55. Experiencing High Society
55. Experiencing High Society
[Chapter 55] - Experiencing High Society
Children's high society.
Literally, a social circle for children. If the adult high society was a snake pit full of sinister schemes, the children's version was a miniature version—a gathering of cute little snake hatchlings.
It was like that, but in the game, it was simpler. It was a social system that unlocked after age ten, a recurring event to raise stats like 'Social Evaluation'—etiquette, art, and conversation skills.
They were notoriously difficult to raise, and these stats were tricky to manage because they could drop significantly. Yet, they were essential stats to raise to reach the 'Queen Ending'.
But even if you opened a social event, 'Social Evaluation' didn't automatically go up. True to the unfriendly roguelike parenting simulation, if the Princess's 'Intelligence' stat was low, the children's social event ended in failure.
The Princess would open the event with a happy heart, thinking about making friends, only to be ignored because her 'Intelligence' stat was relatively low, causing her to accumulate a mountain of stress and close her heart.
That happened a lot in the game. Even if it was a children's social circle, high society was still high society. If you ignored it as just a cute little snake pit, you were bound to get bitten.
'Come to think of it... what are Titania's stats right now?'
I glanced at the Princess, who was lying next to me reading a book. These days, unlike when I taught her when she was younger, the Princess was being taught by teachers the ministers had painstakingly brought in.
As she grew, I felt I was no longer enough to teach her, so I asked the ministers, and they readily agreed, bringing in their own disciples or acquaintances as teachers.
'In the game, there was a separate teacher who taught the Princess, too.'
It wasn't a problem that I wasn't teaching the Princess from A to Z. The problem was that, unlike when the stats were visible, I couldn't see the Princess's stats now.
I had no way of knowing what the Princess's 'Intelligence' was, or what her 'Social Evaluation' was. I was worried that if I sent her to the children's social circle like this, she might come back dejected after being ignored, just like in the game.
I patted the Princess's bottom as she read next to me, wearing a worried expression. Then, the Princess tilted her head up as if asking what was wrong and looked at me.
"Titania... have you learned all your arithmetic?"
"......Yes?"
When I asked with genuine concern, the Princess frowned as if it were ridiculous, and perhaps thinking it wasn't worth answering, she whipped her head away and started reading her book again. I guess that means she learned it all...?
Fortunately, the teachers often told me that the Princess was quite smart for a ten-year-old. They praised her to the skies, saying she followed the lessons better than her peers.
I had never thought much of it, assuming the teachers were just sucking up to the Princess... but as the children's social circle approached, I started to get worried.
It's a parent's heart to want their child not to be ignored by others. Of course, I didn't think Titania would be ignored, but I couldn't help but worry.
'What do people even do in high society, anyway...? Vivian never got invited to anything, so I have no idea. In novels, they're always being snide to each other...'
Even though quite some time had passed since I possessed Vivian's body, not a single party invitation or letter asking after her had arrived.
Vivian was called the flower of high society before her marriage, but seeing as she hadn't received a single invitation since becoming Queen, I had a rough idea of how high society worked.
'Still, I should know how high society runs.'
I needed someone who could teach me about high society, and who would turn a blind eye even if they knew I was inexperienced.
'There are a few people like that...'
*
"Now, I shall open a social circle from this moment on. Everyone, clap."
"Excuse me? You said you called us for something urgent, but what is this..."
Four people gathered at the small tea table. First, naturally, was me. I was the one who needed to learn about high society, so it would be a problem if I were missing. And the person who was nitpicking me was...
"Miss Finance. Use pretty language. From now on, you are a young noble lady."
"Excuse me??"
It was Vin Chaud, who was completely bald. Vin Chaud, flustered by the sudden situation, frowned and looked at me. As Vin Chaud was at a loss, the Minister of Foreign Affairs next to him was also flustered.
"Your Majesty the Queen... what on earth is this? You said it was urgent, so we came, and now you're suddenly opening a social circle. You know we aren't that free."
"Miss Foreign Affairs, I saw you eating snacks in your office, so how can you say you aren't free? And does this look like playing to you? It is urgent enough."
"No, that, uh..."
Miss Foreign Affairs, who had been staring at the black tea in the pretty teacup in front of her, squeezed her eyes shut. She seemed unable to fathom why she was here or why she was doing this.
Then, Miss Education, who was giggling "ho ho ho" next to her, covered her mouth with a fan and started being snide toward Miss Foreign Affairs. As expected, I trusted you to go along with this.
"Ho ho ho, it seems the young lady of Foreign Affairs still hasn't grasped the situation. If Her Majesty the Queen says this place is hell, then it is hell; if she says it is high society, then is it not high society?"
"F... crazy bitch."
Miss Foreign Affairs, perhaps feeling heartburn, gulped down the black tea in the pretty cup and let out a curse. When I glared at her, telling her to use polite language, she looked like she was about to cry right then and there. She should be grateful I didn't make her cross-dress.
I, having lifted my teacup, glanced at the Miss Ministers sitting next to me. The still-confused Miss Baldy. And Miss Foreign Affairs who looked like she was about to cry, and Miss Education who was picking up snacks, saying she enjoyed this situation. A perfect combination.
"The reason I suddenly did this is for the Princess's upcoming children's social circle. As you all know, it has been a long time since I stepped out of high society. I just wanted your help."
"Then you could have just said so... We would have known what's trendy in high society these days..."
"Miss Foreign Affairs, polite language."
"...would have known what's trendy... ho ho ho."
Certainly, it would have been easier to just ask the ministers to investigate what was trendy in high society and what was going on. But no matter what, research is just research.
"It's much better for me to experience it myself. But if I were to open a social party or tea party on my own, wouldn't that be a nuisance to you?"
"This is more of a nuisance right now... Your Majesty the Queen."
"Oh my, you have quite the tongue for someone whose tea party was opened by the Queen, Miss Foreign Affairs."
"Miss Education. You make me sick."
As Miss Education and Miss Foreign Affairs bickered, Miss Finance held her forehead and sighed. Miss Finance even muttered in a small voice about whether she should resign as minister.
"Anyway... let's pretend this is the tea party I invited you to. What conversation would you have?"
"First of all... what is the topic of this tea party?"
Topic? In the game, it was just called a tea party, and I had never paid attention to the topic of the tea party. Do you even need a topic to have a tea party...?
"...What is a popular topic for young noble ladies these days? I don't even know what a children's social circle is in the first place..."
"Ohohoho! As for that, I, Miss Education, will teach you, Your Majesty the Queen!"
"Ugh." Miss Foreign Affairs, wearing an expression of extreme disgust, frowned at Miss Education. Miss Finance, as if she didn't want to say anything more, wiped her face and averted her gaze from this situation.
Regardless, Miss Education excitedly started explaining the trendy topics in children's high society to me. True to her position as Minister of Education, she seemed to know a lot about this.
"The trendy topic in children's high society these days is pets. A book claiming that raising pets in childhood enriches children's sensitivity is widely popular among noblewomen these days."
"Pets... any other topics?"
"Well... others are common. Piano, or just simple tea ceremony or art-related topics. If Your Majesty intends to invite young noble ladies yourself, I don't really recommend this side."
"Why is that? I know the Princess has studied quite a bit in this area. Is there a problem?"
"Art is like that by nature. You might think you've studied enough, but the moment you try to talk about it, they're busy talking only about things they know. The moment you try to show off unnecessary knowledge, you're bound to become a target; that's the art scene."
"Hmm."
"Even adults are reluctant to go to art-related social circles. That's not a snake pit; it's a demon's den. A demon's den."
So, according to Miss Education, the moment the Princess tries to act like she knows something while they are chatting about things they know, she's bound to become a target. Well, it wouldn't be a gloomy snake pit otherwise.
Miss Education, perhaps thirsty, elegantly raised her pinky finger, gulped down the black tea, covered her mouth with a fan, and continued talking with a "hong hong" laugh.
"Therefore, if Your Majesty the Queen intends to open a party or tea party for the Princess, I recommend using pets as the topic."
"However, the Princess doesn't have a pet. Even if I started raising one now, there's no time."
Would the Princess even like pets in the first place? No, even if the Princess liked them, would her friend Ainsel, who is by her side, like them? Even Fran, who helped her, was someone Ainsel was slightly wary of because she was by the Princess's side.
If the Princess declared she was raising a pet with such an Ainsel by her side... I didn't even need to see it to know what would happen. It would be absolute chaos.
As I pondered for a moment, Miss Education shrugged as if asking what the problem was and looked at Miss Foreign Affairs, who was sitting next to her frowning. Feeling an unpleasant gaze, Miss Foreign Affairs looked at Miss Education with annoyance.
"You don't have to worry about that. I will lend you one of the puppies I am raising. It's cute and affectionate, too."
"Oh, would you do that?"
"Your Majesty the Queen... as Miss Foreign Affairs, I advise you, the cuteness Miss Education speaks of is far from that of normal people. Please reconsider—"
"Ignore the story of a coward who is even afraid of puppies. I will send you the most gentle one."
As expected of Miss Foreign Affairs, who is afraid of puppies, she sighed, saying she was shivering. I decided to follow Miss Education's advice as I didn't think it would be a problem.
"As expected, when three ministers put their heads together, a good answer comes out. Miss Finance, you prepare to open a modest tea party."
"How many people do you plan to have?"
"I plan to keep it modest, so five people should be enough. Miss Foreign Affairs and Miss Education, send invitations to the most gentle and wholesome children possible. Select only those with the best reputation and who are kind."
"We shall do so."
Since it's the Princess's first experience in high society, I thought it would be good to prepare for a comfortably relaxed atmosphere, knowing what high society is like. It would be better to taste the sweetness of making friends first rather than the bitterness of high society.
Thus, the social circle with the Miss Ministers ended, and the ministers began to move busily to prepare for the Princess's first social circle.
The topic: The pets they are raising.
Imagining the children bringing the pets they are raising and showing them off to each other, a smile bloomed on my face before I knew it.
That place would surely be a very cute place.