Preparations

Diane took the evening to recover from the stark realization that her fate was to be swallowed up by some demon, apparently. Why did it happen in every single route? Was Lilith really that predictable? She found her 'plans' paper and scribbled down, 'Don't summon a fuck-huge demon,' just to have it on paper. At least this was in English; there was a comfort in knowing that her private thoughts were truly private here.

No, nothing was carved in stone just yet: whatever 'fate' was decided by a poorly reviewed otome game was one that she could circumvent. All she had to do was make preparations-- she had plenty of time before the game started, after all.

Diane needed two things: social connections, and a servant who wouldn't leak her every move. The social connections were easy enough, going by Lilith's collection of old letters: every letter sent to her was written with a tone of general prostration.

Lilith's 'friends' were most likely scared of her, if her behavior in-game told Diane anything. That was alright-- she could just apologize, claim forgetfulness, and maybe send along a necklace or two to grease the wheels. Nothing like bribery to build trust; Oberfell would have been proud.

And maybe she could poach a maid or two at someone else's tea party. Diane rang Lilith's obnoxious little gold bell, a means of calling a servant to her. She couldn't imagine how aggravating it must have been to the people who had to heed that call.

"You called?" came the haggard voice of Lilith's maid, Lydia. "You're not supposed to be up this early, My Lady."

"I see," Lilith answered coolly, "And a servant is telling me what I'm 'supposed' to do?" This soft brand of cruelty was necessary: Lydia was a spy, and Diane needed to distance herself from her in order to hire a maid of her choosing.

There was a pause, and Lydia bowed her head. "No, Ma'am. I apologize."

"Good. Now fetch all the invitations sent to me within the last month."

...Diane would come to regret that order, seeing the piles of invitations she'd received. At least they were sorted by date of receipt. She glanced at the senders-- all women, daughters of counts and barons and marquises. She sorted them again by class and level of nobility: she would only attend meetings of the proper upper crust.

Anyone lower than that of a count would be useless to her, at least for now. One of her fingertips skimmed a letter from the daughter of Count Ross, a nouveau riche asshole who'd won the spoils of war against a cluster of smaller nations to the northeast; for his treachery he received several large mines in the formerly sovereign territories.

She wrote back to the daughter, a Miss Valetta, wishing her well. It never hurt to foster useful relationships; there was a mine in the former sovereign nations that she had an eye on, anyway.

Finally, she found it-- an embossed envelope with a dried forget-me-knot pressed into the wax seal, from a Miss Serena Bennett, esteemed daughter of Marquis Bennett. That her father happened to be behind the plurality of Etienne's blacksmiths, and therefore their swords, was mere circumstance.

Diane RSVP'd to Serena's tea party invitation with a flourish of her pen.

_____

The Bennett family's capital estate was spacious, with sprawling gardens trimmed into rigid rows. The bushes stood like soldiers, in perfect alignment. Diane couldn't help but admire their gardeners' dedication.

The greenhouse was even more ornate, filled with small hanging lanterns in a circle around the tea table. There, basking in both daylight and lamplight, sat six women Diane recognized from Doki Doki Love Academy.

These girls were Lilith's accomplices. Her lackeys, if Diane were being honest, and judging by the way they straightened their backs and stopped conversing, they were terrified of her.

Well, it wasn't like Diane could blame them for it. The first girl to greet her was a green-eyed blonde girl on the shorter side, with hair braided so tightly into an updo that Diane wanted to wince in sympathy. "Lady Seraphine!" she called, flashing a shaky smile, "I'm so glad that you could come!"

Whispers of agreement rumbled through the table, and Diane gratefully accepted her seat. "I feel the same," she admitted, before flashing her invitation, gesturing the forget-me-knot in the wax seal, "Although I'm afraid that my memory hasn't returned-- I do appreciate the gesture, though."

"Oh no!" came the voice of a young woman in the fluffiest white dress Diane had ever seen in both of her lives, with dark brown hair and eyes that glittered in the light. "That's awful-- what ever will happen to your engagement?" None of the frills could hide the delight in her expression. This one was hunting for gossip like a truffle pig.

"Isn't it common courtesy to introduce yourself before asking personal questions?" Diane smiled, a sharp curve of the lips with no teeth or warmth. The girl blanched almost as white as her dress. "But if you're that curious, I suppose that this should answer your question, no?" Diane brought her hand to her throat andskimmed her fingers over the necklace that Emperor Gladius had gifted her, clear and irrefutable proof of his intentions.

Yes, Diane was using and abusing the precious little authority that the Emperor had given her; what could she say? It came in handy. "Oh," replied the truffle pig girl, deflating, "I see; of course."

"And your name?" Diane pushed. The class system was rigid, and if she was caught ignoring it out of favoritism or kindness, it would swallow Diane whole. Even if she wasn't going to crush this girl, she needed to remember her place.

The girl lowered her head, rightfully contrite. "Olivia Lark, your Highness. Of the Lark County."

"Good." Diane accepted a cup of tea from a terrified maid, savoring the fragrance. Lark was famous for its quarry and its forests, and not much else; so this girl had most likely clambered her way to this tea party by ingratiation and gossip alone. That drive for the newest story would be her downfall. Diane didn't bother to reintroduce herself-- it saved energy, and besides, it was just rude enough for Olivia to understand how big of a blunder she'd just made. "Anyway, I apologize, but would it be alright if everyone introduced themselves once more?"

Another series of names to memorize-- at least they belonged to families Diane already knew by heart. The most important by far was Serena Bennett; she was the blonde with the extra-tight updo, and seemed decently educated in Etiennese politics and business. If she were trustworthy, then Diane might just have a confidant.

She would have to wait and see. In the meantime, she had a maid to poach. "This tea is excellent," Diane offered, glancing toward the maid who had poured her tea-- a young slip of a thing, so thin that the bones of her wrist stood out. Her short bob of woody brown hair was lanky and thin; Diane couldn't help but wonder if she wasn't starved. "Lady Bennet, you have a very talented waitstaff."

While Serena's smile didn't change, Diane noted the pleased expression in her eyes. "This one is rather new here-- Mother required most of the staff for a party she's planning, but I'm happy to hear that she's surpassed expectations."

"Is that so?" High society was so easy in this position. All Diane had to do was raise her eyebrows just enough, let her expression cool, show a touch of expectation.

It worked. Serena dropped her gaze before, "Naturally you'll be invited. The invitations haven't gone out yet."

Diane smiled, genuinely now. "I'm excited for that." She downed the rest of her teacup with a dainty little flick of her pinky and set it back on her saucer, eyeing the maid. It would just take the slightest move of her foot-- nothing major. Just a perfectly polite repositioning.

The maid came to her with the tea set, as Diane knew she would. Diane stuck out her foot, just a little, and...

The maid tripped, shattering a precious bone china teapot with delicate indigo illustrations, and spilling the tea on Lilith's opulent dress. Noble society was built on strict standards of perfection, and should a mere commoner maid embarrass the Marquisate in front of someone of much higher status, well...

Serena Bennett's hand was quick to slap the girl for her mistake; only the beginning of what would inevitably be a grueling and cruel punishment. In all likelihood Lilith's attendance was a huge deal for her and her family, and a blunder like this could become the talk of the season.

Which was why Diane did this in the first place. Not only would she gain a loyal maid; she'd also establish herself as merciful. It was a simple PR tactic.

Once talk about reparations started, Diane lifted her hand in silence. The talk stopped. "Seeing as I requested another cup of tea, this is partially my fault, no?" She glanced at the maid, who seethed in silence-- only the two of them knew that this issue was entirely her fault. The injustice she felt was correct. "And anyway, this maid has an exceptional talent for pouring tea; it seems that she just needs further training." This was bullshit, and they both knew it. "Why don't you send her to my estate?"

The maid stared at her, dumbfounded. She wasn't alone in this-- the rest of the tea party came to a halt as all eyes fell on Diane. "Is it not the duty of a noble to foster talent?" She gestured to her teacup, still very much empty. "The woman can brew excellent tea. I'd hate to see her punished unduly for a simple mistake, and I can train her adequately. Is there a problem with that?"

A beat of silence. Two. Serena Bennett was the first to break. "Of course not. I just-- appreciate your leniency. You could have been injured." That was correct-- Lilith could have been injured, and her powerful family could have seen it as enough reason to demand recompense from the Bennetts.

This simple 'mistake' could have ruined them.

"And I thank goodness that I wasn't," Diane smiled, turning to the maid. "Why don't you pack your things and wait in my carriage?"

The tea party ended without further incident, and Diane strode to her carriage to claim her prize.

The maid was just where Diane knew she'd be, huddled into the furthest corner from the door, with only one suitcase. Fearful-- of course. Well, Diane could use it. "Hello, there. I assume you know my name."

A pause, while the maid grit her teeth. "You're Lady Lilith Seraphine, the second daughter of the Seraphine duchy and fiancée to the Crown Prince Theodosius D'Etienne."

What a mouthful. "That's correct. And you are?"

"I'm Mina."

Oh, so Diane would be pulling teeth to get answers. Okay. "And how long have you been working at the Bennett estate?"

The girl, Mina, looked down. "...Two years."

Right. "And what do you think I'm going to do now?"

Mina only folded further into herself, head hanging low. "You're going to have me killed for my insolence."

The coachman climbed onto the carriage, and Diane heard the slap of a leather whip-- they were moving. "Incorrect. Try again."

Finally Mina looked up, confused. "Torture me?"

"Wrong again."

A long pause. "Slavery is illegal."

"And reprehensible. Guess again." Good lord, this girl was a pessimist.

Mina sighed, finally leaning against the door of the carriage. "You're not actually going to 'train' me to make tea."

Finally, they were getting to the good part. "I am, but that's only part of it." Diane waited for Mina to look at her-- to really look at her in the eye. It was a break in decorum, but it was necessary. Smiling, she said, "You're going to be my personal maid, and when someone offers you money to give them information about me, you're going to take it."

All Mina could do was stare at her. Diane let her, smilingly crossing her legs. "That's... an awful plan. You intend to just-- give away your own information?"

"No," Lilith grinned-- outright grinned, this time. No smarmy curve of the mouth as etiquette dictated, she showed her teeth in what had to look like a malicious smile, "I intend to have you give out the information that I've provided you." A pause, to allow Mina to digest this new information, and then, "Think about it. You'll be paid your usual wage as a maid of the Seraphine Duchy," Diane lifted a fist and raised just her thumb. "Then, you'll receive plenty of compensation for 'spying' on me," she raised her pointer finger, "And finally, you'll receive payment from me personally for your invaluable assistance." She raised her middle finger-- all three means of payment.

Mina's eyes sparkled, and Diane knew that she was hooked.