"Sperenza, do you know who that is?" Libitina muttered.
The princess giggled. "What kind of question are you asking?"
She leaned closer to the window and smiled wistfully. "That young boy over there is the only son of the Shantire House, aged 22, a year older than our dear Samantha. Quite the pair, don't you think? Fellow agrarian aristocrats, dancing under the leaves and foraging for forbidden fungus under the sun."
"…Shantire House?" Libitina raised her eyebrow placed her closed fan against her lips. "Sperenza, what are you up to?"
"What could I be up to?" Sperenza gently rolled her eyes at Libitina's expressionless face. "On the other hand, what else? Anyway, he is a good opportunity. Samantha must have known before bringing the boy here. Perhaps both of you could help each other out," She huffed.
"By the way, Sydney is coming later and you can wait in the Pearl room after you've had enough of the appetisers."
"As tasty as ever, I've noticed, although there were some of questionable character," Libitina sulked in sarcasm as she acquiesced to the change of subject. "Luckily, I've brought some of mine."
The princess cheered. "Delightful! You know how to make us happy."
When Libitina finished her rounds in the tea party, she finally bid farewell to the flavourful personalities that she had complained to Sperenza about, and made her way quietly to the Pearl room, one of the many private rooms that the Sunflower Palace had. You might think that to call a palace a Sunflower was interesting, but the abodes of each of the princes and princesses had always been named after flowers. For instance, Sperenza had the Sunflower Palace, the Crown Prince Sulian had the Gazania Palace, and Sydney had the Dahlia Palace. Sometimes, Libitina thought that the old King wanted to brighten up the royal family through the names of brilliant flowers, because everyone was so grey and cold. At least, the older generations.
In the Pearl room, three other guests were already sitting around a small table, where fragrant tea and some snacks had been prepared.
The moment Sydney saw her, he elegantly raised his teacup in greeting. His cane laid languidly beside him on the cushioned sofa. "Lady Merveille has finally arrived. A little late, but befitting of the main star of the party."
Libitina wanted to roll her eyes, but there was a stranger around, so she restrained herself.
"I am glad you understand, and it is good to see you, Second Prince. I sincerely apologise as I had some matters to settle before coming," Libitina nodded to the table's guests, taking the white container from Elizabeth's hand and opening the box up. She slowly laid out the pastries onto the empty plates.
"As apologies, please do enjoy these pastries from the Merveille House." Immediately, Libitina saw Sydney's eyes light up once the pastries were out.
'I knew it, you're just impatient for the food,' grumbled Libitina in her heart.
"Yes! I've been waiting so long for this! Princess, thank you for inviting us again," the redheaded Samantha exclaimed to Sperenza. "Lady Merveille only brings snacks to your small parties and I've been dying to try the Merveille's desserts again."
"Well, Seventh Lady Josephian, it's the special privilege of being a Princess," Sperenza laughed. "So…What do you have for us today?"
"Today, I've got chocolate croissants and some simple lemon tarts, and mushroom quiche. The last one is a new recipe, and one is reserved for Her Highness."
"That's so sweet, Lady Merveille," the princess smiled as she eagerly served herself the tart-like cake. Sydney had already placed two croissants on his plate gently and started eating.
"Christopher, try this," Samantha took a lemon tart from Libitina and placed one of it on the plate of the boy beside her.
Libitina opened her silver fan with a snap as she narrowed her eyes at the boy. The young boy was probably around Samantha's and Libitina's age, but he had a weak and cowardly disposition, as seen from his pale face and hunched back. Even when Samantha had placed the tart on his plate, the boy had only mumbled a word of thanks before concentrating on his cake, as if making eye contact with any of them would doom him to death.
Libitina leered as the scared boy stiffened, his fork frozen midway towards his mouth.
"Why, Seventh Lady Josephian," she sighed dramatically, her eyes narrowing in pretend doubt, "Who is this young gentleman you have brought to our private party?"