Chapter 11 Part 6

“Lady Rose Knight.”

“Yes?”

As I stood between Roxy and Lady Rowina, surveying the dwindling party, a servant approached me. Out of the three of us, he called my name specifically, leaving me puzzled. Bowing deeply, he handed me an envelope.

“Her Majesty the Empress has sent an invitation to a tea party. Please confirm its contents.”

Surprised, I struggled to maintain my composure. Quickly, I opened my fan and used it to conceal my expression as I accepted the letter. The servant, having fulfilled his duty, offered a polite farewell and disappeared, leaving me and the two ladies alone with the envelope. Their eyes gleamed like predators that had found their prey, their intensity nearly suffocating as they silently urged me to open the letter immediately.

“Three days from now, at 2 p.m., in the glasshouse…?”

“Goodness, what is this? A tea party invitation during the selection process…!”

“It seems they’ve shortlisted candidates and will hold another round of selection later. Look, another tea party invitation has just arrived.”

Perhaps staying in the quiet corner of the ballroom had been a fortunate decision. Otherwise, I might have found myself in the same situation as others. Nearby, Daisy Queenie received her letter, surrounded by a throng of young ladies. Jealousy, astonishment, and resentment churned visibly in the air around her. Yet, amidst that maelstrom of emotions, Daisy remained calm and composed, holding her ground with an air of serene confidence.

Daisy Queenie turned her gaze. It was as if she knew exactly where I was, her eyes locking onto mine without a single misstep. She was smiling—radiantly, flawlessly.

But I saw through it, recognizing it for the ugly smirk of victory it truly was. The subtle way she waved the letter in her hand, as if already seated on the throne of the Crown Princess, made it clear she couldn’t contain her smugness.

However, the moment she noticed the letter in my hand, identical to hers, the smile that had been plastered across her face vanished without a trace. Her eyes, now wide with shock, lingered on the letter I held. That betrayed, indignant expression pleased me greatly. I leisurely lifted the letter higher, relishing her frustration, and kept my calm until she stormed out of the ballroom, unable to contain her rage.

As the event wound down, the young ladies began to trickle out of the ballroom one by one. Knowing I’d only be stuck waiting in the line of carriages if I left now, I lingered, along with others who seemed to have had the same idea.

It didn’t take long for their curious glances to fall on me. It wasn’t unusual for me, Lady Roxy, and Lady Rowina to gather in a corner for a quiet conversation, so our little group wasn’t what had caught their attention. What truly drew their eyes was the recent turn of events.

Some of the young ladies who had been hesitating on the sidelines finally worked up the nerve to approach us. Offering polite smiles, they greeted us and cautiously began to speak.

“How did you find the selection, Ladies? I must admit, I was rather nervous, thinking it would be more intense, but it seems today passed without much incident.”

“Ah, well… I didn’t come with much expectation,” Roxy replied indifferently.

Her words made the young ladies falter momentarily. For Roxy, who had already solidified her position as the heir of a duchy, the mere fact that she had received an invitation to this event was offensive. It was no wonder she viewed the proceedings with disdain.

Her undisguised hostility created a palpable tension among the ladies. Even though her ire wasn’t directed at them, they hesitated, clearly unnerved by the intensity of her presence.

As I observed the young ladies stealing glances, it became apparent that they had come to speak with me. Their hesitant gazes repeatedly flitted between me and the object of their curiosity.

“Um, Lady Knight…”

“Yes?”

“The item you’re holding… may we ask what it is?”

From that question, I immediately understood why they had approached me. Daisy Queenie, who had long dominated the social circles, always maintained a flock of young ladies at her beck and call. These followers rarely changed and were content to remain by her side, lavishing admiration on even her most trivial acts.

In other words, they were little more than scavengers—hyenas drawn to the scraps Daisy Queenie left behind. With the throne of empress, the highest position a woman could achieve in Rohan’s empire, seemingly within Daisy’s grasp, these women had aligned themselves early, hoping to curry favor and secure a foothold in her court.

However, none of them had expected the Crown Princess selection to take place so abruptly. For those who had believed Daisy Queenie to be the unquestionable frontrunner, this decision must have been puzzling. The invincible foundation beneath Daisy Queenie’s feet had begun to crack.

And to top it off, both Daisy Queenie and I had been invited to the Empress’s tea party. This must have prompted the thought, ‘Could it be?’ to creep into their minds.

Daisy Queenie’s scraps had long been watched over and divided among the hyena pack, who took turns keeping tabs on her. Realizing they had no chance of intruding on that circle, their new plan was likely to attach themselves to me. Since they had no direct ties to Daisy Queenie, this gamble would cost them nothing.

Roxana, who had seen the filth of politics firsthand through her participation in noble assemblies, read their intentions as clearly as I did. Her face stiffened with distaste. After all, these were the very same people who had ignored me as if I didn’t exist until now, only to turn around and see me as some sort of lottery ticket.

Their selfish opportunism would not sit well with anyone, and Roxana was no exception. On the other hand, Rowina, unfamiliar with these antics, merely observed the situation with a blank expression.

“It’s an invitation from Her Majesty the Empress,” I said, holding up the letter with a sweet smile. “I’ve been graciously invited to the glass conservatory.”

Though their behavior disgusted me, I could still find a use for their presence—especially now, when I had resolved to take my revenge on Daisy Queenie..

Feigning politeness, I entertained their idle chatter with practiced grace. My approach was far more agreeable than the cold stares of Roxana or the detached silence of Rowina, and it wasn’t long before they began to crowd around me, laughing and filling the air with meaningless small talk.

***

“Garnet, prepare the bathwater right away,” I said.

“Understood, my lady. Is there a specific oil you’d prefer?” she asked.

I didn’t even have the energy to respond, so I simply raised a hand and weakly waved it off. Garnet, noticing my low spirits, bustled about, instructing the maids to prepare the bath and gathering what was needed for the task.

Turning my head away from her activity, I quietly let out a sigh. It had been ages since I had engaged in such extensive conversations since distancing myself from social circles. Even Roxy and Rowina had been unable to hide their surprise at my uncharacteristic behavior.

This wasn’t a sudden whim. It was merely a long-buried sentiment finally finding its way to the surface. For so long, I had believed I was suppressing those emotions for my own sake, but in truth, they had been the ones suppressing me.

Their goodwill was nothing more than one of the many things I rightfully should have had—or could have had. I had simply lifted one of the chess pieces I needed to deal with Daisy Queenie. If they sought to use me, I would use them just the same.

Whether it was for Harten or for myself, I wouldn’t sit idly any longer. I didn’t know where Daisy Queenie’s hatred for me stemmed from, but I would no longer stand by and allow it to fester. She was the one who crossed the line first, so surely she was prepared to deal with the consequences.

The Rose Knight she once tormented so easily no longer exists. Let her see the price of her actions.

To prepare a dress for the gathering at the glass greenhouse, I rose early the next morning. The thought of the documents that would pile up during the time spent on the fitting left me with no choice but to cut down on sleep.

As the head of the trade association to be established in Endeavor, all related documents were still being directed to me. Among the neatly arranged papers on my desk, a sealed envelope bearing the insignia of Dorothea Palace caught my eye.

If it’s from Dorothea Palace, there’s only one thing it could be. I opened the envelope, realizing that Canerva Gray had finally made her decision. I had spent considerable time on this, and I thought I would feel a sense of satisfaction once the deal was finalized. Yet, the name “Dorothea Palace” only deepened my unease.

Though my eyes scanned the document, my distracted mind had already conjured up Harten’s image. Every time I visited Dorothea Palace for trade matters, I would encounter him. The face he wore—one teetering on the edge of a cliff—still haunted me. He would hold onto my hand as if it were his lifeline, and I can’t even recall how I managed to push him away.

Perhaps it was the guilt that had carried me through.

The reason he had to leave for the Empire of Endeavor, fully aware of the danger to his life, and the way he poured himself entirely into that dazzling destiny—I had been the one to overturn it all.