48. A Little Tea Party Just for the Princesses (1)
48. A Little Tea Party Just for the Princesses (1)
[Chapter 48] - A Small Tea Party for Princesses Only (1)
Sunlight poured in from the audience chamber window, illuminating hair a light brown so bright it could be mistaken for blonde. Black eyes, drinking in the sunlight, sparkled like obsidian. A 'young girl' who looked about fifteen bowed her head and introduced herself.
"My name is Fiona Silverword. The 'second princess' of the Silverword Kingdom greets Queen Vivian Liliensole-jeonha."
As soon as I saw the woman who introduced herself as 'Fiona Silverword', for some reason, goosebumps rose on my arms. Rubbing my arms where even the fine hairs stood on end, I looked at 'Fiona', who was smiling brightly.
'What is this...?'
By rights, it should have been the 'third prince' arriving here according to the original story. Even the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who had been on a business trip to the Silverword Kingdom, had clearly said the third prince would be joining the delegation.
I caught the eye of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who was standing beside me with eyes wide in confusion, but he just shook his head vigorously as if he had heard absolutely nothing about this either.
'The original story has changed again...'
Nothing good had ever come from the original story changing so far. Just like how the First Queen, Aurora, whom I thought was dead, was alive, and because of that, the King, who was a 'player', ended up in that state.
I felt that the fact that the 'third prince' who should have arrived with this delegation had been replaced by a 'second princess' would certainly not be a good thing either. There was no evidence, only suspicion, but...
"Um...? Are you okay?"
"Ah."
As I was lost in thought for a moment, Fiona tilted her head and looked up at me. For now... the event welcoming the delegation's visit should come first. I nodded and forced a smile.
"I sincerely welcome your visit, Princess Fiona Silverword-nim. You must be exhausted from the long journey, so how about taking a day to rest first? The banquet welcoming the delegation is scheduled for tomorrow evening, so I hope you will attend."
"Thank you for your hospitality despite the sudden visit."
After the conversation ended and I raised my hand, the maids waiting on the side began to guide the delegation. As the delegation left the audience chamber, the Minister of Foreign Affairs began to groan in thought.
"Not the first princess, but the second princess... Haa... This is something."
"Minister of Foreign Affairs, do you know anything about Princess Fiona Silverword-nim?"
To my question, the Minister of Foreign Affairs shook his head and shrugged.
"Not at all. She is a 'second princess' who has rarely come out of the Silverword Kingdom. She doesn't participate in outside events often, and even when I went to that kingdom, seeing her face once was all I got."
Listening to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Princess Fiona's personality seemed timid. A princess who didn't participate in any outside events and stayed in a corner. I almost got a headache because someone I knew came to mind.
"Well... I don't know the details either. That's just what I've heard; in reality, she might just not have had the opportunity to come out. The 'first princess' over there has such good rumors, you see."
"Rumors?"
"There are even rumors that if a 'Queen' were to emerge for the first time in the history of the Silverword Kingdom, it might be the 'first princess'. She is as popular as the first and second princes who are in line for the throne."
"Hmm..."
"Since the first princess is so popular with the citizens and is also very capable, perhaps the second princess, Princess Fiona-nim, hasn't been able to come out... that is just my speculation."
A second princess overshadowed by the first princess.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs just shrugged, saying everything was his speculation, and there was nothing certain. It was useless for people who knew nothing to rack their brains like this.
Since the 'third prince' who was supposed to come didn't arrive, the matchmaking with the princess was off the table. The princess might be happy if she heard about this. She had been avoiding me, saying she hated matchmaking so much.
I smoothed my furrowed brows and let out a small sigh. I was anxious about the situation where the original story had suddenly changed, and I was also anxious about the sense of incongruity I felt when looking at that person named Fiona.
...I just hope this sense of incongruity is just my imagination.
"Well... the delegation is only staying for a week, so even if the third prince was replaced by the second princess, nothing should happen. You all worked hard today, too. Rest well, and let's see each other tomorrow."
When I waved my hand to tell them to leave the audience chamber quickly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and several nobles hesitated, then bowed their heads and slipped out of the audience chamber.
"Haa..."
Once everyone disappeared and I was left alone in the large audience chamber, I let out a deep sigh without realizing it. Have I been very tired lately? The sighs I let out just kept increasing.
Since the matchmaking with the third prince was canceled, would the princess's mood improve a little? It had already been two months since things were awkward with the princess, so I was exhausted. I wanted to go back to how it was before quickly...
I wiped my tired face with my palms, then quietly got up from the chair and walked away with a trudging step. I thought about resting a little, but I couldn't because of the various thoughts blooming in my head.
Could I return to the relationship with the princess that had become awkward? Is it really a coincidence that the second princess came instead of the third prince visiting in the original story? Regarding the delegation, to the other ministers-
Organizing my complicated mind step by step, I quietly headed to my room.
Praying that nothing happens during the week the delegation stays...
*
The fourth day since the Silverword Kingdom's delegation arrived.
Fortunately, there had been no incidents so far. I left the politics of each country to the ministers, and I just attended meetings and nodded. The banquet welcoming the delegation also ended without incident.
To the point where I wondered if I had been too suspicious, Princess Fiona-nim lived quietly without causing any trouble. The news of Princess Fiona-nim that came every day was only that she was experiencing the culture and enjoying it.
'Was the sense of incongruity I felt back then just my imagination? It's a relief that nothing happened, but...'
I poked the meat sliced on my plate with a fork, then glanced up with just my eyes to look at Princess Fiona-nim, who was eating across from me.
It was nice to see her eating meat while smiling brightly, her eyes curving as she said the kingdom's food was delicious. Was Princess Fiona-nim really just overshadowed by the first princess?
Appearance aside, if you only looked at her behavior, Princess Fiona-nim was just acting like an ordinary fifteen-year-old child. Seeing her eating meat deliciously, I felt sorry for being so suspicious.
Princess Fiona-nim, who was cutting the meat into small pieces, looked at the princess who was sitting next to her and diligently cutting meat, smiling brightly. Having kept the two princesses together for the past few days, they seemed to have become quite close.
"Princess Titania-nim, if it's uncomfortable to cut the meat, shall I cut it for you instead?"
"I-It's okay. I can cut it myself..."
"I'm sorry. I have a younger brother but no younger sister, so I keep interfering. A younger brother is nice, but I really prefer a younger sister-"
Perhaps exhausted by Princess Fiona-nim, who was chattering without a break, the princess smiled awkwardly and nodded repeatedly. Is that what it means to have one's energy drained?
The princess, who was usually full of mischief and energy, was busy listening to Princess Fiona-nim's words without being able to move, like an animal that had met its natural enemy. It was to the point where you could see her smiling awkwardly.
After I said the matchmaking was canceled, the relationship with the princess improved, just a tiny bit. Perhaps because the awkward period had been long, her attitude toward me didn't change immediately, but it was certain that it had improved a lot.
As we were eating slowly like that, Princess Fiona-nim, who hadn't stopped chattering like a baby bird, clapped her hands together and smiled brightly as if a good idea had occurred to her.
"Oh, right! Princess Titania-nim, what is your schedule for today?"
"I-I don't think I have anything in particular."
"Then would you like to enjoy a tea party with me today? We have several snacks we brought from the Silverword Kingdom. I want to let Princess Titania-nim taste them as much as I received-"
In the midst of her chattering without rest, the princess turned her head to look at me. She looked at me with a restless expression, as if asking for help, but I smiled brightly and took Princess Fiona-nim's side.
"If Princess Fiona-nim brings good snacks, we should be the ones to prepare the tea. The royal palace has a lot of good tea, too. I will order it to be prepared, so how about spending time with Princess Titania-nim in the afternoon?"
"That's a really great idea! Your Majesty the Queen! Finding the right tea for our kingdom's snacks will also be fun-"
The princess's face turned pale, and then she puffed up her cheeks and glared at me as if she really hated me. Whether she did or not, I put the sliced meat into my mouth and tried to avoid the princess's gaze.
As much as the princess had ignored me because she was sulking, I just wanted to be a little bit spiteful to the princess. Since I hadn't heard a single word of apology from the princess yet, this much spite should be fine.
I wiped my mouth with a napkin, smiled brightly, and looked at the princess and Princess Fiona-nim.
"Then, I hope you two have a good time. If anything happens, it's fine to call me anytime. Princess Fiona-nim, Princess Titania-nim."
"Thank you always for your great consideration! Queen Vivian-jeonha!"
"......"
The princess, who had puffed up her cheeks without even putting the meat in her mouth, glared at me, but I stood up from my seat first and slowly walked out of the dining room.
As I was passing behind the princess, the princess whispered to me in a very small voice, only loud enough for me to hear. A very short sentence, truly filled with sincerity.
".....I hate you."
"I feel the same way."
When I answered the princess's words, Princess Fiona-nim, who heard my answer that sounded like I was talking to myself, stopped cutting the meat and reacted by peeking her head up.
"Yes? Did you say something?"
"It's nothing. Princess Fiona-nim. I hope you two have a good time."
With that last word, I slipped out of the dining room.
Through the gap in the small dining room door that was closing, I could see the princess looking at me as if she were about to cry, but I forced myself to close the dining room door and headed to my room to take a break for a while.
I've had a hard time up until now, too.
This much spite should be fine.
Anyway, nothing will happen just because the two princesses are having a tea party.