It Seemed My Fiancé Hated Me, So I Distanced Myself—But for Some Reason, He Complained - Chapter 45

And so, before I knew it, the day of the tea party had arrived.

With my heart pounding, I headed to the room Lady Anastasia had summoned me to, accompanied by the three maids.

Lady Anastasia was already waiting in the room. When she noticed us, she smirked triumphantly.

“Well, well, you actually came, Lady Clarissa.”

Standing behind Lady Anastasia was one maid watching us expressionlessly. She was probably the maid assisting Lady Anastasia at today’s tea party.

Beside her stood an elderly court butler dressed in a black jacket.

Lady Anastasia strode briskly toward us.

“I’ll give you credit for not running away. I’m looking forward to seeing which of us proves to have the qualities of a queen today.”

Lady Anastasia laughed as she said this. Her previously expressionless maid mirrored her triumphant smile in sync with her mistress’s laughter.

Behind me, Camilla and the others muttered complaints under their breath: “How rude they are.”

Shortly after, the royal princes—today’s guests and judges—arrived.

Prince Theodore with his black hair and purple eyes. Prince Jenna with similarly black hair and blue eyes. And then the still-young Prince Avery with his blond hair and green eyes.

Though I’d seen them from afar during ceremonies and parties, and peeked at them from a distance while preparing for tea parties, this was the first time I’d seen the three of them up close.

As expected, all three carried the noble air befitting royalty, making me naturally straighten my posture.

The two elder princes in particular carried such a dignified, almost cold aura that the very air around them felt tense.

Then Prince Theodore turned his gaze toward me.

“Are you Lady Clarissa? The one my elder brother selected as a fiancée candidate?”

Prince Theodore said this while looking at me with sharp eyes. I hurriedly bowed my head.

“Yes. I am Clarissa Meriam.”

“Given that my brother, who never shows any interest in choosing a fiancée, selected you, I expected someone truly remarkable but you’re different from what I imagined.”

Prince Theodore spoke in a dismissive tone.

Stung by his barbed words, I hesitated over how to respond.

Then Princess Jenna spoke from beside him.

“Brother Theodore, you shouldn’t say such things. She’s quite beautiful, isn’t she? I can understand why Brother Lucas would take a liking to her.”

“I’m not talking about appearances. I’m speaking of qualifications to be queen.”

“I had my doubts about that too, but today’s tea party should make things clear.”

Princess Jenna agreed with the cold-speaking Prince Theodore while examining me as if appraising goods.

I could hear the maids behind me murmuring in confusion.