The Tea Party Trap

The day was about ten days before the Imperial Great Festival. A single invitation arrived at our residence.

"...?"

It was written on expensive paper ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in elegant handwriting. At the bottom was a name I didn't recognize.

[Diabel Sogo.]

"Diabel Sogo...?"

I mulled over the name, searching my memory. It was a name I'd seen in the original story. A legendary figure who, despite being born a commoner, had built a massive merchant guild with her own two hands. A giant of high society with enormous wealth and the vast network that came with it. She had a surname but no noble house. She was simply a woman who had risen to that position through sheer ability alone.

And in the original work, she was one of the seven women who had set her sights on the Seventh Prince.

'......One of those seven. Inviting us to a tea party.'

Lizel was one of them too. The same seven who openly despised Era and had their maids harass her. Then this woman named Diabel was probably no different.

I glanced at Era, who was peering at the invitation beside me.

"What's that? Who sent it?"

"...It's an invitation to a tea party. Someone named Diabel Sogo invited both of us."

"A tea party? Wow. I've never been to one before!"

Era's eyes sparkled. Looking at that innocent face, I thought to myself,

'Not going would be even more rude, so we can't refuse.'

'I can't let my guard down.'

On the day of the tea party, Diabel Sogo's mansion stood outside the Imperial Palace. Yet its scale surpassed that of most noble estates. It was so lavish and enormous that it was hard to believe she was a commoner by birth.

A tea party had been arranged in the garden. And there, a woman greeted us.

"Welcome, Your Highness the Prince. And Your Highness the Princess Consort."

Diabel Sogo was a refined and elegant woman. She wore an expensive dress with perfect restraint and grace. Every detail—from her swept-up hair to her every gesture—was impeccably sophisticated.

"Hehe..."

But more than anything, her smile left an impression. It was soft and flawless. There wasn't the slightest hint of the haughty disdain Lizel displayed. Instead, she seemed endlessly kind and courteous.

"It is an honor that you would grace this humble place with your presence."

Diabel bowed her head with refined elegance. Humble? That wasn't a word one should use for such an extravagant mansion. Yet even that sounded modest coming from her. It was that kind of speech.

"Thank you for the invitation, Diabel Sogo."

I replied briefly. Diabel then turned her gaze to Era.

"So this is the famous Princess Consort I've heard so much about. I've been well acquainted with the rumors."

"Ah, hello! I'm Era!"

Era gave a quick bow. Her voice was a little loud, perhaps from nerves. Diabel smiled gently at the sight.

"My, what a spirited greeting."

Her tone was so warm that I could see Era relaxing almost instantly.

"Lady Diabel... she seems like such a nice person."

Era whispered softly beside me.

"..."

I didn't respond. She was so perfect that it made her seem even less trustworthy.

Once we were seated, servants brought out tea and refreshments. Expensive teacups, neat little treats—nothing was lacking. Diabel took a graceful sip of tea and looked at me.

"Your Highness. It feels quite moving to see you again like this."

"...Again?"

"You may not remember. It was such a long time ago, after all."

Diabel smiled serenely.

"Back when I was nothing but a lowly commoner, Your Highness bestowed upon me a great kindness."

I froze for a moment.

'...Kindness?'

I had no memory of it.

"At the time, I had nothing. I was buried in debt and on the verge of losing everything. But Your Highness happened to hear of my situation and generously granted me a gift."

Sincerity colored Diabel's voice.

"That gift became my foundation. With it, I was able to stand again and build the merchant guild I have today."

"......"

"I have not forgotten that kindness for even a single day."

Cold sweat broke out on my back. I genuinely didn't remember any of it.

'......So the original owner of this body did something like that.'

I couldn't know exactly what the Seventh Prince had done before I possessed him. That was only natural...

'How could I know details the author deliberately left as foreshadowing?'

So this was why Diabel was so strangely attached to the prince.

"...It was nothing. Not something you need to keep in your heart."

I answered as casually as I could. I couldn't let on that I didn't remember.

"It may have been nothing to Your Highness, but to me, it was a grace that changed my life."

Diabel bowed her head respectfully. Her loyal demeanor looked so genuine that I grew more and more confused.

Was this woman really one of the seven? Was she truly someone who would target Era? Could someone who thanked the prince with such sincerity really be like that?

The conversation continued as we drank our tea.

"Hmm..."

Diabel shifted the topic toward Era.

"I heard that Her Highness the Princess Consort is from the borderlands."

"Yes! That's right!"

"My, the borderlands are such a beautiful place full of nature. Having grown up there, you must have a very pure heart."

Diabel spoke with a gentle smile. But any noble would have immediately recognized the barb hidden in those words. Calling her heart "pure" was a polite way of saying she was ignorant of the ways of the world and naive.

It was a subtle noble-style jab at Era.

"Yes! The air in the borderlands is really nice! Lady Diabel, you should come visit sometime! The stars are incredibly clear there too!"

She answered with an innocent, bright smile. She hadn't noticed the barb at all. Diabel's smile stiffened ever so slightly.

"...I-I see. If the opportunity arises, I shall."

Diabel took a sip of tea, then changed the subject again.

"His Highness the Prince must feel truly blessed to have taken in Her Highness the Princess Consort."

Taken in. The implication was clear—that Era hadn't earned her position through her own power but had latched onto the prince. It was a veiled sneer.

But Era's response was,

"That's right! I really am so lucky! Meeting Leon was the greatest fortune of my life! Hehe."

She spoke with genuine happiness. This time, Diabel's smile twisted slightly. She'd thrown out a jab, only for the other party to take it as a compliment and beam with joy. It seemed to have taken the wind out of her sails.

Watching the scene from the side, I couldn't help but chuckle quietly.

'......This. It's surprisingly effective.'

Diabel's elegant, roundabout insults kept missing their mark in the face of Era's pure innocence. She would wrap her thorny words in pretty packaging and toss them out, but Era only saw the wrapping, got happy about it, and left the thorns with nowhere to land.

Diabel must have changed tactics, because she began talking about herself.

"I too was once a truly lowly commoner."

Diabel set down her teacup with graceful poise.

"I had neither possessions nor education. But I never begged for anyone's help. I rose to where I am today solely by my own hands."

"...!"

This was a blatant provocation. She was saying that while she had risen through her own ability despite being a commoner, Era had simply clung to the prince and received her position for free. By emphasizing that they were both commoners, she was cutting Era down even further.

"Of course, His ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Highness's kindness became my foundation. But it was my own capability that built it into the great merchant guild it is today."

Diabel spoke with subtle pride.

But Era's reaction was,

"Wow......"

Her eyes widened, and she genuinely marveled.

"Lady Diabel, you're truly amazing! Building such a huge merchant guild from nothing!"

"...Pardon?"

"I can't even imagine doing something like that! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Lady Diabel... could you teach me how sometime?"

Era clasped her hands together and looked at Diabel with sparkling eyes. She had taken the provocation as pure admiration.

"..."

Diabel's face went completely blank at the response.

"......Y-you flatter me."

Diabel forced an awkward smile.

"..."

I barely managed to hold back the laughter threatening to burst out as I sipped my tea beside her. I had caught every intention behind Diabel's words. All her thorny remarks, provocations, and sneers had turned into complete misses in the face of Era's innocence and honesty.

'...Big sis was right.'

I recalled what my older sister had said before. That Era's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠honesty might become a stronger weapon than any rhetoric. Those words were being proven right before my eyes.

Time passed, and the tea party was drawing to a close. In the end, Diabel hadn't managed to draw any meaningful reaction from Era. No matter how many elegant barbs she threw, Era either responded with pure innocence or honest sincerity, causing every thorn to miss its target completely.

On the surface, it had been an incredibly harmonious tea party.

"Ha..."

But beneath Diabel's smile, a faint irritation was clearly visible.

"It has been such a pleasant time today."

Diabel said as she rose from her seat. Her smile was still perfect.

"It was an honor to meet you, Your Highness the Princess Consort."

"Me too! Lady Diabel, the tea was really delicious! The snacks too!"

Era answered with a bright smile.

"I suppose we will see each other again at the Daeje?"

"Yes! See you at the festival!"

Era even waved her hand happily. Diabel smiled softly at the sight.

"......Yes. I will make sure to see you again at the Daeje."

There was something very subtle lurking beneath those words, but Era didn't notice it at all.

We left the mansion under Diabel's farewell. On the way back, Era spoke in an excited voice.

"Leon! Lady Diabel is really a good person, right?"

"......"

"She's such an amazing person, yet she was kind to me too. She even served us tea. She's truly wonderful!"

Era beamed.

"...Yeah. Well... the tea was good, at least."

I answered vaguely.

The carriage carrying the two of them pulled away from the mansion. Diabel Sogo stood in place with an elegant smile until the carriage had completely disappeared from sight.

But the moment the carriage vanished from view, the gentle smile slowly faded from Diabel's face. What remained was an icy, cold expression.

The warmth she had shown Era just moments ago was gone without a trace.

"...A girl with no surname."

Diabel muttered quietly. The silken softness had vanished from her voice, leaving only a chilling coldness.

"How dare she set her sights on the position of princess consort?"

Diabel stared coldly in the direction the distant carriage had disappeared.

"Even with a surname, how much have I sacrificed to reach that position?"

The tips of Diabel's fingers trembled faintly. Whether from rage or jealousy, the emotion was clear.

"Buried in debt, nearly losing everything, scorned... trampled upon...! I gritted my teeth and crawled up one step at a time..."

Diabel looked down at her own palm.

"Yet that vulgar thing doesn't lift a single finger and tries to snatch the position just by clinging to His Highness?"

Her voice was filled with cold contempt.

"...Shadow?"

"Do not answer. Only listen."

"...You said a haze rose beside that vulgar wench, yes?"

"...Investigate further. There may be some flaw we can exploit."