Chapter 55

"Since that's the case, I'm really sorry, but could all three of you accompany me to the Einhorn family's tea party?"

The day after receiving the proposal from Duke Einhorn, I asked Nebel, Lady Hilda, and Lady Hedda, who had come to visit my palace.

Nebel and Lady Hilda readily agreed, but Lady Hedda was glaring like a raptor.

"Oh, oh, oh! What a surprise! For a princess of the Einhorn family to make such a mistake... Oh, ho, ho, ho, ho! It's absolutely hilarious!"

Lady Hedda laughed heartily, clearly delighted by the princess's blunder.

It seems that, as an opposing faction, Lady Hedda and Princess Einhorn don't get along well. I had a feeling, but it seems they really don't.

"Excuse me, Prince Albert. To be clear, I don't like Princess Einhorn. However, of course, I will do my best to fulfill Prince Albert's request. I will behave appropriately at the tea party. Please rest assured."

Sure enough, they don't get along.

"Yeah, I understand. Lady Hedda isn't the type to ruin formal occasions with personal grudges. I trust you on that."

"Oh, oh, oh! Thank you very much! I will certainly do my best to meet Prince Albert's expectations!"

"Can you not say 'do my best' but rather 'participate'?"

I can see it, I can see it. I can vividly imagine Lady Hedda and Princess Einhorn in a catfight.

"You don't hate her, you just don't like her?"

I quickly cover Nebel's mouth when she mutters this, but Lady Hedda clearly heard it.

"Yes, that's right. Princess Einhorn hasn't done anything to me, nor have I done anything to her. It's a matter of personal feelings."

No, there must be something, right?

"Even though nothing happened, you don't like her?"

This time, Ignatz, who is on the other side of me, says this, so I let go of Nebel and cover Ignatz's mouth.

You say you don't like strong-willed girls, but why do you say such provocative things?

Today, Ignatz is here to study Diorac, the common language.

Ignatz and Lady Hedda had already met at Ignatz's first tea party, so there was no need for formal introductions. However, it seems that during the tea party, Lady Hedda was acting like a giant cat, and after greeting Ignatz, she silently drank tea with Lady Hilda and left quickly.

Since then, Lady Hedda and Ignatz haven't met again, and it was only at my place that they met again.

Ignatz, who is intimidated by the real Lady Hedda, has been subtly hiding behind me whenever she is around.

You know, she is one of your potential brides. I've told you a few times to not be afraid and to properly converse, but I didn't mean to provoke her like this.

"Of course, there is a reason. She acts as if she is different from us and looks down on us. Moreover, while she seems troubled by the young noblemen who serve her, she doesn't keep them at a distance. Even if she doesn't mean to, it feels like she is showing off, which is very unpleasant to watch."

Huh? What do you mean? I thought Princess Einhorn was admired by young noblewomen of her age and that many of them wanted to get closer to her. Is it not just the noblewomen?

"Prince Albert, Lady Hedda has already warned Princess Einhorn."

Lady Hilda adds to Lady Hedda's explanation.

"Indeed, there are young noblewomen around Princess Einhorn, but she is also popular among young noblemen. Most of the young noblemen who have a crush on Princess Einhorn end up keeping the young noblewomen at a distance. Lady Hedda warned Princess Einhorn that this was disrespectful to her friends, the young noblewomen, but..."

"Did she not react well?"

Seeing Lady Hilda nod, I let go of Ignatz's mouth.

"What about the tea party with Ignatz?"

After thinking for a while, Ignatz mutters, "I don't remember."

I see, you don't remember.

"What does the Duke think about it?"

Duke Einhorn is not the type to be uninterested in his family. He is more of a devoted husband and a doting father, and the family should be close. After all, he bowed his head over the princess's blunder and didn't show any signs of abandoning her for his own sake.

If he wanted to use his daughter to gain power, he wouldn't have given up his own inheritance rights.

If not, he wouldn't have come to make such a request.

From what I saw yesterday, he seems to care deeply about his daughter. If he is that kind of person, wouldn't he be more protective of young men approaching his daughter? "Stay away from my precious daughter."

"The same."

Lady Hedda, picking up on my mutter, says something unbelievable.

"Huh?"

"The Duke, the Prince, and the younger Prince are the same as the young noblemen who serve Princess Einhorn."

Wait a minute. Could it be that...

"They invite the young noblemen, but keep the young noblewomen away, so the Duke and the Princes often intrude on the tea parties without any reason. The princess accepts this as normal, which is why I am thoroughly disappointed. Therefore, I have declined her invitations."

From yesterday's conversation with Duke Einhorn, it seemed that he sometimes made slow and dull responses when it came to matters involving the princess.

That is...

"Charm?"

Is Princess Einhorn using charm?

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