Chapter 50
Lucina
A squeal of laughter and excitement snaps me out of my thoughts.
"I hear he's tall, handsome, and most of all—already a talented mage. Three stars!"
Intrigued, I listen more closely.
It turns out they're talking about the brother of the princess who's visiting soon.
"The younger brother is a swordsman and apparently super smart. He's responsible for the success of multiple businesses," another lady adds.
"Princess, please introduce us to the Brendholm Princes."
A lady seated next to Stella makes the request.
Lady Starforge's fake smile shows a few cracks.
Oh dear. Her rival isn't even here yet, and she's already losing the noble ladies' hearts.
I mean, it's thanks to her brothers. But Stella has brothers too. Yet I suppose a prince trumps a dukedom any time.
This is getting interesting.
I'm looking forward to the visit from the Brendholm kingdom now. If only for the drama.
I take another sip of tea, savoring the taste and the anticipation.
"Brother."
Stella's voice is sweet as sugar.
Luan walks toward us. His handsome features and friendly smile light up the room. He arrives and kisses Stella's hand.
She giggles a little too much.
I choose not to dwell on that fact.
The other ladies stand and bow.
The only other lady whose hand he kisses is Lady Starforge. She turns bright red.
She's in too deep, isn't she?
In her defense, Luan is attractive. His white hair shines in the afternoon light. I hear some swoons.
It does look quite romantic, I suppose.
"Lucina."
Luan acknowledges me last.
A subtle insult.
I remain unbothered.
"Luan."
I take a cool sip of tea to hide my smirk.
He notices Haroun standing in his royal guard uniform. Raises an eyebrow.
"I see you've got a new guard."
Haroun becomes the center of attention.
"Indeed, I do. A personal knight, to be precise."
I emphasize the word knight.
"I see." Luan's tone is neutral, but his eyes are sharp. "I hope you understand the meaning of a knight's oath."
"Worry not." I reply smoothly. "It's been blessed by my grandfather. There's no way an oath blessed by the Pope of the Church of the Moon could be anything but steadfast."
Knighthood can be awarded by the Emperor or the Pope. Of course, I asked Gramps. There's no way the Emperor would agree.
"I see. Congratulations. Having a knight is a great personal honor."
His smile doesn't reach his eyes.
"Believe me. I know."
I meet his gaze head-on.
The tension between us is palpable. A silent battle of wills beneath the veneer of polite conversation. The other ladies shift uncomfortably, sensing the undercurrents but unable to decipher them.
Luan, ever the charming prince, turns his attention back to the other ladies. His smile warms once more.
But I know this is far from over.
I take another sip of tea.
*
Someone stands next to me.
I glance to my left.
A cute noble lady with brunette hair, freckles, and honey-brown eyes. Her hair is styled in a bob that accentuates her features. A green noble dress drapes her figure.
She's adorable.
"I greet Your Majesty."
She bows.
"Yes, Lady… uh…?"
I realize I don't know who she is.
"Marwood. Count Marwood. Helena Marwood."
She stumbles over her words.
She's so cute.
"Lady Marwood. Of course."
I motion for her to take a seat next to me.
Normally, a count family wouldn't be invited to a tea party in the royal family. But even I know about the Marwoods. They oversee a county to the west of the Salona Empire, surrounded by the largest forest on the continent. They provide wood and timber for manufacturing across the empire and beyond.
One of the richest families on the continent. Not just the empire.
Besides, their family tree includes marriages into royalty and several noble houses. Somewhat untouchable.
Understandable why she's here.
I observe her as she takes a sip of tea. Curious.
Luckily, the rest of the ladies are distracted by Luan. The conversation has shifted toward him.
"Uhm. I've wanted to have a conversation with you for some time now."
Nervousness colors her voice.
I raise an eyebrow. Intrigued.
"Oh? And what might that be about, Lady Marwood?"
"I mean—I—"
She falls silent. Shyness takes over.
I offer an encouraging smile.
"Please, go on. I'm all ears."
"I mean, I'm acquainted with Kai." The words rush out. "I was just curious. And I saw you with him the other day when I was in the palace."
"Ah."
I recognize her now.
"I mean, I do business with him."
Urgency fills her voice.
I remain silent. Let her flounder a bit.
Kai runs a brothel, after all. She's falling deeper into a hole trying to explain herself.
"Business. I understand."
I tease her lightly. There's no way she's a client of the Elysium of Petals. But I can't help myself.
"Not that kind of business!"
Her face turns bright red. She covers it with her hands.
I laugh at her reaction.
Kai mentioned there's a little squirrel he likes to tease.
This must be her.
Kai and I are equally mean.
"Relax. I'm just teasing."
I take pity on her.
"I know what you mean."
She peeks through her fingers. Embarrassment still evident, but her tension eases.
"Really?"
"Yes, really. Kai is a good friend of mine. If you do business with him, I'm sure it's legitimate."
Helena visibly relaxes. Her hands drop to her lap.
"Thank you, Your Highness. I was so worried you might think… well, you know."
"Tell me. What kind of business do you conduct with him?"
Genuine curiosity colors my voice.
"Uhm. I started my own business making clothing. Kai was the only one who gave me a chance." Confidence builds in her voice as she continues. "I've been in a long-term business relationship with him for the past three years now."
She launches into an explanation of how different plants produce various types of fabrics.
"In fact, I recognized the material Your Majesty is wearing as one from my company."
A little excitement creeps into her voice.
I'm honestly impressed.
Helena separated from her family's wood business and started her own venture. In this world, that's nothing short of remarkable.
"I must say, that's quite impressive, Lady Marwood." I respond, genuinely intrigued. "It takes courage and determination to start something new. Especially in our society."
Helena blushes slightly.
"Thank you, Your Highness. It hasn't been easy, but it's been incredibly rewarding."
We fall into deeper conversation.
Her insights and enthusiasm are refreshing. Unlike the average noble lady whose life revolves around marriage and gossip, Helena has a sharp mind and a distinct personality.
"So. Tell me more about these plants and fabrics."
I urge her on.
She lights up. Her passion is evident.
"Well, certain plants have unique properties that make them perfect for different types of clothing. For instance, the fibers from the moonflower plant are incredibly soft and have a natural sheen. They're perfect for evening gowns and formal wear."
I listen intently. Fascinated by her knowledge and dedication.
"And how did you discover this?"
"I spent a lot of time experimenting and researching. It's a lot of trial and error. But it's worth it when you finally get it right."
Her eyes shine with excitement.
I nod, impressed by her diligence.
"That's truly admirable, Lady Marwood. Your hard work and innovation are clear."
She smiles, clearly pleased.
"Thank you, Your Highness. It means a lot to hear that from you."
We continue talking.
I realize how much I enjoy her company. It's nice to talk to someone apart from Kai. I find myself looking forward to future conversations with Helena.
Perhaps this day isn't as tedious as I thought it would be.