Chapter 37
“Yes, Princess Luigi arranged this gathering to bestow her grace upon Lady Luweiz.”
The teacup Marien had been holding flew across the room and shattered against the wall.
“Impossible! Luigi only survived the poisoning thanks to me. I’m the one who sabotaged the cold storage…!”
How could someone like Laura receive such favor?
Benny, who had been Marien’s loyal aide for years, soothed her expertly.
“But true heroes never boast of their achievements, do they? Lady Luweiz is an exception, stealing others’ merits to claim as her own.”
Marien took several slow, deep breaths before her tightly pressed lips finally relaxed.
“Well… that’s true.”
In reality, she simply couldn’t reveal that she was the one who ruined the banquet. But shamelessly, she muttered:
“So what are you suggesting?”
“Why not turn this into an opportunity?”
“An opportunity? For what?”
“Honor stolen from others never lasts. If you show at the tea tasting that Your Highness possesses superior talents to Lady Luweiz, it would be enough.”
Tea tastings were attended by many of society’s most prominent figures.
Which made it the perfect stage to showcase oneself.
Intrigued, Marien sat up from her bed.
“Show them something, huh…”
“Excellence cannot be hidden, after all.”
“You’re right… absolutely.”
Marien smirked.
She still remembered how many nobles had shown interest in her at her first ball.
Though that interest faded quickly due to her own mistakes, it was true many had approached, drawn by her beauty.
She figured the noble ladies invited by Luigi would be similar. After all, she hadn’t met them before.
But her confidence was short-lived.
“But how?”
Marien knew exactly how to catch people’s attention.
With gifts.
Nobles hadn’t showered her with presents for nothing.
‘But… I have no money.’
She still had some funds brought from her homeland, but they quickly ran out as she tailored dresses to match the Empire’s aristocratic standards.
She could sell some dresses she no longer wore, but—
‘Absolutely not!’
Selling luxury items was a blatant signal of financial ruin.
‘I’m already looked down upon as a princess from a small border kingdom. If word spreads that I’m also broke… how much more will they scorn me?’
Benny whispered softly.
“Why not request assistance from your homeland?”
“My homeland? You mean my father, the king?”
“Yes. Tell His Majesty that you’re winning the Crown Prince’s heart, but struggling due to a lack of personal funds. Ask for some capital to strengthen your position.”
“What? That’s a lie.”
“But if Your Highness truly succeeds and becomes Crown Princess, won’t that lie become the truth?”
“Repay him with results…”
Marien murmured.
Her father valued only results. Never once had he spoken to her kindly or given her recognition.
That was why she felt so burdened by the thought of proposing anything to him herself.
‘But… there’s no other way out.’
If she returned home now, she would end up discarded and quietly erased like other useless royals.
In the end, Marien sent a deceitful letter to her father.
‘Done…!’
With the funds she received, she ordered the most extravagant dress to outshine everyone at the tasting and spent the remaining money buying gifts for the noble ladies.
* * *
The tea tasting, despite its name, was essentially like a tea party in form and procedure.
The only difference was that various teas were introduced and sampled, with tea itself taking priority over typical refreshments.
From the moment it was announced, the event attracted great attention from nobles.
After all, it was a rare chance to see legendary figures who had long retired from social life.
Luigi’s original plan was to invite connections who would be beneficial to Laura. But as nobles continued expressing interest, she expanded the scale of the gathering.
Multiple tea tables covered with lace cloths were arranged throughout the Imperial Garden.
They were all the same size, except for the central table where Luigi would be seated.
However—
“This… is my seat?”
Marien had been assigned a spot far from the central table, almost at the outskirts.
“How dare they seat me, a princess of Arietta, here…”
She tried to call a maid to protest.
But then Luigi herself entered.
“What seems to be the matter?”
“…”
Marien had no choice but to sit down.
Causing a scene in front of the host would bring no benefits.
Of course, before she sat, she glared daggers at the maid who guided her here. She would never forget the face of someone who humiliated her like this.
Once everyone was seated, Luigi looked around the gathering.
“Good, everyone is here.”
She smiled serenely and thanked the attendees.
“I’m sure it was troublesome for you to come at an old woman’s invitation. Thank you for filling these seats.”
“Not at all, Your Highness.”
“We’re honored to come anytime Your Highness calls upon us.”
Young ladies and noblewomen desperate to build connections quickly responded.
But Luigi didn’t let their formalities drag on.
“I arranged this gathering because I’ve gained a precious friend and new companion.”
She gestured toward the garden entrance.
Laura, who had been waiting out of sight, walked over to stand beside Luigi.
Laura, who usually dressed flamboyantly, had today opted for simplicity—her hair neatly tied up, wearing a high-neck dress.
With white gloves covering her hands as she held them together—
“My, how elegant.”
“It’s rare to see such a neat and modest lady these days.”
Admiration rose from the elderly ladies at the central table.
Even the noblewoman sitting with Marien whispered:
“Indeed… I didn’t think Lady Luweiz could look so refined.”
Laura stood with just the faintest smile, looking neither completely submissive nor cold. Her usual sharp aura blended with her elegant appearance, creating an impression difficult to approach.
She looked exactly like the ideal daughter-in-law older noblewomen adored.
Marien quickly glanced down at her own attire.
She had poured every coin she had into making herself stand out—a dress so lavish it would be rare even back in her homeland.
And she wasn’t the only one.
Other ladies who had similarly adorned themselves clenched their skirts in silent frustration.
Marien bit her lower lip.
Amidst all these extravagantly dressed women, Laura’s simple look stood out all the more.
Luigi placed a hand on Laura’s shoulder and introduced her to the older ladies.
“Before this child becomes a lady of the Imperial family, she opened my eyes to truth I had long missed. Her wisdom is deep, and I felt she was worth introducing to all of you. Please give her your support.”
“But of course.”
“If anything, we may end up seeking her wisdom as well.”
The elderly ladies answered in unison.
‘Crown Princess…! They’re calling her Crown Princess already!’
Marien gripped her jeweled fan so hard she almost broke it.
‘They’re not even officially engaged yet!’
But no one at the gathering refuted Luigi’s words, leaving Marien to stew alone in her frustration.
Some even nodded in agreement.
‘No… am I going to lose completely like this…?’
Unable to fight off the anxiety churning within her, Marien clenched her fists under the table.
‘No, not yet.’
She whispered to herself in desperate reassurance.
Luigi may have shown Laura favor, but not everyone accepted her just yet.
There were still those making subtle faces of displeasure.
And above all, Marien still had her gifts.
‘Yes… I haven’t played my final card yet.’
Which meant there was still hope.
At that moment, Laura made her move first.
