“Well, if I must, I can’t help it.”

The Countess looked at Alicia with a worried expression, who gave a somewhat shaky but affirmative answer.

“Dealing with Her Majesty the Empress isn’t easy, and I’m worried that she may not be very kind to you.”

“Yes, she probably won’t be very kind. Likely because Eric is close with Crown Prince William.”

“Yes, that too.”

At the countess’s words, Alicia tilted her head.

She remembered a conversation the emperor had at the previous royal tea party.

“But mother, do we have a close relationship with His Majesty the Emperor or Her Majesty the Empress?”

“Why do you ask all of a sudden?”

“Last time, His Majesty the Emperor said that he saw me when I was a child. And from what you just said, it seems like you know Her Majesty the Empress.”

“Oh. I have known them for a long time. Since I was a young lady of the Cavendish Count family.”

“I see, no wonder.”

“But we weren’t on good terms.”

“Why? What happened?”

“Well. They didn’t seem to like me much. I found out the reason later, which made it even more awkward.”

Hearing her mother’s story, Alicia was reminded of Kate O’Brien.

“Just be yourself, Alicia. There’s no need to be nervous or intimidated.”

“Yes, I’ll do just that.”

“Speaking of which, it’s rose season. It might be a bit hot.”

The countess looked out the window and smiled.

“You know it well?”

“Well, once upon a time. It’s a story from the old days.”

Alicia was curious as her mother seemed to know a lot about the royal palace or the royal family that she didn’t expect, but seeing her mother’s faint, reminiscing expression, she didn’t want to disturb her and quietly left the room.

The royal palace was majestic.

As the place used by the emperors of Britannia, the continental superpower, for over 500 years, the palace was both antique and contemporary, as it had been renovated bit by bit over time to suit the trends of each era, allowing one to see the history of architectural styles at a glance.

Before she knew it, while looking at the palace from the carriage window, they arrived at the main gate of the empress’s palace.

It was quite hot and sunny, so as soon as Alicia got off the carriage, she shielded her face with her hand and looked up at the empress’s palace.

“Welcome, Miss Alicia Lancaster. Please come in.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Guided by the maid who had been waiting at the door, Alicia stepped inside.

When she arrived at the reception room, which was the meeting place, she exchanged greetings with the ladies who had already arrived and took her designated seat.

“Alicia. You’re here too.”

“Jena.”

“I’m so glad you’re here. I was worried that I would be like a single swan.”

“I felt the same way.”

“I don’t know what it is. I understand you, but I’m not successful enough to be invited here.”

“What are you talking about? Didn’t your father’s company just win the contract to supply pottery to the entire royal palace?”

“Oh, is it because of that? It’s a hassle. Should I just give up?”

“Isn’t this not the kind of contract you can give up over an invitation like this? The amount must be huge.”

“I was just saying. We’re in a big rush because of that.”

As Jena giggled, whispering, Alicia also let out a small laugh.
At that moment, Kate O’Brien, dressed less ostentatiously than usual, walked in gently.

Presumably, she had toned down to let the flashyloving Empress stand out.

She made eye contact with Alicia, but Kate quickly turned her head and walked straight to her seat.

As soon as Kate sat down, a maid opened the door and came in, announcing,

“Her Majesty, the Empress, has arrived.”

The seven ladies sitting rose from their seats.

Like a peacock showing off its feathers, the Empress, dressed extravagantly, arrogantly glanced at the attendees.

Her gaze lingered a little longer on Alicia, then she quickly covered her smirk with a fan.

“Please come in. You must have had a hard time getting here.”

“Not at all, Your Majesty.”

“Miss Kate, it’s been a while.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Kate’s face broke into a confident smile as the Empress expressed her friendship.

They exchanged pleasantries in a friendly, light conversation.

Then, Jena whispered to Alicia.

“She’s one of the candidates for the Crown Princess.”

“Isn’t there more than one?”

“Apparently, she’s quite strong? The O’Brien Marquis is doing well these days.”

“I see.”

The Empress, after finishing her conversation with Kate, greeted each person.

She was arrogant but kind to the invited young ladies, conversing with them, but she didn’t speak to Alicia.

Occasionally, when she caught Alicia’s eye, she would smile, but then she would turn her head or talk to someone else.

The ones who first noticed the subtlety but intentionally ignoring were Kate, who had been watching Alicia from the start, and Jena, who had been sticking next to Alicia.

“Can you believe this?”

Jena narrowed her eyes.

If the ladies here noticed that the Empress was ignoring Alicia, even if Alicia became the hostess of the Duke’s house, she could be isolated in the social world.

No one would want to be close to Alicia while being disliked by the Empress.

Unfortunately, there was little Jena could do to help her friend at this moment.

Then the Empress opened her mouth with a smile.

“The weather is nice, shall we go out to the garden? I’ve decided today’s theme will be roses as they are in full bloom in the garden.”

At the Empress’s signal, the maid next to her stood up and announced,

“I will guide you. This way.”

Everyone stood up and started to move towards the garden following the maid. Jena whispered to Alicia from the back.

“Drinking rose tea and going to the rose garden, isn’t that too much? The scent is so strong it’s making my head hurt.”

“She did say it was today’s theme. There’s consistency.”

“Are you okay?”

“Hmm. It’s boring, but I think I can endure it. The dessert is delicious.”

“No, not that.”

“Then what?”

“…No, nothing. It might be better not to know.”

“Why? Did I make a mistake? I haven’t spoken much, have I?”

“Ugh. No, it’s not that. Ah, I can see the garden.”

Alicia turned her head in the direction that Jena was pointing to.

The garden was filled with beautiful roses in full bloom, reflecting the Empress’s taste.

By the time they arrived at the already set tables, the Empress also came out to the garden.

“I’m sorry. I was a bit late. Now, please sit.”

She kindly spoke to the waiting young ladies and then sat down herself.

Just as Alicia was about to sit down like the others, the Empress spoke to her for the first time that day.

“Oh, by the way, Miss Alicia Lancaster. I have a favor to ask.”