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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: What? This Annoying Situation.
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‘What? This annoying situation.’
It felt like the invitation had arrived right on cue, and it soured my mood completely.
The novel’s rules must be at play again.
No matter what I do, it forces me to cross paths with the protagonist.
I’d boldly declared we’d never meet again.
Yet here I was, less than a month later, about to face Crown Prince Luciano.
Just thinking of him brought back that blunder from the other day without fail.
My self-loathing shot straight through the sky and into space.
‘Just what face am I supposed to show him?’
Why did we even have to meet?
I still didn’t have the confidence to face Crown Prince Luciano.
But could I really refuse the Imperial Consort’s invitation?
It was a crushing sense of despair piling up.
I let out heavy sighs like some world-weary old soul.
That evening, my parents—who had learned I’d been invited by Imperial Consort Isabel—came to see me.
“Dear, did Imperial Consort Isabel invite you?”
“Yes.”
They read the invitation I handed them and grew serious.
“Mom doesn’t want you going to the palace.”
“Indeed, Espin. Why not decline this invitation?”
I’d already been at a loss, but Father suggested skipping it first.
“Would that be okay?”
“We can say you’re still recovering. You were carried out of the palace just recently, after all. It won’t seem like an excuse.”
They wouldn’t make a fuss over someone not attending because they were ill.
I didn’t think it was a bad idea either.
“Yes. Then Father, please decline on my behalf.”
“Leave it to your father. I’ll handle it all.”
They looked relieved at my response.
It seemed they had more trauma from the palace than I did.
The invitation issue appeared resolved more easily than expected.
If only that second letter hadn’t arrived.
“Miss, another letter has come.”
Nanny handed it over with a grave expression.
I took it casually, but the seal made me tense up just like her.
“Why from the palace?”
“Who knows.”
“At least I’m not the only one anxious?”
“Open it quickly.”
Nanny sighed, urging me on.
Procrastinating wouldn’t make the letter disappear forever.
With a heavy heart, I opened it and was shocked by the contents.
[Dearest Espin Samuel.
I received your reply.
I’m deeply sorry to hear you’re not well.
I can’t help but worry over how unwell you must be to miss the tea party.
Might I ask how serious your condition is?
And it hardly seems right to hold the tea party upon hearing such unfortunate news.
We shall postpone it until you recover.
Let’s enjoy a pleasant time together then.
Until that day, take good care of yourself.
P.S. Please let me know a convenient date for the next tea party.
We’ll schedule it around your availability.
Isabel Frederick]
No matter how I read it, this was her saying she’d delay the tea party to accommodate me.
To adjust a palace event for the schedule of one noble’s daughter.
I hadn’t expected such a bold decision.
I could feel her determination to meet me no matter what.
“She seems dead set on this.”
I showed the letter to Nanny, who muttered that after reading it.
It looked like Imperial Consort Isabel had quite the grudge against me from last year.
“Yeah.”
“So what will you do?”
It wasn’t something I could decide lightly.
“I’ll have to discuss it with my parents.”
“That’s the wise choice.”
That evening, I talked it over with them.
Their faces hardened as they read the letter I gave them.
“You received a letter like this? Don’t worry about it. Father will take care of everything.”
Father spoke firmly and took the letter.
“What do you plan to do?”
“Leave it to Father. I’ll sort it out properly.”
He moved as if to leave without a clear explanation.
Seeing him hurry, I grabbed his hand.
“There’s no real solution, is there?”
Only then did Father’s expression soften slightly.
But he quickly composed himself and spoke gently.
“Espin, don’t worry. Just wait.”
He told me not to worry, but I sensed something off about him.
There was no clear explanation this time either.
I knew it. There was no way out.
That was the reality.
In this world, the highest authority held the greatest power.
It was hard for a mere noble to defy imperial words.
Even indirect requests amounted to commands.
I didn’t want my parents suffering losses just to spare my embarrassment.
Truth be told, nothing had happened to our family that was even remotely surprising until now.
I’d expected Imperial Consort Isabel to act after I declared friendship with Crown Prince Luciano as punishment.
But a year had passed without incident.
In fact, our family’s external affairs had been thriving lately.
I worried because I couldn’t fathom Imperial Consort Isabel’s intentions.
Just because things were fine now didn’t guarantee they’d stay that way.
I couldn’t blindly stay optimistic—Imperial Consort Isabel was the type to even resort to poisoning.
She might turn vicious toward my parents too.
“Don’t. I’ll go.”
“Espin, Father can handle it.”
“I’ll just sit quietly and come right back.”
“Dear, can’t you trust your father?”
They reacted immediately to my decision.
Seeing them so worried only strengthened my resolve.
“I’ll make sure nothing happens. Can’t you two trust me instead?”
I pleaded up at them, and eventually, they relented with endless nagging to be careful.
* * *
Having decided to accept, the first thing I did was write a letter.
I sent one to Imperial Consort Isabel saying I was feeling better and there was no need to postpone the tea party.
Naturally, the reply came laced with sarcasm about how fortunate it was that I’d recovered so suddenly.
It also confirmed the tea party would proceed on the original date.
With the tea party set, the next thing I did was steel my nerves.
I kept repeating affirmations to myself.
I’m fine.
I never made a mistake.
I can face Crown Prince Luciano with a straight face.
People have to overcome their shame too.
It was practically brainwashing, a full mind control session.
“Lady Espin Samuel?”
“Yes.”
“Please sit here.”
Guided by a servant, I took a seat at a table.
The servant left promptly after showing me.
I slowly looked around.
It was only my second formal gathering, so I felt a bit tense and awkward.
The atmosphere was much the same as last year.
I’d thought they’d redecorate each year, but whether from lack of flair or budget, it was almost identical.
One thing was different from last year.
Aside from the servants bringing food, there were no adults in the space.
Adults had always come as guardians for the children before, but apparently that had changed this year.
My parents had opposed my attendance even more vehemently upon learning that, but my stubbornness won out.
Sitting alone at a table slightly off-center gave me a strange feeling.
Everyone else was seated in groups at their tables, chatting among themselves.
‘I really have no friends.’
It hit me just how narrow my social circle was.
If I wanted to live here as myself going forward, I needed to start building connections.
Just then, my eyes met those of a red-haired girl.
I didn’t know her name, but she seemed about my age.
“Hell…….”
I raised my hand to greet her, but before I could finish, she whipped her head away.
“You know, yesterday…….”
She pretended not to notice me and chatted with the person beside her. I was dumbfounded.
No way.
I wanted to believe this wasn’t what it seemed.
I looked around and spotted several children who’d been sneaking glances—only to flinch and look away the moment our eyes met.
I could guess what was happening here, but I had to confirm.
‘It probably isn’t, but if it’s a misunderstanding, that’d be tragic.’
I stood up abruptly.
Some shoulders twitched from those who’d been watching me despite pretending not to.
Coincidentally, one was someone I knew.
Not close, but Betty from the Rulang Count Family, who’d approached after my bombshell declaration at last year’s tea party to ask what I was doing.
“Um, Betty…….”
“Sharon! I need to talk to you!”
Before I could finish, Betty shot up and dashed to a distant table.
The suddenly summoned girl blinked in confusion, spotted me, then warmly greeted Betty.
“Perfect timing, Betty. I had something to tell you too.”
“Really? Great minds.”
They reacted like long-lost best friends reuniting after a decade.
I was floored.
Just to check, I tried the blonde girl next to them.
“Excuse me, I wanted to…….”
“Clara! Were you calling me?”
“Huh? Oh, yes, I was. I was. Catherine, come here.”
Clara, summoned from afar, reacted with surprise, spotted me, and welcomed Catherine instead.
Catherine hurried over to Clara as if afraid I’d speak again.
They laughed and chatted merrily among themselves, leaving me deflated as I returned to my seat.
I sat where the servant had directed and waited a moment.
Sneaking glances came my way, but no one acknowledged me.
No one spoke to me.
At this point, it was obvious.
The target of the ostracism included not just Crown Prince Luciano, but me as well.
I was briefly stunned by the absurdity, then a hollow laugh bubbled up.
For them to act this blatantly meant there was an instigator.
And there was only one person who could unite everyone here.
Imperial Consort Isabel.
‘That’s why she excluded the parents from this gathering.’
Complete isolation was the goal.
A child suddenly left alone would panic.
And one in panic could be easily manipulated.
It was petty of a full-grown adult to toy with children like this.
If I were the nine-year-old Espin, this humiliation and sadness would’ve made me want to run away.
But my own life had been far from smooth, so this ostracism barely fazed me.
Ignoring it was child’s play.
If you have no friends, you just play alone, right?
That’s when I tried to shrug it off with a smirk.
“What’s so funny?”
My heart dropped at the flat voice.
I’d forgotten about the kids’ behavior because it amused me.
I’d assumed we’d meet eventually.
But now that the moment was here, my heart raced wildly.
I forced my stiff neck to turn.
Crown Prince Luciano stood by my table, looking down at me with an expressionless face.
