Am I Really Wanted by Anyone? - Chapter 22

The day of the tea party arrived with my spirits still heavy.

Though the days were still somewhat warm, the royal capital had grown cold enough that one couldn’t get by without wearing a coat.

Despite this, Princess Celestina was holding the tea party in the courtyard.

It was unusual to hold a courtyard tea party at this time of year, but at the princess’s behest, young ladies and sons of noble families had been gathered.

The assembled young ladies and sons, brought together in the cold, spoke little, everyone with downcast eyes, the atmosphere far from pleasant.

I too took my assigned seat, but the other young ladies of my age were not seated; instead, across from me was Princess Celestina’s seat.

We had been summoned under the pretext of deepening friendships, but it was clearly a failure.

Under normal circumstances, the head maid or family members would have intervened, but there must be some reason they couldn’t stop it.

After a while, Princess Celestina arrived at the venue with the royal palace mages in tow.

Sir Olga, as expected, was also part of the princess’s security detail. Our eyes met, and I saw the corner of his mouth lift for just a moment.

Those of us at the venue bowed to the princess.

“Everyone, please relax and be seated. Welcome to today’s tea party. It’s a bit chilly, so we will now warm the venue for you.”

With those words, Princess Celestina gave instructions to the mages, who softly created a barrier-like curtain and began warming the area with fire magic, making the venue comfortably warm.

This was likely a deliberate display of the royal family’s power.

I thought they could have just arranged something elaborate in a salon instead, but I kept that to myself.

I glanced around to gauge people’s reactions.

Some sighed discreetly, out of the princess’s sight.

Others averted their gaze.

Some sipped their tea indifferently.

Though their actions varied, aside from those at my table, it seemed no one had a favorable impression of the princess.

As I too remained silent, for some reason, she called Sir Olga, who was on security duty behind us, and seated him beside her as if to flaunt him to me.

Then, despite being the host, she began drinking tea with Sir Olga without engaging in conversation.

Everyone at the venue besides me was stunned.

Why on earth had we been invited?

Surely everyone was thinking the same.

We were just summoned to drink tea and leave.

It didn’t feel like an occasion to build camaraderie.

Had this taken place at a lower-ranking noble’s house, everyone would have left immediately.

As I passed the time thinking how boring it was, a palace maid, hands trembling, offered tea to Princess Celestina.

“Princess Celestina, this is a gift from Lady Ginette Bergier.”

I had prepared no such tea.

I was exasperated by such an obvious, trap-like setup.

Couldn’t they have been a little more clever?

“Princess Celestina, wait! I have no memory of preparing such a thing!”

I spoke up and moved to take the tea, but I was a step too late. Princess Celestina sipped the tea and began to suffer.

…What a farce this is.

I nearly let out a heavy sigh.

Sir Olga immediately called one of the mages. The mage rushed over, applied an antidote spell, and Princess Celestina soon opened her eyes.

“Olga, Olga!”

Tears welled in Princess Celestina’s eyes as she clung to Sir Olga, embracing him tightly.

“Your Highness, Princess Celestina.”

Sir Olga addressed her.

“I was targeted! I was so scared! Someone, someone! Ginette Bergier is the culprit!! Arrest her!!”

…So, this was the goal.

I couldn’t help but stare into the distance.

Caught up in such a farce, I was beyond anger and simply dumbfounded.

Since those seated at my table were the princess’s hangers-on, they immediately tried to seize me.

The others at the remaining tables watched with cold eyes.

They must have seen it as nothing but a farce, too.

But if they spoke up now, they might be seen as accomplices. They seemed content to remain silent and just watch.

The sons reached out to grab me, but I struck their hands away with my fan and addressed the princess.

Knights who had witnessed the commotion in the courtyard came running.

“Princess Celestina, why me? The maid merely mentioned my name, didn’t she? Where is the evidence?”

“How cruel! Are you suggesting my maid would lie?”

…

What could I even say?

I doubted any excuse would get through to her.

“So, you resent me this much for being engaged to Vice-Captain Olga?”

I said it loudly enough for those around to hear, and Princess Celestina began to cry.

“Olga! I’m scared. Why, why does this keep happening to me? Do you hate me that much?! Me, who loves Olga and—”

The princess’s hangers-on, incited by her tears, bared their hostility toward me.

It felt foolish to even react.

“Lady Ginette Bergier, would you come with us to answer a few questions?”

Ignoring my disinterest, the knights seemed determined to arrest both me and the maid as culprits.

“Princess Celestina, I trust you understand what it means to frame the next Bergier Marquess. Be prepared for the consequences.”

At my words, the surroundings buzzed with murmurs, but Princess Celestina, sobbing theatrically and clinging to Sir Olga, showed no sign of listening.

I rose smoothly and followed the knights out of the palace courtyard.