New acquaintance

I'm snapped out of my thoughts by a squeal of laughter and excitement.

"I hear he's tall, handsome, and most of all, already a talented mage—three stars!" one of the ladies exclaims. Intrigued, I listen more closely, curious about the subject of their conversation.

It turns out they're talking about the brother of the princess who's visiting soon.

"The younger brother is a swordsman and apparently super smart. He's responsible for the success of multiple businesses," another lady adds.

"Princess, please introduce us to the Brendholm Princes," a lady seated next to Stella requests.

Lady Starfoge's face shows a few cracks in her fake smile. Oh dear, her rival isn't even here yet, and she's already losing the noble ladies' hearts. I mean, it's thanks to her brothers, but she has brothers too. Yet, I suppose a prince trumps a dukedom anytime.

This is getting interesting. I'm looking forward to the visit from the Brendholm kingdom now, if only for the drama. I take another sip of tea, savoring the taste and the anticipation of the upcoming events.

"Brother," Stella says, her voice sweet as sugar, as Luan walks towards us. His handsome features and friendly smile light up the room. He arrives and kisses Stella's hand, making her giggle a little too much. I choose not to dwell on that fact. The other ladies stand and bow.

The only other lady whose hand he kisses is Lady Starfoge, who turns bright red. She's in too deep, isn't she? In her defense, Luan is attractive. With his white hair shining in the afternoon light, I hear some swoons. It does look quite romantic I suppose.

"Lucina," Luan says, acknowledging me last. It's a subtle insult, but I remain unbothered.

"Luan," I respond, coolly taking a sip of tea to hide my smirk. He notices Haroun standing in his royal guard uniform and raises an eyebrow.

"I see you've got a new guard," Luan says, and Haroun becomes the center of attention.

"Indeed, I do. A personal knight, to be precise," I say, emphasizing the word 'knight.'

"I see," Luan responds, his tone neutral but his eyes sharp. "I hope you understand the meaning of a knight's oath."

"Worry not," I reply smoothly, "it's been blessed by my grandfather. There's no way an oath blessed by the Pope of the Church of the Moon could be anything but steadfast."

Knightship could be awarded by the Emperor or the Pope. Of course, I would rather ask Gramps to do so. There's no way the Emperor would agree.

"I see. Congratulations. Having a knight is a great personal honor," Luan says, his smile not reaching his eyes.

"Believe me, I know," I respond, meeting his gaze head-on. The tension between us is palpable, a silent battle of wills beneath the veneer of polite conversation. The other ladies shift uncomfortably, sensing the undercurrents but unable to decipher them.

Luan, ever the charming prince, turns his attention back to the other ladies, his smile warming once more. But I know this is far from over. I take another sip of tea, feeling victorious.

Suddenly, I feel someone stand next to me. Curiously, I glance to my left and find a cute noble lady with brunette hair, freckles, and honey-brown eyes. She's adorable, her hair styled in a bob that accentuates her features, and she wears a green noble dress.

"I greet your majesty," she says with a bow.

"Yes, Lady…uhh…?" I say, realizing I don't know who she is.

"Marwood, Count Marwood, Helena Marwood," she says, stumbling over her words. She's so cute, honestly.

"Lady Marwood, of course," I respond and motion for her to take a seat next to me.

Normally, a count family wouldn't be invited to a tea party in the royal family, but even I know about the Marwoods. They oversee a county to the west of the Salona Empire, surrounded by the largest forest on the continent. They provide wood and timber for manufacturing across the empire and beyond, making them one of the richest families on the continent, not just the empire. Besides, their family tree includes marriages into royalty and several noble houses, making them somewhat untouchable. It's understandable why she's here.

I observe her as she takes a sip of tea, curious. Luckily, the rest of the ladies are distracted by Luan, and the conversation has shifted toward him.

"Uhm, I've wanted to have a conversation with you for some time now," she says, looking at me with a hint of nervousness.

I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? And what might that be about, Lady Marwood?"

"I mean—I—" she starts, but then falls silent, her shyness taking over.

I offer her an encouraging smile. "Please, go on. I'm all ears."

"I mean, I'm acquainted with Kai. I was just curious. And I saw you with him the other day when I was in the palace," she says in a rush.

"Ah," I respond, recognizing her now.

"I mean, I do business with him," she explains, her voice filled with urgency.

I merely keep silent, letting her flounder a bit. Kai runs a brothel, after all, and she's falling deeper and deeper into a hole trying to explain herself.

"Business. I understand," I say, teasing her lightly. There's no way she's a client of the Elysium of Petals, but I can't help myself.

"Not that kind of business!" she exclaims, her face turning bright red as she covers it with her hands.

I laugh at her reaction, remembering how Kai mentioned there's a little squirrel he likes to tease. I suppose this is her, and Kai and I are equally mean.

"Relax, I'm just teasing," I say, taking pity on her. "I know what you mean."

She peeks through her fingers, her embarrassment still evident but her tension easing a bit. "Really?"

"Yes, really. Kai is a good friend of mine. If you do business with him, I'm sure it's legitimate," I reassure her.

Helena visibly relaxes, her hands dropping to her lap. "Thank you, Your Highness. I was so worried you might think…well, you know."

"Tell me, what kind of business do you conduct with him?" I ask, genuinely curious now.

"Uhm, I started my own business making clothing, and Kai was the only one who gave me a chance. I've been in a long-term business relationship with him for the past three years now," Helena explains, her voice gaining confidence as she delves into an explanation of how different plants produce various types of fabrics.

"In fact, I recognized the material Your Majesty is wearing as one from my company," she says, a little excited.

I'm honestly impressed. Helena separated from her family's wood business and started her own venture. In this world, that's nothing short of remarkable.

"I must say, that's quite impressive, Lady Marwood," I respond, genuinely intrigued. "It takes a lot of courage and determination to start something new, especially in our society."

Helena blushes slightly at the compliment. "Thank you, Your Highness. It hasn't been easy, but it's been incredibly rewarding. "

We fall into a deeper conversation, and I find her insights and enthusiasm refreshing. Unlike the average noble lady whose life revolves around marriage and gossip, Helena has a sharp mind and a distinct personality.

"So, tell me more about these plants and fabrics," I urge her, genuinely curious.

She lights up, her passion evident. "Well, certain plants have unique properties that make them perfect for different types of clothing. For instance, the fibers from the moonflower plant are incredibly soft and have a natural sheen, making them perfect for evening gowns and formal wear."

I listen intently, fascinated by her knowledge and dedication. "And how did you discover this?"

"I spent a lot of time experimenting and researching. It's a lot of trial and error, but it's worth it when you finally get it right," she explains, her eyes shining with excitement.

I nod, impressed by her diligence. "That's truly admirable, Lady Marwood. Your hard work and innovation are clear."

She smiles, clearly pleased. "Thank you, Your Highness. It means a lot to hear that from you."

As we continue to talk, I realize how much I enjoy her company. It's nice to talk to someone apart from Kai, and I find myself looking forward to future conversations with Helena. Perhaps this day isn't as tedious as I thought it would be.