CHAPTER 98……………….
“Evgeni, my partner seems troubled. Be kind.”
“…Partner?”
At my entrance, Evgeni frowned, looking back and forth between me and Richard.
I went so far as to rest my hand on Richard’s shoulder and gave a sweet, smiling glance.
“Yes, my partner. Lord Elliet, the young duke. Isn’t that right, Young Duke?”
“Ah, yes. That’s correct. Her Highness, the First Princess, is my partner.”
Sensing my intent, he placed his hand gently over mine and smiled warmly.
Unlike the indifferent eyes he showed when with Evgeni, his eyes now held a soft and affectionate light. Evgeni’s eyes widened at the sight.
“B-but I thought you hadn’t chosen a partner, Sister?”
“Hmm? Ah, yes, I hadn’t. But the Young Duke volunteered. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes, that’s right. Her Highness insisted on refusing, but I held on, saying I wished to be her partner.”
“Held on…!”
“My goodness…”
“That Young Duke? When he was with us, his eyes kept begging to leave…”
“And yet to Her Highness, he smiles so brightly…”
“…”
For a moment, Evgeni fiercely glared at the ladies whispering among themselves.
The noble ladies of her faction flinched and quickly pressed their lips shut.
What a ridiculous scene.
I tapped Richard’s arm, frustrated that I couldn’t laugh openly.
Let’s go.
When I said that, he gave me a knowing smile and nodded. He had just begun to rise when—
“Instead of leaving, Your Highness the First Princess, why not join this conversation?”
Nakari spoke up to stop me as I turned away. Everyone’s gaze fell on Nakari Calypsa.
Her crimson eyes curved sharply, like a crescent blade, as she met my gaze.
“And the young ladies here as well.”
“….”
“Lady Calypsa?”
Evgeni called Nakari lightly.
From her puzzled look, it seemed Nakari had acted alone, without prior consultation with Evgeni.
Nakari gently laid her hand over Evgeni’s and smiled with grace.
“…Very well. Sister, won’t you join us in this conversation?”
She glanced at Richard—clearly intending to monopolize him by dragging me in instead.
The other ladies seemed flustered at first but soon even prepared seats for me and my faction.
It was impossible to refuse.
…No running away this time.
With a sigh, I glanced at where Emily stood. She had been watching me from afar and cautiously approached.
“Did they just invite us into the conversation?”
“How did you know?”
“It’s obvious. They’re setting more seats, and looking closely, it’s quite a lot. If they only wanted you, they’d have added just one.”
“True.”
“Shall I call the ladies over?”
“That would be helpful.”
Emily nodded and went to fetch the young ladies waiting for me.
Soon, they arrived with her at Evgeni’s gathering.
“Good day.”
“Oh my, hello, Lady Lara Mirzova.”
“Yes.”
The factions locked eyes, sparks practically crackling in the air. Still, since my faction was smaller, it felt like we were at a disadvantage.
Let’s settle this before things get messy.
I clapped twice and spoke.
“Let’s sit down, everyone.”
The ladies nodded and took their assigned seats.
“Young Duke, please sit here!”
Evgeni quickly patted the seat beside her—the one Richard had used earlier—and beamed.
She subtly grabbed his hand and pulled him down beside her.
“….”
I watched blankly, then sat myself. Naturally, Richard’s seat was at my side.
The atmosphere sank heavily.
Though they had invited us, Evgeni’s faction hadn’t planned this, and they exchanged uneasy glances.
At that moment—
“It’s fortunate. I had been regretful at not having a proper conversation with Her Highness, but now we can.”
Nakari broke the ice, prompting the others to speak.
“Yes, indeed. Her Highness invited only a select few to the palace, after all.”
“We never even had a chance to talk.”
“I worried this season would end without even greeting her… It’s a relief we can now.”
“I see.”
Their words were laced with barbs aimed at me.
Emily, sensing it as well, gave them a cold look.
“Her Highness didn’t intentionally exclude you from the tea invitations. You know very well only limited guests can be invited for royal security.”
“Oh, of course we know. If a high noble or royal heir faced danger in the palace, it would be most troubling. We only meant to say we understood Her Highness.”
“Don’t be upset, Lady Grisela. Lady Pena’s words may have been misleading. She never intended it that way.”
“…Ha.”
Emily gave a dry laugh.
Their hostility was plain, and yet they brushed it off shamelessly as a “misunderstanding.” Just like Evgeni.
Don’t waste your breath.
But—
As Emily and I exchanged glances, Richard suddenly spoke, cutting the tension.
“As far as I know, Her Highness also sent tea invitations to the young ladies here.”
“…What?”
“Her Highness never held exclusive teas. In fact, I know she invited you as well. Am I mistaken?”
Tilting his head, Richard looked lazily at them.
Flustered, the ladies forgot to be hostile and fumbled at his charm.
Nakari smirked, intrigued.
“Ah, that must be because the dates overlapped by chance.”
“You mean Her Highness’s and the Second Princess’s teas?”
“Yes. By the time our invitations arrived, we had already replied to Princess Evgeni’s tea. Isn’t that right, ladies?”
Startled, they quickly nodded.
“Y-yes. We’d never ignore Her Highness’s invitation! The schedules just clashed unfortunately.”
“Exactly. It’s rather awkward for us.”
“I must have spoken too hastily.”
“That’s fine. Just be more mindful in the future.”
Richard bowed his head politely in apology.
The noble ladies nearly smiled at the sight of such a handsome man bowing to them—until he added:
“Then the ladies must also apologize to Her Highness.”
“…Pardon?”
“Why so?”
Nakari, still smiling sweetly, asked as if genuinely curious.
Richard said,
“You knew Her Highness sent invitations. Yet you still complained about not interacting with her. That must have troubled Her Highness.”
“T-that’s…”
“We only meant our schedules never matched, not that Her Highness—”
But their words faltered.
No doubt they had wanted to imply she deliberately overlapped schedules to block us.
Not entirely untrue, I thought.
Better that Evgeni steal my tea dates than waste time with her faction, which only made me sick.
And now things are getting entertaining.
With Richard defending me, Evgeni’s eyes grew sharper by the moment.
I hid my smile behind a teacup.
“Oh, I see~.”
Nakari beamed as if just realizing, and turned to her faction.
“Then you should apologize, shouldn’t you~?”
“What?”
“It was Lady Pena’s mistake. Her Highness did send invitations, but we always accepted Princess Evgeni’s first, so we ‘had no choice’ but to decline. Isn’t that right?”
“B-but, my lady—”
The girl trembled, staring at Nakari.
We were attacking together just a moment ago!
“Hmm? I didn’t say anything. In fact, I defended you.”
“T-that’s, I…”
She glanced around desperately for support, but the others turned away, abandoning her.
Her face paled as she lowered her head.
“…I-I apologize, Your Highness.”
“Apology accepted.”
“….”
Elise Pena’s face turned beet red, nearly exploding.
She secretly glared at Nakari, but Nakari only smiled cheerfully, raising her cup.
“I apologize too, Your Highness. It was I who asked for this gathering, but it seems I ruined the mood. I’ll be more careful.”
I only nodded in reply.
After that, time passed more quietly.
Perhaps taking Elise’s humiliation as a lesson, the others struggled to speak to me at all.
Not my problem.
I chatted with Emily, Lara Mirzova, and Viante Rolovian, and occasionally exchanged words with Richard.
Evgeni, jealous of our closeness, tried to speak with him—
“Young Duke, do you dislike sweets? You haven’t touched the confections.”
“Yes.”
“Is the tea to your taste? Shall I—”
“It’s fine.”
“….”
His curt, dismissive replies ended any conversation.
I looked away from them, my gaze landing on Nakari.
She sat quietly, like a beast hiding claws, savoring the chaos.
What is that woman really?
If only she were as frivolous as her mother. But she was as cautious and intimidating as the Duke of Calypsa himself.
And she didn’t seem fond of fools either.
So why is she with Evgeni…?
I sipped my tea, uneasy.
Then—
Clang!
A sharp crash echoed through the hall.
Everyone turned toward the sound.
It came from where the Empress Dolores and her faction sat. But her expression wasn’t one of mere clumsiness.
She looked angry. And nervous.
I frowned, trying to read the situation.
Mother, and the moderates…?
Startled, I looked directly at her.
Could it be… about him?
Hermot de Vich.
Though Mother had insisted she’d handle it, I couldn’t shake the feeling she was as helpless as a child. I quickly rose.
Richard gently caught my wrist.
“It may be best if you don’t.”
“No. It’s fine. Please stay here, Young Duke.”
“…You insist?”
“Yes.”
At my firm tone, he sighed softly and rose with me.
“Then allow me to accompany you.”
“You needn’t.”
“No, as you worry for the Empress, I too worry for you, Your Highness. If danger arises, I will protect you.”
He offered me his hand. I hesitated, then took it.
His warmth eased me, and I approached my mother with a steadier heart.
“I’ll join as well.”
“Lady Calypsa?”
“My mother is there too.”
With a bright smile, Nakari excused herself, then glanced at Evgeni.
“Will you come too, Princess?”
“M-me? R-really?”
“Yes. You’re bored, aren’t you?”
Her meaning was clear—this will be fun.
Evgeni hesitated, glancing toward her mother.
I’ve never seen her like this…
Thinking she should go and calm her, Evgeni nodded and took Nakari’s hand.
Nakari smiled faintly.
“Let’s go, Princess.”
“…Yes.”
Following me, Nakari and Evgeni arrived moments later.
Nakari pushed Evgeni forward while she herself watched from behind.
“What did you just say…!”
The Empress’s sharp voice cut through the hall again. People could no longer pretend to ignore it.
Flustered, Evgeni rushed to her side.
“M-Mother, what’s wrong…?”
“Y-your Highness the Second Princess…!”
The Empress was visibly unsettled. Beside her stood the Duchess of Calypsa.
For an instant, Nakari’s eyes met her mother’s.
The Duchess looked weary, while Nakari smiled softly and asked:
“Mother, what’s going on?”
Had she done something useless again?
