Everything went well the entire day, well... almost. I told the Countess about the Meyer family opening their business and how it would impact the Society with their foreign dresses. I also discussed the Boutiques and the quality of the dresses with the Ladies of the Candice Tea Party.
All that is left to sully the Meyer's name is the Marquess's Banquet.
But it's so boring in the banquet..?
Nobody in my age seems to be there except for the elderly and their youngsters. The others were all male bachelors, and for some reason, I didn't want to tangle up with them talking about politics all night long.
Even the food wasn't good to satisfy me. But with my father by my side, I made sure to keep myself entertained by playing with his expressions.
Tsk. Don't invite someone to bore them.
It felt weird to sitting out of everything, in the corner... I looked like a loner than anyone else. Even the Society's Duke's daughter had her own problems.
"The Meyers Family is getting a Nobility Title by the Emperor!" A voice called loudly.
Huh?
"Yes, the Meyer's family's heir had arrived and showed off all of their exclusive overseas goods and their luxury goods were enough to buy land in the North."
My face visibly paled. What?! Even though I tried to ruin their name by spreading rumors, it didn't work?! I slapped my head in disappointment. A Noble title? Like a Count? Marquess? Or maybe a Duke?
No... the Emperor won't hand in such an expensive title to a foreigner merchant. It would no more than a Count, hopefully.
Am I really Society's Flower, or the Lame WallFlower?
"It's the title of a Marquess! But the Emperor still hasn't approved of this rumor yet." Another man said.
Ah... my luck. I inwardly cried. A Marquess..? Why? Did the Meyers family buy off the Emperor for that title too? Foreigners couldn't get that title.
"Foreigners can't have the title of a Marquess, right, Father?" I ask my father.
My father looks at me and says: " You mean the Meyers family?"
"How-?"
"You were looking at those people talking about them."
Oh... Am I that easy to read? I flushed red and then controlled my expression.
I smiled sheepishly at him and say: "A foreigner can't earn a title of a Marquess unless he served in the War and brought benefits through military lineage or was branch family of a Royal Family."
"Yes. The Meyers family has a deep connection to all of the Contentinet's Royal families. If all, it's better for the Empire to get on good terms with the Meyers family to create a better diplomacy with foreign countries."
"So Meyer's family is an intermediary."
"Yes, almost. If you are interested, I can lend you some books about-"
"No, it's absolutely fine! I would love to learn from father instead." Yeah, F*CK books. I never read them anyway. All of this diplomacy and politics has so much depth and complexity that it's not good to be involved. My life itself is complex and I can't even figure that out.
What's worse is that Meyer's family has the status of a Marquess. Tsk. Now my rumors to destroy their establishments are in waste.
Nothing will change because of the poor quality of some fabric dresses.
Am I stupid? Maybe I am.
I leaned back and took a deep breath. I need more influence to cut off the relationship between the Emperor and the Meyers. Maybe war between the two neighboring countries? Emperizia wouldn't be unnecessarily involved so they would cut off the relationship with Meyers.
Now.. where do I ask someone... without looking suspicious...How to create war?
I've heard in fairytales that two countries can be at war because of a single beautiful woman, who they want as their queen. Can I become that beautiful woman? Though the thought was satisfying, in reality, that is creepy. What if I get sold off because I created the war?
Maybe... fight for resources? Wars can happen because of that too..? Benefits to gain more access to provide for its people and earn more money, wars can happen very easily between two neighboring countries.
I scratched my head, I didn't want to read geography to understand what resources are needed where. I just wanted shortcuts. No... what I needed was someone by my side, who is able to go against Emperizia directly.
Another Royal Family? How do I get acquainted with them? I gnashed my teeth and drank more wine. I give up. This is why Politics sucks, it's too impossible to reach without enough influence.
As I drank, my eyes went on the Host of the Event, Marquess Vinefields. I heard that he profits from wine companies. As I puckered my lips, something ran inside my mind.
"Father, look- it's the Marquess," I say as I point at the Host and the Limelight of the Show. My father nods as we go to greet him.
"Thank you for inviting us, Marquess Vinefields." We bowed respectfully.
"We are honored to have such esteemed guests today at our Banquet." The Marquess smiled with his wife, Marchioness Vinefields. I looked at her, I smiled when I realized that Marchioness's maternal family runs a OverSeas Mining Business.
Isn't that great?
"The Marchioness looks so wonderfully beautiful in that dress," I smiled as I pulled out my socializing fan.
The Marchioness smiled kindly and said: "To think Lady Crest would paint my face with gold, I am honored too much."
"Thinking of that, I heard that the Count has also possessed the magical heart of the Ocean, a wonderful jewel that can be placed beautifully into the Marchioness's heirloom." I laugh. "I would like to see it one day."
"Thank you, I will invite the Lady once I show you the Jewel." The Marchioness smiles.
"Come to think of it, I also heard that Meyer's family runs a Mine Business in the South and they have found the Diamonds of the Snows, which is now in possession of the Imperial Family! To think they have profited so much." I say with a smile, "to gain the title of the Marquess and the seat into the Emperizia's diplomats."
The Marquess and the Marchioness froze and then they switched confused looks between each other and said: "Hahaha... that's nice to hear, the Meyers family are truly established and wonderful." They say awkwardly.
"Of course, how could such a vile thing happen! Foreigners inside our Country, getting access to Emperizia's Court! We as true nobles in this land, cannot let such barbarian foriegners to enter, correct?" I say.
"Of course..."
"Well anyways, it was a nice evening," I smile at them, "Marchioness Vinefields, please come and visit my Debutante. You are always my exceptional esteemed guest."
The Marchioness recovers and then curtsies while saying: "Of course, Lady Crest. Thank you for inviting me."
"Not at all! It was fun talking Marchioness, the Countess was reminiscing about you." I smile, "thank you, I shall be looking around now."
I turn and walked away with Father.
As we disappeared from the Marquess and Marchioness Vinefields's sights, my father grabbed my elbows and said with a frown:
"What was that?"
"I don't understand what you mean, father?" I ask him innocently. My father slaps his hand into his forehead as he says:
"Fool! Why do you say such careless things in front of the Marquess? Aren't you mocking him?"
"Oh- I didn't know..." I hung my head down without shame. I looked at my father with tears brimming into my eyes, "I was so excited about the Meyers family into promoting into a Marquess that I forgot-! Please forgive me... father."
"Let's talk outside." My father looked up at the other guests looking at us. I nodded as I took him out in the farthest Terrace where no one could see us.
"Were you trying to cause a rift between the Foriegners and the Nobles, Rose?! Are you crazy? After all these times that the Imperial family tried to make contracts with the Foriegners to secure their post-!"
"Father are you serious right now?" I glare at him as I break out of his grasp. "The Imperial family this! The Imperial Family that-! Didn't you forget that I'm your daughter?!"
My father was surprised with my attitude, "-what do you mean? Our family is always loyal to the Imperial Family. And you will be the Next Crown Princess and Empress of the Empire. I have to respectful and loyal to you too."
I lower my head down in shame;
"N-no never mind." I say as I take a deep breath. "I just felt like the Meyers family would take away the position that the Crest family had in the Imperial family's heart."
My father laughed and said: "Those are needless worries. The Imperial family and our family has deep vows and deep history together. Our relationship and our position will not change due to a foreigner."
Ha.
Lies. Everyone easily killed you, father. For false accusations. It didn't even go through a trial and I already heard of your execution.
I can't believe it. A man who was always loyal to the Imperial Family. And his beloved daughter who has always loathed the Imperial family. Who would he really be loyal to? His daughter? Or his Kinsman?
I looked away from my father and said: "Father, if I was committing a crime, who would you support, me or the Imperial Family?"
"...Rose?" My father looked confused. "I don't understand what you mean..?"
I sneered, of course, you don't.
I have been so eager in taking revenge for you, but you don't even realize it or appreciate it. But who can I blame? He is innocent, I'm just being too narrow-minded. But...
Am I really doing this for you? Or maybe for myself?
"Nothing father, all my worries are better now." I smile at him as I take out my fan. "Father will always be loyal to the Emperor and me as well, correct. Good to know."
"..?" He looked confused.
"Let's head back, it's cold." I smile as I turn to leave the Terrace first. Maybe I forgot...
This man in front of me... isn't really my real father. Though he loves unconditionally, he loves the past self. Not the present me. He knows nothing of the future. It's better that way.
He'll make me turn away from something I want the most. Even if it is for my safety or the Empire's Loyalty... this father will not let me take Revenge.
The one who really is my father... is in heaven from a far-awaited dream in the past that I escaped from. Another timeline. Another dimension. Another story.
That man who I couldn't even feel or see anymore. A person from a long-awaited dream.
And HE was the one I was taking revenge for. And maybe, deep inside my heart, I wanted to take personal revenge.
Even if I turn cruel and malicious on an innocent Imperial Family, I still vowed to kill them. Because... that was my last wish in that pitiful body of mine.
***
***