Classmates’ Families
After dancing with Prince Fred, I continued straight on to dance with Bon, Karim, and Ed.
After dancing with Karim, I was introduced to his father, Count Smith, and we ended up both thanking each other over the glass containers, like little clacking crickets.
The square glass containers are perfect for storage, prep work, storing leftovers, or oven cooking, since being glass they don’t retain odors. And for dishes or desserts like terrines or tiramisu, the sides are visible, making them look beautiful! I suggested using that as the selling point, and Count Smith immediately latched onto the wording while Countess Smith zeroed in on tiramisu.
Since they would be staying in the capital for a while after the debutante ball, we agreed to discuss things further at a later date.
After that, I was introduced to the Ed family. Count Reluta and the elf Countess were clearly a handsome couple, as seen in their son Ed. My mother happened to be nearby, and when we greeted them together, it turned out the Countess already knew her and was a devoted fan of my special dried fruits. I’d always assumed elves couldn’t gain weight, but apparently that’s not true. After giving birth, they find it harder to lose weight, and stress makes them snack. When they learned my dried fruits were my own special recipe, they were extremely grateful. By the way, Countess Smith was also a dried fruit enthusiast…
I danced with His Majesty, the Prime Minister, and my parents, and when I was finally released from dancing, my legs felt like a newborn fawn’s, trembling at the knees.
“Joan, are you alright?”
“Ugh… n-not really… I’m just… not good with heels…”
While talking to Belle, it seemed Cathy had finished her rounds of greetings as a fiancée and came over.
“What’s wrong, Joan?”
She looked at me worriedly.
“Ah, Cathy, my legs are terrible. But you too must be tired. Sit down, sit down.”
I guided her to an empty chair.
“Thank you so much earlier. It’s all thanks to you, Joan.”
“Hmm? Oh, the public proposal? I just… created the opportunity, that’s all.”
“Even so, it wouldn’t have worked if it weren’t you.”
“True, if it hadn’t been you, I’d probably have been captured for impropriety. I was nervous watching it myself, you know.”
“Ahaha, sorry, sorry. I had planned to handle it a bit more gracefully, but I got carried away in the moment.”
I had brought up the topic while dancing because, when we met the other day, Cathy had looked uneasy. When I asked why, she said she didn’t know how Prince Albert felt about her and didn’t have the courage to ask, so meddlesome me took it upon myself.
“No, really, I’m grateful. By the way, do either of you have plans this weekend?”
“No.” “None.”
“Then, if it’s alright, I’d like to invite you to a tea party at my house.”
“Thank you. I’d be happy to come.”
“Me too… But there will be other guests, right?”
Belle said, worried. Her shyness had improved since before, but she still had unpleasant memories from childhood tea parties, so she wasn’t entirely comfortable with them.
“That’s fine. I’ve carefully selected the guests.”
I could tell the other young ladies and gentlemen, who had been glancing at us while listening, were holding their breath. Behind them, the parents were also watching.
Of course, being invited to a tea party hosted by Cathy, fiancée of the first prince, is a huge status symbol.
Even in our peaceful country, small political conflicts are never-ending, mainly because the crown prince hasn’t been chosen yet—factions supporting Prince Albert, the first prince, and factions supporting Prince Fred, the second prince.
As a side note, there are three ducal families, six marquis families, four frontier lords, twenty-two counts, thirty viscounts, and forty-three barons in the Kingdom of Exzaria. Not all houses belong to a faction; for instance, our Margrave Lampail House and Belle’s Burst House remain neutral.
For the daughters of neutral houses to be invited to the tea party of Cathy, the fiancée of the first prince, it was a matter of political interest for the parents. But as young nobles, they also knew that the three of us had been in the same general studies class. For those in other classes, Cathy, fiancée of Prince Albert; Joan, who had gained popularity among the ‘four knight sisters’; and Belle were all admired. If they could, they’d want to get closer. And since neither Belle nor I had fiancés yet, the young nobles’ parents were eager to make a connection.
“Catherine, there you are.”
Cathy was greeted by a dashing gentleman. The lady he escorted was incredibly beautiful.
“Father, Mother. Brother too.”
Cathy’s parents, Duke Cutter and Duchess, and behind them, her brother Lucas, more princely than any prince. Belle and I stood and silently curtsied.
“Catherine, may I introduce you?”
“Yes. These are my best friends, Joan Lampail, and Belle Burst.”
“Pleased to meet you. I am Joan Lampail, eldest daughter of the Lampail family. Catherine has always been very kind to me.”
“Ah, pleased to meet you. I am Belle Burst, eldest daughter of the Burst family. I’ve also always been indebted to Catherine.”
The two of us exchanged greetings.
“I’ve heard much about you from Catherine. Please continue to be good friends to her.”
“Thank you very much.”
“I was just inviting you to a tea party at my house.”
“Really? I would love to attend. I’d also like to talk with you both.”
“Thank you.”
“Miss Lampail, Miss Burst, congratulations on your debut. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? My mother is interested in the cuisine and fashion of the Lampail region, and also the rice from the Burst lands.”
“Thank you, Young Master Lucas. I will bring some items when we visit your duchy.”
“I’ll bring rice from my domain as well, along with the recipe, of course.”
“Really? That’s wonderful! I’ll look forward to it.”
“Thank you.”
Soon after, the Cathy family left. As the three beautiful figures moved, the crowd parted like the Red Sea… or the Ten Commandments of Moses.
What do you think about this chapter?
