The next day, as planned, Pristin arrived at the princess’s palace around lunchtime. They had a typical lunch together, followed by some dessert and brief conversation. Before they knew it, it was time for the tea party.
The preparations for the tea party were handled by the palace maids rather than Claret herself. Therefore, Claret spent time with Pristin in her room, waiting for the reception room to be ready.
“So, about the dream I had last night…”
“Your Highness.”
As they were having their conversation, one of the palace maids called Claret cautiously. Claret naturally turned her head and asked when the maid paused.
“Are the preparations already finished?”
“Yes, Your Highness. The honored guests have started arriving at the reception room one by one. It seems you should start getting ready soon.”
“All right.”
Claret looked at Pristin with expectant eyes.
“Finally, it’s the first tea party after I became the emperor’s sister! I’m so happy to start the first tea party by introducing Pristin to everyone.”
“I’m honored to be a part of it, Your Highness.”
“Well then, shall we go?”
Pristin held Claret’s small hand tightly, and they walked together towards the reception room. As they arrived at the entrance to the reception room, a maid announced their arrival in a restrained voice.
“The star of Limburg, Her Royal Highness Claret and Lady Pristin Lamont have arrived.”
As they stepped inside and glanced around the room, about half of the seats were already occupied. Claret was pleased to have arrived at just the right time and walked with Pristin to the most prestigious seats.
Pristin was concerned about whether she should sit next to Claret among the high-ranking ladies of prominent families. However, since Claret seemed unconcerned, she had no choice but to follow her lead.
The seat chosen by Claret for Pristin was right to her immediate right, which carried significant symbolism. The noblewomen sitting at the table quickly exchanged glances and whispered among themselves. Their voices were hushed, but when gathered together, it was enough to create a buzz.
Pristin was curious about what they were talking about, but soon gave up and started sipping the tea placed in front of her. As time passed, the table gradually filled up, but it was not completely full yet because one person had not arrived.
Claret’s expression quickly turned sour as she confirmed who the empty seat belonged to.
“Is Lady Gennant not here yet?”
Only then did Pristin realize who had not come yet. Tanya Gennant, who Claret said she didn’t like yesterday.
Noticing the discomfort on the princess’s face, the noblewomen around them exchanged glances with expressions of thorns on their faces. But no one spoke of Tanya’s whereabouts.
“I can’t believe she’s late for the first meeting!”
In the end, Claret, who was displeased, was about to start the tea party without waiting for Tanya any longer.
“I’m sorry I’m late.”
A loud voice rang through the hall. Everyone’s eyes naturally turned to the doorway. Pristin also turned her head, where someone was coming in.
With blue green hair that seemed to provide a refreshing and cool sensation and eyes that gleamed like melted gold, Tanya had the aura of a cat-like beauty, with her eyes slightly slanted upwards.
Pristin quietly stared at her face, trying to see if Tanya really had the “strong impression” that Claret had described.
‘…Ah.’
In that moment, Pristin’s eyes met with Tanya’s. Without needing to determine the exact nature of her impression, Pristin quickly realized that Tanya didn’t like her.
‘It seems we won’t be getting along.’
Seemingly noticing who Pristin was while sitting on the right side of the princess, Tanya narrowed her eyes and glared at Pristin.
At the same time, Tanya did not stop her approaching steps to the table, and till the end she did not take away her fierce gaze from Pristin.
‘What could it be?’
Pristin believed that there was only one reason why Tanya appeared hostile towards her. Although Pristin had earned gratitude for taking care of the princess during her exile and even saving her life, Tanya seemed displeased by the fact that she had received the emperor’s favor, was granted a palace to reside in, and occupied the rightmost seat of the princess.
If it wasn’t for that, Pristin couldn’t fathom why someone she had never seen before would glare at her so fiercely.
“You’re late, Lady Gennant.”
When Claret pointed it out with a visibly disapproving expression, Tanya responded with a friendly smile and a nonchalant tone.
“I apologize, Princess Claret. I almost got into an accident on the way here. That’s why I ended up being late. Please accept my apologies.”
At the mention of an accident, Claret couldn’t say anything further. However, her mood seemed to have soured already.
However, as if she thought she should get her mind together for the next time, Claret quickly erased her unpleasant complexion from her face and opened her mouth.
“Thank you all for coming. Of course, thanks to Lady Gennant, the starting time was delayed a bit, but fortunately, it didn’t ruin my first tea gathering.”
Even with Claret’s subtly sarcastic comment, Tanya simply maintained her smile. Watching her, Pristin found it hard to believe that Tanya had glared at her so menacingly earlier. It was as if she was looking at someone else entirely.
“Perhaps I should start this tea gathering by introducing someone very special to me.”
“Are you referring to the person sitting to your right, Your Highness?”
“Yes, exactly. I’m sure everyone already knows, but she’s the one who became a ray of light during my miserable exile.”
Claret introduced Pristin with a smile without realizing it.
“Pristin, say hello.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet everyone. My name is Pristin Lamont.”
“I heard that you recently saved the princess from a burning house. Is it true?”
As expected, that story came up first. Pristin nodded with a familiar smile.
“Yes, miss.”
“Oh my, how impressive!”
“So, the rumors were true!”
“It must have been quite a challenging task. You are truly remarkable.”
“If it weren’t for you, Her Highness would have been in great danger!”
“Please tell us more about what happened, miss. What exactly transpired?”
Contrary to her concerns, the atmosphere was mostly welcoming towards Pristin. The unexpectedly supportive attitudes of the nobles put Pristin at ease, and she naturally relaxed her previously tense demeanor.
The stories demanded by the nobles could be summarized as the experiences of Claret during her exile and how Pristin managed to save the princess from a life-threatening situation. Pristin recounted all the desired stories in a hesitant voice. The response was overwhelmingly positive.
“There was a reason why Her Royal Highness holds Lady Lamont in high regard.”
“Exactly. I was so surprised when I heard that His Majesty granted her a palace. There must have been a good reason for such extraordinary treatment.”
“Indeed, considering Lady Lamont’s accomplishments, it was more than deserving.”
“It’s clear that she is fit to occupy the position by the princess’s side!”
The atmosphere was filled with enthusiasm, and it seemed like the tea gathering would proceed without any issues and end successfully.
“But, Lady Lamont.”
At least until Tanya’s voice was heard, it seemed that way.
“I have a question that has been bothering me.”
“Yes, Lady Gennant.”
“Well… to be honest, there’s something I don’t quite understand.”
Tanya wore a genuinely perplexed expression as she tilted her head.
“You’re a noble, so how were you able to live alone in the countryside?”
“…”
“Pardon my bluntness, but from what I know, the princess’s place of exile was not Lamont, but rather a harsh mountainous area where even commoners would find it difficult to survive.”
“Well…”
“Are you truly a noble?”
“Lady, that is quite impolite.”
“Oh, I apologize if I offended you.”
Tanya chuckled and offered an empty apology in response to the pointed remark from another noble who had been observing.
“However, please understand my suspicions. These days, there are so many impostors claiming to be nobles, aren’t there? Just recently, the palace was in an uproar over a similar incident.”
“…”
“I am merely trying to prevent such an unfortunate occurrence. If Lady Lamont is not truly a noble, it would mean that the princess has been deceived by a fraud.”
“A fraud, you say!”
At that moment, an irritated voice resonated throughout the hall.
“Watch your words, Lady Gennant. Do not speak out of turn in my presence.”
“If I have offended you, Your Highness, I apologize.”
After offering another insignificant apology, Tanya continued in a pointed tone.
“But I simply wish to clarify the matter and move forward. While it is undoubtedly commendable that you cared for and saved the princess, if Lady Lamont has been impersonating a noble, then it would be a crime, wouldn’t it? That could potentially tarnish the reputation of the royal family.”
“I would never do something so disgraceful.”
At that moment, Pristin, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. All eyes turned back to her.
“I would not dare deceive the royal family and have the audacity to set foot in the palace.”
“Frauds often speak that way. Pretending to be weak, pretending not to be themselves, pretending to be pitiful.”
“No matter what I say, it seems that you already view me as impure. How unfortunate.”
Pristin’s voice was dry as she spoke.
“The nobles in the capital are not the entirety of the nobles in Limburg. It is obvious that you do not know the names of all the noble families in this country, and yet you confidently accuse me as if you were a peddler of gossip. It is truly disconcerting.”
“It’s not gossip, but rather reasonable suspicion, Lady Pristin.”
Tanya spoke confidently, as if she had not made a single mistake in her deductions.
“It’s common sense. Which noble would willingly live in an area suitable for exile? Especially in a remote village where even outsiders rarely venture.”
“Allow me to—”
Pristin let out a short sigh as she reluctantly spoke the truth she had not wanted to reveal.
“Isn’t it possible for a fallen noble?”
Upon Pristin’s quietly spoken words, the noblewomen around them murmured. Some of them showed calm and composed reactions, as if they had already anticipated this possibility.
“Her Highness has never introduced me as a noblewoman from a prestigious family. It seems that Lady Gennant is a bit sensitive.”
“You’re a fallen noble?”
“Yes, miss.”
Pristin responded succinctly. She was not afraid of her family’s demise being revealed in this setting. That fact did not bother her much.
Of course, someone might use it to belittle her, but the Lamont family had not been particularly influential even before its decline.
However…
Unconsciously, Pristin fiddled with a ring she had placed in the pocket of her dress.
“Isn’t determining one’s nobility ultimately about bloodline? If you wish, I can show you my family’s genealogy.”
“…”
“I wonder if it is necessary to go to such lengths, Lady Gennant.”
“This whole situation seems rather rude, Lady Gennant.”
As if waiting for that moment, Claret added another remark and attacked Tanya.
“Are you worried that I would keep an unverified person by my side? I already knew that the Lamont family had perished just one generation from the top of the nobility.”
“…”
“I am extremely displeased with the current situation. It is only natural for me to be in a bad mood, right?”
“…I apologize, Your Highness.”
Tanya’s triumphant expression had vanished. She bit her lip and remained silent for a moment, before finally finding the words to retaliate.
“But please forgive me, Your Highness. As you know, these days there are many who impersonate even fallen nobles…”
“…”
“I was just concerned that Your Highness might have fallen for the tricks of such individuals, out of goodwill.”
“Are you saying that the person who sincerely stood by my side when I was exiled resorted to ‘tricks’? Surely not?”
“Well, I just couldn’t completely exclude that possibility.”
Tanya continued with her defense, wearing an expression that seemed on the verge of shedding tears.
“But anyway, I’m relieved that Your Highness has confirmed Pristin’s identity. I just wanted to explain the reason behind the misunderstanding I almost had.”
“…”
“And His Majesty even granted Pristin permission to reside in the palace. I believe you understand that this treatment is quite extraordinary and exceptional.”
“Then you must also be well aware that there was only one person who sincerely stood by my side during those difficult times.”
Seeing that Tanya was not deterring her attempt to insult Pristin, her anger grew, and her voice grew louder.
“Rewarding loyalty is a given! But interfering and causing trouble…!”
“Claret.”
Then, the door opened and someone came into the drawing room.
At that moment, the door opened, and someone entered the reception room. Pristin turned around with a startled expression as she heard a voice she had not expected in this situation.
“Your voice is loud.”
Jerald stood with a rather displeased look.
