Chapter 7

Antarina

The footsteps outside my doors wake me up. Hah, I am sure Renia and her soldiers are on the way. Speak of the devil and she is here. " Good morning lady Antarina, I heard you had a tea party at lady Helena's residence. We are going to make you the most beautiful princess anyone has ever seen". Sometimes too much passion is irritating.

After about 3 hours I finally got ready before time. Thanks to Renia and her maids. I decide to take a walk. I needed to be alone and think through some thoughts. I walk in the rainbow rose garden. The only rainbow garden and the most beautiful in the empire. Its existence itself is a reminder of something memorable. Only a few people present at that particular time know. walking in this garden made me look back at my life. There was always a desperate girl waiting hours for her father's arrival in this beautiful garden. who even did stupid things like planting roses just to be praised or loved. She hoped that someday he will look at her instead of looking at the flowers blankly with a strange sadness in his eyes. But he never did. And again she lost something inside of her. She lost hope of finding warmth and that garden became cold to her. And before she knew it, she got used to the cold so much that she didn't need to seek warmth anymore. " The carriage and other preparations are complete". Cesars words bring me back to the reality I am living in. I laugh hard at that pathetic girl and become Antarina Lanchester again. Someone who is impossible to touch and break.

We reach the white mansion with golden decorations. Unlike other mansions, it is not flashy but elegant. If I had to choose one of my likings from many noble ladies, it would be lady Helena. We had a strange companionship. We helped each other where the motive was involved but never betrayed each other. It was a favor in return for a favor relationship. But Strangely enough, our secret was safe with each other. Much better than the people that acted as friends and stabbed from the back. Maybe there are people that are true friends, but my heart can never open up to someone ever again after that incident. I get off the carriage just to be greeted by lady Helena and all the other ladies present at the party. we walk towards the garden as lady Helena expresses how excited she is about what's going to happen at the tea party. And of course, a slight smirk came on my face, as I wondered how absolutely innocent we are.

We sit at the table. Everyone has jealousy, envy, fear, and annoyance in their eyes. And the pair of eyes that had nothing like mine. The eyes had too many layers to protect its emotion immediately got my attention. Saria Param of the western lukedom empire was more interesting than I thought."I Antarina Lanchester am honored by the presence of you noble ladies. Since it has been a long time and there are new people among us, why don't we start the function by introducing ourselves?" There was no introduction needed. From everybody's information to their darkest secrets was something that I knew like the back of my hand. After everyone's introduction, it was finally her turn. " Nice to meet you all, I am Saria Param of the count from the Lukedom empire". And everybody's attention diverted to her because her existence was very famous in the Sagarious empire, A different way to be specific.

Saria Param is the only daughter of count Param of the west. Due to having the oldest son, her worth in count Param's eyes decreased. But count Param was always selfish, so he made a plan of trading his daughter in the name of marriage. He aimed for the highest. The royals. But the Lukedom empire already had a crown princess, So he aimed for the Sagarius empire's crown princess throne. It was impossible for a mere count of an empire to have a relation with the royal of another empire. It would be different if the royals of the Sagarius empire wanted business with him. The only specialty of count Param is that he has land that produces the best tea all over the world. An alliance with the count family can benefit the people in the contract. But it was impossible. Even if the royals want, it is impossible to convince the crown prince. Everyone in the empire as well as the royals knew very well that the crown prince is a gentleman and always has a smile on his face, But when he says no, it means know. If you get on his bad side, you will experience how dangerous he is. Even the emperor himself had no power over the crown prince. After his proposal got rejected a few times, he brought Saria a mansion in the Sagarius empire with the order that she gets close and make the crown prince fall in love with her. Since then she has been staying in the empire and also attends a lot of social gatherings. Saria's only dream is to become something important instead of a burden. With an amazing memory and knowledge, from a very small age, she was well known. But when she heard that her brother is chosen to be the head, she stopped and followed whatever her father told her to do. Because if the crown princess position can give her the importance she wants she would not mind. while everyone in the empire couldn't stop gossiping about her, I and Helena saw something nobody else didn't. That she could burn everything with the fire she had inside. Including herself.

The tea party went smoothly, In the ritual, where every noble lady brought tea for everyone took place. And after drinking Saria brought, we were more than sure what we needed to do. " Lady Saria Param, would you give me the honor of inviting you to my coming of age ceremony?" Everyone including Saria was astonished. And she agreed more quickly than ever. As it was an easy excess to meet the crown prince. I and Helena look at each other. As Helena tells Saria how beautiful my coming of age ceremony is going to be.