The Tea Party, Part 2
A cloudless sky, brilliant sunshine, and a gentle, tickling breeze—it was a perfect day. Yet, on the terrace of the Merian Marquisate, a bizarre tension hung thick in the air.
“I am truly honored to receive Lady Merian’s invitation,” Ariel Royce said, hiding her smile behind a fan as her eyes crinkled.
Seeing this, Mikarice’s brow furrowed.
“My only regret is that I could not extend an invitation to you sooner, Lady Royce.”
“But my, what distinguished guests we have here. Lady Cardelia, Lady Estupina, and even Lady Rutenia? I wonder if someone of my humble standing should even be present in such esteemed company,” Ariel Royce said, her voice dripping with false modesty.
At her blatant hypocrisy, even Ronia and Line grimaced. They, too, knew exactly what Ariel Royce had tried to pull.
Aileen, meanwhile, was fidgeting nervously, glancing between them.
“Indeed,” Line sneered. “A rather... humble person has indeed intruded upon a gathering of such noble souls.”
“Oh dear, I wonder who that humble person could possibly be? I haven't the slightest clue...” Ronia drawled sarcastically.
“Hoho, surely you aren't referring to me?” Ariel’s eyebrow twitched.
“Then who else could it be? If it isn't you, Lady Royce, then I certainly don't know,” Mikarice joined the offensive.
For some reason, the tea party felt thick with murderous intent. This was no longer a place to sip tea, eat pastries, and enjoy light conversation; it was a gladiatorial arena, a Colosseum where the combatants wielded razor-sharp words as swords and shields. Sparks practically flew from their eyes, and a chilling aura filled the air.
Aileen had absolutely no idea what was happening. After all, this was her very first tea party...
“Do you say such things knowing who my family is? The House of Count Royce, which stands at the very heart of the Empire!”
“Oh my, bringing up your family the moment you are challenged? I suppose you have nothing else of your own to boast about.”
“Indeed. I heard her education was rather lacking, and it seems the rumors were true.”
“One can always tell by their etiquette. Just look at her. Even her posture while drinking tea is entirely incorrect.”
They unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks. Ariel’s eyes wavered, and her hands began to tremble violently. It seemed she had never been treated like this in her life.
And I, eavesdropping from below, felt my own breath hitch.
Mikarice had told me to just stay put, but how could I resist? My curiosity got the better of me. Was this really how noble ladies conversed? No, was this the reality of aristocratic warfare? The words flying back and forth were so sharp they felt like they could slice skin. If I had been Ariel Royce, I would have burst into tears and fled the scene long ago.
Just then, Ariel Royce bolted upright from her seat.
“How dare you—!”
“Tsk.”
Before Ariel could even finish her sentence, Mikarice clicked her tongue. Ariel’s eyes shook. Surprisingly, she seemed rather fragile; she looked as if she might burst into tears at any second.
“Oh dear, losing your composure over something so trivial? You’ll never survive high society like that,” Ronia said, offering a sweet but chilling smile. It was a smile as cold as a winter sunset.
“Exactly,” Line added, her eyes sweeping over Ariel’s dress with a mocking sneer. “Even if I don't care for high society, Lady Royce seems quite sensitive to trends, judging by her attire. Or wait, looking closely, isn't that dress completely out of season?”
“Lady Royce, do not overstep your bounds,” Mikarice scoffed. “It is painfully obvious you lack proper breeding. After all, what educated lady would go around begging a betrothed man to break off his engagement? Pfft.”
“We might have gone a bit too far.”
“Lady Royce looks like she's about to cry a river. Oh, is it raining?”
“Let's stop. I was taught never to tease those who are fundamentally lacking in intellect.”
The sheer weight of their coordinated assault was suffocating. I never could have imagined they would gang up on her like this.
“So you invited me here just to humiliate me! I cannot remain in this place a moment longer!”
“Oh, didn't you know?” Mikarice covered her mouth with mock innocence. “Why else would I invite the woman who tried to steal my fiancé? And yet, you accepted it so readily. I suppose you really are foolish. Ah, my slip of the tongue.”
“...”
Unable to contain her rage, Ariel Royce kicked the door open and stormed out. As she made her way out of the estate, a shrill, furious scream echoed back.
“Those wretched, miserable bitches! How dare they treat me like this! They won't get away with this!”
I actually felt a little sorry for her. She just seemed... a bit slow. But was it really okay to treat her like that? Well, I suppose even the House of Count Royce couldn't do much against four powerful families combined.
Once the razor-sharp storm of the tea party finally settled, I stepped onto the terrace where they were seated.
“Is the conversation finished?”
“Perfect timing. You heard everything, didn't you?” Mikarice asked, narrowing her eyes slightly.
“Haha, I was just too curious...”
“Did you not trust your fiancée? I didn't want you to see me like this, but I must say, I'm disappointed in you, dear husband.”
Mikarice walked over and locked her arm with mine, pressing herself against me with bold intimacy. I could feel... everything. Her soft touch sent a jolt through me.
Seeing this, Ronia and Line frowned.
“We're right here. Cut out the public displays of affection.”
“Mika? Perhaps you should step back a bit? Given the setting...”
“What about the setting?”
Just as another storm of tension was about to brew, Aileen quietly raised her hand.
“Can I eat these cookies?”
“...”
“...”
Did this girl even realize what kind of gathering this was? She seemed completely oblivious to why the tea party had been held in the first place.
But that's what makes her cute.
Ronia took care of the clueless Aileen.
“Try this one first. The refreshing yet sweet flavor will dance on your tongue.”
Aileen took a big bite of a dessert that looked like a macaron. Instantly, her eyes sparkled.
“But don't we still have something left to discuss?” Line spoke up.
“What discussion?”
Mikarice grabbed me by the collar and pulled me close.
“We need to talk. About our future.”
In the end, the day of reckoning had arrived.
“Haha, what could you possibly mean by that...”
Mikarice sat back down and got straight to the point.
“You all know very well who Hound belongs to, right?”
“Haa, still haven't given up? He's too big of a man for you to keep all to yourself, Lady Merian!”
“Mika, please share him with us.”
“Yes. Good things should be shared.”
Am I an object? Since when did I get treated like this?
But I decided not to question it. In times like this, staying quiet was the only way to survive.
“Quiet, everyone. First, let me state my decision. Since things have turned out this way, I have decided to permit Hound's polygamy.”
At Mikarice’s words, their faces instantly brightened. Their eyes sparkled, and the corners of their lips curled upward.
“However, there is a condition.”
“A condition?” Line tilted her head.
“All of this is contingent on Hound reaching a suitable position. In other words, if he doesn't attain the title of Grand Duke or Duke, this is all null and void.”
“No need to worry about that. Hound will easily manage.”
“I have no objections either. Lord Hound is more than capable.”
“I agree.”
Mikarice clasped her hands and rested her elbows on the table, her face casting a slight shadow as she spoke.
“And this is the most important part. Only I will have a formal wedding. And all of Hound's 'firsts' must belong to me. The first night, the first child, the first of everything.”
First night? Baby? Firsts?
Had Mikarice really been harboring such thoughts all this time? Standing behind her, I felt my face flush. She really should have discussed something like that in private.
“Wait, shouldn't that be Hound's decision?”
“I have no objections. As long as I can receive Lord Hound's love, it doesn't matter.”
“...It's a shame we can't have a wedding, but I don't mind too much.”
Ronia and Aileen nodded in agreement. But Line was different.
“Excuse me, Lady Line. Do you still not realize who is making the concessions here?”
“Concessions? No, it's because Hound is too much for you to handle alone, so we are sharing him.”
“Why, you...!”
I knew this atmosphere all too well. Yes, this was the exact moment right before utter chaos erupted. I quickly intervened.
“All my firsts belong to Mika! Haha, shall we head inside? It's getting late.”
“Wait...!”
I gently pushed Mika by her back, guiding her into the marquis’s mansion. Having narrowly averted a disaster, I let out a long, exhausted sigh.
“Well, we shall see you again when the academy resumes classes.”
“Next time, I hope you visit me. It's always me coming to see you, which is a bit disappointing.”
“I want to walk to school with you in the mornings again.”
After exchanging light farewells with them, Mika and I strolled through the mansion.
Having barely managed to block the impending catastrophe, a heavy sigh escaped my lips. Just then, Mikarice turned to me.
“Say, Hound.”
“Yes?”
“If there were flowers in a carriage, how many would there be?”
Flowers in a carriage? What was she talking about all of a sudden...?
“I'm sorry. I don't quite understand the question.”
“It's just a simple question. Imagine it. There are flowers inside a carriage. In your imagination, how full is the carriage?”
“Hmm... wouldn't it be completely full?”
“Oh my...”
Why? Why was she blushing at that question? And why was she avoiding my gaze?
“But why did you suddenly ask that?”
“I read it in the newspaper. They say the more flowers you imagine in the carriage, the stronger your sex drive is. And the more you want babies.”
Mikarice delivered this incredibly embarrassing explanation with a completely straight face. Was it because we had just talked about babies? She was suddenly saying the strangest things. Well, not that it was entirely strange...
Looking closely, even Mikarice’s ears were as red as apples. Had she finally realized what she had just said?
“Once the coming-of-age ceremony is over, the wedding will happen immediately. I'm looking forward to next year.”
“Y-yes, me too.”
“Why are you so stiff? Are you embarrassed?”
My imagination began to run wild. My mind was instantly filled with worldly desires, and various thoughts made my face burn hot.
“You are embarrassed, aren't you? You really have a cute side, dear husband.”
“...”
I remained silent. Once the coming-of-age ceremony arrived, I would show her everything I had been holding back. Let's see if she could still tease me like this then...
“Ahem. Yes, I am looking forward to the coming-of-age ceremony.”
***
In the shadows behind the academy, a man clad in a black hood and a wrinkled old man were conversing in hushed tones.
“Are you certain Apel Cloud will be away on this date?”
“Yes. According to our informant, there is a conference regarding the Contamination on that day. All the Archmages of the academy, including Apel Cloud, will be away.”
“Good. Here is the promised payment.”
Clink.
The old man tossed a heavy pouch of gold coins onto the ground.
“Thank you for your business, esteemed customer from afar.”
Whoosh.
The mysterious man dissolved into a shadow and vanished without a trace.
“Come, it is time to return home, Sojeon.”