Chapter 82: Chapter 2, Episode 7
Chapter 82: Chapter 2, Episode 7
Translated by KaiesV
Edited by KaiesV
「Welcome to you all. It is a pleasure to be here and I thank you all at the same time for such a wonderful time. Please enjoy yourselves to the fullest.」
“Fufufu,” the tea party began with a greeting from Myra-sama, who smiled gracefully.
At the tea party hosted by the Queen, we attendants serve as Myra-sama’s hands and feet and entertain the invited ladies. Of course, Mary and I are in charge of Myra-sama’s table.
The ladies, ranging in age from 15 to 18, who had just made their debut in the social world, couldn’t hide their nervousness at their first tea party hosted by the Queen.
First, let’s ease their tension with a relaxing cup of tea.
「Oh my, what a wonderful scent!」
As the tea is brewed, the ladies’ exclamations of admiration are heard.
「This pastry also has a very rich taste. But it’s not heavy at all. It’s a mystery!」
And even the sweets are getting rave reviews.
「Ufufu, I’m glad to hear that. I have prepared a lot of carefully selected items to please you all.」
「Well, did Her Highness the Queen personally select these?」
「Yes, I did. Because you came to my tea party. Isn’t it natural?」
As Myra-sama smiled at them, some of the ladies were so moved and moved that they wiped their tears with handkerchiefs. They are very impressionable young people, you know. I thought, and then I remembered the army of delightful flower-brains weeping at the flower garden theater. It’s not the same as being intoxicated with yourself. Even though that is definitely not the same thing as Myra-sama’s thoughtfulness.
When I glanced at the ladies who were probably followers of the Royal Princess, one of them, although not exactly sullen, exuded an air different from those of the other ladies around her who were moved by the Queen.
Sitting next to the young lady was Miss Amy, whose hair was swaying with a hair ornament that had been frantically reworked and decorated in spite of the lack of time. She seems not to be a follower of the Princess, judging from the respect she shows to Myra-sama, just like the other ladies.
「Oh. Miss Amy of Viscount Agatha, if I am correct. I wonder if that hair ornament you’re wearing is made by the same engraver as mine? Marsha, don’t you think so?」
「Ah, eh…!」
Miss Amy, who was suddenly approached by Myra-sama, showed her dismay with a small jump of her body. Since I prepared it, it is only natural that Miss Amy, who does not know where the engraver is, cannot answer.
「Yes, it appears that way.」
「Right, ufufu. I think hair ornaments with large stones are beautiful, but I really like the delicate goldwork done by this goldsmith and the jewelry that is in harmony with the small stones scattered about. Because, look…」
Myra-sama let her hair fall in my hands. Then, Myra-sama’s vermilion-gold hair and hair ornament sparkled in the sunlight, eliciting sighs of admiration from the ladies.
「I am sorry to be presumptuous, but I am also using the same engraver’s work.」
With that said, I casually tilt my head so that my hair ornament is visible to the ladies. Although my hair doesn’t have the same shine as Myra-sama’s vermillion-gold hair, I was still very happy to hear the ladies murmuring,「It’s lovely.」Well, this hair ornament is a warning from Ryniel-sama, but it is more than enough to win the hearts of the ladies.
「Miss Amy, you look great too.」
「T–Thank you very much.」
Miss Amy’s face turned bright red when she received Myra-sama’s compliments. Then, she turned her gaze to me just a little and broke into a happy smile.
I smile back at her lovely smile and also at Countess Bauer, who is just across to her. Countess Bauer’s lips curled into a small arc as she noticed me, and I was relieved.
I was glad that Countess Bauer’s thoughtfulness did not go to waste. But that thought was short-lived.
「Speaking of jewelry, I heard a nasty rumor just the other day. I heard that another young lady was deeply involved in the incident involving the Viscountess Bollelan, and that a gag order was put in place.」
A bomb was dropped to destroy the atmosphere.
「Hey, what are you saying, Annabella-onee-sama?」
Mistress Amy rushes to admonish Countess Annabella Gordon, who is probably a follower of the Royal Princess, but she does not stop.
「Because, don’t you all care? It’s a story about a villain who stole the jewelry of the most famous princess of the day, Her Royal Highness the Princess. It’s the hottest topic of the moment, isn’t it?」
Then she turns her meaningful gaze on Countess Bauer.
「Come to think of it, Countess Bauer was on good terms with Viscountess Bolellan, wasn’t she? Do you know anything about that?」
“Ah, I’m sorry. She wasn’t a Viscountess anymore.” And Miss Annabella giggled. The way she spoke was as if she were Countess Bauer, and the surrounding ladies could not hide their bewilderment.
Countess Bauer, however, was not dismayed at all, and she brought a cup of tea to her lips with a cool expression on her face.
「Please stop. Annabella-onee-sama!」
「You keep your mouth shut, Amy.」
「B–But…!」
「Now, please say something. Or do you have some idea of what is going on, and why the silence?」
Countess Bauer took a sip of her tea and looked up at Miss Annabella with a straight face,
「That’s a very interesting rumor.」
That was all she said, and she took another sip of tea.
「Wha…!」
The way she handled not dealing with Miss Annabella was so opposite of the contentious attitude she had when she first met me that it made me wonder if she’s the same person. I couldn’t help but be amazed at how much she had grown up in the past few months.
「A–Ah…」
However, it is Miss Annabella who is upset with the response. Her face is flushed red and she is glaring at Countess Bauer.
This is a natural reaction, since she’s not provoked or even taken seriously. Perhaps it is a harassment against Countess Bauer who declined to be a friend of the Royal Princess, but to make this remark and have this attitude at a tea party hosted by the Queen. It is one word: stupidity.
「Fufufu, that’s an interesting rumor indeed.」
The disquieting atmosphere created by Miss Annabella was drowned out by the cheerful, yet somehow powerful smile of Myra-sama.
「The Countess of Gordon must be very well-informed if she knows of rumors that have escaped my ears.」
“Where did you get the gossip that I, the Queen, do not even hear,” Lady Myra said.
「I’ve never heard of such a thing before.」
「That’s right.」
「I am too.」
Miss Annabella realizes that she has no allies among the ladies who sympathize with Myra-sama one after another.
Why would anyone take the side of Miss Annabella, who tried to ruin the tea party hosted by the Queen? It is highly doubtful. As usual, I do not understand the mechanism of the flower-brains of the Princess’s followers.
「Besides, the hottest topic of the moment is that, isn’t it?」
「Yes, yes. That’s right. There is a lot of talk at the school about who will be chosen this year.」
「Me too. I was wondering!」
My heart skipped a beat with a thump at the mention of it. And then there was a cold sweat that broke out in hives.
「「「This year’s Exceptional Goodwill Ambassador!」」」
The ladies looked at each other and said in unison. Then Myra-sama’s eyes flashed with a twinkle. I understand. On the surface, Myra-sama is the Queen, but I know her innermost thoughts.