A tea party was nothing more than a social event made by the partners of the nobles of high society. A meeting to enjoy an afternoon in the company of good friends and catch up. However, such feasts could be even more gloomy than it seemed.
It was not uncommon for a host to hold a tea party with the intention of creating connections with other nobles through their wives. Nor was it unusual to use such an event to socially belittle someone, or publicly humiliate them. All this made a simple tea party become a war camp of consorts.
Lucian was about to enter such a war.
"Many people still despise you for having lived in the palace away from social events. Especially those who tried to court the Grand Duke when he was single. Then, you will be the target of envy and malicious comments."
The warning that Cassander gave him while he was combing his blond hair and preparing for the event was not ignored by Lucian. Throughout their journey to the Countess Sahana's mansion, Lucian was anxious to deal with such comments.
Although he thought that no one would have the audacity, since it would be accompanied by none other than the Imperial Consort. The only person above the Consort was the Emperor himself, his husband. Lucian admitted to himself that he would make good use of the influence that the father of the Eighth Prince had.
The commotion already began the instant they arrived at the Mansion. The servants looked at the imperial carriage with such surprise, that Lucian almost felt pleasure and satisfaction. Cassander was a genius for choosing to arrive last, purposely delaying his arrival just to give the impression that he would have refused the invitation again. Cassander wanted the Countess to think that he always avoided her because of his past with the Emperor.
If before Lucian had a tip of satisfaction with the reaction of mere servants, well... The pleasure rose in his chest when he saw the reaction of the assembled people when the steward announced his arrival.
"My Lady, His Majesty the Imperial Consort and His Highness Consort Grimwood have just arrived."
"What?!!"
"My goodness!" whispered a lady, covering her mouth to hide the surprise.
Countess Sahana stood up quickly and turned to the door, being imitated by the other ladies. All surprised to see Lucian and Cassander there, although having Raven and Dahlia as royalty who were also surprised to see them.
"Your Majesty! I did not expect you to finally accept my invitation."
"Indeed, my health finally did not prevent me from delighting a brief meeting to have tea."
"I see you brought Your Highness..."
Lucian evaluated the Countess from top to bottom, noticing her nervousness mixed with other emotions that he did not recognize so readily. Perhaps it was expected considering the current circumstances. Lucian merely smiled sweetly and tilted his head slightly.
"I was given the duty to accompany His Majesty to ensure that your health does not take away the pleasure of enjoying the afternoon with such kind people. I hope that my presence does not cause discomfort to your guests."
"Not at all, welcome."
While the two were greeted, Lucian took a brief look at the tea table. It was extensive with some unknown faces. But he saw his sisters and also... Maverick. It left him puzzled, considering that Maverick was a knight who should be working and not sitting at a tea table.
Only that he also noticed that Raven was sitting next to him, which has already explained a lot.
Well, Lucian would ignore the presence of a brute like Maverick. Just the fact that he did not do his part to save Stephen as in the original already made him lose even more points.
Countess Sahana continued the party. All there seemed nervous in the presence of Cassander, but the host knew to circumvent the situation and pulled various subjects that soon made the table noisy. In fact, she clearly ignored Cassander at the tea table.
Taking a sip of tea and just listening to the buzzing conversations, Lucian chose to remain silent. It was more interesting to observe the people around, as Dáhlia who remained serious and cold, even being the center of attention of the single ladies who filled her with questions.
Unlike the mother, who talked very well pretending not to be impacted by the death of Elyon, Dahlia did not hide. It was clear his discomfort behind that coldness. Maybe that's why Raven led the conversation and covered it with gentle smiles and warm touches on her hand.
At least they seemed to follow the Emperor's order not to make Elyon's death public.
"Your Highness, how is His Grace's health? I have heard that he was heavily wounded during the rebel invasion at the hunting festival."
Waking from the daydreams, Lucian raised his head to the lady of red hair who looked at him with derision. Was she one of the girls your father had mentioned before?
"His wounds are already healed, he is a very strong man and can recover quickly."
"My, I was very worried when I heard the commotion. Especially because he went out looking for His Highness who went after another man."
That part of the table was taken by silence and the malicious glances fell upon Lucian. The alpha squeezed his fingers on the lap, remembering with accuracy the bitter taste of guilt of that event. The most uncomfortable feeling that could eat him alive and make him uncomfortable to the point of wanting to give up everything in that life.
"Whatever happened, I believe you did it for me."
Those words spoken by Magnus soothe his heart until now.
A thin smile sprouted on his lips, which left many ladies confused.
"You are well informed for someone who did not attend the festival."
"But of course..."
Before she continued, Lucian interrupted her.
"Despite the way you said to make it look like I helped another man with bad intentions, I must remind you that the situation at that time was comparable to a war. Lives were lost in that attack. I just did what was in my power to save a life, regardless of whether was male or female, married or single."
His words were direct and left the lady without having to argue. Lucian smiled satisfied by the clasp and drank his tea keeping class and etiquette. Basically saying that even being considered a useless, he tried to be noble and save someone, something that few people there did too.
And to make it clear that everything was fine between him and Magnus, Lucian — "unpretentiously" — tilted his head slightly, but enough to expose the hickey on his neck. The night before Lucian and Magnus became intimate and he made sure to rub it in everyone's face.
Now that, as if Lucian would let Magnus slip from his fingers.
"I'm relieved to know that my brother-in-law is recovering so well. It was such a scary day" commented Raven with some regret.
"You must have been scared too, dear", Cassander commented with a thin and elegant smile "After all, the rebels used you as a hostage."
Raven raised her peach eyes to Cassander, and opened a sad smile.
"In fact, I was really scared. If it wasn't for the knights of the temple rescuing us because of Lucian, I don't know what would have happened to all three of us."
It seemed that the story of the three being kidnapped had already spread. Lucian drank the tea while looked at his older sister who was comforted by her social friends.
"I believe that such a situation could have been avoided if they were more careful."
The speech of the man sitting at the other end of the table almost made Lucian roll his eyes. Maverick glared at him furiously with clenched fingers on the tea table.
"Sir Maverick!", Raven looked at him in surprise.
"Forgive me my rudeness, Your Highness. I only say as a knight, because I am frustrated to see my masters leave the security to put themselves in danger."
Well, well, if it isn't a good Samaritan. Lucian wanted to make such a mockery of that man's face, but he wouldn't pay attention to the mere male protagonist. Lucian was too happy to have spent the night with Magnus to care about a brutamonte like that.
"You are very kind, Sir Maverick. You also fought bravely in the field and defended people from the rebels."
"I just did my duty."
Should Lucian mock the fact that he failed to protect your romantic interest?
Oh, yeah. Lucian wanted it so much.
Unfortunately Lucian had to pretend to be a good boy.
While contemplating different ways of rubbing in the male protagonist's face about his inability to protect the romantic couple, Lucian came across a lady who kept silent all the time during the party. Sitting right in front of him, like a ghost, being ignored and just enjoying your tea.
Only now he saw it.
When the lady drank the tea, the lace sleeve of her dress glided gently through the wrist, showing a darker tone on her skin. Forming a strange pattern, Lucian found himself increasingly curious to the point of tilting his head and stare at it more attentively until he was surprised.
Wasn't that the same pattern as the guild member had drawn? The birthmark of the Baroness of Jewels!