Competition

Nice weather in Polona meant that every noble took advantage of the weather to attend social gatherings to leech gossip off of one another. 

More lately than usual, these events put the princess under much stress as she tried to dodge the rumors that a book was written about a certain princess and a certain knight. It seemed commoners were more interested in that kind of talk but the nobles had started buying into it more and more. 

They thought it would gain the princess's favor but it did the opposite. 

However, that day, the rumors were a bit different than normal. 

She was attending a tea party at the Sadiv's estate. She had been avoiding Ian quite effortlessly since it was a women-only party. Women older kept to themselves while younger noble ladies sat on one of the long tables together. She, naturally, sat at the head.