Chapter 05
As soon as Meia returned to the ducal residence, she began planning a tea party.
Yudi, who stood beside her, was also brimming with enthusiasm, saying she would help Meia host a tea party for the first time in a while.
Knock, knock.
“Meia, it’s me.”
“Come in, Sister.”
Meryl opened the door, poked her head in, and entered shyly, sticking out her tongue in a cute manner.
“What’s going on?”
“I was just wondering what you were up to.”
“I’m preparing for a tea party.”
“Why are you preparing for a tea party?”
Upon hearing the question, Meia gave a bitter smile and looked at Meryl.
“Then who else would prepare it if not me?”
With a puzzled expression, Meryl replied,
“Of course the servants and the ladies of the vassal families.”
Meryl had a peculiar talent for leaving people speechless with every word she uttered.
“Don’t you know that preparing a tea party is one of the virtues a future Empress must possess?”
After deciding on the concept of the tea party, the host makes a plan and has the servants prepare everything.
Managing and supervising those servants is the responsibility of the tea party’s host.
A tea party is not simply a gathering to drink tea. It is a rehearsal for a noble lady to demonstrate her leadership as the future mistress of a household.
Those invited to a tea party do not come merely to drink tea—they observe how much care and effort the host has put into preparing for her guests.
It is not enough to simply order the servants to prepare everything.
Any mistakes or accidents that occur during the preparations are the host’s responsibility. Therefore, the preparations must never be neglected.
“You can just order the servants around even after becoming Empress.”
“It’s not enough to simply give orders, Sister.”
“Preparing for a tea party is too much of a headache, so I won’t do it. Even if I become Empress, the assisting ladies will take care of everything. I won’t bother with such preparations.”
Seeing Meryl speak as if she were already the future Empress displeased Meia.
She had much to say, but she felt it was better to remain silent.
“Anyway, why did you come?”
“Oh, right! Father is calling for you.”
“Sister, say ‘Father,’ not ‘Dad.’”
“There you go again with that lecturing tone. I’ll let it slide today. Come on, let’s go.”
Meryl’s oddly excited mood, even as she voiced her complaints, unsettled Meia.
Why is she so happy?
Has the storm already arrived?
An uneasy feeling suddenly overwhelmed Meia.
Meia went to the study with Meryl. Both Meryl and the Duke looked unusually pleased.
“Oh! Meia, come in.”
What could possibly make them so happy?
“What is it, Uncle?”
“Well… hmm.”
“Please, go ahead.”
With a resolute expression, the Duke spoke.
“The Imperial Palace is moving toward replacing the Crown Prince’s fiancée with Meryl.”
The words Meia did not wish to hear pierced her ears—and her heart.
The situation she had dreaded had finally come to pass.
She had already expected it. The Empress’s letters had stopped arriving, and Patsrary had avoided meeting her, claiming he was busy.
“Yes.”
“Although yours was a political marriage, Meryl truly likes His Highness the Crown Prince. Please yield to her.”
At Luman’s request, Meia felt deeply offended.
He called it yielding, but it was nothing less than having something taken from her. Her hands clenched involuntarily.
Patsrary knew well that he needed the power of House Hatzbellua to secure his position as Crown Prince against his half-brother, Damian.
He knew it was a political marriage. Yet the reality of the impending annulment—and the sorrow of failing to protect the place her parents had left her—filled Meia with anguish.
If only Patsrary had explained why the engagement had to be broken… she would have helped him ascend the throne no matter what.
They had spent ten years together, yet not even a single letter had come.
Her suspicion that a storm was approaching had proven true.
She had once loudly declared before Meryl that their engagement would never be broken.
“Meia, are you feeling unwell?”
After ten years together, being informed of her annulment through her uncle deeply wounded her pride.
“Do I look unwell to you, Sister?”
“Of course. Your face is pale.”
“If that’s how you see it, then it must be true.”
Meryl glanced at Meia with a cheerful smile.
“Anyway, I’ll become a wonderful Empress—for your sake as well.”
Meryl’s words were enough to shatter Meia’s pride.
“It hasn’t been finalized yet. Uncle, please inform me when it is. I’ll return to my room to continue preparing for the tea party.”
“If the fiancée is changed, the previous engagement contract will be annulled.”
At Luman’s words, Meia halted her steps.
Looking at Luman and Meryl—both confident the change would happen—she spoke.
“If the Imperial Palace does change the fiancée to my sister… please grant me two requests.”
Anger surged within her. She resented Luman for not even retrieving her parents’ remains, and Meryl for trying to seize the position they had left her.
“A request? Speak. I will grant it if it is within my power.”
“If the fiancée is changed, I will go to the Magic Tower until my coming-of-age ceremony.”
“The Magic Tower…?”
Luman knew Meia possessed magical talent.
“Due to the territorial war of the Sirius Empire, the mages of the Magic Tower have all gone to the House of Duke Rockbellion.”
“That war-crazed Sword Master?”
“Yes. My master, Lady Furing, returned to the Magic Tower urgently. I still have scroll studies to complete and wish to continue them there.”
“Go to the Magic Tower! Father, please send her,” Meryl said eagerly.
“Very well. You should get some fresh air. Go to the Magic Tower.”
Luman nodded in approval.
“So… it seems certain that the fiancée will be changed, Uncle,” Meia said calmly.
Caught off guard, the Duke cleared his throat.
“Ahem!”
“And my second request.”
“Speak.”
“Please allow me to marry the man of my choosing. This will be written in a contract and notarized by the Temple.”
The Duke hesitated. He had planned to marry her off politically but had not expected such a clever condition.
She is sharp.
Moreover, a contract notarized by the Temple had to be honored—or divine punishment would follow.
“For the sake of your beloved niece, you can grant me that much generosity, can’t you?” Meia said with unwavering eyes.
Finally, she added:
“I will include this clause: I shall not marry any man of the Karpen Empire. Instead, I will marry the man Meia of Hatzbellua chooses.”
After careful consideration, Luman agreed.
“Very well. For the sake of my beloved niece, I accept.”
Without delay, Meia opened her magical subspace, took out two contracts, and filled them in before presenting them to him.
“Please sign here.”
After reading the document thoroughly, Luman sighed.
“If I fail to uphold this, I will suffer divine punishment.”
“You will have no problems as long as you honor it. The contract is valid for only five years—and I may not marry at all.”
When he hesitated, Meia added,
“Then shall I remain here instead of going to the Magic Tower and continue to sway His Highness’s heart? After all, we shared ten years together.”
At this, Meryl hurriedly urged him.
“Father, she said she’ll go to the Magic Tower! Send her so the Crown Prince and I can grow closer!”
Luman nodded.
“Very well…”
“Thank you. It is a splendid decision for your beloved niece. I shall be happy.”
After signing and stamping the contract, Meia signed as well and left the study.
Even if her engagement were broken, she now possessed a shield that would protect her from another political marriage.
Five years would be enough to gain power at the Magic Tower—and perhaps reclaim the title of Duke of Hatzbellua.
* * *
Patsrary spoke stiffly while reviewing the documents piled before him.
“It’s better for Lady Meryl to marry me than to marry Damian.”
“Your Highness!”
“Say no more. It’s a political marriage. Whoever becomes my fiancée doesn’t matter, as long as the power of House Hatzbellua supports me.”
“Are you certain you won’t regret this? Lady Meia is the flower of high society and has already gained immense support as the future Crown Princess. She has stood by Your Highness for ten years.”
“What does being the flower of high society have to do with securing my position as Crown Prince? Enough. Since they are both ladies of the same house, whoever it is will suffice—as long as she strengthens my position. As her cousin, she may serve me even better than Meia.”
Patsrary dismissed the matter lightly.
His aide, Andy, could say no more.
