It Seemed My Fiancé Hated Me, So I Distanced Myself—But for Some Reason, He Complained - Chapter 37

“Understood. I accept your challenge.”

As I gave my response, surprised voices came flying from the maids behind me.

“Lady Clarissa! There’s no need to entertain such an arbitrary challenge!”

“That’s right! Lady Anastasia is just saying whatever she pleases!”

“Lady Clarissa, please reconsider!”

The maids rushed to my side, their faces filled with concern as they spoke. However, I couldn’t bring myself to retract my acceptance.

“So, you’ll accept. How wonderful.”

Lady Anastasia raised the corners of her mouth, forming a beautiful smile.

“Then the rules for the tea party shall be as follows: we shall invite Prince Lucas’s siblings, His Highness the Prince and Her Highness the Princess and take turns entertaining them.”

“The Prince and Princess?”

I was stunned by these completely unexpected guests. Lady Anastasia continued cheerfully.

“Yes, indeed. Don’t you think they make perfect judges? Being royalty and Prince Lucas’s younger siblings, gaining their approval would mean being recognized as having the qualities to become queen.”

“That may be true.”

Certainly, if I were to become queen, it would be better to gain the approval of the royal family, who are Prince Lucas’s relatives.

Just as I was starting to be convinced, one of the maids behind me spoke up.

“Lady Anastasia, isn’t this unfair to Lady Clarissa? You and the Prince and Princess are cousins who have known each other for some time, but Lady Clarissa has barely met Their Highnesses, hasn’t she?”

“My, my. If one cannot overcome such a small disadvantage, they would hardly be fit to become the next queen.”

Lady Anastasia placed a hand on her cheek and looked at me with amusement.

“Lady Clarissa, I shall look forward to the day.”

After saying this near my ear, Lady Anastasia left with light footsteps, paying no mind to the maids’ complaints.

Feeling flustered, I watched Lady Anastasia’s retreating back.

After Lady Anastasia left, we canceled our plans to go to the garden and returned to my room.

The moment we entered the room, Camilla, one of the maids, spoke up.

“Lady Clarissa, why did you accept the challenge?”

At Camilla’s words, the other two maids nodded in agreement.

Though feeling apologetic, I answered.

“I’m sorry for acting on my own. But if I’m to aim for becoming queen from now on, I felt I couldn’t run away from Lady Anastasia’s words.”

Hearing my response, the maids all spoke at once.

“You shouldn’t concern yourself with Lady Anastasia’s words!”

“That’s right. You could have just ignored her!”

“If you had consulted with Prince Lucas, he surely would have done something about it!”

Seeing the worried expressions on the maids’ faces, I felt completely remorseful.

They were right – perhaps I should have at least consulted with Prince Lucas before deciding whether to accept the challenge.