Chapter 12
The host flinched at the sharp hostility.
She had expected praise and reward, but Pdea’s mood was dangerous.
As always, she had only teased Elena in the way Pdea wanted.
The host looked around for help.
But the young ladies who usually supported her avoided her eyes.
‘…These girls.’
The host ground her teeth at their silence.
Before Pdea came, they had all enjoyed the situation, yet now they betrayed her.
“Surely not. The chair is coming soon… You there! Why hasn’t it been brought yet?!”
She shouted at the servants.
She wasn’t only angry at them—she also needed to show she hadn’t really disrespected the Grand Duke’s daughter.
Even if she disliked Pdea’s unfair complaint, Pdea was still the Grand Duke’s daughter.
The servants hurried.
They had only followed their mistress’s order to “pretend to bring a chair,” but now they were caught in trouble.
Soon, the long-delayed chair arrived.
The host thought the problem was solved.
Her face brightened again, but Pdea gave a cold laugh.
The host misunderstood, thinking Pdea was now pleased.
Believing she had regained Pdea’s favor, the host glared at the other young ladies—
a warning that she would get back at them later.
Pdea’s voice was icy:
“You could prepare so quickly, yet you did nothing until I arrived… Now I see how little you think of me.”
The host’s eyes shook.
She realized Pdea’s laugh had not been genuine.
Still, she would rather see Pdea laugh than look now, as if she might devour her alive.
“…Lady Bella! You’ve gone too far!”
At that tense moment, one young lady suddenly scolded the host.
Then the others joined in.
“Yes, how could you treat the Grand Duke’s daughter this way?”
“I would never dare imagine such a thing.”
Each one spoke with fake sincerity, trying to distance themselves.
They wanted to abandon the host to save themselves.
Now everyone blamed her.
The host grew nervous.
All she had done was make Elena stand up to please Pdea—
but at this rate, she would be seen as someone who insulted the Grand Duke’s daughter.
Fear mixed with anger made her tremble.
“What, what are you saying? You’re all turning on me to save yourselves? You were enjoying this before Pdea came!”
“When did we ever enjoy it? Lady Bella, don’t pretend otherwise!”
At last, the host dragged the other girls into it.
She refused to take all the blame alone.
The tea party turned into a fight over who was more at fault.
Pdea found it all pathetic.
They had spent so much time together, yet not one tried to protect another.
She frowned at the young ladies who acted as if she were invisible.
“Be quiet.”
Immediately, the girls fell silent.
They realized too late they had gone too far.
Now they blamed each other with their eyes.
As the fight was about to continue, Pdea said firmly:
“Looking at you, I see you are all far more lacking than Elena. I will not join this gathering again. I am not generous enough to keep attending when treated this way.”
Her words—that they were worse than Elena—humiliated them.
They already knew they were, but had pretended otherwise while mocking her.
“Come, Elena. This tea party doesn’t suit you either.”
Pdea boldly took Elena’s hand.
The young ladies gasped.
They couldn’t believe Pdea would act so friendly toward Elena.
As Pdea led Elena out, the girls panicked.
They realized how serious it was if Pdea never came again.
They would lose the power of boasting about tea parties with her.
“Wait, Grand Duke’s daughter!”
“Please, listen to us!”
They pleaded desperately, but Pdea never looked back.
She had no interest in their excuses.
Only Elena turned back, uneasy.
She wondered if leaving like this would cause trouble later.
But she couldn’t stop—Pdea never let go of her hand.
“….”
Elena looked down at their joined hands, feeling conflicted.
Pdea’s hand was warmly firm.
Once, she had been cold to her, but now Elena thought—
perhaps Pdea was just human too, who felt cold and warmth like anyone else.
The thought was strangely new.
She lifted her head, trying to ignore the hand.
They had already reached the mansion gate.
Yet even when they stopped, Pdea did not let go.
Elena tried not to look down.
“I apologize. I was foolish.”
Elena flinched.
For the first time, Pdea turned back and looked into her eyes.
She also released Elena’s hand, but Elena felt no relief.
The apology had come suddenly, without warning.
“I wanted to apologize in front of them for upsetting you. But you looked so distressed there… I should have come sooner. I’m sorry for that too.”
Pdea frowned with self-blame.
Elena’s eyes shook.
This was not the cold, arrogant Pdea she had known.
Pdea felt heavy-hearted.
She had never really seen Elena’s pain before.
But watching her alone and ignored today made her feel guilty.
She regretted not helping sooner.
“Elena, if you wish, we can go back. I’ll apologize again, and make them apologize to you too.”
Even if it ruined the tea party, she was willing.
But Elena only stayed silent, tears falling.
The apology felt empty.
Why had it taken so long, when it could have been said in minutes?
She thought—if only Pdea had said it earlier, it would have been easier to bear.
Yet, along with the emptiness, Elena felt happiness too.
She might finally be free of whispers and scorn.
She felt foolish for being happy with just one apology after all she endured.
The conflicting emotions made her cry harder.
Pdea’s eyes trembled.
‘…She must have suffered a lot.’
Though she hadn’t been the one to do it, Pdea’s heart ached.
Elena’s tears showed how much pain she had endured.
Pdea hesitated, then made up her mind.
She stepped forward and slowly embraced Elena.
Elena jerked in surprise, but did not pull away.
Pdea gently patted her back, trying to soothe her.
Elena’s sobs returned.
“Hic… sob…”
Cruelly, the same arms that once hurt her felt so warm now.
