Lady to Queen

0"Your Majesty, now that you have become the Empress for a while, I think it's time you have opened a tea party."     

"Ah, tea party."     

Rafaella nodded as Patrizia nodded her head as if she had forgotten. The obligation was not a formal event but it was still customary. As the new owner of the Inner Palace, the Empress had to bring the nobility together to open a tea party. It was to reveal her authority and at the same time, confirming her position to them all.     

Of course, since Rosemond had been formally granted the title of Baroness, and an invitation had to be sent to her as well.     

The truth was, this was up to Patrizia's discretion, but if she did not send it, it was possible that Rosemond would again rush to the Emperor again and weep tearfully that she was being bullied as an outcast. Then the Emperor himself would visit her again and make a fuss with a frowning face, warning her not to treat his woman badly.     

Patrizia, who had thought about it this far, shook her head as if she had a headache. It was just better to just send the invitation, it wasn't worth it to risk seeing the Emperor's face over a simple tea party.     

"I have to. Did the Duchess of Bringstone bring it up?"     

The Duchess of Bringstone was Rafaella's mother. Rafaella nodded her head.     

"Yesterday the Haiga Viscount came to visit the Marquis. I think that's when this story came out."     

"Yeah ... there's a precedent, and it would be weird not to do it."     

"I know you don't like that stuff, Lizzy. But I want you to think carefully because it's not a good situation for you right now."     

"I know."     

She was not receiving the Emperor's intimate favor, and so the only part she could gain a competitive edge was with the nobility. In common cases, the nobles were more likely to support the Empress herself than the Baroness. Of course, as with the Duchess Efreni, there were exceptions, but... Patrizia pondered over this before opening her mouth.     

"Mirya, then, could you write up the invitations now? Next week there will be a tea party under the patronage of the Empress Palace."     

The slower and slower you moved, the less advantageous it was. From the perspectives of the noble wives, they could take it as being disregarded. It was not enough to even be getting their support, let alone their hate. Mirya listened to Patrizia's instructions and answered back with a question after a little while with a troubled expression.     

"Your Majesty, then... what will you do about Baroness Phelps?"     

"Send it to that Palace as well, please. Because I don't want to see His Majesty's face over this issue."     

She talked in a careless manner, but Mirya didn't feel good about it. Mirya could feel her voice seemed to have just a little bit of sadness. She replied in a tone of attempting to be collected.     

"Yes. I'll do that."     

As the Empress, this was the first time she was seen standing before the noble wives and daughters, so Patrizia prepared the tea party with more fervor than ever. She didn't want to be caught with any blemishes. Moreover, if there was the possibility that Rosemond was in attendance.     

Rosemond, whom she knew, was not a lenient villain. Patrizia thought she should be more prepared because she was not stupid and foolish. If she built up her friendships with the nobility, then that would be the end. Of course, that wouldn't happen so easily, but nevertheless, people didn't know what could happen in the future. There was nothing bad about preparing for it.     

"Your Majesty, when should those in attendance be given their gifts?"     

"It'll be at the end of the party. If I send a signal, please bring it over."     

Patrizia calmly directed her and looked down at the dress she was wearing. An extravagant and gorgeous white dress that couldn't be said to be modest. With this, it would be hard to say she was on the losing end. Patrizia, deeply relieved inside, fidgeted with her adorned head without knowing. Acting like an adult, and acting so calm, yet she was still only an innocent 19-year-old girl.     

Patrizia was by default, not a sociable character. Her sister, Petronilla, could talk to strangers and ask for dances, but she could not do it by nature. Rafaella, who was now her own knight, had also initially been befriended by Petronilla talking to her first.     

So while she didn't know if she was passive in nature, she wasn't active and so these events only felt very uncomfortable for her. And yet there was nothing that could be done about it. This was a matter of survival. If she complained, the death would be how she shut up.     

"Thank you all for coming."     

"Congratulations on becoming the master of the Inner Palace, Your Majesty. We should have visited you earlier, but we couldn't."     

At the words of the Duchess of Vashi, Patrizia laughed a little and replied, "Getting together like this should be rather simple. Rather, I should have created this early on, but I've done it too late."     

Patrizia, who sipped a sip of the tea placed in front of her, swiped a look around the entire area. Rosemond was nowhere to be seen. Did this mean she would notcome?     

"I do not see Baroness Phelps."