* * *
The day before the tea party, my excellent aide Dahlia came to inform me.
“CEO Cynthia, a large number of guests have sent their regrets.”
Due to the widely reported scandal, the number of people canceling their attendance began to increase.
“Excluding your siblings, there are a total of eight people who are still planning to attend.”
They were all people who wanted to receive orders for Nox’s business.
Even though there are profits at stake, they are keeping their loyalty.
Still, it was a much smaller number than expected. Are we going to get an article like, ‘Princess Cynthia, has no friends…’?
I feel bad for the servants who worked so hard to prepare for a large number of people.
Dahlia asked in a cautious tone.
“But… isn’t there a major announcement that you’ve been secretly preparing for?”
I looked at the envelope sealed with the Medea royal crest and nodded.
“It can’t be helped. We’ll just have to proceed. Sooner or later, the misunderstandings will be resolved, and someone who knows the truth will appear.”
* * *
The day of the long-awaited tea party arrived.
Cynthia wore a pale blue dress reminiscent of a snowy dawn, and her silver hair was neatly braided and pinned up as she greeted her guests.
Helene, who had just arrived, smiled warmly at Cynthia.
“Cynthia. This is the first social event you’ve hosted, and I was worried there wouldn’t be enough people.”
Helene added with a fake smile.
“As your sister, how could I stand by? I invited some elegant acquaintances to elevate the party.”
Dahlia, realizing Helene’s intentions, flinched and looked at Cynthia.
It was a great breach of etiquette to go to an uninvited party in high society, but guests brought by ‘family’ were an exception.
Cynthia blinked her big eyes and pondered.
‘No matter how carefully I select them, it’s useless if Helene brings her brigade of critics made up of her acquaintances, isn’t it?’
“Thank you, Sister.”
Thank you for giving me a good idea! I should use it next time!
* * *
Those whom Helene had invited without permission arrived one after another, and the tea party began with the orchestra’s performance.
The current attendees were either those who didn’t care what kind of person I was, or those who were excited to come and make fun of me, who had suffered social death.
I had to identify friend from foe with a high degree of concentration.
“Hahaha! To be so unfazed by such false articles. Indeed! The Princess has a strong mentality!”
“Princess, are you alright…? To be caught up in such a scandal just as Prince Carlos is engaged…”
The former is happy about my misfortune.
You can tell if you look closely at the content. The latter is pretending to worry about me while subtly criticizing me.
Of course, I had also heard the news that Carlos was engaged.
As the tea party I had worked hard to prepare for continued, people’s gazes followed Masera and me as if to confirm our relationship. There were also subtle glances of criticism.
Dowager Duchess Rukanosa and my aunts, who were my backers, had gone to Medea and were unable to attend the tea party. If they had been here, they would have beaten them all up.
“Perhaps you didn’t properly grasp the number of attendees? It feels like there aren’t enough desserts.”
“She doesn’t have much experience hosting tea parties. We should understand that she’s clumsy.”
Finally, those who found fault with the party appeared.
The scale was hastily reduced the day before due to the large number of cancellations, but Helene brought an unexpected number of people, causing another variable.
‘But my culinary team is excellent.’
“Just trust us!”
I was reminded of the kitchen staff with their determined faces as if they were going to war.
As expected, they did not disappoint my expectations, and the servants began to serve new desserts.
“Hmm? Francia desserts.”
Those who saw the desserts, which were so pretty that it was a shame to eat them, widened their eyes.
“Can you really replicate the taste of the original just by making it look good?”
But those who tasted it eventually had no choice but to shut their mouths.
Then, the ladies sitting with Valeria began to chatter loud enough for everyone to hear.
“Did you see the story in the marriage magazine about the ‘sister-in-law who tried to follow them on their honeymoon’?”
“Oh my goodness, there’s no hope for her. That kind of sister-in-laws should have her head shaved and be sent to a monastery.”
Isn’t it shaving your head and going to a nunnery? And that’s the kind of story you’d find in love and war!
Despite the murmuring of the people, Carlos silently sipped his tea.
‘That crazy man! He’s making me out to be a ‘nuisance younger sister obsessed with her brother’ to save himself.’
I hope he gets married soon and disappears to live happily ever after.
No matter what those who feed on the misfortune of others said, I was a person who went my own way.
“Everyone, please pay attention.”
I focused people’s attention with a firm voice.
Although it had been overshadowed by the scandal… there was a purpose for hosting this tea party.
“I’ve started running a charity to help war victims in need. If you are interested in donating or volunteering, please speak to me.”
Mary and Ginny, wearing blue sashes diagonally, began to hand out leaflets they had made themselves.
Several people who read the leaflets looked at me with the eyes of someone seeing a hypocrite.
“Haha. It must be for image laundering – no, recovery, right?”
Valeria’s friend openly mocked me.
I had been preparing for it from the beginning, but the timing just happened to be like that.
“War victims? Aren’t they just people desperate to get compensation?”
Some even crossed the line.
If you don’t want to help others, you should just keep your mouth shut.
“The person who just spoke, please stand up.”
At my designation, the man who had crossed the line frowned and stood up.
I continued cheerfully.
“Since you’re standing, start heading home! I don’t want to waste the desserts.”
People stopped their actions at once and looked bewildered.
The man who stood up frowned and argued.
“To ignore other people’s opinions and kick them out without reason is extremely unpleasant!”
But I was still smiling brightly.
“It’s my party held in my house, so my feelings take precedence, and I don’t care about your feelings. Those who agree with that statement can go home too.”
“How can you be so rude to guests who took the time to come…”
“You didn’t come because you were invited by me anyway, did you?”
Explanation and persuasion → boring and pedantic.
Then die! → quick solution.
That’s what I think, but I decided to solve it by kicking them out peacefully.
Anyway, my reputation is ruined, so it doesn’t matter if I flick their foreheads or kick them out. Those who stay are the ‘real friends’.
At that time, an officer’s wife raised her hand.
“I’m interested in volunteering. It’s a good cause.”
Starting with her, some others with the right mindset raised their hands.
Major Rodriguez, who had even taken leave to attend, was also there.
“That’s right, God always said we should help others.”
“I’ve been donating and volunteering for a long time.”
All of them were valuable people who responded to the invitation despite my rumors.
I wrote down the names of those who wished to participate.
“Anyone else?”
Two out of the eight invitees were gone, and six was the end. It was a small number, but I was very happy that there were some.
“Thank you for becoming the first family of the foundation.”
With my words of gratitude, Mary and Ginny began to distribute gifts to those who wished to volunteer.
“This is… oh my goodness.”
The officer’s wife, who opened the small case, widened her eyes.
People who were curious and peeked in were startled.
Inside the case was a Rose Diamond platinum watch.
The officer’s wife, who received the watch, carefully asked a question.
“But what is this engraving? United International Foundation?”
I looked at the people who were filled with surprise and shock and said.
“It’s a foundation established by Crown Princess Medea for war victims. I’m in charge of the Rutemia branch.”
I shrugged and added.
“That watch is a commemorative gift for the foundation’s launch and a gift from the Medea royal family.”
Silence flowed among the people who saw the historical watch that could not be obtained even with money.
