The Kingmaker System-Chapter 451 - 450. Entertaining Tea Party (2)

I watched as the girl looked down at her dress, her trembling fingers brushing over the shredded fabric, then cast a panicked glance toward Colette. The tension in the air was sweet. I was tempted to add another twist to this little scene—it was getting far too entertaining watching the ladies around us circle her like wolves, whispering with poorly disguised glee. She was clearly being used by Colette, and now she was left to bleed alone.

Poor thing.

But then again, not really.

Colette... she must’ve thought she was clever. But I wasn’t born yesterday, and I certainly intended to live far longer than her. She and her mother had no idea that the only thing keeping them safe right now was my patience—and my cautious restraint.

The moment I confirmed it had truly been her mother who dared to make a move toward Kai, they could kiss their freedom goodbye. I wouldn’t kill them immediately—no. Death was too merciful. First, I’d make sure they tasted what it felt like to crawl through hell. Only then would I allow them to depart from this world.

And the truth was—I was sadistic enough to enjoy every moment of it.

"Ah, besides," I said, tilting my head slightly, "could you please introduce yourself?"

The girl flinched, caught off-guard by the casual cruelty behind my request.

"You see, I didn’t get to read the list of attendees beforehand—there were suddenly so many unexpected additions that your name slipped past me." My voice was light, pleasant, almost amused, and the muffled laughter from the girls behind me made her shoulders twitch.

Her face reddened with embarrassment.

"I-I’m Nancy Kliens, daughter of Count Kliens," she stammered, curtsying awkwardly, lifting the tattered edges of her skirt.

I gazed down at her with the kind of smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes—icy, pristine, and meant to sting.

Count Kliens... Now that rang a bell.

The last I’d seen of him was during the Foundation Day Ball. I remembered spilling champagne on him when I had heard him badmouthing me. A charming coincidence, really.

Well, it seems bad manners ran in the family. Like father, like daughter—both good at picking the worst possible targets to cross.

"Good then," I said sweetly. "I’ll have the compensation for your dress sent to your family."

And I’ll make sure your father pays dearly for the stitching.

I kept my smile steady, even as I felt the simmering, rage-filled mana pulsing from Colette’s direction. Subtle, but unmistakably hostile.

Well, she was trying, at least.

Unlike her mother, Colette wasn’t particularly talented in mana and her brother, Carlos was even more pathetic. If not for their mother’s influence and shielding, neither of them would have made it this far in the political scene—let alone dared stand in the same room as me with such bravado.

Still, even weak mana could cause friction if fueled by enough anger. The tension in the room had become so thick, you could practically slice it with a butterknife. The clashing mana—hers and mine—created a silent, oppressive pressure that made the air feel heavy. I noticed some of the guests exchanging glances, visibly uncomfortable.

"U-Um, Ladies, wh-why don’t we sit down and have some tea?" Chloe stammered out at last, her voice trembling as she tried to break the standoff.

I turned my head toward her and offered a soft, reassuring smile.

She looked so pale I half expected her to collapse then and there. Poor girl—dragged into a battle far beyond her level just because she extended an innocent invitation.

We all slowly made our way to the large table. The maids, sensing the weight of the moment, moved quietly and efficiently, setting down the delicate porcelain cups and arranging the tea trays like they were handling explosives.

Colette sat down stiffly across from me, her eyes smoldering, her fingers tight around the handle of her cup as if it were my throat. She looked like she wanted to burn the entire place to the ground.

Well, she couldn’t— not with that pitiful reserve of mana.

Still, I would need to take measures. Just in case. Chloe and her household were innocent in all this, and I didn’t trust Colette or her mother not to retaliate out of sheer pettiness.

Yes... I’d speak to Lord Devil. I’d ask him to bring Earl Blois under Oasis’s protection. That would keep Colette and her mother’s claws away.

For now.

But I couldn’t help the slight curl at the corner of my lips as I picked up my teacup with perfect poise.

The ladies around me chatted amongst themselves, their voices buzzing gently in the air. I sipped the fragrant tea, appreciating its delicate aroma—it was actually quite nice and refreshing. The refreshments complemented it well, their subtle fruity tang enhancing the flavor without overpowering it. Nothing was too sweet, just enough to strike a perfect harmony. I had to admit, whoever prepared them had a good palate.

Everyone seemed to be singing praises about the treats, complimenting Lady Chloe’s taste, when I heard the distinct sound of footsteps approaching.

Ah, finally. That must be Lyall.

I reached for the last bite of my tart, assuming my escape had arrived. Though truth be told, he had taken his time. It had been more than an hour.

But then... something made my heart skip a beat.

That wasn’t Lyall.

The approaching presence wasn’t Mana. It was Aura.

Subtle at first, then undeniable. The air shifted—different from how Lyall’s calm and steady mana usually felt.

Before I could react, I felt his aura brush against mine—deliberate and intrusive, like a finger trailing along the edge of a blade. He came to a halt right behind me, then leaned in just slightly to my side.

"My Princess, it’s time to leave," he said smoothly, his voice low and maddeningly composed.

He wore a hood pulled low and a scarf covering the lower half of his face, but the strands of his midnight black hair peeked out. And those eyes—

Those damn, unmistakable violet eyes.

My stomach dropped.

What the hell was he doing here?

Where was Lyall?

I didn’t want to draw any unnecessary attention to him, so I played along.

"I should be leaving now, Ladies," I said as I rose from my seat, smoothing out my skirt.

"Miss Blois, it was a delightful tea party. I truly enjoyed my time here." I smiled warmly, and Chloe immediately stood up, flustered and pink in the cheeks.

"I-I’m really glad, My Lady. Um... Will you please accept my invitation again? I-I’d love to see you again."

"Ah, we want to invite you too, Lady Aurelius!"

"Please accept my invitation as well!"

"Our family is hosting an exhibition soon—please grace us with your presence there!"

The sudden flurry of invitations made my head spin just a bit. If this continued, I’d really need to create two—no, three clones to keep up with them all.

"I’d love to attend," I said, then added with a faint sigh, "if my health allows me."

A collective groan followed, accompanied by pitiful gazes. I held my smile and began stepping back, catching sight of Colette again. She must have killed me a hundred times in her head by now. Too bad that’s all she could ever do—in her head.

"I’ll take my leave then, Princess. Have a good day," I said, ever polite.

"You too, Lady Aurelius," she replied, her eyes then sliding toward the man standing behind me.

"By the way, is the Aurelius Duchy having problems with their knights lately?" she asked with a sly smile. "To send a man dressed like this to escort their daughter? I worry."

I glanced at him. He didn’t seem the least bit bothered by her jibe.

"This person is a very trusted ally of our family," I said coolly, gesturing toward him. "And besides, after a long war, my father was kind enough to grant our knights some leisure time with their families. After all, those who love their families would know what it feels like to be separated from a loved one."

I caught the flicker of a flinch in her eyes, even as she smiled tightly.

"I understand," she said sweetly, "but isn’t that rather foolish?"

My brows arched ever so slightly. "Pardon?"

"To send all your knights away like this," she continued, fingers steepled before her lips, her venomous eyes glinting. "What if something... happened to you?"

The air turned tense. I could feel the shift, even behind me. The other ladies flinched. Everyone here knew Colette’s reputation—how she toyed with noble daughters who dared to stand up to her. And I was now front and center.

I smiled, undeterred. "There’s nothing to worry about, really."

Her smirk twitched.

"All those around us are people who have earned our trust," I said, voice steady. "They aren’t bought, nor are they forced to serve us. They choose to, out of love and loyalty. That’s what I admire about my father. He may not be a stern man who rules through fear, but he inspires people to follow him. Not because they have to... but because they want to."

Colette’s smirk dissolved into a tight-lipped scowl.

Checkmate.

"Now that I’ve answered your question, should I leave? I’m not feeling quite well," I said, turning on my heel.

He silently extended his hand to me. I smiled faintly and, after the briefest hesitation, placed my hand in his, letting him escort me with quiet dignity.

At the entrance of the mansion, Earl Blois and his wife stood waiting.

"Thank you for coming all this way, My Lady," the Earl said with a warm smile.

"We hope you enjoyed your time here," his wife added.

"I had a lot of fun," I replied, inclining my head. "Thank you, Lord and Lady Blois. I’ll be sure to send some gifts for you."

"Ah, there’s no need, My Lady," the Earl said, raising his hands humbly.

"Please don’t be troubled, Earl. You’ll need it." I smiled as I spoke, catching the slight furrow of confusion on his brow.

With that, I turned away, still gracefully escorted by my new ’attendant’—a storm in disguise.

We reached the carriage, and still, Lyall was nowhere in sight.

"Where is Sir Lyall?" I asked, scanning the vicinity.

"He’ll join us soon."

"I wish to know now," I said, standing firm before the carriage door, making it clear I wasn’t going anywhere until I got an answer.

"Well... we kind of had a bet, and he lost, so..."

I turned to him with a blank expression. "Why are you here like this, Prince Davian?"

He flinched and averted his gaze. "Ah... so you recognized me..."

I let out a soft sigh. I couldn’t start here—not in the open. But I’d definitely need to knock some sense into him later—as Ocean.

I stepped into the carriage, and Davian followed after, closing the door behind us. He pulled down his hood and unwrapped the scarf from around his face, ruffling his hair with a sheepish smile.

The carriage jolted slightly as it began rolling out of the Earl Blois estate. I kept my eyes on him, still wondering what kind of ridiculous bet made Lyall abandon his post like that.

"I’m sorry for showing up like this," Davian said, his voice gentle, "but... well... I got worried when I heard Princess Colette was going to be at the tea party you were attending."

I narrowed my eyes. "And how exactly did you know I was going to Miss Blois’s tea party? I decided to attend only yesterday."

He looked away again—guilty, scrambling for a lie.

"Well..."

But it made sense. The way the other ladies had gathered so suddenly. Even Colette. They had somehow learned of my attendance just as fast.

"Master Ocean told me!" Davian declared, puffing his chest slightly as though the name offered him immunity.

"...What?"

"Master Ocean!" he repeated with a bright, foolish grin.

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