The faces of Sabrina, the Duke and Duchess, after leaving the room, are an ice-mask to hide their extreme anger.
When the Duke noticed that the King was pointing the suspicious movements of Sabrina’s maids, he understood what he was implying, and froze in place.

“Father, I dismissed the maid the castle assigned to me, but it seems I’ll have to dismiss the others too, to avoid suspicions.
Please arrange everything so other two maids working for us enter the Palace. They already knew about my maids, they let them wander freely to catch me later.
Besides, the house of that peasant is deep in the wood, my maids have nothing to do there. It was too obvious. I’m sorry, it is my fault, I miscalculated it.”

Sabrina didn’t show it up on her face, but from the strongly gripped hand, her parents can see that her anger was even stronger than theirs.

“Sabrina, think about it. As long as you don’t leave the Palace, you will be chosen as the Queen, our family is the one with the highest status and authority!”

The Duke always wanted the power of the King.
He knows her daughter too, he likes the attitude of her but is not stupid enough to not understand the consequences of a crime if they are discovered.

“Yes, even if you don’t make a move. The Queen’s seat isn’t for a peasant! Without supporters or political power. Do you think she will be able to sit there? Hear me, you’re the consort of the highest rank, as long as the King doesn’t have a real reason to blame you, the decision is taken.”

Even when her parents saying so, Sabrina has no intention of backing down.

The Duke trust his daughter, Sabrina, but he’s still worried. After listening to the story of what happened to the Marquis’ daughter when confronted that woman, he is worried that Sabrina is also digging her own grave without noticing.

“I won’t let her raise over me so easily… A bit of anxiety clouded my mind, before but this time I won’t fail. “
Her clenched hands made the Duke understand, that no matter what he says, she won’t listen.

“In any case, she doesn’t have much time left. Even if she’s chosen to advance to the next stage, without supporters nor anyone backing her candidacy, she will lose.”
“Yes, don’t worry. You already have the crown in your hand.”

---

Feria standing alone near a wall of the hall.
Curie went to the other room, and Mimili went out, saying that it would be troublesome for they to stay together more time.
Marquis Buccini bowed lightly to Feria and took Mimili away.

“It’s not good”
Feria who was left alone, was trying all the food offered in the party. But it wasn’t so tasty, and she gently placed the plate on the table.

“Consort 11th”

With Bins call, each consort headed for the room to talk to King Macron, one after the other.
Feria is the 31st consort, so she has to wait until the end.

–My feet soles hurt, I ran too much and my soles are tingling now.

She sighed, thinking on how much she will have to wait until be able to sit and rest.

• Tap * * Tap *
  Feria raised her head to the sound of footsteps.

“Good Evening, Miss Feria”

It is a stranger that Feria doesn’t know.
However, in her case, she knows no one at this evening party.
For the aristocrats, talking to the sister of a country lord is something unthinkable, so, who is he?

“Good evening”

Feria returned only a greeting because she doesn’t know his name.

“I’m Arcadius”

Even when hearing his name, she doesn’t know who he is, so she bowed lightly.

“…”

“…”

Mutual silent.

“It’s a real surprise, you don’t know who am I, do you?”

“At this party, I only know me.”

She knows Macron, Curie, Mimili, but she answers like that to avoid continuing the conversation.
Talking to a royal consort who has no guardian, is something not recommended, so what reason has this young man to talk to her?

Curie, who was watching from far away, saw Feria’s reaction, and laughed.
Feria is good at managing problems, even if she herself didn’t notice.

–I don’t want to talk with this stranger, that’s all.

“You’re really an awesome consort candidate. I want my sister to grow up to be like you. Oh, sorry. I’m Arcadius Senada, the third prince of neighboring country, Senada. The first consort’s brother and guardian.”

–Feria’s attitude, just as I heard, did not change after hearing my name or title. Let’s test it a little more.

“My seven-year-old sister seemed sleepy, after the interview, so she retired to her mansion. I’m attending at the evening party as her representative. Miss Feria, she really wants to know more about you. Unfortunately, she was unable to come talk to you. So would you like to spend a little time talking with me? “

Arcadius, who moved to the side of Feria, offered her a drink.

Feria knows that the drink has alcohol, but also knows that it is rude to refuse a drink from the neighboring country’s prince.

She reached out and tried to receive the glass, but at that same moment, the glass of Arcadius’s hand tilted, and the drink fell on Feria’s dress.

“I’m sorry! What did I do! Oh! Please come with me, I’ll try to fix it.”

Arcadius tried to take Feria’s hand and guide her away from the party’s hall.

But Feria dodges Arcadius, reaches out for another drink at the table and pours it over Arcadius, who took a step toward Feria.

“Now, we’re good”

Arcadius eyes opened wide, he didn’t expect Feria’s response.
The same that everyone at the evening party.
No noble daughter would dare to do such a thing to the prince of the neighboring country.

Shortly before that, Sabrina and her parents came back at the evening party’s hall.
They were watching the exchange between Feria and Arcadius, and what happened afterwards from the distance.

The Duke, couldn’t see well from the distance, but noticed that Sabrina’s eyes are glittering as when she is really happy, so he asks in a whisper.

“Did something happen?”
Sabrina laughs thinly.

“Arcadius Senada is the perfect person for this… After all, he is very famous in the aristocratic world.”

Sabrina whispers to her father about Arcadius and the previous events.

“There is a consort alone with no guardian, the 31st. The prince felt pity of her and offered her a drink, but she was rude to him. He’s the prince of the neighboring country and big brother of the 1st Consort.”

At first glance, the words she spoke are kind and without malice, but Sabrina is giving his father motives… The kind voice is just to show her femininity, how she was taught since childhood.
What she is saying to her father is – The lowest-ranking consort offended the prince of the neighboring country.-

From the outside, Feria and Arcadius don’t look familiar, she even poured a drink over Arcadius’ suit.

Despite her speculations, nothing happened, so Sabrina decided that it’s time to act.
To be rude to the prince of the neighboring country, is the worst mistake she can have done, she is showing everybody that is not suitable to be a Queen.

–However, I cannot do it myself.
Thinking about that, Sabrina urged her father, the Duke, with a smile.

“Father, please punish her! As the first minister, it’s your duty to work for the improvement of our relationships with the other countries.”

“What does this mean?!!”
The Duke walked leisurely, and stood in front of Feria and Arcadius.

“Oh, well… Just what is visible.”

Arcadius didn’t say a word more and his expression… He wasn’t angry at all, he doesn’t care about Feria’s rude reaction, the true is, he finds it funny.

The duke raised his eyebrows a little, if the Prince doesn’t express it himself, it’s dangerous to talk against her, since he is leaving it as the interpretation of others.
But the Duke also thought that many people saw the act, so there isn’t any problem in blaming Feria.

“… Apologize to him now! How can you do this to the Prince of the neighboring country. Do you know the consequences of your actions? Don’t you know the courtesy? Without these minimal qualifications were you selected as a consort?”

Feria is fed up, it wasn’t rude, it was a smart trick.

Tired of the dignified Duke who was yelling at her side, Feria didn’t react, she just keeps smiling like Arcadius did.
In other words, Feria feels the same that Arcadius.

“A lovely dress, Miss Feria”

“Lord Arcadius, please your suit looks more elegant now.”

Looking at the stains on their clothes, they smile.

“Excuse me, thank you for praising my dress’ choice.”

Curie also participates.

“Oh, Miss Curie! Thank you for honoring us with your presence.”

Curie’s country, Arcadius’ country, and Danang country are equivalent in power.

Two neighboring countries of Danang, they aren’t enemies but the relationship isn’t deep either.

“You are Prince Arcadius, aren’t you?”

Arcadius talks to Curie, as if they were old good friends.

The Duke looks at them, while they talk without a worry in the world, leaving his harsh remarks floating in the air.
Then, he looks at Feria, but his dignified person is completely invisible to her, either.

If the prince, who was supposedly offended doesn’t care and keeps talking happily, means there is nothing he can do against her.

“Duke, thank you for your help. That’s right, as consorts we’re representatives of the country.”

Feria verbally slapped and praised the Duke at the same time.

His floating words are meaningless, so she is returning them to him.
Feria laughs, she is saying that there is no need to apologize.

“…”

The Duke smiles in a forced way and silently walks away of Feria.

After all, her words were an implicit consent for him to withdraw.

After seeing his awkward smile, Feria laughed.

“Ufufufu.”

Translated by Djurasico (dot) home (dot) blog