To go to the royal palace, Alicia first had to return to her family home.
On the morning of the tea gathering, she did so reluctantly in order to change into a dress. What surprised her was Deborah’s unusually good mood.
It was a relief not to be struck or shouted at, yet the cheerfulness only felt ominous. Mariabelle was nowhere to be seen either.
Though uneasy, Alicia donned an out-of-fashion dress and set out for the palace by carriage.
Upon arrival, a court attendant—courteous yet rude—directed her to the southern gardens. The heavy scent of roses filled the air. Flowers were innocent enough, yet the overpowering fragrance made her feel faint. On a garden table draped in immaculate white cloth, tea and confections had already been prepared.
Seated beside the Queen was, inexplicably, Mariabelle.
Alicia felt neither surprise nor shock. So this was why Deborah had been in such high spirits.
Mariabelle, it seemed, had learned from past failures and now conversed pleasantly with the Queen.
Only recently the Queen had declared Mariabelle barred from entry, and yet here they were, chatting amicably. The inconsistency was almost impressive.
(And yet, even someone like this can be Queen. Or perhaps it is precisely because she is like this that she can be.)
Alicia sighed, disgusted by the steady deterioration of her own thoughts.
Joshua, as expected, had not yet arrived. He was always late to tea gatherings.
Alicia offered her greeting, but the Queen ignored her entirely. As a result, she was left standing beside them for some time while the Queen and Mariabelle continued their conversation.
Eventually, the Queen said, “Oh my, you have so little presence I didn’t notice you. Sit down already,” and only then did Alicia take her seat.
The behavior was no different from that of immature girls in the academy’s general course, and the pettiness left her exasperated.
Yet the Queen’s most detestable trait was not her childishness, but her power.
The conversation between the Queen and Mariabelle continued, pointedly excluding Alicia.
It was then that Joshua arrived.
“My apologies for being late.”
He took a seat beside Alicia. Mariabelle raised no objection.
“It must have been dreadful at Françoise Moore’s wedding,” the Queen said abruptly, finally addressing Alicia after having ignored her all this time.
“Sister, were you friends with Lady Fran?” Mariabelle asked.
She referred to Françoise as Fran. Alicia tilted her head slightly, wondering if the two had been acquainted without her knowledge.
“She looked after me while we lived in the dormitory,” Alicia replied.
“I hear you fainted at the wedding. How disgraceful. With such weak nerves, I wonder whether you could ever serve as Queen,” the Queen said, launching into another lecture.
Samuel must have reported to the Queen.
“Mother, Lady Moore must have been a dear friend to Alicia,” Joshua interjected, attempting to smooth things over.
“Sister, should you not be helping Lady Fran in her time of need? Returning so quickly seems rather heartless, does it not? She took such good care of you.”
“Yes, perhaps it was heartless,” Alicia replied, finding it easier not to argue.
Joshua’s heart belonged to Mariabelle, and Alicia was neither wanted nor loved by anyone present.
What the Queen or Joshua thought no longer mattered to her.
In fact, she found herself wondering whether there was some way to nullify this engagement altogether.
“Mariabelle, that is not a fair way to put it. According to Samuel, Alicia was deeply shaken. She needs rest. And Lady Moore is said to be constantly at Patrick’s side, refusing to see anyone,” Joshua said, again defending her.
His words did not reach Alicia’s heart.
(Once, I would have clung to those words.)
Even if Joshua were to condemn her one day, he was not a cruel man.
He was simply fulfilling his duties as Crown Prince.
Nothing more, and nothing less.
And he even took pride in that inescapable role.
Strangely, the more her heart drifted away from him, the more clearly she felt she could see who he truly was.
“Now then, the reason I summoned you here today is to discuss the Crown Princess and your consort,” the Queen said.
“Mother, this is the first I’ve heard of this. What do you mean?” Joshua asked, his expression tightening.
“Joshua, you need both Mariabelle, who is beloved by society, and Alicia, whose strength lies solely in her intellect.”
“Is that also my father’s opinion?”
“In this matter, His Majesty has entrusted the decision to me,” the Queen replied.
Despair welled up within Alicia.
(Why are you so fixated on me?)
“I object. The concubine system was abolished two generations ago. Why bring it back now?”
“Then let me ask you this instead. Joshua, do you not wish to enrich this kingdom?”
“Are you saying that I am insufficient on my own?”
Before she realized it, a quarrel between mother and son had erupted.
“Prince Joshua is a wonderful man! It is only that I am lacking,” Mariabelle interjected at just the right moment.
The Queen turned a contemptuous gaze upon Alicia.
“You truly lack tact and flexibility!”
Alicia was scolded.
Once, she would have trembled in fear. Now, she was used to it.
Having resolved not to cling to Joshua anymore, she found she could endure quite a lot.
“My apologies, Your Majesty. As you can see, I lack social finesse. In that case, why not employ me as a civil official rather than a consort? You yourself once said that I was unfit to be Crown Princess. And Prince Joshua is both capable and diligent—a truly admirable man.”
The Queen’s brow creased deeply. She snapped her fan open and fell into a sullen silence.
After a brief pause, it was the Queen who spoke.
“Mariabelle’s blood will not do.”
“What… what do you mean by that?” Mariabelle asked, her eyes widening.
“I do not wish to mix your blood with that of the royal family.”
The Queen’s sudden look of revulsion made Mariabelle turn pale.
“Mother! How can you say such a thing? Are you implying Mariabelle’s blood is tainted?” Joshua exclaimed.
Mariabelle began to sob quietly.
The situation devolved entirely into Queen versus Mariabelle and Joshua.
Cast abruptly outside the fray, Alicia’s thoughts drifted to magical research.
(I want to go back. I want to return and work on my assignment. The magic department leaves no time to spare. I transferred late, and keeping up is hard enough as it is.)
Their argument was interrupted when Joshua was summoned away.
After that, Alicia endured nearly two hours of reprimands from the Queen before finally being released.
(I never want to come to the palace again. What a complete waste of time. Perhaps I should consult Grandfather?)
She had heard that this engagement had been arranged by Edward himself.
Unsure what to do, Alicia worried endlessly.
Upon returning to her family home, she changed quickly and slipped back to the dormitory in silence.
