Chapter 89

Meryl has been surrounded by gloomy days recently.

She hadn’t felt good ever since Agnita left her solitary room and turned the Ducal residence upside down.

She wanted to meet her fiancé, Crown Prince Patzraelli, but he was always busy.

Moreover, he didn’t even try to talk to her.

Even though she was the future Crown Princess, the noblewomen and young ladies didn’t show her proper respect.

She tried to forget her gloomy mood by spending enjoyable time with Thomas, but he was also too busy to meet her. It felt like she was left all alone in the world.

With a sigh, Meryl finished dressing up to attend Luruna’s tea party.

Luruna greeted Meryl warmly as she arrived at the tea party.

“Welcome, Lady Meryl.”

Since she kept clashing with the young ladies in the capital, she planned to quietly drink tea and return to the Ducal residence, just as her father had advised.

“Thank you for inviting me.”

Next to Luruna stood a young lady with beautiful blonde hair and adorable pink eyes.

“Let me introduce you, Lady Meryl. This is Lady Cesar of the Shantry family, who is to marry Thomas, the young heir of the Kurundals family.”

At Luruna’s words, Meryl’s face turned ashen.

If she hadn’t misheard, she was being introduced to the woman who would marry her secret lover, Thomas.

Her heart thudded and sank.

“Hello, Lady Hatzbellua.”

“Nice to meet you, Lady Cesar.”

Meryl subtly scanned Lady Cesar up and down. Flowing hair, a slim waist, and a fresh smile that matched the beautiful green-toned dress.

Even a pleasantly kind and good impression that would naturally draw anyone’s favor…

“Lady Cesar, who will become the future Countess of Kurundals, will surely assist Lady Meryl, the future Empress, very well. Hoho.”

Luruna continued to shower Lady Cesar with praise, laughing as she did.

Hearing about Thomas’s marriage made Meryl’s head go cold and rigid.

All she wanted was to go to Thomas immediately and ask if it was true.

‘There’s no way Thomas would abandon me and get married.’

“Madam Luruna, you’re making me blush.”

“Lady Cesar, didn’t you go on a date with Thomas just yesterday?”

“Yes, that’s correct. He keeps wanting to see me and comes to visit.”

Lady Cesar blushed as she spoke.

“I want to marry Thomas quickly, have children, and build a happy family.”

“Hohoho, has the wedding date been set?”

“The Kurundals family and our Shantry family have agreed to hold the ceremony on the date we desire. My father suggested we hold the wedding with Thomas before the year ends.”

“Congratulations, Lady Cesar!”

“Yes, thank you.”

Lady Cesar’s face was filled with happiness.

Meryl found that sight extremely irritating. She was furious.

She wanted to shout, ‘Thomas is my man!’ but she couldn’t say it.

Instead, her father’s words kept replaying in her mind.

<Meryl, just quietly drink your tea and come back!>

At her father’s earnest request, Meryl bit her lip and forced herself to put on a polite expression toward Lady Cesar.

Luruna announced the start of the tea party. Her tea parties always included poetry.

While drinking tea, one would either compose a poem on the spot or recite a favorite poem by a beloved author.

Meryl had heard about this in advance, so she had hurriedly memorized a poem.

She had been reviewing it repeatedly before arriving, but as soon as she was introduced to Lady Cesar, who was set to marry Thomas, her mind went completely blank. Whether it was due to her racing heart or burning jealousy, her entire body wouldn’t stop trembling.

Luruna observed Meryl quietly sitting with a blank expression and thought that inviting Lady Cesar had been a good idea. Seeing Meryl’s transparent emotions was amusing in its own way.

“Lady Meryl, you don’t look well.”

“I’m fine.”

Luruna smiled faintly and said, 

“Today’s theme is love. Count Rosenhayden once said this: ‘You should fear losing love more than suffering because of love.’ What do you think, Lady Meryl?”

“Yes.”

“What do you think of Count Rosenhayden’s words?”

Meryl responded sharply, as if she didn’t like them.

“I think it’s better to eliminate the cause before losing love.”

Luruna laughed softly and spoke again.

“Since Lady Meryl personally won the love of His Highness the Crown Prince—oh, I mean, since you personally achieved love, you might feel uncomfortable with the idea of losing it.”

At Luruna’s words, the young ladies present all focused on their conversation. Everyone understood that Luruna’s barbed comment was indirectly mocking Meryl for taking Meia’s position as the Crown Prince’s fiancée.

“Lady Meryl, I’d like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude.”

“What do you mean?”

“Thanks to you, I was able to gain Meia as my daughter-in-law.”

All the young ladies present caught on to the meaning behind Luruna’s words.

‘Thanks to you stealing her fiancé’s position, the socialite flower Meia was left single.’

It was a sarcastic remark.

Meryl tried her best not to show any reaction.

Luruna continued speaking.

“It’s my humble dream to recite poetry with Lady Meia at a tea party.”

“Madam, please invite us to that tea party as well.”

“Of course, hoho.”

“Lady Meia’s tea parties were always delightful.”

“Yes, I really miss her.”

“She’ll attend her coming-of-age ceremony, won’t she?”

“I’m so curious about the dress Lady Meia, the flower of the social scene, will wear.”

The young ladies present praised and admired Meia, expressing their longing for her.

Meryl took a deep breath. Her father’s voice repeated over and over in her head.

<Meryl, please! I’m begging you!>

<Just quietly drink your tea and come back, Meryl!>

<Please don’t cause any trouble.>

But her father’s words began to fade from her mind one by one.

“Lady Meryl, after you become Empress, take good care of Lady Meia, who will become Prince Demian’s wife too.”

Whether she answered or not, she felt utterly miserable.

But she couldn’t bring herself to say “Yes.” The thought of Meia becoming the Prince Demian’s wife was unbearable.

“Why aren’t you answering, Lady Meryl?”

“There’s no guarantee that Meia will become Prince Demian’s wife.”

Meryl’s words instantly silenced the previously cheerful tea party.

“Would she want to marry the younger brother of her ex-fiancé? If it’s the Meia I know, she wouldn’t do it.”

Luruna’s face twisted.

Lady Cesar stood up and shouted.

“Your words are too harsh, Lady Meryl.”

“Do you think there’s only one or two noblemen who want to marry Meia? Love letters, proposals, and gifts flood our home every day. Meia will probably pick one of them and marry.”

Luruna staggered, clutching her forehead and lowering her head.

“Madam!”

“Oh my goodness!”

Seeing Luruna’s staggering figure, Lady Cesar raised her voice slightly.

“Please watch your words, Lady Meryl.”

“I didn’t say anything wrong, did I?”

“Do you realize how much of an offense you’re committing against Madam Luruna right now?”

Meryl glared at Lady Cesar and said, 

“Prince Demian and Meia haven’t promised to marry, nor has Meia accepted any proposal! Is what I said really so strange?”

Already irritated by Lady Cesar, who was set to marry Thomas, Meryl disliked her even more.

The jealousy burning inside Meryl flared up like dry wood catching fire.

“I know Meia well; she’s my cousin. She won’t become Prince Demian’s wife.”

“Yes, someone who knows her cousin so well would naturally steal her cousin’s fiancé’s position. How impressive.”

Meryl’s expression instantly turned icy. She twisted her lips and stood up abruptly.

As she rose, the chair behind her fell over with a loud crash.

“Lady Cesar, your words are out of line. Stealing the crown prince’s fiancé position?”

Lady Cesar glanced at the fallen chair, then raised her head and smirked, lifting one corner of her mouth.

“I didn’t say anything wrong, did I?”

She threw Meryl’s earlier words right back at her.

“And even though you’re a noble lady, I didn’t permit you to address me by name.”

Meryl picked up the teacup on the table and approached Lady Cesar.

Then, she poured the tea onto her dress.

“What are you doing?!”

Meryl coldly glared at her and placed the empty teacup back on the table.

One of the young ladies nearby pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to Lady Cesar.

“You won’t get away with this… Ah!”

Overwhelmed by irritation and jealousy, Meryl couldn’t hold back any longer.

“Eek!”

“Oh my goodness!”

Meryl grabbed Lady Cesar’s hair.

All the young ladies invited to Luruna’s tea party were shocked and screamed at the sight.

The place where Luruna held her tea party was a beautiful glass greenhouse personally gifted by His Majesty the Emperor.

It was a fairy tale-like setting with flowers blooming year-round, trees, and chirping birds.

Whenever new flowers bloomed, Luruna would host a tea party and recite poetry she had written.

But this beautiful venue turned into chaos in an instant, filled with the screams of young ladies and the sound of shattering glass.

“Let go of me!”

Lady Cesar, whose hair was being grabbed by Meryl, shouted in panic, begging her to let go.

The young ladies around stomped their feet and urgently told the maids to stop the fight.

Several maids, with determined expressions, approached Meryl.

Smack!

With the sound of a sharp slap, one maid who had gotten close to Meryl had her head turned to the side.

“Try laying a hand on me!”

The maid who had been slapped collapsed to the floor, trembling uncontrollably.

The young ladies froze in shock at the sight.

The other maids hurriedly helped the fallen maid up.

“Let go of her, Lady Meryl! What are you doing?! This is so unbecoming!”

“Unbecoming? Are you calling me unbecoming? The truly unbecoming one is—”

‘You, trying to marry someone else’s man.’

“How dare you raise your voice at me!”

“You’re the one raising your voice in front of Madam Luruna.”

Meryl struck Lady Cesar’s cheek with force.

Slap!

Then she hit her head.

Thud!

With a dull thud, Lady Cesar collapsed on the spot. Her appearance was utterly disheveled.