Damn it!
So that court count—or punching bag, whatever his title was—had reported me for assault after all!
What an unlucky first-class tattletale.
‘I should’ve known better than to let him go so easily.’
I should’ve just finished him off properly.
‘Still, shouldn’t I find out what’s going on first?’
“Ulpina is indeed my daughter, but may I ask what this is about……?”
As I secretly made my way downstairs, I heard the Viscount’s voice near the entrance on the first floor. He sounded flustered, but there was also a hint of displeasure in his voice.
“I apologize for disturbing you so late at night. I’ve been ordered to meet Lady Ulpina in person and deliver a message to her.”
Judging by the man’s somewhat embarrassed demeanor, it seemed, thankfully, that he had come for something other than a report of assault.
“I’m Ulpina Nezer. May I ask why you’re looking for me?”
“I’ve come on the orders of His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince, Lady Ulpina.”
At the sudden mention of the Crown Prince, the Viscount and his wife exchanged puzzled glances with me.
“His Imperial Highness wishes to hold a tea party tomorrow at half past three in the afternoon and invite Lady Ulpina. He also asked me to convey his apologies for not seeking your consent in advance and for troubling you so late at night. He hopes you will forgive his discourtesy.”
“A tea party?”
“Yes, that’s correct. He said it isn’t an obligation, but he would be delighted if you accepted.”
An ordinary lady would naturally have been delighted by such an invitation, but I was too nervous to feel happy.
Although Lady Nezer had given me an intensive crash course, she hadn’t taught me the etiquette required at a tea party hosted by royalty!
“Ulpina will go. Won’t you, Ulpina?”
At the Viscountess’s words, I reflexively agreed.
“That’s wonderful. I’m sure His Imperial Highness will be pleased.”
After once again apologizing for the late-night disturbance, the Crown Prince’s messenger promptly left the Viscount’s residence.
“Was it really all right to decide so easily that I’d attend an imperial tea party?”
When I asked in a disgruntled voice, the Viscountess furrowed her brow as if she couldn’t understand what I was talking about.
“It’s not as though you don’t know tea party etiquette. The imperial palace isn’t all that different.”
She spoke with a look that seemed to say, ‘After all the rigorous training I put you through.’
“I know, but……”
“Then there’s no problem.”
“But…… But…… What if I get so nervous that I accidentally stab His Imperial Highness with a butter knife—”
“Are you an assassin? Are you planning to kill someone?”
“No.”
“Enough of this nonsense. Go to sleep.”
With that, the Viscountess left, taking the tired-looking Viscount with her.
‘Wait, isn’t this the Crown Prince we’re talking about? His daughter(?) is going to spend some quality time with him, and that’s all the reaction they have?’
If they’d made a fuss and acted excited, I might actually have been able to calm down.
But they didn’t seem to feel anything at all, excitement or otherwise.
‘Could it be that they never had any expectations of me in the first place?’
Was I the only one worried about my reputation and all that? Did they think, ‘What could a commoner like you possibly know?’ and simply expect me to do a good enough job pretending to be Lady Ulpina?
“Ah, I don’t care anymore!”
***
As I walked through the imperial garden behind my guide, I made a firm resolution.
‘This time, no matter what happens, I absolutely won’t cause any trouble.’
Thinking that made me a little sad, as though I were someone who usually caused a lot of trouble.
But you nobles were the ones who made me cause trouble first! Who told you to make such outrageous remarks about my family? And who told you to sneak over a balcony like a thief?
‘Sigh. I suppose I have to be a bigger person.’
Even though I’d only been living as a noble for a few days, I’d already come to realize that high society was full of people with no common sense, even if they dressed in expensive clothes and strutted around acting all high and mighty.
When I reached the center of the garden, the Crown Prince appeared.
“Lady Ulpina.”
As I quickly curtsied, the Crown Prince gave me an awkward smile.
“I was discourteous to your family in the early hours of the morning. Please forgive me. I knew it was improper, but I wanted to invite you so badly that I ended up……”
“Not at all. It’s actually an honor.”
“Then, shall we go? The other guests are waiting.”
The tea party was being held in the center of the imperial garden, where five or six people were already seated.
“Please, sit here.”
To my great embarrassment, the seat the Crown Prince had prepared for me was right beside him, on his right.
‘Hmm?’
At that moment, unfriendly gazes came flying at me from every direction.
‘What on earth?’
The Crown Prince seemed completely unaware of them. He smiled warmly at me before addressing everyone.
“Thank you all for accepting my invitation despite your busy schedules. I arranged this gathering because I wanted to exchange opinions with those who will lead the future of the empire, without the stiffness of formal etiquette.”
His words brought bright smiles to the guests’ faces.
Who wouldn’t be pleased to hear that the Crown Prince himself wanted to socialize with them?
‘If I were really the Viscount’s daughter, I’d be happy, too……’
I might have unintentionally deceived them, but was that really my fault? It was all that young lady’s fault.
“And today, I’d like to introduce a very special guest.”
After thoroughly lifting the guests’ spirits, the Crown Prince turned toward me.
“As you all know, Lady Ulpina has devoted herself to deep contemplation and academic pursuits rather than the frivolous amusements that have caused such a stir in high society. However, she’s hardly the sort of timid bookworm who keeps to herself. As everyone knows.”
Although he didn’t mention it directly, the duel between me and that Fen…… whatever Marquis was clearly being alluded to. Laughter spread across the table.
“I hope this gathering will give you all a chance to become friends with Lady Ulpina. She’s a fine person, but I believe there are some who have misunderstood her.”
“Of course, Your Highness.”
“We’ve also wanted to have a proper conversation with Lady Ulpina for some time.”
I was almost impressed by how quickly they’d changed their tune. Just moments ago, they’d been shooting hostile glares at me, but one word from the Crown Prince was enough to make them turn around completely. If they weren’t nobles, they could have made it big as actors.
Still, I wasn’t the sort of person who would ruin a stage someone else had kindly set up for me, so I put on a smile and played along.
***
Damn it. I should’ve ruined it.
I had no idea what criteria the Crown Prince had used to invite these people, but the conversation was utterly devoid of substance. It was so intellectually impoverished that I felt I might suffer from malnutrition just listening to it.
‘Why on earth did Madam put me through such rigorous training?’
The nobles were doing nothing but talking about what they’d bought, what they’d sold, how much better they were than someone else, and how inferior someone else was. What was the point of all that education?
“Sir Remington, how do you know so much about these things?”
“When it comes to obtaining high-quality information, there’s no place like the social clubs on Togglow Street.”
“That’s unfair. Only men are allowed into those clubs.”
When a woman pouted, a man named Remington tried to soothe her.
“That’s why I’m secretly sharing the information I’ve obtained with all the lovely ladies gathered here.”
Laughter burst from the nobles.
So the imperial family hadn’t forgiven me for shooting Marquis Fenley in the thigh after all.
Since mental suffering left no evidence, they’d decided to inflict physical suffering on me by throwing me into this gathering instead.
“Let’s end today’s tea party here. I’ve kept you all for far too long.”
By the time the Crown Prince announced the end of the gathering, the sun was already beginning to set. The tea party, which had started in broad daylight, had only ended in the evening.
“Oh my, is it already this late……?”
“I was having such a wonderful time that I completely lost track of time.”
“Indeed. I feel the same way.”
I see…… I certainly hadn’t lost track of time……
At last, the tea party came to an end, and the guests began to leave.
“Thank you so much for coming today.”
Just as I was about to get up, the Crown Prince spoke to me in a gentle voice.
Listen here. If you invite me to another ridiculous social gathering like this, I’ll kill you with my own hands.
But I was a rational, patient adult woman.
I answered as though nothing was wrong.
“I’m the one who should thank you for inviting me.”
However, the Crown Prince looked somewhat dejected when he heard my response.
“To be honest, I wouldn’t blame you if you were disappointed, Lady Ulpina.”
“Pardon?”
“I arranged today’s tea party to hear the interests and opinions of young nobles. But they all fell short of my expectations. All except you.”
So he did notice?
“You were simply unlucky, Your Highness.”
“Is that so? Well, I suppose it’s too early to be disappointed based on just those few people.”
No. You’re absolutely right. Just thinking about how the young lady and the other nobles have treated me over the past two weeks is enough to convince me that the young aristocrats of this country are completely rotten.
‘There’s something wrong with this place. Something’s wrong with the land itself. Is there an underground water vein running through here or what?’
Perhaps my empty words had cheered him up, because the Crown Prince smiled.
“Have a safe journey home, Lady Ulpina.”
Ah, as expected, he’s so handsome.
As soon as I parted ways with the Crown Prince, I hurried toward the garden entrance where my carriage was waiting, eager to get some rest.
Just as I was about to leave the garden, a man suddenly stepped out in front of me.
“Huh?”
Red hair and silver eyes.
It was the very same man whose chin I’d punched just yesterday.
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