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CHAPTER 83………
To co-host with Sister Lilien?
‘Why me?’
Yevgeni looked at the Emperor in disbelief. That faint sense of betrayal she felt from him made her bite her lip hard.
“Th-this is my first time holding a tea party since I got sick. So why must I include Sister Lilien?”
“The First Princess also hasn’t been able to host a tea party for a while. She only just recovered and got out of bed.”
That was why he wanted them to host it together.
‘No way!’
She’d heard that although Sister Lilien had been badly injured during the hunting tournament, she was completely healed thanks to the temple.
But what about herself?
‘Orca Sorcier said I’ll have to live on medicine Sister made for years!’
She had suffered more, endured far harsher days!
‘Father has changed.’
Tears welled up in Yevgeni’s eyes as she finally confronted the reality she had long denied.
Renald anxiously glanced back and forth, watching the tense standoff between the two princesses.
In the end, the one who lost the battle was Yevgeni.
Crushed and deflated, she radiated resentment toward her father before finally leaving the imperial palace.
Renald sighed inwardly and shook his head.
‘Please, let nothing happen at the tea party…’
“It’s so unfair! How could Father do this to me? Hm? Lanya, don’t you think he was too harsh? Yeny is sicker! Shouldn’t he be caring for me more?”
Not once had Father visited her while she was ill.
Mother and Brother Abel came dozens of times a day to check on her.
Even Brother Dmitri, who bore most of the Emperor’s duties, came about five times a week to check her condition…!
“Uwaaah… it hurts…”
“Y-your Highness the Second Princess…”
As Yevgeni burst into tears, Lanya fidgeted nervously.
She pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and gently dabbed Yevgeni’s eyes.
But Yevgeni only grew more upset, snot dripping down her face.
‘Lilien, Lilien! Always Lilien!’
After pouring out bitter resentment against her half-sister, Yevgeni’s eyes glittered with a scheming light.
She slapped away Lanya’s hand, who was still fussing over her face.
“I’m going to see Sister.”
“H-huh? Y-you mean… First Princess Lilien?”
“Of course! Who else would I mean? I’ll go and ask her why she never once came to see me while I was sick.”
That would catch Lilien off guard.
‘I’ll use that chance to humiliate her at the tea party.’
Snickering secretly to herself, Yevgeni made her way toward the First Princess’s palace.
And by coincidence, she ran into Lilien, who had just stepped out for a walk in the garden.
Lilien, flanked by two maids, frowned as soon as she spotted Yevgeni.
Forcing down her displeasure, she said:
“What brings you here?”
“I came to see you, Sister!”
“…You came to see me?”
Lilien stiffened.
What reason could she possibly have to see me?
Even without effort, Lilien had been hearing bits of news about Yevgeni through her trusted servants.
‘That she threw tantrums, that she hurled objects and injured her maids—all from the mouths of her own palace staff.’
She even heard from Ilia, who occasionally checked in on the Second Princess’s palace:
‘Why does Her Highness act this way? Even if she dislikes the First Princess, wasn’t it the First Princess who developed medicine for her? How could she resent her?’
‘See this scar? The Second Princess threw something at me! It wouldn’t heal properly so I had to use ointment, but the mark stayed… How will I ever marry now? Boohoo!’
All the attendants who once cherished Yevgeni had vanished, replaced with those who despised her.
‘She must know this.’
After all, the only reason she had grown so violent was because Lilien developed a medicine for her mana insensitivity.
‘She must be scheming something.’
At times like this, the best option was to act busy and return to the palace.
Lilien signaled to Mulin and Ilia, who immediately understood and said, “Oh! We forgot, the Princess has urgent business today.”
But then Yevgeni’s eyes locked with Mulin’s.
Mulin, who once served as Yevgeni’s informant, instinctively shrank back.
It was, in effect, a reunion with her former master.
“So… you’re Mulin, aren’t you?”
“Y-yes.”
“Hmm.” Yevgeni narrowed her eyes with a soft hum.
Then she suddenly tilted her head with a sweet smile.
“Sister Lilien, may I ask you something?”
Lilien paused mid-step and looked back. Yevgeni slowly opened her mouth.
“Why are those maids still by your side, unpunished?”
“What?”
“I heard while confined—that during the hunt, Sister was endangered because her knights and maids failed to protect you properly. Shouldn’t they be dismissed and banished from ever serving royalty again?”
“That’s none of your concern.”
“Why not?”
Feigning innocence, Yevgeni blinked slowly.
“I’m your younger sister, after all. Isn’t it natural for me to worry about you? Besides… I’m scared!”
“What’s there for you to be scared of?”
“Well, if those maids’ negligence weakens discipline among the servants, who will protect you and our brothers? Since you forgave them once, the others might assume the same will happen to them.”
Oh, if I make mistakes, the First Princess will forgive me—so other royals will too!
“…I agree with Princess Yevgeni.”
Lanya added fuel to the fire. Yevgeni hadn’t come alone.
‘The eyes are gathering.’
She had deliberately brought this up outside so that everyone could witness Lilien’s supposed folly.
‘What a vile girl.’
Lilien sighed openly and brushed her hair back.
“Don’t worry. For instance, Sir Cecil Blonmind has already been stripped of his command.”
“But I heard he might be reinstated if he succeeds in eliminating the bandit threat?”
…Where did she even hear that?
As Lilien frowned, Yevgeni caught it and smirked faintly.
Then she drooped her shoulders and forced tears into her eyes.
“Huu… I-I was only worried about Sister… why are you reacting so harshly…?”
“….”
“Isn’t it natural for a younger sister to worry for her elder sister’s safety? Why must Lilien treat my concern as meddlesome?”
“Your Highness…”
Lanya patted Yevgeni’s back consolingly.
Lilien’s expression chilled, while Ilia and Mulin glared at Yevgeni in disbelief.
“Your Highness, let’s just ignore her and leave!”
“This could escalate. People are watching.”
Both Ilia and Mulin whispered urgently.
‘She’s right—we need to leave.’
Indeed, as Mulin said, no one avoided passing near Lilien’s palace.
With budgetary works ongoing and frequent checks from the Emperor’s and Dmitri’s aides, traffic was inevitable.
…But today was different.
‘There are nobles here too.’
Scanning the area, Ilia explained somberly:
“Today is a council day. Several central nobles were summoned for an audience with His Majesty. Naturally, many are gathered here.”
“….”
“She timed this deliberately.”
So she had planned it.
Lilien turned her gaze back to Yevgeni, who was still dabbing at her eyes.
Not only the royal attendants but even nobles heading to court were staring at them.
These nobles were not only politicians but notorious gossips.
Lilien opened her mouth to smooth things over—
“Are these not Their Highnesses the First and Second Princesses?”
Someone interrupted.
Yevgeni looked up and her face lit with delight.
“Lady Calypso!”
“Greetings, Your Highness the Second Princess.”
Yevgeni beamed as Nakari Calypso curtsied gracefully with a gentle smile.
“Ah, greetings to the First Princess as well.”
“…Yes.”
As though only noticing Lilien belatedly, Nakari gave a polite nod and approached.
“What an honor to see you both.”
Of course, she gravitated toward Yevgeni, speaking words of honor to her, not Lilien. Lilien might as well have been invisible.
Clenching her fists, Lilien watched as the two conversed warmly.
Nakari smiled gracefully.
“I’ve heard news that you’ve been unwell, Your Highness. Surely it was difficult not being able to host the monthly tea parties.”
“Oh, it’s fine. What can I do when Yeny has always been weak?”
“My… I must ask Father to send you some tonic medicine.”
Nakari’s gentle manner made her refinement stand out even more.
Sensing danger if she lingered, Lilien turned to leave—only to have Nakari catch her with a sidelong glance.
“But what were you two doing here? I was following Father to the palace and asked a page where I might find you both when I stumbled upon Her Highness crying.”
Nakari looked expectantly at Yevgeni.
Feigning hesitation, Yevgeni finally spoke in a subdued voice:
“The truth is… I just returned from seeing His Majesty. I’ve spent so long alone while unwell that I felt unbearably lonely…”
“Indeed, you have been distant lately.”
“Yes… So now that I can move freely again, I asked His Majesty if I might host a tea party.”
“Did he not grant permission?”
At Nakari’s words, Yevgeni shook her head.
“No, he did… but he told me to co-host it with Sister Lilien…”
“What?”
Both Nakari and Lilien exclaimed in shock.
‘What nonsense is this?’
His Majesty had never mentioned such a thing to Lilien. She was left speechless, but the situation started to make sense.
‘With her poor reputation spreading, she must have grown desperate and gone to Father directly.’
The Emperor had postponed granting permission, worried that Yevgeni’s fragile health might cause her to collapse mid-event, leaving a poor impression on noble youths.
But Yevgeni, growing impatient, had gone to plead with him anyway.
‘She’s trying to drag me down to cover her own scandal.’
And with Nakari appearing now, it was perfect timing for her scheme.
Tears welled again as Yevgeni stammered:
“Even though I’ve been sick, I still heard about what happened to Sister during the hunt. So today I asked His Majesty for permission, then came here to ask why Sister never visited me, and why she still keeps the servants who endangered her. I was worried they might corrupt the discipline of the other servants…”
“Ahh.”
Nakari nodded sympathetically.
“But it seems my little concern greatly offended Sister. I-I never meant it that way… Sister, please forgive me!”
“Oh my.”
Nakari gasped softly, gazing pityingly at the weeping Yevgeni.
Only Lilien, knowing the full truth, could barely suppress a bitter laugh.
Nakari hugged Yevgeni warmly, then smiled at Lilien.
“Whatever was said between you, since this will be the first tea party you host together, won’t you please forgive her?”
“….”
“Surely the Second Princess only worried for her elder sister. After all, haven’t unsettled times befallen the Empire?”
Nakari neatly wrapped up the situation, shielding Yevgeni in her embrace.
Once again, Lilien was painted the villain. Yet she managed to keep a smile.
“Of course. I must have been overly sensitive. Perhaps I haven’t fully recovered from my visit to the temple.”
“I’m glad to see you looking well again.”
Nakari bowed.
“Then, may I escort the Second Princess away? I fear for her health.”
Lilien nodded without hesitation. Yevgeni obediently let Nakari lead her away.
And just before leaving, a triumphant smirk flickered across Yevgeni’s lips.
