LTTCH 17

Chapter 17

However, Uncle was completely unconcerned and kept busy gulping down tea.

As the young ladies began their conversations in earnest, Uncle wore a bored expression and was busy crushing the cake placed in front of her.

The problem was that the First Princess was watching her.

Uncle, please!

I quietly stomped my foot.

But whether she knew she was being watched by the First Princess or not, Uncle remained absorbed in smashing the cake.

Just then, while I was anxiously watching her—

“You seem quite bored with this gathering, Lady Lockwood.”

The First Princess, who had been silent until now, spoke to Uncle.

Immediately, the young ladies’ attention turned to Uncle, who was crushing the cake.

As they began whispering among themselves, I stomped my foot again.

From here on, I already knew what would happen.

The First Princess’s harassment would begin in earnest.

Would Uncle really be able to endure it?

“Indeed, for Lady Lockwood, a place without gentlemen must simply be a dull social gathering.”

It was a blatant jab, as if saying, “You’re just boy-crazy, aren’t you?”

“I understand. You must be quite busy weighing the Duke and my brother on your scales.”

The First Princess continued speaking with a gentle smile.

Soon, the other young ladies joined in one by one.

“Still, isn’t it rather improper to show your boredom so openly? It makes you seem uncultured and frivolous.”

“Lady Lockwood is quite close with gentlemen, isn’t she? Depending on the observer, it may not look very refined.”

“Oh my, so that’s why you have no friends among the young ladies.”

They giggled and openly mocked Uncle.

The young lady who had been crushing her cake finally set down her fork and slowly looked around.

Just as I was worried about what she might do—

The lady sitting right next to Uncle accidentally knocked over the teapot on the table.

SPLASH—!

Of all things, the teapot spilled directly onto Uncle, soaking her dress completely.

“Oh my.”

The lady covered her mouth as if apologizing, but from my position, I could clearly see it.

The corners of her lips were curled upward in a smile.

And she had clearly done it on purpose.

Uncle stared down at her soaked dress for a moment, then stood up.

Creeeeak.

The sound of the chair sliding back felt strangely ominous.

I was about to rush out immediately, worried about what she might do—

“You forgot to apologize.”

Uncle said, suppressing her anger.

A vein bulged on her forehead—she was clearly forcing herself to hold back her rage.

In the original story, Beatrice would have been too humiliated to say anything, her face burning red. I wasn’t sure if Uncle could afford to act like this.

But I couldn’t interrupt her when she was trying so hard to hold back.

And honestly, I also felt sorry for Beatrice being blatantly ostracized like this.

“What apology? Your dress is the only thing wet, isn’t it? Your face isn’t wet.”

The lady who had knocked over the teapot replied shamelessly with a tilt of her head.

A second vein popped on Uncle’s forehead.

Just as she clenched her fists, trembling—

A servant loudly announced,

“His Highness the Crown Prince arrives!”

At that moment, all the ladies turned their attention toward the entrance of the garden.

A man with golden hair shining brilliantly in the sunlight was walking toward them.

All the ladies stood up at once.

They greeted the Crown Prince shyly, but he ignored everyone and walked straight toward Uncle.

“Beatrice, are you feeling alright?”

At his words, the ladies’ gazes shifted back to Uncle.

She was still glaring at the offending lady, eyes bloodshot with suppressed rage.

“You look beautiful today as well.”

Ignoring everything else, the lovestruck Crown Prince continued praising Beatrice.

Is he seriously unaware of the situation?

Because Uncle didn’t respond to his compliments, the ladies began whispering again.

Uncle, respond! You need to greet him!

Uncle gritted her teeth and gave a half-hearted nod.

“Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

I was losing my mind.

How could she be so rude to the Crown Prince? Any other noble would be horrified.

But the Crown Prince simply smiled at her as if she were adorable.

So this is the power of 100% affection.

I watched anxiously, thinking at least this was somewhat fortunate.

I secretly shook the tree, pretending to be the wind, signaling Uncle.

Uncle, smile! A pretty smile!

Uncle narrowed her eyes at the suddenly rustling leaves and looked in my direction.

Did she notice my signal?

I stared at her nervously.

And then Uncle—

She pulled the corners of her mouth upward into a smile that looked like something dragged up from the depths of hell.

What the—

I flinched.

So did the Crown Prince.

That “smile”—or rather, a threat disguised as one—had devastating power.

If even the Crown Prince with 100% affection flinched, just how intense was it?

I shook the tree again in panic.

Just don’t smile, Uncle.

Just then, the Crown Prince’s gaze shifted away from Uncle and landed on me.

For a moment, I froze under that direct gaze.

Don’t tell me… did he notice?

I swallowed hard—but fortunately, his gaze soon moved away.

It didn’t seem like I’d been caught.

“By the way, why is Beatrice’s dress wet?”

At his question, the lady who had spilled the teapot stiffened.

Just as Uncle was about to speak, the First Princess cut in first.

“Oh, it was a simple accident. She spilled the teapot, and even though she apologized, Lady Lockwood refused to accept it, so things became awkward.”

What nonsense.

Apologized? Please.

They were the ones mocking her, saying “what apology?”

I glanced at the First Princess in disbelief, then at Uncle.

And… what expression was that now?

Her eyebrows were raised high, and her face was red, nostrils flaring like an enraged bull.

Uncle was clearly trying her best not to explode.

I felt almost moved watching her restrain herself.

But the First Princess continued provoking her.

“Just as expected, now that my brother is here, Lady Lockwood seems much brighter.”

Does she seriously think that looks like a brighter expression?

To me, it looks like she’s about to snap.

Just as Uncle, trembling with rage, opened her mouth—

“Oh? So my presence makes you happy, Lady Lockwood? I’m glad to see you as well.”

The Crown Prince’s clueless voice rang out.

Uncle’s expression darkened even further.

“By the way, Lady Lockwood, why don’t you borrow one of my dresses and change?”

At the sudden offer from the First Princess, Uncle looked like she wanted to say, “Seriously?” but the Princess already called a maid and ordered her to assist.

Then she turned to her brother and smiled softly.

“How about you accompany her, Brother? You could also show Lady Lockwood around the palace.”

In other words—don’t come back to the tea party. Go enjoy yourselves together.

So this was her plan: to pair her brother with Beatrice.

If that happened, her relationship with the Duke would naturally drift apart.

Unrequited love was truly something exhausting.

I looked at the First Princess’s gentle smile, then at the Crown Prince offering his hand.

He seemed unwilling to waste the opportunity his sister had arranged.

“Let’s go, Beatrice.”

Uncle reached for the Crown Prince’s hand.

But even though her mind knew she should take it, her body refused to follow.

Her hand trembled violently as it moved toward his.

Just as their hands were about to meet—

“Sorry, my hand is a bit sweaty.”

As if she couldn’t go through with it, Uncle pulled her hand back with a flimsy excuse.

I bit my lip in disappointment.

Fine. She’s trying her best. Let’s leave it at that for now. She’ll improve little by little.