Zara departed from the room to fulfill the task, although the queen knew that it was too much for a mere maid to find a dress that a princess hid.
Zara's movements were restricted, and she had limited access to some parts of the palace. She also wouldn't be able to enter Eleanor's chamber without her permission, but the queen could care less.
"Lady Odetta, you should also help her. Lady Catharina, can you find out how much the rumors have spread? Also, find out the content of the rumors; whether they still think that the lady is Lady Runa or whether the opinion has shifted to someone else."
The ladies-in-waiting immediately swarmed out of the chamber upon the order, leaving only Lady Rafaela behind.
"Your Majesty, you should rest for a bit," she suggested, mimicking the way Lady Heidi used to back when she was still here.
Before Queen Emma reached the sofa, Mr. Hermann announced Henrie's presence. Without waiting for permission, Henrie barged in, fuming.
"Mother, did I hear this correctly: you assigned 100 Kroners for Runa to organize the charity ball?!" Henrie snarled.
Pretending to be calm so Henrie wouldn't notice her concern, Queen Emma took a seat on the sofa and nonchalantly replied, "Yes, what of it?"
"That is outrageous! It is far from enough. Mother, are you in your right mind or have you gone senile?" Henrie's jaws tightened.
"How dare you insult the queen of this kingdom in the royal palace!" Queen Emma glared at him.
Ignoring it, Henrie continued, "I have checked with the finance minister about budgets for special events. This charity ball is a long-lived tradition to celebrate Luminara, a festival of the kingdom. He said that the normal budget is 1000 Kroners. Why did you take the liberty to cut the budget without consulting with the finance minister?"
Queen Emma smiled sweetly, "Why? Because I have to test her. My prince, isn't she a woman of your choice? I have abode with that decision, now you should let me play my part."
Frustrated by his mother's flippant response, Henrie's voice rose, "Test her? This isn't some game, Mother! It's about her reputation and her future as part of this family. You can't put her through this trial without considering the consequences."
The queen's smile faltered, and she could sense the anger in Henrie's words. Still, she tried to maintain her composure, "If she can prove herself capable of mitigating a crisis, I will accept her fully."
She didn't mean it.
Henrie's anger flared, "You're putting her at a disadvantage from the start! Hiring vendors and preparing for this event requires a substantial budget. It's unreasonable to expect her to handle it all with such a meager sum."
The queen waved her hand dismissively, "Nonsense. A woman of her wit should be able to figure something out. Also, you are forbidden from helping her. If I find out that you do, I will nullify this whole thing and come up with another test."
Queen Emma was confident that Lady Runa wouldn't be able to pull it off, seeing how much she was at a disadvantage. Hiring vendors would require a lot of money, and buying materials and foods for the event would also cost a lot.
She wanted to see how far Yohana could go to save her own reputation and her brother's honor. This was a perfect chance to break Lady Runa once and for all. The queen believed that she held all the cards, and Lady Runa's fate was sealed.
***
Henrie's face was overcast with worry when he visited Yohana. She lightly touched his arm, concern in her eyes. "Henrie, are you not feeling well?"
He smiled and shook his head, but Yohana sensed that something was bothering him. She wondered if it was about the rumor or something else entirely.
"The charity day for Luminara is approaching. What should we do? There's not enough money and not enough time if we were to find cheaper alternatives outside Reichwein," Henrie's voice was laden with concern as he spoke, his shoulders slumping.
Understanding the weight of the budget issue on his mind, Yohana gestured for him to take a seat. "Come, have a seat. Thea, could you please bring us the tea that we purchased some days ago?"
"Yes, My Lady," Thea replied and left the room to fetch the tea, known for its ability to relax the mind, although Yohana hadn't personally tried it.
Sitting together, Yohana gently inquired, "Henrie, what are you thinking?"
"I feel bad for you. I thought bringing you here is protecting you. I thought making you my fiancée would give you more authority here, and thus, prevent anyone from attacking you recklessly. But as it turns out, my own mother is attacking you with all her might," Henrie confided in her, frustration evident in his voice.
Yohana looked at him fondly, touched by his concern and the lengths he was willing to go for her. "Henrie, I will find a way."
"How?" Henrie lifted his chin, and the chandelier's reflection in his blue eyes made it seem as if he was on the verge of tears. "She forbids me from helping you. Ugh! Shall I do it in secret?"
Yohana chuckled at his determination, finding it endearing. "Thank you, Henrie, but I have found just the solution for this dire circumstance."
***
Henrie leaned in, fully invested, and asked, "What is it?"
"Sponsorship. I will make sure that vendors have huge exposure, a free marketing effort, you can say, in return for cheap services and goods," Yohana explained her plan.
His eyes lit up, and various expressions flickered across his face. From 'that's a good idea!' to 'why didn't I think about it?' and 'but is that feasible?' to 'well, everyone will line up to help you, I'm sure,' and finally settling on 'I'll just trust you.'
Yohana laughed, and Henrie's face softened. Shortly after, he joined in the laughter, the bleak expression completely fading away.
As they enjoyed the lighthearted atmosphere, Thea entered with a cart containing the requested tea. She deftly served the tea, and Yohana gestured to the cup, saying, "Please, have a taste, Henrie."
Following her lead, Henrie took a sip, and the delicious, calming aroma of the tea helped them both relax.
Feeling it was the right time to discuss the rumor, Yohana gently said, "Henrie, how was the case of the rumor? I don't know how you'll take it, but I have told the queen that you're intending to press charges about this rumor."
"Ah, I see. It's fine. She will know about it sooner or later. I have told the king about my plan, and I have obtained permission from the monarch in writing so no one would be able to refute it later," Henrie replied confidently.
Yohana couldn't help but wonder what method he used to obtain the king's approval, knowing this case could expose the indecorum of the royal family. In fact, she also wondered how Henrie managed to convince the king to accept her presence here and agree to the engagement.
"Do I need to come and testify at the trial?" Yohana asked.
"Do you want to? You don't have to if it burdens you. We can provide written testimony," Henrie offered, giving her the options.
"I wouldn't mind at all, especially if it will help with the case," she replied.
"Alright. I'll talk with the lawyers about this. We still need more evidence to support our case," he said, his expression growing serious as he contemplated the situation.
Yohana reached out and gently held his hand, asking, "Are you really okay with it, Henrie? It is possible that you will get the brunt of it."
Henrie quickly put his hand on top of Yohana's, rubbing the back of her hand with a warm smile. "If that happens, will you stay by my side and cheer me up?"
"Of course, although I don't know what I should do to cheer you up," Yohana replied sincerely.
Henrie lifted her hand and kissed the back of it. "You don't have to do anything. Just be there for me. That'll be enough," he reassured her affectionately.