressed a smile and spoke.

“I know you are free-spirited, cousin. But this is a tea party with other noble young ladies, so please use appropriate language and behavior.”

“Leaving social etiquette aside, you’re always lecturing. Are you picking on me because you don’t like giving up the Crown Prince’s fiancée position? Otherwise, why are you receiving their greetings?”

At Meryl’s words, the young ladies started whispering.

“Did she just say the fiancée has changed to Lady Meryl?”

“If I didn’t hear wrong, that’s what she said.”

“It’s unbelievable. Lady Meryl has been saying she’s the fiancée in other places too. Isn’t it just that?”

Hearing the young ladies’ whispers and giggles, Meryl lost her temper.

Meia blocked Meryl’s path as she approached the whispering young ladies.

“Cousin Meryl!”

“Move! I’ll have them imprisoned for disrespecting royalty!”

Meia asked Meryl.

“Do you know exactly what disrespecting royalty entails?”

Meia’s calm expression showed no emotion.

“Mocking like that is disrespecting royalty!”

“Article 1, Section 51 of the Carpen Empire’s law on disrespecting royalty applies to the first official spouse and the imperial decree.”

Meryl looked at Meia in bewilderment as she explained the law.

“Article 1, Section 55 of the Carpen Empire’s law states that the judgment on disrespecting royalty is made directly by His Majesty the Emperor after receiving reports on the situation and actions.”

“What are you talking about! Meia, you should be on my side!”

“Did you not understand what I said? You are not yet married, so you do not belong to the royal family. Also, it’s hard to accuse the young ladies’ whispers of disrespecting royalty.”

At Meia’s charismatic words and actions, the surrounding young ladies spoke up.

“She’s so impressive.”

“I’ve never heard of that law on disrespecting royalty.”

“Is it really true? Would His Highness the Crown Prince leave Lady Meia?”

“I can’t believe it either.”

“I can’t understand Lady Meryl’s words.”

Meryl’s face turned red, and she couldn’t say anything, just seething with anger.

Meia looked around at the young ladies and then turned back to Meryl and spoke.

“If you are to become the Empress, one of these young ladies might become a concubine. You should get along with them.”

“What? A concubine!”

“When His Highness becomes Emperor, it’s natural for him to have concubines. Don’t you know that?”

“A, a concubine is unacceptable…!”

Meryl fumed loudly and glared at the young ladies as if she would devour them.

“A concubine is absolutely unacceptable, Meia.”

“That is something you should discuss with His Highness the Crown Prince. I have permitted concubines.”

“You may be fine with it, but I can’t stand it!”

The young ladies, receiving Meryl’s fierce gaze, all shook their heads with expressions that said, “I don’t want to live with an Empress like you either.”

The highlight of the day hadn’t even started, but the desired atmosphere was already forming, making Meia want to roll on the floor laughing. However, she had to hold back for the final touch.

Meia cleared her throat and spoke in a solemn voice.

“Everyone, I am no longer the Crown Prince’s fiancée. My cousin Meryl here has become the fiancée. You no longer need to show me the respect due to royalty.”

Although everyone had suspected from the conversation between Meryl and Meia, hearing it confirmed directly shocked the young ladies present.

Meia looked at Meryl with a voice full of regret and said,

“Cousin Meryl, I wish you had shown some restraint today…”

“Restraint?”

“Today’s theme is gratitude. Can’t you see from the carnations decorating the place?”

At Meia’s words, Meryl looked around. The flowers on the table and decorations were centered around carnations.

“Are you saying I don’t understand what the carnations mean? Are you trying to belittle me?”

“I’m not belittling you. The meaning of carnations is ‘gratitude’ towards parents. I recently lost my parents. My entire family.”

“Is there anyone here who doesn’t know that?”

“Losing family is like having to endure the cold and heat without clothes.”

“So what does that have to do with the tea party?”

“When I was hot and cold, many of the young ladies here comforted me, helping me endure. So, I prepared this tea party to honor my parents and express my gratitude to everyone here. And I wanted to introduce each young lady to you, cousin, as you will need their help when you move as the Crown Princess…”

Meryl might not know, but the young ladies gathered here were the precious children of the most influential families in the Carpen Empire, armed with strong financial power, military strength, and connections, regardless of rank.

She had expected Meryl to go wild upon becoming the Crown Princess, but not to this extent.

She ignored etiquette from beginning to end, speaking informally to everyone.

“Lady Meia.”

Olivia, who had been sitting in shock, holding the back of her neck, stood up and called out to Meia.

“Lady Olivia, your complexion…”

“Even if it’s the duchy, I will formally request an apology from Lady Meryl Hatzbellua for insulting my family. I won’t let this go.”

Meia carefully examined Olivia’s face. Olivia’s face was contorted with anger, showing no trace of her usual gentle expression.

‘She caused trouble even before I arrived.’

“Lady Meia, I apologize. I, Olivia of the Ferzen family, will take my leave. If I stay any longer, I might throw a ‘white glove’ at Lady Meryl Hatzbellua.”

Throwing a white glove means challenging someone to a duel and also implies a desire to kill.

“Lady Olivia! Did you just say you would throw a white glove at me?”

“Lady Meryl Hatzbellua, I did not give you permission to use my name.”

“How dare a marquess’s young lady talk about permission to a noble lady?”

Olivia and Meryl’s voices grew louder.

No one could stop them and could only watch the situation unfold with anxious feet.

“Don’t act like the Crown Princess when you might be broken off at any moment too.”

“What?”

With their voices rising endlessly, Meia stepped in front of the two fighting.

“Lady Olivia, and Cousin Meryl. Please calm down, both of you.”

“Meia! Look at how the marquis’s daughter is talking to me! Look! Why aren’t you on my side? I’m your only cousin! You should side with family.”

At Meryl’s words, the young ladies couldn’t hide their astonished expressions. Talking about family felt too hypocritical.

“Lady Meia, it seems the peaceful social circles are over. I completely reject your request to help the new Crown Princess.”

At Olivia’s words, Meia closed her eyes tightly, then opened them and spoke with difficulty.

“I made an unreasonable request. Today’s tea party is dismissed… Oh…”

With those words, Meia staggered and collapsed where she stood.

“Kyaaa!”

“Lady Meia!”

The young ladies screamed simultaneously.

Hearing the women’s screams, the maids opened the doors to the tea party venue and entered.

The approaching maids knelt and began to cry when they saw the collapsed Meia.

“My lady!”

Knowing Meryl was in the venue, Yudy had been waiting anxiously outside the greenhouse door.

She didn’t usually care about other young ladies’ screams, but upon hearing “Lady Meia!” she was the first to burst through the door.

Yudy, pale-faced, hugged the collapsed Meia and wept.

“Oh dear! She couldn’t eat properly and struggled every day from the shocks… I knew this would happen. Oh, our Lady Meia. Oh no.”

Yudy cried out with a voice full of resentment.

“The former duke and duchess passed away so tragically, and if I lose my lady too, I will die! What are you all doing! Call a doctor immediately!”

Meia’s collapse turned the tea party into chaos.

For Meia Hatzbellua, everything was a mess just as she wanted.