Chapter 21: The Party (IV).

Chapter 21: The Party (IV).

Elizabeth's POV

"...your reputation after my announcement will exceed your expectations. Want to test me?"

I stood on my ground, firm and unnerving while Uncle couldn't reply to my generous offer of giving him an announcement to the crowd of nobles that would know his utterly horrible attempt at assassination.

"No... your highness, you are far too kind." He tells me and I continue giving him a fake smile. I wouldn't want to hear his pitiful lame excuses as to why he had given me a carriage with horrible materials to deal with.

"Oh? You flatter me, how about you give me this doll? Then perhaps I won't do it... such a shame you deserve... the recognition. Might give you a boost with the crowd over here."

He laughs nervously looking behind him.

"I should get going and grab you both something to drink. Would juice be alright?" (Duke Damien) tells us, looking over to Melrose and then me.

If we were any older he would've grabbed wine but due to our age we weren't fit for it yet so I told him that there was no need for me to take a drink.

"No, I'm quite alright."

From Victoria's advice, it would be unwise to eat at someone else's territory or someone I don't trust. The food might be poisoned, and it would bother me if someone became my taste tester risking their life to make sure mine would go on.

"Alright, your highness. I'll be on my way talking to the others then- that doll is yours now." (Duke Damien) casually bows before walking away in our direction.

"Hmm." I never left my eyes off of his back completely, he just ran away from our conversation. I couldn't help but smile. I wasn't expecting it to be that easy for now... He's the culprit in the assassination plan from this morning.

Melrose who was behind me sees the doll named Joe and frowns.

"?"

Does she think I'm serious about keeping this doll for myself? The servant who took the other paired doll was long gone. I was not able to retrieve it, so I sigh and offered her the doll. "Hmph, stop your frowning. I only fooled your father so he can leave this alone."

Melrose's eyes twinkled, not expecting my words.

"Y-You're not taking Joe?" (Melrose) asks nervously and I nod. I have no use for Joe, I only spared him from your father's hands- one is because I needed to gain your trust while keeping you away from crying like a hog on the day of your birthday.

"I'm not fond of dolls. Though I have to apologize, I may not get the other doll your father took away knowing... your mother gave it to you so it must be important." I replied. I may not know what kind of person the Duchess of Erhenzig is or her current state but I hope she would be on good terms with her daughter.

Melrose slowly reaches her little hands to the doll holding it.

"Hah...!" (Melrose) gasps before running towards me, enveloping me in a hug.

"Oof!"

...

"Huh."

It was rather unexpected, it seems she didn't even mind my messy state of me and decided to do that.

Victoria and my guards I saw hesitantly flinch before going back to their calm state seeing how Melrose had no bad intentions of hugging me. "Thank you! Thank you! For not giving daddy my doll! Wah... I thought I lost Joe!" (Melrose)

Physical affection, the only person whom I've only done that with was Victoria...

This also may be rather late but what kind of person names one of their dolls 'Joe'?

"You're welcome... I suppose." I gently pushed her away when the hug was starting to go too long. I peek at Victoria's expression wanting to know how she feels about this, the enemy's daughter is currently hugging the princess.

"Hmm~" (Victoria) seemed to be in a good mood seeing us getting along.

"In any case, you... have a rather nice dress and a party to host. Why are you not out there and making a connection with other nobles?" I ask her, clearly many nobles don't just throw parties to celebrate their birth. Many percentages of the children here were born out of necessity to produce an heir for their family and make sure to have a child that can carry the next generational burden. "That's what others are doing to expand their influence among the circle."

Those next generational burdens are then forced to make relationships that may be either a bridge to friendship or using one another for one's gain.

Melrose thinks of my question seriously and then frowns looking at her doll.

"..."

Don't tell me the reason she doesn't have any friends is that-

"No one likes my doll." (Melrose) casually answers me by putting a finger to her lips and doing a little thinking pose.

I understand why others would not like the doll... there were signs of it being used frequently, a little battered and dirty- meaning she was attached to the item she holds every day.

"I know it sounds stupid... but- I like people who like what I like and care for it. You... got me Joe not taken away so you're not bad! Hehehe!" (Melrose) giggles and I was not prepared for her compliment.

Someone's honesty is appreciated at a party like this where it's full of lies.

I could feel my face a little warm. The compliment is going to stroke my ego for a little while.

"Oh... is that so." It was all that I could reply to before we found other things that we had in common. Melrose loved magic, she liked to study it and experiment often to the point she had to have her room full of blueprints and inventions she would tell me.

"You know... I dream of many things and I want them to come true. I like the mana wire system they have at your home, your highness." (Melrose) stares at me in nostalgia, her dreams must be rather wild.

Melrose addresses me by my title and I nod. "The former empress, my mother, has designed and implemented it under her request. I do not need to use a lamp and oil for light. Only with the switch of a button light would it fill the entire room if you wished."

There is a power source, underneath the castle which I haven't been into yet but hopefully, once I'm crowned princess and have gotten a little more power such as influence that private area will be accessible to me if possible I would like to research if I can make several adjustments on how to make it better or even understand how it works.

"Wonderful! My daddy has told me of the former empress, he likes her and wished he was my mommy instead. I don't get it... my current mommy is okay, why do I need another?" (Melrose) asks an innocent question that I was caught off guard. At this point, Uncle Damien might have planned to take more than one woman into his life.

I turned to Victoria hoping she knew what to do or say in this fragile situation and she looked at me stricken with disbelief not expecting this kind of question from a seven-year-old girl. She knows far too much to be left alone- and telling me this sensitive information about her father's affairs would leave her at a disadvantage!

Is she not aware of that?

I can use this to my advantage by the time comes, she's... not away trusting me blindly because I liked and gave her doll back?

"I may not understand... but think of it this way...? Two mommies equal more gifts...?" I may not have the strength to break her heart but in this society having two women or more is the norm for many noblemen who want it and can afford to live the so-called 'luxury'.

I do not condone this behavior because my morals in my past life stuck even here but this is the culture of the people in the land of snow.

However good to know, Melrose is such a naïve child to believe such a white lie. Her eyes lit up at the thought of getting two gifts, "Two! Two! But I get more than two even with one mommy does that mean I'll get twice with another mommy!"

"..."

Children can be selfish sometimes.

After our talk, I managed to gain her trust.

+1 Ally

+1 Friend

+1 Trust

When I curtsied and said my goodbye to Melrose she asked me to come again to her estate setting up a playdate and a time to visit.

"We'll see..."

However, after her father's performance of ignoring me and running away to entertain other nobility inside the room, I decided to curl up in a corner near my maid, Victoria who smiles sweetly at me while I pout.

"Why were you smiling all the time?" I ask her to continue to softly pout, while Victoria covers her face for a second looking happy.

"It was just nice to see you making friends with your other relatives, your highness. The young one's father might be horrible but you can see the little one is alright." (Victoria) responds and I nod.

Melrose was alright in all aspects I was worried about.

She's not spoiled, maybe a little but- she was kind and respectable and I sensed no malice. She was even afraid of the Duke taking her things away which I would assume happens frequently.

Just when I was enjoying my time with Victoria alone, a couple of suitors from different noblemen approached me smiling, giving me their hands, and asking for me to dance. They seemed to be in the status of a son of a Baron, Duke, and Count.

"Your highness, may I ask this dance?"

"No... may I?"

"I have to ask first if she would like to dance with a real nobleman instead."

I raised one of my eyebrows not looking impressed by any of these suitors. They were all either very young or might be around the same age as me but mentally wise I'm not interested in dancing with any of them or even giving them a chance.

"Oh... Is that so?" I held the hem of my dress in a curtsy showing them the blood stain, they all looked afraid. "Even with the risk of blood getting near you? It seems you've all come here wearing your best suits, such a shame but if you insist you may."

I gave them a sinister smile about accepting their hand that offered for a dance, but after not even a few seconds they all retracted their hand from mine holding it protectively. If these boys can't even handle a few blood stains.

How can they handle dancing with me?

They all froze and looked at one another before giving lame excuses and leaving me back into the corner where Victoria chuckles complimenting my cleverness to get out of situations I don't want.

"Your highness is smart, those boys certainly won't bother you for the whole party."

That's what I'm hoping for Victoria.

"Good... I should stain myself a little in blood at the next party I get invited to have suitors go running with their tails wagging between their legs." I straighten my posture and settle my hands properly in front staring at the suitors that asked for a dance with me to find another girl instead that they assumed would be a much easier target.

"Your highness, please be aware that's most likely mine." (Victoria) stares at me with a worried expression and I couldn't help but grin, feeling playful.

"I didn't say it has to be yours next time." I joked to which I didn't get the response I wanted but she scoffs meaning I'll be scolded when I get home.

Thankfully, I did get home safely.