Yohana settled into her new chamber that very night, feeling a tinge of guilt for the maids who had worked tirelessly to prepare it on such short notice.
She could only muster a heartfelt 'Thank you' to express her gratitude before they departed, leaving her to rest.
"Please have a good rest, My Lady," they said.
Among the maids, only Thea remained, diligently organizing Yohana's dresses in the spacious wardrobe. The sight of a larger wardrobe that could accommodate all of Yohana's beautiful gowns filled Thea with delight.
Later that evening, Henrie had ordered his men to retrieve the dresses from Mrs. Lo's shop. Yohana learned that Mrs. Lo had hurriedly reopened her shop to provide the dresses, despite it being closed for the day already.
"My Lady, look at this wardrobe! It suits you perfectly. The small one you had before wasn't fitting for someone as exquisite as you. A person of your beauty deserves a grand wardrobe like this," Thea exclaimed, running her fingers over the smooth surface of the sturdy furniture.
Yohana was glad that Thea found joy in this upgrade.
"Do you need anything else, My Lady? Would you like a late-night snack? We should celebrate this event," Thea offered excitedly.
Yohana didn't seem interested, her emotions remained subdued due to the recent news of her father's passing.
She understood that she needed to eventually overcome her grief and move forward, but the love for her father would forever remain in her heart, unaffected by death.
"Are you not happy, My Lady? This is the grandest chamber in the palace. I heard it was originally reserved for the prince's prospective wife. And that is you! This is where you belong," Thea continued, unable to contain her excitement and continuous chatter.
"It will take some time to adjust to all of this," Yohana remarked, settling on the exquisitely crafted four-poster bed made from the finest materials.
The bed's canopy, adorned with delicate lace and embroidered curtains, added an air of elegance to the room. She embraced one of the soft, plush pillows, reveling in the luxurious linens.
Thea twirled around the room, now moving towards the vanity table. Yohana's modest jewelry box stood in contrast to the large mirror.
Adjacent to the vanity, a cozy sitting area awaited with plush armchairs and a small tea table. The maids had placed fresh flowers on the table, infusing the room with a sweet floral fragrance.
"My Lady, you even have your own chandeliers!" Thea exclaimed, gazing up at the ceiling, which featured frescoes, albeit fewer and less intricate than those in the Bateilla Hall.
Thea further admired the heavy velvet curtains, which not only provided privacy at night but also allowed the sunlight to filter in during the day—a luxury Yohana hadn't experienced in her previous room.
***
As Queen Emma continued arranging the flowers with the assistance of her ladies-in-waiting, Zara reminded her that dinner would be ready shortly. Removing her gardening gloves, the queen requested afternoon tea.
"Yes, Your Highness," Zara replied with a polite bow. Just as she was about to turn around, the queen stopped her and issued another command.
"Invite Lady Runa to dinner," Queen Emma stated.
The announcement shocked everyone present, particularly Zara, who had assumed that Lady Runa would not be a long-term resident in the royal palace despite her engagement to the crown prince. This was why she had assigned Thea, a novice, as Lady Runa's personal maid.
From the start, Zara had no intention of treating Lady Runa as a member of the royal family deserving of the highest level of service.
However, Zara did not dare express any doubt or raise objections. She could only nod in acknowledgment and comply with the order.
After Zara left the queen's chamber, Lady Heidi voiced her concerns, asking, "Your Majesty, are you certain this is a wise decision? You have purposefully been excluding her from the dinner to draw the line."
"I appreciate your concerns, Lady Heidi, but this is a necessary step for my plan. I cannot remain idle while that woman controls Henrie as she pleases. However, it is crucial that Henrie remains unaware of my true intentions. Therefore, it is important to feign acceptance so that he does not doubt my motives," Queen Emma explained.
Lady Heidi nodded in understanding. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Savoring her afternoon tea, Queen Emma wore a satisfied smile as she envisioned the smooth execution of her plan. "Tonight at dinner, I will begin. I must show Henrie that Lady Runa is unfit for the esteemed position by his side. Young ladies like her are easily exposed; they merely pretend to be dignified, but with a single push, their true colors are revealed."
Sharing in the anticipation, Lady Heidi took a sip of her tea. "Life will return to normal afterward."
"I cannot wait for that day to come," Queen Emma agreed with enthusiasm.
Their delight was short-lived as Zara returned to the queen's chamber and delivered particularly galling news regarding Lady Runa's response to the dinner invitation.
"She wants to know if the dinner is mandatory as she is content with having dinner in her own chamber with Thea," Zara relayed.
Lady Heidi sought confirmation, asking, "Who is Thea?"
"Lady Runa's personal maid, My Lady," Zara replied, keeping her gaze fixed on the floor, wary of Queen Emma's potential anger.
Queen Emma slammed her cup onto the saucer, unable to believe Lady Runa's audacity. By asking if the dinner was mandatory, it was clear she was considering declining the invitation. But she didn't stop there; she also expressed her preference, comparing a dinner with the royal family to a solitary meal in her own chamber with a maid.
"This is a tremendous insult to the royal family!" Queen Emma exclaimed, rising from her seat with rapid breathing.
"Your Majesty?" Lady Heidi followed suit, and the other ladies-in-waiting also stood up.
"Shouldn't we teach her a lesson, Your Majesty?" Lady Rafaela, the daughter of a baron and the lowest in status among Queen Emma's ladies-in-waiting, suggested. Despite her usually timid nature due to her status, she refused to remain silent today. She wanted to solidify her position under Queen Emma and maintain her role as the queen's lady-in-waiting.
"Should you even ask, Lady Rafaela? Of course! Zara, inform her that I forbid her from declining. She must have dinner with us. That is an order!" Queen Emma roared, her mind already formulating plans on how to embarrass the young lady during the meal.
Lady Heidi stood up and took the initiative, saying, "I will personally invite Prince Henrie to dinner, Your Majesty. With Lady Runa present, he won't decline."
"Excellent," Queen Emma responded, pleased with Lady Heidi's proposal.
The satisfied grin on the queen's face didn't go unnoticed by Lady Rafaela, causing her to grit her teeth. She resented the fact that she always had to be on edge, while others seemed to navigate the court more effortlessly.
During Queen Emma's short reign, Lady Rafaela had witnessed several changes in the position of ladies-in-waiting due to the queen's pickiness and volatility. Lady Heidi was the only one who had served the queen from before her ascent to the throne.
Suddenly, Queen Emma cast a disdainful look at Lady Rafaela, and even Lady Odetta, expressed disgust on her face.
"Lady Rafaela, must you do that? It's uncouth and unseemly," Queen Emma remarked before shifting her gaze away from her.
It was then that Lady Rafaela realized she had been biting her nails, a nervous habit she couldn't control. Feeling deeply embarrassed by the queen's comment, she clenched her fists on her thighs and kept her head lowered for the remainder of their time before dinner.
***
Yohana was well aware that the queen wouldn't give up easily. She anticipated that her previous response would only further aggravate the queen.
However, the idea of joining the queen and princesses for dinner seemed exhausting to her. The prospect of having a peaceful meal in her own chamber, with only Thea by her side, was much more appealing.
"You must join the family for dinner, My Lady. It is an order from Her Majesty the Queen," Zara informed her a while ago.
With that, Yohana could only let out a sigh. On the other hand, Thea was excited for Yohana to be officially integrated into the royal family. She believed that the queen had a change of heart and had finally accepted Yohana as the future queen.
Although Yohana held serious doubts about that. While getting dressed with Thea's assistance, Yohana prepared herself to face whatever wicked plan the queen had up her sleeve.
***
Queen Emma and the princesses were already seated in the dining room when Yohana entered.
Among the servants, Yohana noticed a distinct red-haired maid with a scratch on her cheek. She remembered her as the aggressive maid who had taunted Thea near the library. Observing her now assisting Princess Elisa with her utensils, Yohana realized that the red-haired maid was Princess Elisa's personal maid.
"Why have you only just appeared now? Don't you understand that it is disrespectful to keep me waiting? One should treat the queen of Reichwein in high esteem," the queen's first attack came swiftly.
Yohana greeted the queen and the princesses with a polite bow and began searching for her seat. "I apologize, Your Majesty. I will keep that in mind," Yohana replied calmly.
The king and the crown prince arrived in the room as the final participants. Yohana stood up from her chair and, like the other people in the room, bowed respectfully.
"Your Majesty the Queen, allow me to apologize on behalf of my fiance for causing you to wait. However, I'm afraid I cannot extend the same apology on behalf of His Majesty the King. Perhaps you should demand the respect you deserve from His Majesty directly," Yohana suddenly spoke out, shocking everyone in the room. Even the maids were taken aback by her boldness.