Chapter 48
I don’t know who created the magic circles, but they were unimaginably useful portals. I couldn’t tell how many existed in total, but I had found fifteen so far. Each one connected to different locations—like the grand library in front of the imperial palace, the training grounds of the ducal house, the supply warehouse, the underground prison, the marketplace, residential areas, and even the capital’s inspection gates. Some even led to various back alleys of Ottern.
However, once activated, it took anywhere from 20 to 50 minutes to reactivate them. The exact cooldown time varied per portal, and the farther from the capital a portal was, the longer it took. I figured the time delay depended on the distance between portals.
Oh, and another thing—
Fortunately, I was able to inform my people of the Parrot Gang’s headquarters—all thanks to these magic circles. While testing the one that led to the marketplace, I ran into my old companion, Basin—the one I had once saved. Still selling apples, though this time in the market proper, he willingly agreed to deliver the location of the Parrot Gang’s base himself. True to his word, he personally came to the duke’s estate and relayed everything he’d seen to Saldir.
I had been a little worried about whether Saldir would deliver the information properly, but this morning, while I was getting ready to enter the palace, I saw my mother and father heading toward the training grounds with unusually serious expressions. I also overheard Albrecht and Saldir talking about the “Parrot Gang.”
Success. Unlike before, now I just had to wait for my family to thoroughly wipe those bastards out. The very thought made me chuckle.
And that’s when it happened. Thud! Someone stomped hard on the ground. I flinched and turned my head—Mailla was standing there, visibly annoyed.
“Ah, look at you! Laughing again without listening to a word I said!”
Oops.
“Sorry.”
I quickly averted my eyes and apologized. Mailla huffed and answered Anna in a haughty tone.
“Just ignore Sister Verdet, Your Highness. She’s been so busy lately she doesn’t even spend time with me anymore.”
“Really? Verdet, you seriously don’t remember? You didn’t even get the invitation?”
“I probably did…”
But I still had no idea what they were talking about. I blinked. What had I missed? Come to think of it… I vaguely remembered Mailla and Hebe squealing together a few days ago.
Just as I scratched my head, Mailla clenched her fists and shouted.
“Oh come on! You really don’t remember? Today’s the tea party for girls under fifteen in the royal family! Even General Horne reminded you not to forget!”
“T-Tea party?”
At the sudden mention of a tea party, my eyes went wide. Wait, hold on—tea party?
Now that she said it, it rang a bell… I let out a sigh as I racked my brain. It might sound like an excuse, but I’d been swamped dealing with the Parrot Gang.
“You really don’t remember?”
“I think… I kinda do?”
“Liar!”
Mailla frowned. Sharp as ever. Was it that obvious? I looked away, pretending not to notice her glare.
“You’re so mean, Sister. I’ve been telling you about this for days!”
“Sorry. Training’s been intense lately.”
“That’s what you said last time too!”
“…I’m really sorry.”
I apologized again, this time more sincerely. Mailla had mentioned something, but it just hadn’t registered with me.
“But really, if you explain it properly this time, I swear I’ll remember for real. And I’m sorry to you too, Princess Anna.”
I tried to play it cool and apologized to them both. But the crease between Mailla’s brows didn’t budge.
“…This is really the last time I’m telling you.”
“I’ve never seen Mailla this upset. Verdet, you’re kind of neglectful… I’m super nervous right now.”
Anna sat next to Mailla and sided with her. Was it just me, or was she also slipping in her own frustration? Ugh, if I forget one more time, I’m probably going to be disowned. Still, I made sure to keep my face calm and innocent.
Mailla cleared her throat with a hem-hem and started to explain.
“Like I said, today’s the day all the girls under fifteen from the royal family gather for a tea party in the middle of the Grand Garden. All the princesses living in the palace and their playmates will be there. We may not have officially debuted in society yet, but considering our future status, this is a huge social event. It’s basically a gathering of the top 1%!”
“I-I see…”
The top… 1%?
Ridiculous. I barely kept myself from scoffing. Honestly, it was more cringey than impressive, but I nodded seriously, making sure not to let it show. Mailla went on.
“There are twelve people attending the tea party today. Including us three, and also the 13th Princess, who is a direct member of the royal family. Then there’s Princess Risel, the 7th Princess, and Princess Findelia, the 8th. They both live in the palace—Risel is 14, and Findelia is 12. The 8th Princess has four playmates, and the 7th Princess has three.”
“Wow. They’re way older than us, huh?”
“Yeah. So technically we’re not the main guests. They probably invited us because we can’t leave out Princess Anna’s friends from the royal circle. I think they’re also just curious to check out who her playmates are.”
Mailla counted off on her fingers as she spoke clearly. I tilted my head.
“But… why would they want to check us out?”
“Because our backgrounds are impressive.”
“Huh?”
“I’ll explain,” Anna chimed in.
I turned my head toward Anna automatically as she raised her hand. She opened her mouth with a very nervous expression.
“L-look, I’m only telling you this because I trust you. I mean, I think you already figured it out, but still…”
Her voice grew hushed. Both Mailla and I leaned in instinctively.
“The thing is… my mom is the Emperor’s favorite right now.”
I already knew that. Anna’s mother was the Fourth Consort, and with the Empress and the Second and Third Consorts already dead, she was being considered as the next Empress. Not to mention, everyone knew how much affection the Emperor had for her. That’s also why Anna had been so arrogant when we first met—because of the favor her mother received.
Still, I didn’t let it show and just kept listening quietly.
“That’s why the Emperor gave me really special treatment. Like letting you guys become my playmates. Sure, we’re the same age, but it’s really because of your backgrounds.”
Ah. So that’s what it was. I let out a little “Oh” as a conversation suddenly came to mind.
“That makes sense. When I came for the interview, you cried and said you didn’t want me. And on the day I first entered the palace, you even said outright that I was chosen because of my background…”
“N-not anymore!”
Anna suddenly shouted, then quickly glanced at me before continuing.
“But honestly, compared to the families of the other princesses’ playmates, yours are a bit… underwhelming. The influence of a princess’s playmates is directly tied to her position in the royal court. It’s not just about the playmates benefiting from royal favor—honestly, we need strong support behind us too.”
