Samantha looked at Libitina and noticed the mischievous glint in her eyes. Even though Libitina seldom smiled and she may seem cold, Samantha always found it easy to guess what the clever young girl was thinking through her large, brown eyes.
'Ah, Christopher is going to be fooled by Lina,' she realised, looking at the boy beside her with pity. 'No matter how many times I tell Christopher that these people are not scary, he just trembles harder. Well, after all, he is the son of a Baron, so interacting with the Princes and Princesses as well as the daughter of a Marquis should be scary…I think. I wonder how I managed to overcome all of that. But they are really nice people…'
Thinking up to here, Samantha Josephian immediately decided to throw her childhood best friend into the wolves' den and let him fend for himself. After all, she trusted in her friends to not bully him too hard, and she would be there if he got too scared. Right?
…
When Christopher Shantire heard someone address him at the table, he immediately stiffened and look towards his best friend, Samantha Josephian, for help. His round eyes full of fear moved Samantha, but she simply smiled at him in encouragement and turned away to eat her tart. The attention of the other three prestigious presences immediately fell onto him, and Christopher Shantire almost felt himself faint in fear.
After all, these were three of the most ambitious, genius and powerful people in the kingdom! Princess Sperenza and Prince Sydney needed no explanation, but Lady Merveille had recently overturned an entire court of ministers to push through a new Bill that most aristocrats opposed! She was so fierce that she gained enough power to do that after just two years in high society! The fact that she was backed by both the First Princess and Second Prince seemed inconsequential to Christopher because it was too shocking and Lady Merveille was simply too young to have accomplished this.
He wondered how he dared to sit at the same table with them. If Samantha hadn't held his arm and dragged him to this tea party, he would never have the courage to speak to them as the son of a mere Baron.
Lady Merveille, who sat directly across him with her silver mask and silver fan, continued to stare at him unblinkingly, her large eyes reflecting his fearful face. Christopher's mind ran wild. Rumours said that her sharp gaze sends shivers down babies' spines and the piercing snap of her silver fan could slice her enemies down with the flip of her wrist. Naturally, Christopher knew that the latter could not be true, but looking at the glint of light on the silver accessory, he was starting to believe that his life was at stake. He caught Samantha looking at him in pity and thought absurdly that she might be paying tribute to his death in advance.
With shaking legs, he stumbled up awkwardly from his seat and bowed to the party's attendees.
"I apologise for not introducing myself earlier," despite his hardest efforts, his voice still trembled like his jelly legs. "First Princess, Second Prince and Lady Merveille, this is my first time meeting with you. I am Christopher Shantire, the heir of Shantire House, and I beg for your forgiveness at my impudence for coming to this party without prior notice."
They seem to accept his introduction as they nodded and waved at him to sit down, so he did. The soft cushion beneath him was already wet with cold sweat, and he belatedly wondered if he would leave a butt-print behind him. He prayed that he would never have to get up again.
But how could he run away if he stayed in place?
As he panicked in his self-made world, the cool voice of a lady entered his eardrums like the whisper of a cobra, enchanting but deadly.
"Are the pastries not to your liking? Eat," he heard the cold-faced lady with the silver mask order, and he robotically moved his fork.
"Yes, yes, its delicious," Christopher nodded mechanically. He could not taste the tart at all as he stuffed it into his mouth.
"How does it taste? Too sour?"
"Yes, I mean no, it tastes…just right."
"That's good…" the voice drawled, and Christopher shuddered instinctively.
"Young Master Shantire, do you know why you are here?" the young lady continued, stressing each word as she put down her fan. She slowly brought a cup of tea to her red, luscious lips and sipped.
Again, Christopher looked towards Samantha for help, but she just shrugged.
'Wasn't this your idea! How could you do this to me?' For the moment, Christopher felt as if trusting Samantha was the biggest mistake in his life.
"I-I have a request for Lady Merveille."
The royal siblings and Libitina looked at each other but Christopher did not notice. He was gathering up courage to seek help for his House, and he could not fail.
"I-I would like to seek Lady Merveille's help in saving the lands of my fief!"