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Chapter 64

After that, Emilia followed Selena to her seat.

With Selena at the head of the table, Emilia and Estelle sat on either side.

Estelle shot fierce glances from across the table, but Emilia had no time to mind her.

The other young ladies were firing questions at her as if they'd been waiting.

"So how did you first meet His Grace the Duke?"

"Where did he propose? Did he rent out an entire restaurant? Or was it by a romantic lakeside?"

Emilia was utterly flustered.

I didn't prepare for questions like these.

After receiving the tea party invitation, Emilia had done her research through Herald.

About the kind of aggressive questions typically thrown at a woman who had suddenly risen in status.

She'd learned that hosts often bring up topics commoners or lower nobles wouldn't know, or deliberately slip in false information and laugh when the victim agreed.

So Emilia had stayed up all night preparing a list of anticipated questions.

This was what she'd meant by preparing for the tea party.

But...

Now they were asking questions she hadn't prepared for at all.

Emilia struggled not to let her flustered eyes show.

It felt like a student who'd studied hard, only to realize on the day of the exam that they'd been preparing for the wrong subject.

Unfortunately, she didn't understand the hidden motives of the young ladies—they didn't want to be embarrassed like Estelle.

They simply wanted to satisfy their curiosity while they were at it.

"The, the proposal was in the study..."

"Oh my! The Duke is more indifferent than I thought."

"Then what about the engagement gift? Surely you received something grand?"

...Well, she had received something grand, but it was more like alimony.

Making up increasingly absurd stories made her face burn.

Just then, a voice came from across the table.

"Why bother asking such things? After all, the Duchess used to be a commoner—everything must seem grand to her, mustn't it?"

Estelle smirked, expecting the remark about her background to embarrass her.

But...

Wh-what?

Contrary to her expectations, Emilia looked at her as if she were a savior.

"That's right. Everything was more than I deserved."

Emilia readily agreed, grateful to have been given an easy way out with a vague answer.

Seeing her completely unfazed, Estelle gritted her teeth and pressed on.

"Come to think of it, I heard you brought an heir into the marriage. Isn't that just a cover-up because you're ashamed the child is a bastard?"

Just then, a firm voice came from beside her.

"Lady Estelle Grimore, please maintain the decorum of this conversation."

"Wh-what did you say?"

"The purpose of a tea party is friendship and exchange. Not to satisfy base curiosity."

"Are you saying I lack decorum?"

"Yes. From where I stand, those questions were more than indecent enough."

At Selena's firm words, Estelle's face flushed red.

"W-why should you be the judge of that?!"

"As you know, I am the host of this tea party, not you. So I would appreciate it if you would abide by the standards I have set."

Selena said calmly, looking at Estelle.

"..."

It was a perfectly reasonable statement, leaving Estelle with no room to argue.

Even the other young ladies looked at Selena with newfound surprise.

Estelle gritted her teeth and apologized.

"...Yes, I was rude. I apologize, Duchess."

But inside, she was seething.

Just because you hosted one tea party, you think you're someone?

In Estelle's eyes, Princess Selena was far beneath her.

If she let this pass and the tea party ended, the image of her being cowed by the Princess would be etched in everyone's minds.

Not to mention, she'd have failed to gather the information the Empress wanted about the Duchess.

I need to get the Princess out of here.

After all, the Princess had already served her purpose by hosting the tea party and luring the Duchess out.

Having made her decision, Estelle quietly called over a nearby palace maid.

"The weather is chilly—bring us some hot tea."

"Yes, Your Grace."

As she casually joined the conversation and positioned the teacup toward Selena, the maid returned with the teapot.

And just as the pot was being tilted—

Estelle shoved the maid toward Selena.

"Ah!"

Steaming tea splashed everywhere.

But the one who got drenched wasn't Selena.

"D-Duchess! Are you alright?!"

The startled maid asked.

Emilia had risen in an instant and shielded Selena—her arm was now soaked.

Tea dripped from Emilia's arm.

Selena quickly examined it.

"Ho-how..."

The other young ladies also gasped at the red, swollen skin.

"I'm fine."

Emilia wiped the moisture with a napkin from the table.

Fortunately, the tea hadn't been boiling, but her skin still stung.

Emilia looked at Estelle, who stood frozen in shock.

"Lady Estelle Grimore. I clearly saw you push the maid just now."

"Th-that's..."

But instead of waiting for her excuse, Emilia turned to Selena.

"I think I should cool the swelling—could you take me somewhere inside?"

---

"Are you sure you're alright?"

Selena, who had brought Emilia to a reception room, asked anxiously.

"Yes. Fortunately, the tea wasn't that hot."

Emilia answered, then glanced toward the door.

"Have all the maids left?"

Selena nodded.

"Yes. But they'll be back soon."

She'd instructed them to bring ice and clean cloths.

She'd wanted to rinse the wound immediately, but the Duchess had declined.

Hearing Selena's answer, Emilia spoke with a slightly troubled expression.

"Hmm, I hope they take their time."

"Pardon?"

"Actually, I got burned on purpose."

At the unexpected confession, Selena's eyes went wide.

Emilia smiled slightly.

"I wanted to thank you, Your Highness."

"Th-thank me? But you got hurt because of me..."

"Not for what just happened—"

Emilia shook her head and met Selena's eyes.

"For giving me the chance to protect a certain child."

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