Chapter 6: The Duke’s Daughter Goes to War

Chapter 6:
The Duke’s Daughter Goes to War

 

THE PALACE WAS DECORATED even more lavishly than usual tonight in honor of Foundation Day. Every year, the royal family hosted a party at the palace to celebrate the founding of the kingdom of Tasmeria.

Every noble in attendance wore their finest clothes—befitting such a fancy yet distinguished event—including the man who had just walked through the palace’s great entryway. The palace itself had beautiful white walls. The high, arched ceilings were exquisitely painted, and each supporting column was intricately carved.

A large crowd of nobles had already gathered. They chatted here and there, as did those still making their way down the hallway to the main ballroom. The man who had just entered wore a beautiful suit—his best clothes, just like the rest of his fellows. But there was something different about him. His eyes were serious.

To a noble, this celebration was no mere party—it was a nest of bargains and schemes. Of course, they had all come to celebrate the founding of the kingdom, but the man knew he couldn’t get caught up in the festive mood and forget the fete’s true purpose. Years of holding his title as count had taught him that much. 

He quickly scanned the crowd for a familiar face. If he didn’t spy anyone he recognized, he would have no particular obligation to speak with anyone. Such were his thoughts as he made his way down the long hallway and arrived in the great hall, where the main event was held.

Within, a solemnly refined ambience defined the mood of the celebration. The ballroom had none of the lavish beauty of the entrance hall, but the most skilled craftsmen in the kingdom had poured their talents into the grand room. This lent it an intimidating beauty. Multiple chandeliers sparkled overhead, refracting the light of the ladies’ dresses and making them luminous.

At last, the count spotted a gathering of people he recognized and greeted them. That put him slightly more at ease. The Foundation Day celebration required more vigilance than any other function.

For once, the factions supporting the first prince and the second prince—and the neutral faction—were all gathered under one roof. The count’s social standing depended upon those he chose to converse with tonight. One wrong move, and he might well find himself in a situation that would prove incredibly difficult to extricate himself from. He hated to admit it, but it was the truth.

Just then, one of his closest friends came over, a genuine smile on his face. “Good to see you here, Count Dranbaldt.”

At this salutation, Dranbaldt let out all the air he’d been holding in his lungs. “Yes, it’s been too long. How do you fare, Count Caldina?”

Since this celebration was being held against the tense backdrop of the embattled factions, seeing a familiar face—and that of a good friend, moreover—was an incredible comfort.

“About the same since I last saw you. Oh, I suppose the only news is that my wife’s been besotted with the Azuta Corporation and is dying to get one of their special memberships.”

“Your wife too, hm? My wife awaits her membership as well. It seems it’s something of a status symbol to be on their list nowadays.”

“Speaking of the Azuta Corporation, that’s Duke Armelia’s business, is it not? Not only is he a shrewd politician—he’s now trying his hand at running a company?”

“Yes, an enviable fellow, indeed.”

“I couldn’t say it better myself! By the by, Count Dranbaldt, who have you spoken with tonight?”

Their casual conversation veered into a most serious topic. The question could only even be asked because of the bosom friendship the two men shared.

“The usual faces. What about you? Who have you spoken to besides the regular crowd?” Dranbaldt asked with a wry grin, to which Caldina shrugged.

“Same here. In fact, I think I’ve spent more time worrying about who to engage with than actually engaging.”

“I can understand that.”

They both let out deep sighs.

“Look over there,” Caldina urged. Dranbaldt followed the man’s gaze. His eyes landed on Ellia, the second queen. Her flaming crimson hair was matched by a deep red dress edged with golden lace. Her jet-black eyes were demurely half-closed, her perfectly painted lips upturned in an alluring smile. Her father, Marquis Marea, stood by her side. A crowd of nobles surrounded them. 

“Oh? I thought for certain that the queen would attend alongside the king as hostess of the fete.” Dranbaldt regarded the sight with surprise—not at the crowd of nobles but at the second queen. She always cleaved so close to the king’s side, and she used that closeness to maximize her appeal. She especially loved flaunting her influence at parties such as these, so it was quite odd to see her without her husband.

“Strange, isn’t it? I thought I was mistaken at first, too. Why wouldn’t she attend in the king’s company, tonight of all nights?”

“Hmm… Perhaps they’re too busy strengthening their position in other ways, or the king simply isn’t coming tonight? One of the two.”

“Come now. It’s Foundation Day! How could His Majesty not attend?” Caldina dismissed Dranbaldt’s theory with a laugh.

Faced with that logic, Dranbaldt had to agree. “It must be part of their strategy, then.”

“That makes the most sense. After all, look—even the minister of internal affairs is by Queen Ellia’s side.”

The minister of human affairs was one of the official positions that made up the backbone of the government. Besides the prime minister, there were the ministers of finance, defense, law, internal affairs, foreign affairs, infrastructure, and education.

“When did that happen? I knew he leaned toward Queen Ellia’s faction, but I thought he espoused neutrality. She really is fond of flexing her power at these events.” 

While the two counts conversed, another noble greeted Queen Ellia and Marquis Marea.

“The marquis likes us to know his power, too.”

“You’re right about that.”

The marquis had cultivated his influence for some time now, but his desire for power had grown even stronger after his daughter assumed her role as queen. Now he was one of the most powerful nobles in the kingdom, and his words carried great weight in the palace.

All of a sudden, a buzz ran through the crowd. Both counts turned toward the entrance. The second prince, Edward, had appeared alongside Yuri, Baron Neuer’s daughter. On either side of them came Van Lutasha and Dorssen Kataberia.

Van, the son of the pope of the Darryl Church, wore simple church vestments. Beside him, Dorssen was clad in a black suit befitting a noble’s son instead of his usual knight’s armor.

Meanwhile, Prince Edward wore a deep emerald suit that fit him perfectly. Yuri clung to his arm in a dress embroidered all over with flowers, bringing out her youthful loveliness. White lace and pale primrose-pink fabric peeked out from beneath cutouts along the skirt. It ruffled prettily with every step she took.

 

***

 

“Are you sure I belong here?” Yuri anxiously looked up at Prince Edward.

“What are you talking about? Of course you do. You’re my fiancée. Hold your head up high and carry yourself with dignity.”

“But…” Yuri’s gaze dropped.

Prince Edward let go of her and clasped her hand. “Yuri. I have vowed to walk by your side. Now and forever.”

“Prince Edward.” Yuri looked up at him with teary eyes.

Edward gave her a reassuring smile. “They’re only staring at you because you’re so adorable. Ahh, I hate it. I wish I could just lock you up somewhere so I could keep your lovely face all to myself!”

“There’s nothing to be anxious about,” Van murmured sweetly in Yuri’s ear, interrupting the romantic interlude. “I’ll protect you no matter what.”

Dorssen agreed and offered the same reassurance.

“Thank you two so much.” Yuri smiled at them, looking like a freshly bloomed flower.

“You are adored, Yuri, because you’re endlessly kind and because you’re so beautiful. But all you have to do now is keep your eyes on me. All right?” Edward said.

Yuri immediately turned bright red.

Their saccharine exchange complete, the nobles who had been awkwardly waiting for a chance to approach made their way over to greet the new couple. Such was the expected thing to do when a member of the royal family appeared.

But some hung back. Count Dranbaldt and Count Caldina were two of these.

“Amazing. So it’s true, Prince Edward really is head over heels in love with Ms. Yuri.” Dranbaldt mused with a wry smile.

“Yes, quite right. And it seems Prince Edward isn’t here as a host but as a guest. I realize he hasn’t yet succeeded the throne, but I thought for sure that he would take the role of host alongside Queen Ellia—to show her family’s influence. Well, things look awfully intimate between the prince and his lady, so perhaps he doesn’t mind.”

 

***

 

While the two men conversed, Prince Edward and his coterie made their way toward Queen Ellia. Upon noticing the prince’s approach, the nobles surrounding the queen made way for him. 

“Oh, Edward! I know my bias as your mother, but you look simply dashing tonight!” Ellia said, clearly in high spirits. 

“I’m honored to hear it, Mother. You look exquisite tonight as well.”

“You’re too kind. You look lovely too, Yuri.”

“I’m flattered to receive such a compliment from the queen, but if I’m being honest, I’m concerned I still look a bit too childish… If only I could be as beautiful and elegant as you, Queen Ellia.”

“Oh ho ho. You’re perfect just the way you are, Yuri. Now is the only time in life when you’re allowed to be so cute, so enjoy it while it lasts. You have your own charm, after all.”

“Thank you.” Yuri smiled shyly at the queen, who looked quite pleased and smiled right back. 

“Van, Dorssen. I entrust the both of them to you,” Queen Ellia said. The two men bowed their heads in response. Then she frowned. “Hm? Is Berne not with you?”

Prince Edward shook his head. “No, he said he had a prior engagement…” 

Queen Ellia’s expression grew distant for a moment, but then her usual smile overtook her face as if nothing had happened. “I see. Well, go ahead and enjoy yourselves tonight.”

With that, the queen resumed her conversation with her circle of nobility, leaving Prince Edward and his companions to themselves.

 

***

 

Counts Dranbaldt and Caldina studied Queen Ellia and her faction from afar. Then, once again, they heard a commotion near the entrance. They turned to see the prime minister, Duke Louis de Armelia, arrive alongside his wife, Duchess Merellis Armelia. 

“Lady Merellis looks divine as usual,” Caldina whispered. Dranbaldt nodded in emphatic agreement. The two counts were just about the same age as the duchess. She was well loved by those of all ages but had a particularly fervent following among her peers, who considered her the pinnacle of beauty.

As those admirers watched her with ardent delight, she gracefully swept into the room, arm in arm with Duke Armelia. Tonight, she wore a gown in the latest fashion—sky blue to match her eyes, with a midnight-blue shawl over her shoulders. From her elegant appearance to her every subtle movement, it was clear why she was called the Flower of High Society. A crowd of nobles flocked to greet her. The counts had thought the crowd around Prince Edward was large, but it paled in comparison to the one gathering around the duchess. 

“Hm? What’s this?”

Suddenly, the entire room fell silent. Sensing the abrupt change of mood, the counts looked back and forth, searching for the source of the silence. It didn’t take them long at all to identify the proper direction—every noble near the entrance was completely frozen and focused on the same thing.

Who could it possibly be? Everyone of any note has already made their entrance, Count Dranbaldt thought as he followed their gazes with his own. Then he too was frozen to the spot, stunned by the sight before him.

The duke’s son, Berne Darshi Armelia, had come with a woman on his arm, and this woman was the one who had captured everyone’s attention.

“Beautiful…” Caldina murmured.

Dranbaldt couldn’t even respond; he was beside himself. Yet the same word echoed in his head.

The woman’s silvery platinum hair was so glossy, it not only caught the light but seemed to emit its own. Her delicate facial features and pale porcelain skin offset deep blue eyes, like flawless sapphires. Her antique-white dress, made of a luxurious, lustrous fabric, was unlike anything any of the other women wore. Furthermore, in lieu of the fashionable hourglass shape with puffed sleeves and voluminous skirts, the dress hugged her curves with a streamlined appearance. It suited her perfectly. The hem was elaborately embroidered with silver and blue thread. Finally, her waist was cinched with a deep blue sash that matched her beautiful eyes, accentuating their color even more.

The woman glowed beneath the light of the chandeliers. Her elegant figure inspired someone in the crowd to say, “She’s like a moon goddess,” without a hint of irony. No one could look away. 

“Who is she? I’d never forget a woman so beautiful…” Dranbaldt whispered in wonder.

Caldina tipped his head to the side. “If she’s with Lord Berne… Wait, don’t tell me that’s Iris, the duke’s daughter?!”

“It couldn’t be. She was expelled from high society, remember? I understand this is Foundation Day, but she would never show her face in the palace of all places.”

“Hm, I suppose you’re right…”

However, while the two men were convinced the woman couldn’t be Iris, she walked over to Duchess Armelia. The crowd swept away to make a path for her, though every eye remained quite enamored. They’d behaved just the same for Prince Edward, but privately, Count Dranbaldt thought that this woman carried herself even more regally than a member of the royal family.

Her very presence had altered the entire mood of the party. All eyes were on her, but she seemed unbothered by the attention as she stopped directly in front of the duchess and began speaking with her.

“It must be Lady Iris! She bears a rather striking resemblance to Her Grace…” Then another door opened, cutting Dranbaldt off mid-sentence.

In walked the queen dowager, Iria Fons Tasmeria, the highest-ranking woman in the kingdom.

Why is the queen dowager here but not the king? Caldina wondered, but he was quickly overcome by both a feeling of nostalgia and the automatic impulse to bow his head.

The queen dowager had once ruled this country after her older brother, the crown prince, passed away, leaving her the sole claimant to the throne. However, since no woman had ever sat alone on the Tasmerian throne, a duke had married into her family and the two had reigned together. During that era, she had hosted countless celebrations and fetes in her position as queen.

Once her son ascended to the throne, she had remained at the palace and continued to participate in functions for a time. She had since retired from public life and moved to the detached palace, a royal villa on the palace grounds. These days, she only rarely made appearances at any sort of event. Head still bowed, Dranbaldt wondered what in the world could have brought her here.

The music stopped playing as the queen dowager’s soft voice filled the room. “My people, you have all our thanks for joining us tonight in celebration of the founding of our kingdom. Unfortunately, the king is not feeling well this eve, and so he is at rest. He sends his deepest regrets that he was unable to attend.” 

Upon hearing this, a buzz ran through the nobles of the neutral faction, including Dranbaldt and Caldina.

The king is unwell.

Thus far, the tension between the factions had remained under the surface of kingdom politics, but the king’s absence would likely intensify this friction. Perhaps the queen dowager hoped her appearance tonight would temper these conflicts? If that was the case, it would make perfect sense.

“We have endured many hardships, and we are only able to welcome this joyous day on account of the efforts of everyone here, and those of our citizens who have supported our kingdom. On behalf of the king, I thank you. Please have a wonderful time tonight, and enjoy yourselves.”

As soon as the queen dowager finished speaking, the music began playing once more, and the party resumed.

The guests chatted and laughed, but their eyes drifted either toward the mysterious woman with Berne or toward the queen dowager. Then, of all things, the woman in question walked right up to the queen dowager, who had summoned her over. Once the nobles saw this, they forgot all about their own conversations and strained to hear the women’s exchange.

“Iris Lana Armelia,” said the queen dowager, “I’ve been so eager to see you. So much so, in fact, that I decided to attend this party for that very reason.”

More whispers flew through the room. So she was Duke Armelia’s daughter, Iris—that infamous woman, much talked of since her departure. Her return would have been shocking in and of itself. The fact that the queen dowager had just admitted to attending for the express purpose of seeing the duke’s daughter rendered it quite impossible for any noble to hide their surprise.

“I’ve so looked forward to hearing about your success as the president of the Azuta Corporation—on top of the impeccable job you’ve done as acting governor of Armelia.” 

That was all it took to make the nobles momentarily forget their every question and concern about the king. Yet another shock wave ran through the room.

“Did you hear that?” Caldina asked in disbelief.

“I certainly did. I can’t believe she’s in charge of the Azuta Corporation! Not only that, she’s simultaneously working as the acting governor of a domain?”

“I assumed that the duke himself had taken the helm.”

“I-I did as well… She really built one of the most prestigious companies in the kingdom at such a young age? And in only a few years? What an incredible talent…”

Meanwhile, the queen dowager continued her conversation with Iris. “I’m sure it’s not been without its hardships, of course. Please always feel free to come to me for advice if you run into any manner of difficulty.”

“You honor me with your offer.” Iris dipped into an elegant curtsy and withdrew. Even though she’d only exchanged a few sentences with her, she understood that the queen dowager had her hands full with greeting other guests. Once Iris left her side, another woman was summoned. 

Iris attempted to slip into the background; did she hope to escape the limelight? All eyes remained focused on her.

“Why on earth do you think Prince Edward broke off his engagement with her?” Dranbaldt wondered aloud, thoroughly baffled.

“Why, indeed! You heard the queen dowager—that woman is invaluable. Being the president of the Azuta Corporation is attractive in itself, but think of the wealth she must have accrued through it. And on top of that, the influence she has with the queen dowager! Every noble in the kingdom is here, and she was the first person summoned. Then the queen dowager offered her personal advice! That woman more or less just received the backing of the most powerful person in the royal family, and in front of everyone who’s anyone.”

“Yes… She has beauty, talent, lineage, backing… Any one of those on its own would make her a perfect match. Why, I’d say she has all the qualities one might wish for in a woman near to the throne. But instead, Prince Edward slighted her, broke their engagement, and immediately engaged himself to another woman! It leaves a terrible impression, frankly.”

“But fortuitous for the first prince’s faction.”

Indeed, if Prince Edward’s marriage to Iris had succeeded, he would have had the backing of the two most powerful noble houses in Tasmeria, Marea and Armelia, the latter of which included the prime minister. In that case, his ascension to the throne would have been all but guaranteed. Yet he had thrown it all away.

The question now was how Iris would reenter the fray. The first prince had no fiancée. If Iris did somehow marry him, the two would stand a real chance of unseating the second prince, whose greatest weapon was the backing of House Marea and their supporters.

No doubt, the as yet neutral faction was inwardly snickering while the first prince’s supporters were over the moon. Meanwhile, the second prince’s supporters were gritting their teeth, beside themselves at the sight of this wondrous catch who had escaped them.

This was the impression Iris left on the court. Everyone waited on tenterhooks for an opportunity to approach her, but none could seem to find one. She was already engaged in conversation with her family.

One person, however, failed to read the room and approached her anyway.

“It’s wonderful to see you again, Lady Iris.”

 

***

 

I was utterly and entirely confused. It was bizarre enough that I had been invited to the Foundation Day celebration in the first place, and it had taken every bit of courage I could muster to even walk through the doors. But much to my surprise, I had been greeted not by the glares I expected but with fascinated and curious stares.

Bewildered, I was suddenly struck with a terrible case of nerves. Not only that, the queen dowager instantly summoned me to her side and, to my disbelief, declared her open support for me. 

Was she the one who invited me? I wondered. If so, then I had accomplished my mission here. I let out a relieved sigh and retreated to a corner of the room where I might spend the rest of my night silently.

Then she appeared before me. Yuri.

And not just her, but a terribly disgruntled Edward by her side, along with Van and Dorssen, all of whom stared at me as if I had grown a second head.

“It’s nice to see you again,” I said with a smile. I hoped it didn’t look too fake.

“It’s been so long since your time at the academy,” said Yuri. “I’m so pleased to see you’re looking well.”

Was she trying to imply something or was this genuine concern? Honestly, I never knew when it came to her. Either way, the least I could do was exchange pleasantries.

“I’m pleased to see you well in turn, Ms. Yuri.”

“I can hardly believe it’s really you, Lady Iris,” Van interjected from Yuri’s side.

Yuri smiled. “See, I told you I never forget a face. Plus, she was with Berne, so it had to be her.”

“She’s just changed so completely—I hardly recognized her.”

I was so shocked to hear them exchange such overt opinions about me right in front of my face that I couldn’t speak. It was the height of rudeness.

“You’re so smart, Yuri.”

“Eh he he… Thank you, Prince Edward.”

Yes, yes. It seemed everything was still sunshine and rainbows with these two. But really, how incredibly inconsiderate of Edward to have this conversation under his ex-fiancée’s nose. Honestly, I expected as much of Yuri, but had Edward always been so witless? I had to wonder. Then I remembered the last thing he’d said to me at the academy and all those doubts flew away.

“By the way, what ever are you doing here today, Lady Iris?” Another unexpected jab from Yuri made my smile crack for a split second.

“What am I doing here?”

Yuri’s gaze flitted away awkwardly. “Well, because you…”

“There’s no reason to ask when you know the answer. Because there is none. You have lost your right to attend high society functions, Iris.” Edward spoke over Yuri as he glared at me.

He really had no justification for all that hostility.

“Lost my right? I—”

“Yuri’s a kind soul. So she was trying to give you a warning,” he continued, interrupting my attempt to defend myself.

Will you listen to me already? I frowned. “A warning?”

Meanwhile, Yuri seemed baffled by Edward’s assertion and blinked at him curiously.

“I’ve come here tonight by invitation of the queen dowager,” I said. “My attendance has nothing to do with my particular right. I merely followed orders as a subject of the kingdom.”

“What? Grandmother invited you?!” Edward seemed stunned. Had he not just seen me speaking with her? “No, there’s no way she would extend an invitation to someone so wicked. If you’re going to lie, at least try to come up with something more believable next time.”

I was just about to retort that this was no way to talk to someone with whom he had once been engaged, but Yuri spoke before I could.

“U-um, I—that wasn’t what I meant.”

“Excuse me?” I was so baffled by Yuri’s statement that I momentarily forgot my anger. What did she mean, then? She was the one who’d started this!

“What I meant to ask was, are you perhaps here tonight to promote that dress?”

“Promote?”

“Y-yes! I mean, you’re from Armelia, aren’t you? And that’s where the Azuta Corporation is based. So I was thinking maybe someone at the company had asked you to come advertise the dress here or something.”

No one from the Azuta Corporation had to ask me to do anything, because I owned the company. They must have no idea that I’m the president, I thought. I remembered then how Sei told me that Edward had made quite the fuss when Yuri applied for membership.

This made me even more certain that they had, in fact, failed to see me speak with the queen dowager.

“I’m not here to promote anything,” I told Yuri. “But I did want to show off our new product, which is the material this dress is made from.”

“Ah, I knew it! It’s beautiful. I want a dress made out of that same fabric. How can I buy it?”

From there, Yuri and I continued our conversation, leaving Edward entirely out of the equation.

“We don’t have enough of the material to sell any fabrics yet, but we’ll begin manufacturing apparel once we do.”

“Oh, I see. Well, it’s so gorgeous I thought I’d just die to have one of my own. Isn’t there anything you can do to make that happen?”

“I’m very happy to hear you like it so much, but I’m afraid we need more time before we can begin selling. Please understand.”

Not to mention, the country I’m importing the silk from is charging me an arm and a leg. I might have been tempted to make an exception for a valued member, but such a project really would put me in the red when I thought about the import costs. It was going to take a while before we could launch the wide-scale sale of silk dresses. We didn’t even have the stores to sell the fabric itself at a profit. We’d used up everything we had to fashion the dress I was at that moment wearing.

“But…” Yuri frowned.

“Th-that’s right,” Edward said hastily. “Yuri’s going to be part of the royal family, and she’s making a request. It’s your duty to accommodate her!”

“I’m afraid it’s impossible.” Despite my best efforts, I let out a deep sigh. They were being so stubborn with these unreasonable demands. Speaking with them was exhausting.

“Wh-why, you insolent…!” Edward’s face reddened.

Fortunately, most of the surrounding crowd was too absorbed in enjoying the music or their own conversations to pay us any heed. But the ones closest to us did stare, wondering what in the world was going on.

Honestly, how troublesome.

“My, my. What’s the commotion over here?” My mother suddenly appeared from behind me.

Yuri brightened. “Ah, Duchess! It’s a pleasure to see you again.”

My mother ignored Yuri as she would the breeze and came straight over to me. “Are you all right, dear?”

“Yes, I’m fine, Mother. I’m so sorry for the fuss.”

“Duchess Armelia!” Edward addressed my mother with the same tone he’d used on me.

She frowned ever so slightly at the sight of him. “Oh, Your Highness. Why ever are you raising your voice in the middle of a party? What could be the matter?”

“The matter is that you just ignored Yuri. Under certain circumstances, that could be considered akin to treason, you know!”

“Please, Sir. Enough with the jokes. Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten the rules of the court?” My mother swept her fan upward, hiding her mouth—as well as a deep sigh just like the one I had let out, perhaps? She spoke clearly, staring down at both Edward and Yuri. “It would be uncouth for a member of the lower class to preemptively address someone of higher status. And if Ms. Yuri here is to be your wife—in fact, because she is to be your wife—it is critical that we abide by those rules.”

“But Yuri’s my fiancée.”

“Indeed, so she is. But a fiancée is not a wife. In other words, she is not yet part of the royal family. Her social status remains the same as it ever was. What’s more…you never know what might happen before a wedding.” She cast a meaningful glance in my direction.

Ah, right. This jerk had a track record of breaking off engagements. Case in point: me.

“Yes, quite,” Van said, too smugly for my taste. “Yuri isn’t yet married to Prince Edward. However, he chose her to be his fiancée. And the queen dowager herself has given them her blessing. This engagement has the full support of the royal family. Unlike his previous situation.”

My engagement with Edward had been arranged by my family, not the royal house. Van’s implication was obviously that since Edward had personally chosen Yuri, he wouldn’t cast her off like he had me.

I clenched my hand around my fan. Nothing Van said was incorrect. But how dare he say it to me in public?

“Yuri’s a kind girl,” Dorssen added. “Kindness is a necessary quality for anyone who will stand above others. I’m certain she’ll be a lovely queen.”

As opposed to someone like me, widely blamed for bullying Yuri? Whether that was his intended implication or not, I was so irritated by this point that everything felt like an insult.

“Excuse me, Merellis—Your Grace…” Yuri spoke. “But I’m not sure social status has anything to do with greeting someone. If someone greets you, isn’t it merely common courtesy to return their greeting?”

My mother and I—and every single person around us—turned to stare at Yuri in shock. Well, except for Edward and Yuri’s cronies. They didn’t look shocked at all.

Common courtesy, eh? The world of aristocracy was chock-full of formalities to observe and rules to follow. Doing so wasn’t easy. But in this world, the king sat at the top of a pyramid with every other noble underneath him; etiquette was a vital part of ensuring the stability of that pyramid. Certainly in Japan, it would have been considered terribly rude to ignore anyone who greeted you. But just as there were proper ways to greet someone and return said greeting in Japan, this world had its own rules.

“Ms. Yuri, should you become a member of the royal family, you will be expected to behave in accordance with the court,” my mother said, hiding another sigh behind her fan.

“Those courtly rules you speak of represent an antiquated way of thought,” Edward declared. “And if you assume that way of thinking will always prevail, you’re wrong. Once Yuri becomes queen, she’ll break down those old ideals and bring a breath of fresh air to this kingdom.” He slid an arm around Yuri’s shoulders and squeezed.

Under normal circumstances, I could have ignored such a sentimental display. But not paired with those words. If they had been directed at me? I likely could have brushed it off. But had he just called my mother, the Flower of High Society, old and antiquated?!

“A breath of fresh air… How very lovely,” I said with a smile on my face. “When Ms. Yuri eventually becomes queen, I understand that will be her way of thinking. However, Ms. Yuri is not yet the queen. And in order to change long-held traditions, why, she would need the acceptance and approval of everyone to whom those traditions are precious. You know, those same nobles who, here and now, you say cleave to such antiquated ideals. Suffice to say, I think it profoundly unwise to disrespect them.”

My words made Edward’s face turn a purplish shade of red, exposing his anger. “The impudence! Someone such as you does not even belong here! Leave this place at once!”

“Your Highness,” my mother chided. “You cannot simply ignore the wishes of the person who invited Iris here in the first place with your demands.”

“Merellis is right,” said the queen dowager herself as she joined the conversation.

“Grandmother?!”

“Goodness, are you sure you shouldn’t be in your seat, Your Majesty?” my mother asked nonchalantly, in direct contrast to Edward’s shocked reaction.

“Never fear. I’ve seen to most of my pleasantries. More importantly, Iris—come with me. I wish to hear tell of all your recent exploits! Will you be staying here, Merellis?”

“No, I think not.”

“Wonderful. Duke Armelia and Marquis Anderson are over there waiting for you. Go tend to them, would you?”

“Of course.”

“Berne, I hate to leave you alone. Why don’t you go give your father some company, too?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Now that all that was settled, Edward repeated himself. “Grandmother…”

“What is it, Edward?” the queen dowager responded coldly. “My, you’re noisome today. Numerous delegates from other countries are attending the celebration tonight, so I expect you to conduct yourself accordingly. But perhaps you need to cool your head. You’ll shame our kingdom if you continue with this kind of behavior.”

With that, she began walking, with me and my family following her. As we left Edward and his companions, I cast a glance in his direction. He sent me the most intense glare I’d ever received.

I was certain he would blame me for all of this.

At any rate, the queen dowager once again took her seat.

The celebration was filled with many prominent faces, all of whom were smiling, yet they nevertheless made for an intimidating crowd. Among the foreign guests in attendance were many people of high social standing who held prestigious posts. Then there were the top military officers of the kingdom, including my grandfather, along with the ladies and gentlemen who held important positions in the court. The fact that they all flocked around the queen dowager proved that she still held incredible influence.

I worried again over whether it had been wise to come, but I still obediently listened to the queen dowager.

“Iris, I’m so sorry for that dreadful situation you were just subjected to.”

“Not at all! Your Majesty has no need to apologize for anything.”

“No, it was I who invited you, so I am responsible for any poor treatment you endure.”

“Poor treatment… I was prepared for him to say such things to me. In fact, I remain surprised anyone has anything kind to say to me at all. Which brings me to ask, Madam, why did you invite me here in the first place?”

“Why, because I’m cheering for you. Seeing a woman working as hard as you do is just so wonderful. So, I was very much looking forward to speaking with you tonight.”

“Thank you.”

“Relatedly, the chocolate treats your company concocts are simply delicious. I’ve been treating myself to some every day lately!”

“Oh! I had no idea you were a fan of our chocolate. I’m incredibly honored.”

“Quite. Honestly, I’d love to go to the shop and pick some out myself, but I’m afraid my position doesn’t allow me that sort of freedom…”

“Of course…”

Was there something else going on here? The queen dowager just seemed to be showering me with compliments. But I couldn’t let this opportunity pass me by.

“If it would please you, Madam…perhaps I could regularly send you a sampler of our company’s catalog?”

“Oh, my! Would you do that?”

“Yes, of course. I will have to return to the duchy soon, though. But with your permission, I can send someone from the company to bring you an array of products to select from.”

“That would be wonderful! Yes, please do that. Oh, look at the two of us, having all the fun! I’m so sorry. Would you like to try some, too?”

The queen dowager noticed some foreign guests looking at us curiously and motioned to a servant, who brought over a box. The box itself was so ornately decorated it almost looked like a treasure chest. But when the servant opened it, I was surprised to see it filled with Azuta Corporation chocolates.

The queen dowager picked one up and happily took a bite. “Please, go ahead!”

The servant passed chocolates out to the nearby guests, and they all sampled one.

“Delicious!”

“Hmm… I’ve never tasted anything like this.”

“Neither have I… This is so delicious, I can’t imagine a soul who wouldn’t love it.”

I was certain some of them had never tasted chocolate before. They all had quite a favorable reaction. Although I’m sure a hefty part of that was because the queen dowager herself had recommended them. However, since she had generously given me the opportunity to promote my products, I wasn’t going to let that slip past.

“I’m so pleased to hear you like them!” I said to the people who seemed most surprised. “I heard that in your country, you enjoy refreshing fruits instead of sweets, so I was curious to see if you would like the chocolate.”

“Oh? You know where we’re from, even though we haven’t introduced ourselves yet?”

“Of course! You’re such important guests to Tasmeria. It’s only natural that I be aware of visitors to our wonderful kingdom.” This kind of response was what I had been coached to perform during the short time when I was preparing to marry into the royal family. I had been educated on all our neighboring countries and our relationships with them.

“Hm… Yes, it’s just as you say; in our kingdom, we prefer fresh, subtle flavors.”

“Indeed. Well, those chocolates are just one of the many products we offer. I would love for you to try the other flavors we have to see which one you like the most.”

The foreign guests chuckled at the idea of me using such an occasion to pitch my products, but at the same time, their eyes shone with curiosity.

“Interesting. I’ll have to do that sometime.”

“Yes, quite. I’d love to bring some nice items back home to share.”

Great, they’re loving the idea. I was starting to think that it had been a good idea to come to the celebration after all, at least from a financial standpoint.

After that, I spent some time chatting with the queen dowager and answering questions from and asking questions of the foreign guests. For the most part, I inquired about their culture and tastes, so they answered me readily.

Yes, this had been most advantageous indeed. I could take the information I gathered here back to my company with the goal of eventually exporting our products to these other countries. And now I had intermediaries lined up to begin the process.

After some time, the music changed.

“Are you sure you don’t want to dance, Iris? Pardon me for keeping such a young woman all to myself!” the queen dowager whispered apologetically into my ear.

“Thank you so much for your kind concern, Madam, but I’m so enjoying chatting with you and the other guests. Not to mention, there’s no one in particular I’d like to dance with…” I lowered my voice with that last sentence so that only she could hear me.

Although I’d been able to more or less repair my image, thanks to the queen dowager’s attention, it was hard to ignore the fact that the second prince’s faction was still glaring daggers at me. In other words, it benefitted me much more to remain at her side than to go find a dancing partner.

“Iris, I’m certain that the moment you step out onto the dance floor, you’ll be inundated with requests! And there are plenty of men here who’d love to dance with you, too.” The queen dowager cast a glance to my side where Berne stood. “Isn’t that right, Berne?”

“That’s right. I’d love to dance with my sister—with your permission, Your Majesty.”

“Did you hear that, Iris? What do you say?”

“Well, then. I’ll take you up on the kind offer.”

That was that. Berne escorted me toward the dance floor.

“Forgive me for taking you away from the queen dowager, Sister.”

“It’s fine. But I’m certain you don’t actually want to dance with me.”

“You won’t be able to speak with the other nobles if you stay cooped up over there the whole night. Of course, it’s important to remain in the royal family’s good graces, but your connections with the rest of the nobility are important as well. In fact, Father told me to fetch you because he suspected the queen dowager was probably suggesting you go dance—he thinks she’s worried about that exact thing.”

“Ah, so Father sent you? Then there’s no reason for you to apologize. Perhaps I should be the one to tell you I’m sorry, for taking up your time.”

“Not at all. Still, Sister… Your heart must be made of steel,” Berne said with a sigh.

“That’s a bit rude to say to someone, even if they are your sister.”

“I’d think it about anyone who carries themselves with as much composure as you did in front of all those foreign dignitaries.”

“Oh…” Now that I thought about it, I had certainly been out of my league with that group. They were all incredibly prominent individuals, and much older than me as well. They probably wouldn’t have given a young woman like me a second glance if not for the backing of the queen dowager.

At last, Berne and I arrived at the dance floor.

“It’s been a long time since you and I danced together like this, hasn’t it?”

“It has, Sister.”

And so we began to dance.

 

***

 

“My, how beautiful…” Marquis Gazell Daz Anderson, the general of the kingdom who was hailed as a hero, sighed as he watched his granddaughter Iris dance. “I may be a rugged sort without the least interest in dance, but even I can see how beautifully she moves, Louis.”

The self-professed rugged man had, however, shaved his usually scruffy beard and slicked back his wild hair in honor of Foundation Day. Under normal circumstances, when he stood next to his daughter Merellis, his peers often teased him and said they looked like Beauty and the Beast. But he had cleaned himself up such that it was apparent where Merellis’s good looks had come from. In fact, many young women had been stealing glances at him all night.

“You should tell her that yourself later. I’m sure she’d love to hear it,” said Louis.

“Ha ha ha. Not from an old man like me.”

“You really should think more highly of yourself, Gazell.”

“That goes for Iris as well. Take a look around. Prince Edward is dancing with Ms. Yuri, and Van and Dorssen are terribly popular with the young people—yet all eyes are on our Iris.”

General Gazell was right; until Iris and Berne had arrived on the dance floor, the young guests had been uniformly focused on Prince Edward and his group, just as their parents, the older generation, had been keenly interested in the queen dowager’s conversation with Iris.

Now, however, everyone was watching Iris, regardless of age or gender. She sparkled.

“Everyone will want to make her acquaintance now.”

“I agree. But that means she has returned to this cutthroat world.” Louis’s face clouded, his eyes filled with sympathy and concern.

“True. So it’ll be as it was when she attended the academy.”

“I’m sure. But the people she’ll meet now are far more cunning than they were back then.”

“Yes, but you called her to the capital because you believed her capable, did you not?”

“It wasn’t a matter of believing in her. It was necessary in order to ensure she could continue running the duchy and managing her company.”

“Why can’t you just admit it?” Gazell said with a wry smile. “Ah, Iris has retired.”

Just as he said, Iris had left Berne’s side to go fetch a drink. She looked a bit tired after several rounds.

“Wonder who will approach her first?”

“What in the world is Berne thinking? I told him not to leave her side under any circumstances.” Louis sounded slightly irritated.

“Wait, Louis. Look over there…”

Louis followed Gazell’s gaze, his eyes widening at what he saw. “Berne still has his eye on Ms. Yuri…?” he asked, a dangerous glint in his eye.

 

***

 

Meanwhile, Berne had no idea that his father was watching him as Yuri invited him out to the terrace.

“Did you want something?” he asked her.

“Not especially. Can’t I just want to speak with you?”

“I didn’t say that,” Berne responded softly. Yuri smiled and was about to open her mouth, but he beat her to it. “But you’re officially engaged to Prince Edward now. And if you will eventually become the queen, you must serve as an example to the other nobles.”

“So I can’t talk to my friends?”

“Friends, hm? Of course you can. But if people see us conversing alone, they might misunderstand our relationship and twist their version of events until everyone believes it. I have no desire to become involved in a situation that could so easily be misconstrued.” Berne smiled as he said this, but his eyes were dismissive.

“But I’m worried about you,” Yuri pressed. “You’ve been so busy lately that I haven’t seen you at all. You always work so hard that you forget to take care of yourself. So I’m afraid you’re pushing yourself again…”

“I’m not pushing myself at all,” Berne replied, his mind suddenly returning to a memory of his sister—her lights on late into the night as she worked tirelessly, buried under a pile of papers and books as tall as she was. That sight had inspired him.

“Are you sure? I’m just concerned because I know how hard you can be on yourself…”

“You’re something of a dream, aren’t you?”

Yuri gave him a surprised look for a moment, and then a pleased, shy smile spread across her face as she glanced away. That was why she didn’t notice how frosty his gaze had become.

“But I’m a man who lives in reality. So please, Ms. Yuri… Forget about me and live in your own world.” With that, Berne walked away from her.

“Your words had a bit of a sting to them, didn’t they?” Merellis remarked as she walked over to him.

“What are you doing here, Mother?”

“I was taking a break from the party and spotted you with Ms. Yuri. I wanted to see how you reacted to her. Your father was quite concerned, but he can’t slip away as easily as I can.”

“I see. I’m sure it wasn’t terribly interesting,” Berne said with a bitter smile.

“On the contrary. I found it incredibly interesting. Especially the last thing you said to her, which, translated bluntly, means ‘The two of us live in different worlds, so stop flirting with me.’ Or something to that effect, no?”

“Yes. And I meant what I said, about her being some manner of dream. That wasn’t figurative.”

“Hmm…”

“Dreams make everything softer and kinder. They’re an escape for when life isn’t working in your favor. That’s why I got so lost in her. But dreams are nothing more than an illusion. Fleeting, intangible…not real. That’s how I feel about her words—no, her entire being now.”

Before, Yuri had suggested charity events to help the citizens. Berne was sure they had helped a few individuals, but none of them had actually solved any underlying problems. They were just delaying suffering.

“All you ever ask is why. But fine. The more people who study here and gain knowledge, the more that knowledge will spread among our people. It might take some time, but in ten or twenty years, the Armelian standard of living will surely rise. As governor, I believe it’s necessary to look toward that future.”

That was what Iris had said as she looked over her academy with a smile. Now Berne knew that behind that smile lay the back-breaking work she had put in to make it all happen. Despite the struggles that reality had laid before his sister, she had gritted her teeth and worked to make her dreams become reality. Since witnessing her in action, Berne had grown ashamed of how he had run from hardship into his own sweet dreams.

In other words, he had woken up. At the same time, he realized what he had done, and also what he hadn’t.

“I’ve realized I can’t afford to get distracted, so therefore I no longer have time for distractions. I only want to move forward without bringing shame to the Armelia name.”

“My! You’ve become awfully mature, haven’t you?” his mother said with a smile. “But it’s still not enough. You lost your father’s trust once, so I’m looking forward to seeing how you regain it.”

“You’re so strict with me, Mother.”

The duchess responded to that with a smile as well. Berne bid his mother farewell and then went off to look for Iris. It was quite simple to find her, seeing as she was surrounded by a large crowd of people, all around their parents’ age. They seemed absolutely enraptured by their conversations with her.

She appeared to be keeping up well, but as soon as Berne arrived by her side, she let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much, everyone. But I must excuse myself now that Berne is back.” He took the hint and escorted her out of the room.

 

***

 

The day after the Foundation Day celebration, the queen dowager summoned Alfred, the first prince, to the detached palace to speak with her. There, she regaled him with the story of the fete he had not attended.

“Is that how it went?” he asked.

“Yes, but it would have been far more amusing if Ellia and her family swept in and made a scene. But she was so fixated on trying to flaunt her position to the crowd that she entirely failed to notice! Marquis Marea did, mind you, but he knew better than to attempt to insert himself into the exchange, let alone participate.” The queen dowager sounded dissatisfied.

In contrast, Prince Albert nodded with approval. “Avarice will do him no favors. Of course, we can’t let our foreign guests witness our kingdom’s mess. Nevertheless, you managed to slow the momentum of the second prince’s faction and kept the neutral faction in check. I would expect nothing less from you, Grandmother.”

“I didn’t have to lift a finger. Edward sabotaged himself, I suppose you could say. Has that child always been so thoughtless?”

“I couldn’t say. He’s always been headstrong. I think the best way to describe him at present would be to say he’s a runaway horse with no rider,” Prince Alfred mused, to which the queen dowager nodded.

“And the person who set the horse loose from the stable is that baron’s daughter, no? Knowing you, I’m sure you’ve looked into her background.”

“Yes, of course. Rudy?”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Rudy, who stood at alert next to the prince, took a step forward. “Ms. Yuri is the illegitimate child of the Baron Neuer and a servant who worked at the palace. The servant resigned her position here and joined House Neuer. However, she left while still pregnant with Ms. Yuri. The baron searched for the woman and girl for more than a decade and finally found them shortly before Ms. Yuri joined the academy.”

“If the baron searched for so long, they must have been quite important to him,” said the queen dowager.

By “important,” she implied how dearly the baron must have loved both Yuri and her mother. In other words, she had grasped the baron’s weakness. Sadly, the world of aristocracy was not the world of fairy tales, and no one could survive with the power of love alone.

“My apologies, but that is the extent of my findings for now,” said Rudy. “I’m still looking into the baron’s situation.”

“I see. Please continue your investigation, and don’t overlook anything, no matter how small—not even the most inconsequential detail.”

“Yes, Madam,” Rudy answered with a smart bow.

The queen dowager glanced at Prince Alfred. “It’s certainly more convenient for you if Prince Edward is running about every which way, granted.”

“I haven’t the slightest idea what you mean, Grandmother.”

The queen dowager sighed inwardly. Her grandson always kept his cards so close to his chest. “I’m sure a number of individuals in the second prince’s faction were displeased with the night’s events. Just as there were a number happy to see the riderless horse and consider that they might take those loose reins for themselves. Either way, they’ll make themselves more visible and their faction will suffer, especially as Edward carries on. Hence, it’s all quite favorable for you.”

“I can’t deny that he makes good bait,” Prince Alfred answered with a wry smile.

The queen dowager thought he sounded genuine enough.

Too few noble houses still took pride in standing above and protecting the citizens. Instead, they obsessed over their prestige and lived as extravagantly as possible. They took pride in their status for their own self-satisfaction and vied for power and influence purely for the sake of their selfish pursuits. To these people, the royal family was not something to revere but a resource to manipulate. Therefore, in their eyes, Prince Edward was the ideal candidate for the throne. They saw him as easy to control; with him in power, they would be able to do as they pleased behind the scenes.

Now, surely even more people would join the second prince’s faction with that goal in mind. Even more so if Prince Alfred refused to come forward as an alternative candidate. He had not been seen in public for ten years, after all, not since he was a child. He had attended the royal academy in secret, concealing his true name and lineage. In all likelihood, very few people remembered him. Thus it was no wonder that certain people threw their support behind the easily manipulated Prince Edward instead of the reclusive first prince.

But now there was at last a chance to rid the kingdom of all these people, all at once. More chances would doubtlessly arise if Prince Edward continued on as he had at the Foundation Day celebration.

“So? Have you decided your next move?”

Prince Alfred remained silent, with nothing but a smile on his face. Once again, the queen dowager couldn’t help but chuckle to herself. He was her own flesh and blood, yet he remained inscrutable.

“Well, no matter,” she said. “Regardless of what you decide, I’ve already agreed to it. Whatever the outcome, all that boy must do is continue playing the fool.”

She had long since decided she couldn’t expect anything else from Prince Edward so long as Yuri remained an influence upon him. In all honesty, she had once considered exercising her own power to pull his strings, but she had decided that too risky an investment.

Conversely, though she never knew Alfred’s true thoughts, she had every confidence that he would never endanger the kingdom’s future. Even if he somehow failed to live up to her expectations, he was a far better choice than Edward.

“By the by, I invited Iris to the celebration,” she said. “She’s grown into quite the beautiful young lady, hasn’t she?”

Prince Alfred’s expression tightened slightly when she mentioned the girl’s name, but he swiftly regained his usual mask. “Why did you go to the trouble of inviting her, Grandmother?”

The queen dowager heard the slightest edge in his voice. That pleased her. It went to show how much he cared for the girl. “I adore a hardworking girl. It’s only natural, isn’t it, that I should want to see her?”

Iris was blessed with Merellis’s beauty and Louis’s noble aura. If the people compared Merellis to a bouquet of roses, they could liken Iris’s pure, refined beauty to that of a lily. Two different types, yet I prefer the latter, the queen dowager thought with a satisfied smile, reflecting on Iris’s exquisite appearance at the celebration.

“It’s only to her advantage, no? Now she’s forged valuable connections to influential people from other kingdoms. And Merry says she’s already received several invitations to visit new acquaintances within the capital as well.”

“Anyone of intelligence would desire her acquaintance.”

“I’m sure. What with her wealth, skills, beauty, and lineage…she makes for an incredibly attractive prospect. Don’t you think so, Alfred?”

“Yes,” he answered plainly.

The queen dowager frowned. She wished he had at least shown a reaction on his face. She studied him keenly, making no attempt to hide that she was doing so. Once he noticed her gaze, his wry smile deepened.

“It seems you’d like to say something to me.”

“No, not particularly.” There’s no use trying to loosen those lips. So she changed the subject, choosing to be content with the slight reaction she had provoked. “Incidentally, Alfred, I was wondering if you’d tell me your thoughts on the duchy of Armelia.”

“What do you mean?”

“Why, the state of their government and general reorganization, of course. What else could I mean?”

“To sum it up in one word, I would probably say it’s intriguing. The acting governor aggressively instated a variety of new policies. If I were to speak as a member of the royal family, my main points of interest would be the duchy’s capacity for growth and its military power. I wouldn’t be surprised if, in a hundred years, the duchy of Armelia grew more materially powerful than the rest of the kingdom combined.”

“I thought you would say as much. In most cases, I’d disapprove of one house acquiring so much power. But if the kingdom wishes to progress, then its domains must also, and we cannot hamper the rate of that progression.”

“So you say, but I know you have no interest in interfering with that family’s affairs. You’ve proven as much by neglecting to curtail the duchy’s private soldiers—they’re at least as skilled as the royal knights.”

“Are you in any position to criticize? I know you’ve secretly been doing everything in your power to ease Iris’s work.”

At this, yet another wry smile appeared on the prince’s face.

“So long as no one involved with their house harbors any ulterior motives, it seems silly to be suspicious of them,” the queen dowager concluded. “Especially as no other noble family works so diligently for the kingdom and our citizens. To wit, I’d be more concerned that they would take offense at our meddling.”

Not even the royal family would escape unscathed if they made enemies of House Armelia. Furthermore, if they did somehow lessen Armelia’s influence, it would only be divided among the other houses. It was more convenient, in the end, to keep that power with a family they trusted.

After that, the queen dowager and the prince talked business for a time. Prince Alfred had been hard at work cleaning up Prince Edward’s messes during the king’s absence—with help from the prime minister. The queen dowager had given them her full support in these endeavors.

Once they had covered every issue at hand, the prince bowed and excused himself. “Well, Grandmother, I should be going now.”

At last, he left alongside Rudy.