Chapter 11
Fortunately, my face hadn’t been splashed, but droplets of tea were dripping steadily from my softly waved black hair and pale blue dress.
A sudden chill ran over my skin, like a wave of goosebumps. My lips felt frozen—I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.
If only Izar were here…
Was I still just a helpless child who couldn’t do anything without Izar?
I shouldn’t be. I needed to grow up now.
“What’s all this commotion?”
Just then, Madam Shinaba—who’d been basking in the flattery of noble ladies at the center of the drawing room—stepped forward.
She wore the expression of someone who had just noticed my presence.
“…Lady Renata? What unfortunate trouble has found you?”
She fanned herself lazily with a purple-feathered fan, letting her eyes drift over me.
“Hmmm. But really—”
“It’s been a while, Madam.”
“Oh, has it? I didn’t even notice you were here. And look at that jewelry—it’s new, isn’t it? A bit much, considering the empire’s current state.”
“It was a gift from my brother. He would’ve been disappointed if I hadn’t worn it.”
“Well, aren’t we a wealthy house. Meanwhile, the citizens are starving and sleeping in the streets.”
Her sharp gaze pierced through me.
No doubt she knew all about the vast sums House Carnelluti had contributed to the imperial treasury and the Holy Order—through taxes, donations, and more.
And she likely knew that money had gone to support the empire.
Yet here she was, accusing me of flaunting wealth.
Had she truly cared about the empire’s suffering, she wouldn’t have hosted such a lavish event in the first place.
But that wasn’t the point. She simply wanted an excuse to nitpick, to humiliate.
And I knew it. This was exactly why she had invited me here.
“Fufu. Hard to believe this is the future empress consort.”
She spread her bright red lips into a wicked smile.
Being publicly ridiculed wounded my pride and soured my mood.
But I couldn’t retaliate—not here. Madam Shinaba was, after all, a member of the imperial family.
Perhaps once I entered the palace as crown princess, things would change. But not yet.
I couldn’t let something as petty and predictable as this knock me down.
In this moment, I understood why Father and Lenac were so desperate to see me rise to the crown princess’s position.
I was sick to death of being treated like a fake noble.
I didn’t want to become someone who just got used to being humiliated.
I didn’t want to be someone people laughed at or treated like I didn’t matter.
“Why so silent, Lady Renata?”
Madam Shinaba tilted her head, exposing her slender neck.
Around it hung an amethyst necklace—a piece I’d seen her wear multiple times before.
Ah… so that’s what this is about.
She had to keep wearing the same necklace, even during wartime, to preserve the dignity of the royal family. Meanwhile, a girl younger and of lower rank like me was wearing something rare and hard to come by. That was what bothered her.
…How petty.
“You’re making it look as if I’m jealous of you, hmm?”
Madam Shinaba had found herself an easy target and was clearly relishing it, tossing out questions one after another.
But just then, a commotion near the drawing room entrance caught her attention. She turned toward it.
“What’s going on over there…?”
Her voice was drowned out by the murmur of the nobles.
And then, like a scene out of a holy scripture, something remarkable unfolded.
The crowd split cleanly in two, like the parting of the Red Sea, as people began glancing around nervously and stepping back.
“…Hiccup.”
Someone had choked on their tea. A sharp, wheezing cough echoed through the air.
But the person striding boldly through the cleared path was no saint.
…Why you, of all people?
The man who appeared was someone no one in this room had expected.
Khalid.
With his sunlit blond hair slicked neatly back from his smooth forehead and dressed—oddly—in a perfectly tailored formal suit.
“Did I walk into the wrong place? What’s with all the long faces?”
He looked visibly uncomfortable in the stiff outfit, the top button fastened all the way up.
He reached for his cravat, tugging at it irritably, when his eyes landed on me. He paused.
“What happened to your face? …What’s going on?”
Khalid spoke and moved as if it were just the two of us in the room.
We might despise each other now, but like Izar, Khalid had spent nearly twelve years by my side.
Had it not been for the recent marriage ordeal, we probably would’ve remained—awkwardly—friends.
He frowned instantly and closed the distance between us with long strides.
When I didn’t respond, his tone sharpened.
“Renata. I asked you what happened. Who did this to you?”
“…Please, Your Highness. Your voice—it’s too loud.”
“When have I not been loud? Don’t change the subject. Tell me.”
But I couldn’t just blurt out the truth—not in front of Madam Shinaba.
No matter what, I still had to watch my step around her.
All I could do was hope Khalid would take me somewhere quiet to talk.
But before I could even reach for his arm—
Karina stepped forward and raised her hand.
“…It was me. I did it.”
She confessed flatly, with no context or explanation.
Khalid’s eyes darkened.
“…Karina Rezenin? You have a death wish?”
“Quite the opposite. I very much want to live.”
“Then it’s only fair you end up soaked too.”
“Go ahead. I’m ready…!!”
What was this conversation?
I looked around helplessly, opening and closing my mouth without finding a chance to speak.
Karina stepped forward and stretched out her arms, closing her eyes in anticipation.
She was too eager. Khalid turned to look at me, something finally registering as off.
I shook my head and gestured frantically at Karina.
“…What on earth are you two saying?”
But Khalid didn’t seem to understand my signals.
I stared at him, panic blooming. Surely he wouldn’t really—
And then I remembered: Khalid was exactly the kind of person who would.
I didn’t have time to stop him.
He reached out, snatched a teapot from a passing servant’s tray, and without hesitation, dumped it over Karina’s head.
The whole act was smooth and seamless.
I just stood there in shock.
“…I’m sorry, Lady Renata. Truly. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I would never want to make you the object of ridicule.”
Tea trickled down from Karina’s sharply angled jawline.
Her eyes weren’t even fully open as she kept apologizing.
I’d thought the shock had sobered her up—but apparently not.
Or maybe she meant to say that.
“…What are you talking about? Ridicule?”
Khalid shoved the empty teapot into the stunned servant’s hands, his tone sharp.
“…Don’t tell me…”
He muttered under his breath, turning toward Madam Shinaba.
And then, he wore that expression—the one he was best at.
The one that dripped with utter contempt.
I knew it well. I’d been on the receiving end once before.
“…Aunt. Don’t tell me you’re the one behind this ridiculous stunt?”
“Mind your words, Crown Prince. And don’t throw around baseless accusations.”
Madam Shinaba, flustered, snapped her fan shut and stiffened her expression.
But Khalid wasn’t interested in her performance.
“If not you, then who? The weather outside is freezing, and she’s standing here soaked like a drowned rat. What if she catches a cold? Even if you didn’t do this—it’s unacceptable that no one helped her before I arrived.”
“Why are you raising your voice at me? I don’t know anything about it.”
“Funny, the more you deny it, the more suspicious you seem.”
“There are eyes and ears everywhere. Watch your tongue.”
Her face flushed red, then pale.
She couldn’t bear the humiliation of being scolded in front of so many nobles by a nephew half her age.
She glared at him, lashes fluttering in warning—but Khalid simply sighed and shook his head, as if disappointed.
