Even in this life, it won’t be easy to adapt to the empire’s social circles. For a princess from a foreign country to fit into the mainstream, she has no choice but to push aside those at the center.

Moreover, everyone unanimously says that if we’re talking about the center of the social circles now, it’s undoubtedly the Canterif duchess.

‘But it’s too risky for me to push out the duchess.’

As it is, I’ve already been the talk of the nobles for a while for rejecting Raul’s proposal and choosing Callid.

If Bellia, who did that, were to push out the duchess who is to be Raul’s wife from the social circles, all the nobles’ sympathetic gazes would be directed towards the Canterif duchess.

‘……Conversely, I would be plagued by all sorts of scandals.’

It’s never good to leave such a first impression in social circles. Recovering a tarnished image is several times harder than creating a good image in the first place.

‘So it would be better to create a completely new faction.’

In my previous life, I was able to operate very easily in social circles, backed by Raul and under the emperor’s protection. Of course, the glory ended quickly when Erzé appeared, but still, the process wasn’t difficult.

But this time, I had to build everything from scratch with my own strength. Moreover, I had to make everyone’s attention naturally turn to me. It certainly wasn’t going to be easy.

“These days, there’s a lot of talk comparing the duchess and the princess.”

The maid combing my hair carefully opened her mouth.

“Me and the Canterif duchess?”

“Yes. Since you’re both prospective crown princesses, of noble birth, and similar in many ways, there’s talk about it here and there.”

“In what way?”

At Bellia’s question, the maids hesitated a little before answering.

“The princess has a pure image, while the Canterif duchess has a bright and lively atmosphere, so the impressions are very different.”

“……You can speak honestly.”

The maid seemed to have difficulty speaking, her lips quivering before she let out a small sigh.

“I know you’re saying this out of concern for me.”

She must have heard something about the tea party I’m visiting today, which is why she’s bringing this up with difficulty.

“Actually, you might have a bit of trouble at the tea party held at Count Duncan’s house today.”

“Because the Canterif duchess is coming?”

That’s already a known fact, isn’t it?

“……Um. Well, I just happened to hear this, but.”

The maid hesitated, looking nervous, then spoke with her eyes tightly shut.

“A few days ago, I accidentally overheard some ladies in the square saying they wouldn’t be friendly to the princess.”

The maid’s voice grew increasingly indignant as she explained that it seemed the young ladies of each family were planning to have a power struggle with the princess.

“A lot of people’s attention is focused on the Canterif duchess, who will be the wife of the First Prince. As you know, the Second Prince doesn’t have a very good reputation.”

So now.

Among the noble young ladies, they’ve started taking sides, and most of them have sided with the Canterif duchess?

Bellia curled up one corner of her mouth. Somehow, a slightly irritated feeling surged up.

“Of course! I know the Prince is a very good person and not as cruel as the rumors say. But they don’t know that.”

In the past, this kind of side-taking didn’t start so quickly. That’s because Bellia was already the wife of Raul, who was close to being the next emperor. Naturally, they were people who had to impress Bellia.

But now the situation is different from then. The nobles’ attitudes were completely different from before.

“Thank you. Thanks to you, I can go with my heart prepared in advance.”

“……I hope you won’t get hurt, Princess.”

Bellia was always kind and gentle, never harsh even to the servants.

It was almost a miracle to meet such a superior person after entering the imperial palace. The maid wished for Bellia to stay here for a long, long time.

“Thank you.”

Bellia could fully feel the maid’s sentiments.

“But you don’t need to worry. I’m not an easy person to deal with either.”

Bellia’s eyes sparkled.

With a rustle, the sound of her dress brushing against the grass, Bellia slowly moved her steps.

As she entered the garden, the eyes of everyone there were fixed on Bellia.

Among them were people she had greeted at the last party, and some she was seeing for the first time. Of course, in her previous life, she had met them all.

“Hello. I’m Bellia Ronica. Am I a bit late?”

As Bellia asked with a smile, the daughter of Count Duncan, who was hosting the tea party, stood up and greeted her.

“No! I’m Sara Duncan. Thank you for accepting the invitation, Princess.”

“I should be thanking you for inviting me to this precious occasion, Lady Duncan.”

Lady Duncan’s face relaxed, seeming somewhat relieved by Bellia’s polite manner.

As she guided Bellia to her seat, Lady Duncan added,

“The Canterif duchess hasn’t arrived yet. She said she’d be a bit late due to some business, so please understand.”

Although the content of her words was clearly asking for understanding, it gave a subtly strange feeling.

Bellia sat in her seat and looked around quickly.

Everyone was either hiding their faces behind fans or pretending to be distracted.

‘……Well, look at this?’

She decided to observe for now.

It would be better to see how they would act first and then think of a response.

This was a situation she hadn’t experienced before, wasn’t it?

“Ahem! Although the duchess hasn’t arrived, let’s start the tea party. Today’s desserts will be served in three courses.”

At Lady Duncan’s gesture, maids approached and placed pre-prepared desserts on each table.

From small sandwiches to cakes, scones, and baked cookies.

‘Ah……?’

Bellia examined the types of desserts placed on the plate.

Instead of light appetizers to stimulate the palate in the first plate, there were regular desserts.

Although she said they would be served in three courses, it seemed that the subsequent menus would have similar composition with just slight variations in types to add a bit of change.

‘It’s a bit meager than I expected.’

It wasn’t that the preparation was lacking, but it couldn’t be said that it was carefully and sufficiently prepared either.

Especially considering it was a tea party held in the empire.

“Then I would be grateful if you enjoy yourselves to your heart’s content.”

Saying so, Lady Duncan shook a small bell placed on the table once.

As the clear bell sound spread, maids approached to pour tea into the teacups placed at each seat.

Amusingly, the tea must have used high-quality leaves as the aroma was very good. Moreover, it was the tea she used to enjoy in the Ronica Kingdom.

Bellia savored that scent for a moment. Then she took a sip. Indeed, it was a premium product.

“Does it suit your taste?”

Lady Duncan approached Bellia’s table and asked.

“Yes. The tea is very good.”

“It’s a gift my father received, and he gladly allowed it for today’s tea party.”

The count’s daughter spoke with her shoulders straightened, as if proud.

Bellia, finding such Lady Duncan cute, drew a gentle curve on her lips.

‘……How cute.’

To Bellia, who had returned to the past after regressing, all the noble young ladies here felt like much younger sisters.

A power struggle with these people? Suddenly, the will that was burning fiercely cooled down.

Bellia let out a light laugh at her determination that had been broken in an instant. Then, relaxing her tensed face, she began to communicate with them. As if they had been waiting for this moment, questions began to pour towards Bellia.

“What kind of tea do you mainly drink in the Ronica Kingdom?”

“I saw you dancing with Prince Callid at the party the other day.”

“Are all your dresses gifts from the Second Prince?”

The young girls had many questions for Bellia.

And most of the questions were about Callid rather than Bellia.

‘What? He’s unexpectedly popular.’

Despite the many rumors, Callid was a person hard to see, so it seems everyone was curious about him deep down.

“I heard that the Second Prince was very kind to the princess… Does he treat you well usually too?”

This question had a hint of worry in it.

As if there’s no way Callid could be like that.

Bellia swallowed her laughter and opened her mouth to answer.

“Prince Callid is an extremely kind and warm person. It seems you all have many misunderstandings.”

“Oh my.”

As the topic turned to romance, everyone’s attention seemed to focus here.

“Will you be appearing in public with the Second Prince often in the future?”

“Of course. As the future crown princess, I plan to perform all my duties properly. Naturally, Callid will be with me.”

Hearing Bellia call Callid by name, several young ladies covered their mouths and giggled.

Certainly, as they engaged in various conversations, the atmosphere had lightened up a lot compared to the beginning.

While they were having an enjoyable conversation like that, a maid quietly relayed a message to Lady Duncan.

The count’s daughter jumped up from her seat in surprise.

“It seems the Canterif duchess has arrived. I’ll go out to greet her and be right back.”

At her words, the gathering suddenly fell silent as if cold water had been poured on it.

As Lady Duncan hurried away, Bellia turned her head to look at the young lady who had just asked her a question. The young lady slightly averted her gaze.

‘Hmm.’

It seems a conspiracy was prepared in advance.

Bellia calmly addressed her.

“What was it you were curious about earlier?”

“No…… It wasn’t an important question.”

She cuts off the conversation as if something terrible would happen if she appeared close to Bellia.

Silence fell over the garden.

A moment later.

Ellin Canterif entered the garden along with Lady Duncan.

“I’m sorry I’m late. Something suddenly came up in the family.”

As soon as she entered, she gracefully greeted the noble young ladies attending the tea party as if she were the host. It was quite an arrogant attitude.

“I also apologize to Princess Bellia. I shouldn’t have been this late……”

Ellin naturally sat down in the most central seat even before being guided to her place, as if she were used to it.

“It’s alright. If something suddenly came up, it couldn’t be helped.”

Does she want to gain the upper hand?

Although she came from another country, Bellia was a princess of a nation. Therefore, even now before her marriage to Callid, she officially outranked the nobles of the empire.

For a duchess to be late to a tea party attended by Bellia was an extremely great discourtesy.

But it wasn’t easy to point that out in a place where she had no allies. The Canterif duchess must have known this fact and deliberately arrived late.

Of course, she didn’t want to look foolish by just letting this situation pass either.

Bellia delivered a pointed remark with a grin.

“Besides, if even the host of the tea party doesn’t say anything, how could I reprimand you?”

Everyone looked surprised, not expecting Bellia, who had only shown a kind demeanor so far, to respond so sarcastically. The atmosphere instantly turned chilly. Ellin’s expression also hardened.

Lady Duncan rang the bell once more, as if trying to change the atmosphere a bit.

“I will prepare the next dessert.”

The second dessert was prepared very quickly.

“It seems Lady Duncan put a lot of effort into preparing for the princess’s visit today.”

Ellin Canterif said, looking at the cookies and cakes fully laid out on the table.

Pointing at the desserts on the table with exaggerated gestures like a stage actor.

“Don’t you think so?”

Then she asked Bellia with a kind face.

Bellia took a sip of tea with a calm expression.

People from foreign countries who don’t know how tea parties are prepared in the empire are easy to fall for such words. That’s why she used this petty trick.

If Bellia were to answer here that it seems a lot of effort was put in, she would become a fool who knows nothing about the empire’s social circles. So she couldn’t give a nice answer out of courtesy while knowing everything.

‘But.’

The moment she says the preparation was inadequate, rumors would spread that she’s an inconsiderate person who doesn’t know manners.

Bellia inwardly applauded the Canterif duchess for blocking her retreat so well.

‘She’s much smarter than I thought.’

She was watching this side with an expression of great anticipation for what kind of answer Bellia would give.