Perhaps she had forcibly pushed through the weakest barrier in the family.

“I don’t intend to kill you. The Crown Prince’s intentions might differ, though.”

At my words, her pupils wavered. Now, I had to drive a wedge to prevent her from resisting any further.

“The Prince won’t treat you kindly like me. He may even ruin your mind with magic to get what he wants.”

Nathaniel’s infamy came in handy at times like this.

The woman began to tremble, perhaps recalling the things he had done.

“It would be better to speak to me first. It would help you and those you’re trying to protect.”

She chewed her lips and hesitated for a long time. I calmly waited for her.

“Really, will you protect me?”

“Of course.”

Eventually, she began to detail her name and how she came to this place.

The woman’s name was Nadia Frost.

She said that Baron Frost’s family was so poor that it was hard to call them nobility.

One day, a relative invited Nadia to the capital, claiming to have a good marriage prospect.

“Once I arrived, they told me to sneak into the Crown Prince’s palace. If I didn’t, they threatened to harm my family…….”

“Hmm.”

So, she was threatened and came into the Crown Prince’s palace.

After hearing Nadia’s story, it seemed that the other party had prepared quite thoroughly.

There was no other evidence left except her testimony.

‘I’m glad Nathaniel didn’t kill her.’

He seemed to have become much more generous than before. When we first met, he acted as if he would kill me.

Somehow, I felt proud, and a smile seemed to burst forth.

‘Let’s manage my expression.’

To conclude the interrogation, I suppressed the corners of my mouth from rising and focused on Nadia.

(This is a time separator.)

A few days later, the longawaited time finally arrived.

I wanted to have Nathaniel check my magic one last time, but, as usual, he was nowhere to be seen today.

‘Why doesn’t a person who was always in the library show up these days?’

I felt uneasy because it was my first appearance to others.

“Your Highness, it’s almost time for the tea party.”

Cassian, who knocked on the door and came in, looked sideways.

“What’s wrong?”

“No. Nothing. Why?”

“You don’t look good.”

Does it show that much?

I looked in the mirror and forced a smile. A soulless but plausible smile floated on my face, honed over years of service.

“Yes, that expression. When Your Highness is in a bad mood, you always make that face.”

“Oh, a bad mood? I’m just nervous.”

Cassian was sharper than I thought. I thought I should be careful and headed to the promised place.

The tea party was held in the rose garden at the Crown Prince’s Palace.

It was a place that had never been opened to the public during the 20 years since Nathaniel entered the Crown Prince’s Palace.
“The Empress Dowager used to have tea parties here often.”

Nathaniel’s deceased mother had enjoyed tea parties. It seemed like she held them frequently just to become the center of social gatherings, but that was a misconception.

When I looked over the guest list from the past to prepare the invitations, I couldn’t help but be surprised.

It was because Milia, who is now the Empress, was invited every time.

“She must have invited her just to torment her.”

The more I thought about it, the more terrifying she seemed.

“Here we are, Your Highness.”

Casian and I arrived at the glass greenhouse.

The greenhouse, located in the middle of the rose garden, was small in size but filled with rare and precious varieties of roses.

With all kinds of colored roses in bloom yearround, it was one of the most beautiful places within the palace.

As the servant opened the door, the guests who had been waiting inside rose from their seats.

“I greet Your Highness, the Crown Princess.”

I slowly surveyed the faces of the people bowing their heads. In the farthest corner, I saw the pale face of Diana.

“Thank you all for honoring my invitation today. Please, take your seats.”

As I took the central seat, Teresa and Casian sat on either side of me.

Soon, the servants came with a trolley and served the refreshments.

“Oh my, the tea has a unique fragrance.”

Countess Lind, who had a discerning taste in tea, murmured in admiration.

“It’s tea brought from an empire across the sea. It’s quite unusual here, with the scent of tropical fruits that are hard to find in our empire. Since this is my first tea party, I wanted to treat everyone, so I had it specially ordered.”

I elegantly laid out the words, saying that I had made an effort thinking of them, even though the tea was hard to get.

However, the response was not as good as expected, perhaps due to the unfamiliar taste and fragrance.

Then, the highlight of this tea party, the dessert, was served.

A ringshaped choux pastry filled with lemon cream and decorated with lemon cream and mango on top.

“The ParisBrest is so beautiful.”

“I have tasted this fruit when I was on vacation before.”

Fortunately, the response was positive.

I smiled broadly, sending silent thanks to the owner of a dessert cafe I often visited in my previous life.

“I’m glad you all like it. The fruit was sent by my father, and I thought it would go well with the tea. Please, try it.”

I carefully cut the dessert with a fork and knife and placed it in my mouth.

The tangy lemon cream mixed with the crispy pastry, soon filled with the soft sweetness of the mango.

People’s faces softened as they reached for the black tea for dessert.

“My word.”

“It matches so well!”

“I was worried the scent would be too strong, but it really goes well with the dessert.”

Everyone looked genuinely happy, and I felt pleased.

“It’s been a long time since a tea party was held at the Crown Prince’s palace. As I opened the doors after a long time, I wanted to offer you all a special experience. Seeing your reactions, it seems I’ve succeeded.”

“It was truly magnificent, Your Highness.”

“I must strive harder too. It makes me feel like I’ve been preparing tea parties routinely.”

When even Lady Lind stepped forward with praise, the aristocrats who had kept their mouths shut began to speak.

Soon, a heated discussion about sweet desserts and tea began.

‘Sweet food breaks down barriers wherever you go.’

I joined their conversation, and the greenhouse filled with warm laughter.

The time I thought would be dull passed quickly. When I stood up, the sun had already begun to set.

“I’m worried it’s getting too dark.”

Casian muttered beside me. Finally, the time had come.

I turned around and smiled.

“You don’t have to worry too much. I’ve learned a little trick from His Highness, the Crown Prince.”

As I spoke, I began to move the magic slowly.

However, it was not as easy as I thought. When Nathaniel had helped me, it had formed quickly.

‘A failure?’

At the moment I was about to give up, a light orb the size of a soccer ball appeared above my palm.