Chapter 39: She Definitely Did It On Purpose

There had been many times when she felt fear, overwhelmed by his unique aura.

But those moments were closer to just being scared in advance, imagining the worst.

This was the first time Icar had actually shown force, and even more so, the first time she had seen him appear to lose all control.

Renev found herself thinking about her own recklessness in stepping in front of Icar, who was growling furiously with anger.

Even without fear, can someone really be that fearless?

Still, Renev realized one thing:

Her belief that Icar would not harm her.

Even though this belief had no real foundation, she had subconsciously trusted it.

At the thought of Icar’s blazing red eyes, like flames suddenly erupting, Renev couldn’t help but shiver.

“Lady, it seems the room has gotten rather chilly. Shall we close the window?”

Kieren approached the window and asked with concern.

He seemed to have mistaken her shiver for cold rather than fear of Icar.

“…That would be good.”

After closing the window, Kieren quickly fetched a shawl and draped it over Renev’s shoulders.

Feeling a little guilty for causing unnecessary trouble, Renev added,

“The weather is so unpredictable during the seasonal change. Thank you for taking care of me.”

“It’s nothing. Assisting you is my duty. Shall I put a few more logs into the fireplace?”

“Please.”

Renev nodded appreciatively.

Kieren tossed some dry logs into the fireplace and poked around with the fire iron.

Just then, Amber entered the reception room, breathing heavily.

“Miss! The entire palace is in an uproar about today’s tea party!”

“Of course,” Renev replied, gesturing for Amber to sit.

Kieren’s eyes sparkled as if he had been waiting for Amber to relay the palace news.

“What did they say?”

“That the foreign princess is so bold and confident, and that this is the first time they’ve seen such a tea party gift. That seems to be the main topic of conversation.”

“Bold and confident?”

Amber began to describe in detail what had happened at the palace tea party.

“The princess suddenly stood up from her seat and plucked the flowers on display.”

“Flowers?”

“Yes. She arranged them into a bouquet on the spot and gifted them to the attending ladies.”

Kieren’s jaw dropped.

“She prepared a gift like nothing anyone has ever seen.”

“Exactly! Oh, and there’s more.”

Amber glanced at Kieren, who was nodding along in agreement, and continued.

“There are also rumors that near the tea party venue, His Majesty the Emperor and the Viscount Belkeine had a fistfight.”

“…!”

Renev squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her hand to her forehead. Kieren bit his lip and furrowed his brows.

“What should we do, Lady?”

“It seems they’ve been instructed to keep quiet. I don’t think the rumors will spread too widely.”

Even Amber didn’t look entirely pleased as she spoke. She knew Renev’s plan had been to quietly return to Paradium after the peace agreement.

“His Majesty will ensure everyone keeps quiet, so there’s no need to worry too much.”

Renev said firmly to ease their concern, but deep down, she still felt uneasy.

From her previous experiences before returning, she knew that drawing the attention of nobles rarely led to anything good.

“You’re right, Lady. If His Majesty doesn’t want rumors to spread, few would dare to speak of it. Everyone has only one life, after all.”

Kieren said confidently. Amber finally relaxed when even Kieren, who had served long in the Bashker Palace, confirmed it.

“In fact, the fact that handsome men like the Emperor and the Viscount were quarreling over you just proves your overwhelming charm. I’d almost regret that the rumor doesn’t spread,” Kieren added.

Amber grinned and agreed.

Renev allowed herself a small smile, but her mind was uneasy.

The tea party reminded her of a previous one at the Paradium Palace, back when Eshica had become Lucius’s mistress.

“It’s necessary to publicly show the nobles that the Empress still reigns supreme in the palace,”
Renev’s former lady-in-waiting, the Countess of Lancaster, had advised firmly.

Even though Renev had been recovering from an early miscarriage, she recognized the logic.

“We cannot allow a mistress to parade around the palace arrogantly. Empress,” the ladies had said.

At the time, Renev had little mental strength to think deeply, overwhelmed by the loss of her first child, the death of the Marquis of Siren, and her husband’s infidelity.

So she had held a tea party at the palace with Lucius in attendance, to show that the Emperor and Empress’s relationship remained unchanged.

Fortunately, Lucius had not refused her invitation, though he had brought Eshica along, which had made Renev look quite ridiculous.

It would have been better if I hadn’t even attended the tea party, she thought bitterly.

Amber, noticing Renev’s expression, added,

“But it was a little satisfying, wasn’t it?”

Renev looked at her, and Amber continued,

“The rumors will die down soon, but everyone who needed to know, already does.”

“…?”

“I mean the fact that during Princess Solti’s tea party, Viscount Belkeine and His Majesty the Emperor were fighting over you right beside her.”

“Amber, I told you again—that’s not true.”

Renev explained it was a misunderstanding, but both Amber and Kieren only nodded, clearly not convinced.

This is the exact opposite of the situation before I returned, Renev thought.

It wasn’t her intention, but the timing was strangely ironic.

I hope this doesn’t provoke Eshica.

After the tea party, Eshica returned to her bedroom and threw off her elaborate dress onto the bed.

Her mood was unusually tense.

“She definitely did it on purpose…”

Otherwise, why would she have come uninvited to make a scene?

Eshica had assumed that the Bashker nobles’ kindness came from her princess status, but she realized that was only partly true.

Some Bashker nobles were genuinely interested in a foreign princess, but most of their attention and courtesy came because of Icar.

Even the Duchess of Durenburg acted as if Eshica were the future Empress of Bashker.

Eshica wanted to seize this opportunity firmly.

Once the peace agreement ended and she returned to Solti, how would her king treat her? Would he reward her for enduring hardship far away instead of his own daughter?

Absolutely not.

Rather than a reward, she would likely be eliminated.

Until the peace agreement ended, she had to find a way to survive.

The rumors about Icar were an opportunity.

If she married Icar and became Empress of Bashker, could the king of Solti claim she had only been representing Princess Adria? No—he never could.

Remaining in Bashker as Princess Solti was her only chance of survival.

That’s why I even personally prepared that troublesome tea party.

Eshica changed into a more comfortable dress and sank into the sofa.

“Haah…”

As she sighed, one of her restless maids cautiously spoke.

“Your Highness, you must be tired from the tea party today.”

“A little, yes.”

“You must be exhausted from receiving guests. Shall I give you a massage?”

Another maid, watching Eshica closely, quickly chimed in.

“Drinking some warm tea with honey and peppermint will help relieve your fatigue. Shall I prepare some?”

Seeing the maids trying to match her mood rather than just serving someone else, Eshica felt slightly better.

“Three spoons of honey, with peppermint, please.”

“Yes! Three spoons of honey, with peppermint. I’ll bring it right away.”

As the first maid left, the remaining one began massaging Eshica’s shoulders.

Her hands were skillful, and Eshica closed her eyes to enjoy the touch.

But soon, she remembered the tea party again.

“No matter how I think about it, Miss Siren did it on purpose. What do you think?”

The maid asked cautiously, watching Eshica’s reaction.

“May I share my opinion with you, Your Highness?”

Eshica glanced at her briefly and shook her head. This wasn’t a conversation for a maid.

“No, it’s fine.”

By the time the maid’s massage had loosened the tension and shock from earlier, the Duchess of Durenburg arrived to see Eshica.

It was the perfect timing for someone to talk to.