IDURHF 6-PART 3

Chapter 6

6. The Tea Party at the House of Count Dian

With only four months left until the wedding, my bridal education was entering its final stage.
As part of that training, I was selecting a dress to wear to the tea party being held by the House of Count Dian.

The Dian family was my own, and since it was merely a count’s house, I had to avoid anything too extravagant. But at the same time, I couldn’t wear something too plain either—not now that I had been publicly declared the future empress.

After taking several dresses from the closet and debating between them, I finally chose one: a navy blue dress with a pattern of small white flowers. It was neither too lavish nor too modest, tasteful and perfectly appropriate for someone soon to be empress.
I paired it with low-heeled, polished leather shoes and presented myself to Lady Laval for approval.

“Your choices for both the dress and the shoes are excellent,” Lady Laval said. “Once you become Empress, you’ll be selecting your own attire without assistance, so please make sure to ask me anything while you still can.”
“Thank you, Lady Laval.”

Even though I was now part of a count’s family, I was originally born to a poor viscount. My dresses used to be handmade, and my daily clothes were plain and shabby. Whatever sense of style I had developed was entirely thanks to Lady Laval’s guidance.

The Dian family’s tea party was being held to celebrate Sofia’s belated birthday.
Sofia had been born in winter, but with the New Year’s celebrations, our family’s elevation to countship, and the delay in completing our townhouse in the capital, her celebration had been postponed.
Even though spring had already come, I believed birthdays should be celebrated no matter how late, and I had encouraged Sofia to hold the party as both a birthday celebration and a debut for the new townhouse.

His Majesty Aleksanteri himself had graciously agreed to attend Sofia’s birthday tea party.
Because of his presence, the security arrangements had to be very tight.

It was also Sofia’s first tea party since her engagement, so I wanted to observe how she and Sir Cyril behaved together.

On the day of the event, I wore the navy-blue dress with the small white flowers and the low-heeled shoes Lady Laval had approved, then rode in the carriage with His Majesty Aleksanteri.
Today, His Majesty wore a pale blue frock coat with a handkerchief embroidered with blue vine motifs peeking from his breast pocket—the very one I had stitched for him myself.

When we arrived at the Dian townhouse, my parents and Sofia greeted us in the entrance hall.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, welcome to our home,” Father said.
“We were honored to attend Your Majesty’s recent birthday celebration,” Mother added. “It was a magnificent event.”
“Your Majesty, Your Highness, thank you for coming today,” Sofia said, curtseying gracefully.

Although they were my family, they were required to address me as Her Highness in public. It felt a little lonely, but I reminded myself that I was going to be empress soon—this was something I had to get used to.

“Father, Mother, Sofia, congratulations on the completion of the Dian townhouse,” I said.
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“Today, I hope to enjoy myself together with Lacey,” His Majesty said warmly.
“Please, take your time and enjoy the day,” Father replied.

When we entered the grand hall, the nobles present clearly wished to greet the Emperor, but since the main focus of the day was Sofia and my parents, they turned their attention to them instead.
His Majesty and I were escorted to a special table reserved for us, surrounded by guards who kept others at a respectful distance.

Servants poured tea into our cups, and an assortment of delicacies and sweets filled the table. Among them were confections from famous shops I could never have afforded back when I still lived at home. It was clear that the House of Dian had truly become prosperous.

As I enjoyed my tea and nibbled on sweets, Sofia and Sir Cyril came over to greet us.

“Your Majesty, thank you for coming for the sake of my fiancée,” Sir Cyril said.
“She’s my consort’s younger sister before she is your fiancée, isn’t she?” His Majesty replied with a teasing smile.
“Ah, yes—of course. Forgive my poor phrasing.”

Having known His Majesty since childhood, Sir Cyril could speak with him more comfortably than most.

“Your Highness,” Sofia said to me, “a new factory has been built in the Dian domain. Both men’s and women’s dormitories are ready.”
“And how goes the doll and stuffed toy business?” I asked.
“Very well! We’re receiving so many orders we can hardly keep up!”

Her delighted expression made me smile as well. Hearing that the business I had helped design was thriving filled me with genuine happiness.

“I brought something for you, Sofia.”
“Oh? What is this?”

I handed her four envelopes. Her violet eyes widened in surprise.

“Please keep this absolutely secret until my wedding with His Majesty,” I told her. “They’re the patterns for the dolls and stuffed animals wearing replicas of our wedding attire.”
“May I truly receive them already?”
“Yes. It would be best to release them to the public right around the time of our wedding. I’m sure they’ll sell splendidly.”

It had been Sofia’s idea to sell dolls and plush toys dressed like the bride and groom, but she had no way of knowing what our real wedding outfits would look like.
So I had personally made miniature pattern templates for her to use.

“I will keep this completely confidential. Thank you so much, Your Highness,” Sofia said earnestly.
“Please use it to enrich the House of Dian and all those who work for you.”

More orders for the factory meant higher wages for the seamstresses, leading to their independence and participation in society—a small but meaningful step forward for women in our empire. Of course, some of the artisans were men, and their success would also contribute to the prosperity of the domain.

“You and Sofia are really close,” His Majesty said with a smile.
“When Sofia was born, I was only two years old,” I replied. “But I still remember peeking into her cradle and thinking, What a precious little sister. I swore even then that I would make her happy.”

It might seem unlikely for a two-year-old to remember such a thing, but ever since I was small, I had dreams as Cecile—and in a way, I carried sixteen years of her memories within me from birth. Perhaps that’s why I was always so mature for my age.

“I’ve always envied people with siblings,” His Majesty said. “May I think of Sofia as my little sister, too?”
“It would be an honor, Your Majesty,” Sofia said politely.

As she bowed, His Majesty beamed at her—but then Sir Cyril quickly stepped between them.

“With all due respect, Your Majesty,” he said firmly, “you already have Her Highness.”
“Ah, I see,” His Majesty replied, feigning thoughtfulness. “So that’s what people mean when they say jealous men are unpopular.”
“So you are aware of it!?” Cyril exclaimed.
“I think you should be aware of it too,” His Majesty said dryly.

Watching His Majesty tease Cyril while clearly recognizing his own jealousy left me unsure whether to laugh or sigh.

“Even if Your Majesty were to jest, my affections would not waver,” Sofia said coolly. “And surely Your Majesty would never stoop to the vulgarity of taking his consort’s sister as a concubine. Besides, I am already engaged.”

Her tone was firm but graceful—just like always. Seeing that confidence, I felt reassured that she and Sir Cyril would manage a balanced relationship.

After Sofia and Cyril finished their greetings and moved away, I murmured softly, “When I was engaged, Your Majesty never once spoke to me privately.”
“I didn’t want to be seen as the sort of emperor who steals another man’s fiancée,” he said.
“I see.”
“Besides,” he added with a smirk, “had I done so, your former fiancé would probably have demanded a ‘severance fee.’ I had no intention of paying such a man from the imperial treasury.”

I couldn’t help but smile at that. My former fiancé, Lord Renan, had carried on an affair with a wealthy merchant’s daughter while still betrothed to me. I hadn’t loved him, so his betrayal hadn’t hurt—but in hindsight, I realized just how cruelly I’d been treated.

“When Lord Renan broke off our engagement, I was honestly relieved,” I said.
“As was I,” His Majesty replied.
“I thought no one would ever want a woman who had been publicly rejected, so I decided I’d live quietly in the Dian domain, start a small business, and enjoy a slow, peaceful life.”

And yet, right after that, His Majesty had proposed to me. At the time, I was too stunned to process what was happening—but now, I felt nothing but gratitude that he had chosen me.

“To be able to become Your Majesty’s consort fills me with such happiness,” I said earnestly.
“Lacey, I feel the same,” he replied, gently wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

My cheeks flushed. “Your Majesty, people are watching.”
“No one is watching. Isn’t that right?”
“Yes, Your Majesty! We saw nothing!” one of the guards immediately barked out.

I couldn’t help but laugh softly as I pushed lightly against His Majesty’s chest, creating just enough distance between us—my heart still warm from his touch.