Chapter 2

Erik apparently went out into the town with Aini and the others.

I heard this rumor not even a week after our encounter in the hallway.

"Wasn't Makarinen's son also with them?"

"Yes, but not just inside the school, but outside as well!?"

Sandra exclaimed, and Serafina let out a small sigh. Makarinen is a family name in Orva.

"Since the biweekly tea parties haven't been canceled, it seems he is avoiding that day. There is nothing more to say to the prince."

"But... "

"Are you saying, Lady Serafina, that as long as you fulfill your duties, it doesn't matter what the prince does outside?"

Serafina elegantly tilted her finger in response to a question from another young lady, not Sandra.

"It depends on the situation. The prince is fulfilling his obligations as my fiancé and is earnestly studying to become king. What more could you ask of him?"

"Then... would you allow the prince to take a concubine?"

Serafina almost laughed through her nose but covered it with a fan.

What a ridiculous question.

"It depends on the time and circumstances. But, young lady, shouldn't you review what it means for a king to take a concubine?"

It's different from a nobleman keeping a mistress. If a king favors someone, he grants power to their faction, and if they have a child, it could lead to issues of succession.

Glancing at the young lady who still looked unconvinced, Serafina added a few more words.

"My engagement to Prince Erik is a decision made by the king. I am trying to fulfill my duties as a noble as much as possible. You are all high school students now. You should be aware of your duties as nobles and act accordingly."

It seemed that her words resonated with half of the young ladies present, especially Sandra and Bernadetta, who were looking at her with shining eyes. I hope my words weren't in vain.

"Noble... duties..."

However, the next day, she was reminded that there was someone who didn't understand at all.

"Miss Serafina, that's terrible!!"

Aini, who had deliberately appeared in the greenhouse salon in the courtyard, immediately accused Serafina. Bernadetta, her guardian's daughter, hurriedly stood up, flustered by Aini's lack of manners.

"What are you doing... Aini, that's impolite, control yourself!"

Aini, surprised for a moment by Bernadetta's strong tone, which was usually soft and downcast, quickly recovered.

"What's impolite? I heard that the school is a place where status doesn't matter!"

Aini puffed her cheeks cutely and looked even younger. Not just in appearance, but in her thinking as well.

"Status doesn't matter... That's such a childish..."

While staring at Bernadetta, Serafina confirmed that this was not part of her education and asked Aini.

"Then, what about me is terrible?"

Aini clenched her fists again, as if to say, "That's it."

"I heard you said that your engagement to Prince Erik is just a duty! That's terrible, a loveless marriage would be so sad for Prince Erik!!"

Given that Aini heard this the day after, it must have been leaked by one of the salon participants or someone close to them. Glancing at the faces of the young ladies sitting in the chairs, Serafina focused on Aini.

More accurately, on those approaching from behind her.

"Since everyone is here, let's have a little talk. —— Prince Erik, please take a seat as well."

Erik, who had caught up to Aini, smiled slightly, while Orva and Sauri looked displeased.

⁂⁂⁂⁂⁂

Aini, Serafina, Sandra, and Bernadetta gathered around a table, while the other young ladies moved to different tables. However, their ears were still keenly listening.

After waiting for Serafina's attendant to serve the tea, Serafina spoke gently.

"This is tea from Abondia. It has a slight bitterness, so if you like, you can have it with milk."

Despite this, Aini drank it straight and made a teary face, saying, "It's bitter."

"Are you okay, Aini?"

"You're not listening to people. We have milk and honey, yet you look like a victim."

Sandra sighed dramatically, covering Orva's concerned voice. Orva glared at her fiancée with disdain.

"Isn't it uncouth to criticize people like that?"

"I'm just teaching the rules of the tea party. Not knowing how to drink tea and complaining about the taste is an insult to the host, Miss Serafina."

Sandra's clearly mocking smile made Orva want to retort, but she swallowed her words in front of Serafina. Ignoring this, Sauri offered Aini a small bottle of milk and honey.

"Here, Aini. Try adding this. It's delicious."

"Really? It's so bitter."

"Aini loves sweet things."

Sauri, who was taking care of Aini, made her sister Bernadetta look worried and fidgety.

She wanted to remind Aini not to complain about the tea served by the prince's fiancée, Serafina, but couldn't. Serafina smiled gently at the glances from Bernadetta.

"Hehe, Aini is really cute."

"Ah, no. Miss Serafina is beautiful too."

"Hehe."

When Serafina laughed, Sauri made a small frown.

She understood that "cute" was not a compliment.

"I've spoken to you a few times, but we've never had a proper setting like this. I thought it was fine, but it seems we should have had a proper talk."

Although Aini had come to talk, Serafina's words made it sound like she had something to say too, which confused Aini.

"Miss Serafina, do you have something to say to me?"

"No, I don't."

Aini tilted her head even more at Serafina's smile.

However, Serafina didn't respond and prompted Aini to speak.

"Let's hear what Aini wanted to say first. You had something to say, right?"

"Ah, yes. Miss Serafina, I heard you said your engagement to Prince Erik is just a duty. Is that true?"

Serafina's smile didn't change at Aini's serious face.

"Yes, it's true."

"That's terrible! It's so sad for Prince Erik!!"

Aini, with tears in her large eyes, appealed to Serafina, who tilted her head slightly and looked at Erik.

"Is it sad, then?"

"Maybe not?"

Erik, with an unreadable expression, said the words of denial, and Aini, who was sitting next to him, clung to his arm.

"!!"

"Don't push yourself, Prince Erik! No matter how much you're a prince, a political marriage based on duty must be painful!"

Aini's hand, which was crying, enveloped Erik's hand.

"I understand that political marriages are inevitable for nobles, but Miss Serafina has no love at all!"

"You... ! Stop it! Whose hand are you holding!!"

Sandra, who stood up rudely, raised her voice, but Aini, still in that position, retorted.

"Is it not a problem to have a cold fiancée who doesn't change her expression even when her fiancé's hand is held in front of her?"

Aini's always sparkling eyes now looked at Serafina's purple eyes with strong will.

Indeed, she was questioning Serafina for not protesting when Erik and the others were close in the school. When Sandra and the others directly protested, Serafina had called them "friends" and stopped them.

"Hehe..."

Serafina's unintentional smile made Aini's eyes flare up.

"What are you laughing about like it's none of your business!? If you loved him even a little, you would be jealous!"

Aini's words reflected what people around her had thought. Serafina had felt the same.

But it was a misunderstanding.

By Aini and by everyone else.

"Why should I be jealous of a prince who is just interested in a slightly different puppy?"

Thinking that they are on the same stage.

If you like, please bookmark, rate, and leave a review (*^^*)

Since there is a lot of explanation at the beginning, Serafina's story is in three parts.

The gentle Serafina, the tsundere Sandra, and the flustered Bernadetta.