Thank goodness Akan backed away earlier and was watching them from afar. She almost felt her heart being pulled out of her mouth. Lady Dasra really knows how to surprise people with her questions.


    "Were you jesting?"


    "I..yes. Please forgive me, Your Highness! It was the most horrible joke ever."


    "Aiya, apologies, Your Highness. Everyone thought you would truly be the Emperor''s Empress regarding your status and noble lineage. Well..."


    "Continue, let me hear everything."


    Let me hear everything before I whack you guys to death.


    "Um, as it was also rumoured that you are concerned about how the people view the Emperor in an... eccentric way."


    Eccentric way...


    Etta became speechless. She suddenly knew who is the culprit!


    "Hah."


    Was that how it was? My goodness, I know you guys have creative minds but...aren''t you too creative? Me? Marrying my son? What''s this? Oedipus complex? Well, it''s understandable that they didn''t know.... What a barf. It almost gave her a heart attack.


    Since we are here anyway, "Then can you tell me your honest opinion about the emperor?"


    "You can be blunt as much as you want."


    The three ladies became speechless.


    Now, they are experiencing Lady Ettna''s eccentric way of showing… showing affection to His Majesty.


    Ett''s lips twitched in distaste, "I just don''t like him. There''s nothing good about him."


    Son, I''m so sorry for demeaning you. But in my heart, your mother is the most useless one. I''m the hermit.


    "I am not his potential Empress; we aren''t engaged."


    "Oh."


    "..."


    "Umm.."


    "Well, he is good with battling the enemies."


    Ett added.


    Knowing they won''t speak, she turned to Lady Arandel. "What you think?"


    Arandel who was quiet most of the time and observing them, asked first, "Should I say personally or as a noble?"


    "In this tea party, I don''t wish our talks to be used as swords to gain benefits."


    The three ladies understood; she warns them not to spread these words to the other and that whatever they say is just to express their opinions.


    To be genuine with their perception.


    It wouldn''t be too good if they used it as information that could spread in the noble circle. Still, they were cautious. In this kind of gathering and scenario, one must still be very careful in expressing oneself.


    For Her Highness to say it so bluntly, she was either testing them or just curious. The second choice is absurd.


    "The Emperor," Arandel started. "Rules with an iron fist."


    Okay...?


    They stared at her intently.


    "..."


    "... there are many ways to rule. The Emperor just prefers to have all of it under his grasp. Either he destroys all of it or grasps it all. Besides, didn''t he protect our empire?"


    "Indeed." The two ladies are youngsters.


    "Sometimes, some rulers go to extreme measures. We are all different in handling things, and what''s important is if we''ve reached the desired outcome. Even if we all differ in beliefs, the Emperor didn''t go overboard to destroy even our empire."


    "Most people call him tyrant too."


    Lady Dasra muttered.


    ''Most people''? Ett secretly glanced at her and sipped her tea. Then those some people call him a beast? This lady is outspoken but knows when to not take responsibility and then pulls the spur.


    "Even so, Lady Arandel has a point. Indeed, mindless carnage is overboard. It cannot be justified. Let''s look forward to the future!"


    Lady Ferie uttered; a sweat could be seen on her forehead as she tried hard not to dab it with her handkerchief.


    Ett observed the other two ladies. One of them, the cheerful Lady Dasra, has this uncomfortable look before nodding her head, smiling albeit half-baked.


    Hm... Should she push a bit more? The tea is turning lukewarm.


    "If your father was one of those people he mindlessly killed, would you say that?"


    "I..."


    "Aiya, don''t answer. It was just a passing thought."


    Just?


    Lady Dasra''s fingers trembled; she tried hard not to spill the tea as she held it to her lips.


    Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    Ah, why does her tea smell bitter today?


    A calm voice reached their ears, "I may not have experienced, nor do I wish for my family for that kind of death. But it might brew hatred and revenge on me. To be able to control such thoughts and think on the brighter side for the sake of my family, I think it is admirable." Lady Arandel paused, "It is just my passing thought."


    Ett sipped her tea. What a good friend. Wish she had one here.


    Interesting.


    Ett isn''t offended by how Lady Arandel repeated her words as if letting her eat back what she just said. Instead, Ett became more sure that Arandel was a person who had more information on her side about what was going on but stayed like a wallflower to not cause any unnecessary attention.


    Just look at Lady Ferie smiling, yet her eyes are full of questions, and she doesn''t know who to direct her eyes to.


    In Ett''s mind, Lady Arandel became more alluring in her eyes. She has potential!


    Then Ett could flow with it, "Lady Arandel is indeed right. The one who can overcome it will be able to get stronger. One''s schemes will be much more fiercer."


    Lady Dasra chuckled. The blob on her throat somehow disappears with what Lady Arandel just said.


    Ett clicked her glass, "Alright, let''s not talk about that anymore; I know you ladies prefer the brightness of life over my sombre interest."


    Dasra and Ferie became speechless again.


    Then why must you bring that such discussion to our table!


    It was Arandel who subtly chuckled.


    Etta signaled Akan to come over. Fastidious as he is, Akan came forth with three small boxes in his hands and gave them to each one. She glanced at the dazed Lady of Zalore.


    "Lady Faeri, are you alright?"


    "Ah? Oh, uhm, yes. I''m alright. I was just spee-lost in thought. Oh! What''s this? A gift?"


    No, it''s a stone. Can''t you tell?


    Ett nodded.


    "Don''t open it. Only do it after you go back."


    Lady Dasra giggled. "Now I''m increasingly curious about what is inside this."


    Ett, "Let''s enjoy the tea first. We can''t let the tea that Lady Faeri run cold."


    "Yes, you''re right."


    This time, Lady Faeri smiled. "It''s fine. I can make tea you can enjoy even if it''s cold."


    Ett nodded and watched as if the same scenery had unfolded.


    It was back at square one, where they talked to each other.


    Lady Faeri was relatively quiet when the atmosphere became serious or somewhat odd. She kept silent, looking at the three of them and observing them. A keen sense of feeling something is amiss.


    She must have thought she didn''t know what they were discussing and stayed silent for a while. Not bad. Still, it''s not enough if it''s Guren. That guy is a total blockhead when it comes to affection.


    Watching the three of them talking happily, Ett sighed in her heart.


    Exhausting.


    If not for this tea, she might have coughed before them. She also realized she talked more in this tea party and used more emotion to mask herself.


    What a haggard day.


    Ett then rose from her seat.


    Her knees wobbled as she stood. A relief that Akan had keen eyes and gracefully held his arm to support herself lest she be embarrassed once she stumbles.


    "My Lady, are you going already?"


    Ett nodded.


    "I apologize for not staying longer; I need to rest. Do enjoy your time, ladies."


    Arandel, Dasra and Ferie stood up and bowed.


    "Rest well, Your Highness."


    "Thank you."


    Akan assisted Ett to her room.


    "Ha."


    Ett plopped on her bed.


    Talking and sitting with other people is not bad. You can learn how they speak with each other and get to know something about them. But this body is too weak. Even the chair, which was made of thorns a while ago.


    Her flat butt is aching. Her arms that had been holding the teacup were numb. It was different from the palace, where it was lighter. Her jaw felt like she had lost another screw and needed to put it back to normal.


    Ett needs to control her breathing.


    "Your Ladyship seems to enjoy yourself."


    "…Akan g-get out and assist them. After I rest a day or two, let''s meet the Dean and go back."


    She had enough sightseeing here.


    "Understood Your Ladyship. Rest well for now. I''ll call you when it''s dinner."


    "Mmm."


    This is the last time she''ll have a cup of tea with nobles!