The Invitation

[Portia's POV]

A gentle breeze passes by and makes a faint rustle of leaves in front of me, bringing a strange comfort feeling. I open my eyes softly, glancing out from under my eyelashes, and seeing the greenhouse full of spring flowers in front of me.

It is relaxing to pass the time in the morning watching the green scenery and small clear pond reflect the azure sky. Yesterday, Anthony fell into a great shock. He told me he needed some time before answering my wish to enter Academy. His reaction makes me somehow feel nervous too. What if he refuses to allow me to enter the Academy?

No, I bet he will allow me. Even though he was known as an assertive person, he was not a patriarchal ruler. I remembered how hard he fought to elevate women's rights because, in this empire, women were seen as men's subordinates and did not have a right to speak freedom for themselves.

That is why Anthony feels hesitant to send me to the Academy, which is dominated by men from noble families—even though I am from a noble family too. Still, the gender difference brought a wide social gap between us. However, that does not mean I am afraid or want to take my decision back. I will face them. Just wait and see.

"Diane, the tea is getting cold."

I turn back and call for Diane's assistance.

"Yes, Lady. I will take the tea back to the kitchen and warms it. Would you like some cookies too?" She asks.

"Yeah, chocolate cookies are fine."

"Alright, please excuse me."

A slight nod comes out as Diane walks to the kitchen, leaving me alone. The chair is indeed too big for me, but thanks to that, I can lie on this soft couch and start to fall asleep.

The soft wind accompanies me, sweeping my shoulder-length hair back and forth as I fall asleep after all the nervous feeling about Anthony's final decision keeps attacking me.

Srrrrkkk!

Srrrrkkk!

A loud rustling sound wakes me up, and I start to glance out in all directions just to find the culprit that dares come inside my beautiful garden.

Out of the blue, I see there are a shadow passing among the bushes.

"Who is that?" I get off the chair and walk a few steps ahead with full awareness. Is it a wild animal? Snake? Dog? Or some kind of beasts?

Beast is a natural existence in Tamerlaine Empire, like adventurer, rune magic, sword knight, sorcerer, and alchemist. However, our household is gifted with a light sorcerer bloodline, and Yuri has the power to heal others. That is one of the reasons for her popularity in this empire. How about me? I can create a fake illusion with light, but I never told about this to anyone because I am too embarrassed about my power. So, all people think I am not gifted by the light sorcerer bloodline and strengthen the rumour of me being the Loser Lady.

Back to the garden, those rustling sound keeps coming close and closer to me.

Poop! That thing suddenly pops out without any warning, making me surprised and retreat a few steps backward.

It is a cat!

Wait—it is not a cat.

"Who are you?"

"Miiiii—" Even its voice sounds strange. It looks like a cat but has a longer body, sharp pointy ear, and its unique red tangerine colour. However, it looks so cute and fluffy with all its thick fur.

"Miiii—" It is meowing again and starts to walk towards me.

"Lady, where are you?"

Diane's voice startles this strange cat and me.

"Miii!" It runs to the bushes at full speed, leaving me alone with sudden disappointment because I fail to hug its thick fur.

Diane comes with a tray full of food in her hand and gets surprised when she sees me crawling alone in front of bushes with a sad face. "Lady Portia, why are you crawling here? It is dirty. You may get sick. Please stand up."

"No, I do not want to get up. Please leave me be, Diane." I sulk and keep lying on the ground. She should come a moment later after I can hug that cute creature.

"What about the tea? The chocolate cookies?"

"I am full."

"Lady Portia—"

"No, do not talk to me."

"Lady …."

"What?" I gasped when the Duchess stood right behind Diane with a serious expression on her face. She must get mad at me.

I immediately get up with a terrified expression. My hands are trembling in fear. "It is not that what you are thinking about. I-I mean, I can explain this—"

Suddenly, she crouched down and waved her hand to wipe out the dirt on my dress. Her behaviour makes me blink in disbelief. She never cared about me before, even in the past life. I remembered her as a stiff woman who only obeyed the rules. Never once she swapped a smile whenever we passed in the hall or other places. I thought she hated me for hurting her biological daughter, or it might be that only I felt that way.

"Now, now, it is clean. Why are you lying down by yourself here, Portia?"

"Uh—"

"Do not worry. I will not get mad at you for this trivia matter." She gives me a genuine and sincere smile, which makes me somehow believe that she is like a living moon goddess statue itself.

"I see a cat and want to hug it, but it dashed after hearing Diane's voice. I am sorry. I know if it is a bad habit to do. I promise I will not do that kind of habit again."

Adeline pats my head softly. "No problem, Portia. But makes sure not to hurt yourself when doing that, understand?"

"Oh—yes, I understand, Mother."

She nods in satisfaction before getting up again and giving me a letter with a royal stamp.

"What is this, Mother?"

"It is an invitation to a social gathering in the palace tomorrow to celebrate the second prince's birthday. You are going with Yuri and me. Anthony said he could not attend the celebration because of a huge ton of work… ugh. I have warned him not to procrastinate and finish all his job from last week. Still, he did not even listen to me."

Social gathering? My brain is spinning fast, and I recollect some memories from my past life. If I remember right, there will be a big scene in this social gathering, where the second prince will get attacked by some assassin and cause a big panic for all people in the empire. I only know about the news. I never went there because I refused the invitation in the first place.

The truth is I also do not want to go there again this time. It is a waste of time, and the bad thing will happen there—so what is the point of going and risking my life?

However, there is a reason that I can not do that. In order to secure the future that I wanted, I have to go to that soon-to-be mini battlefield and meet someone there who has such an important role in the future.