Julie stared at the transparent glass teacups lining her table and sighed. The tea party held for the Crown Prince's audience seemed endless and she was beginning to get tired of it already. It was already 72 hours since she had isekaised into the world of her friend's favourite novel 'The Three Thorns' and she was already tired of the endless problems that didn't seem to end.
Her best friends Caine and Rex sat on either side of her with the same dumbfounded expression on their face like they still couldn't believe they were in the novel which the three of them had read together.
Or the fact that they were about to do something stupid that would absolutely kill them.
"Lady Julianna, you've been pretty quiet", Lady Mcrose murmured, tapping her spoon against the glass teacup slightly.
All the 12 members sitting at the table turned around to look at her.
Julie smiled sweetly. "I was waiting for your lady to finish talking"
Caine sitting beside her shuddered slightly. Lady Mcrose was his sister in this life. His was the family of Mcrose with his sister Lilly and Canien Mcrose the only ones left standing. And growing up alone had made them both strong spokespersons amoung the court.
From her left side Rex, or Lord Reynolds kept popping grapes in his mouth absent mindedly. He belonged to the Reeland family, another one holding the title of a duchy.
The Reelands, the Mcrose and the Emore were the three most influential families out of 6 Duchies in Liere. They were also the ones who were responsible for holding the Annual ceremony which invited the Southern dragon and the Blood witch back to the Empire for honouring them. It took place every year and this year was it's 25th annual ceremony.
"One who waits for another to talk might not never get a chance", the Crown Prince quoted smirking at her.
Julie smiled at him too, glad for the beautiful face in this life which didn't crack her emotions. Internally she was planning of various ways to stab the Crown Prince of Leire who seemed to make it his daily routine to annoy Julianne Emore.
"And one who has no patience can never pick up a sword", Reynolds said our loud, leaning back and crossing his arms. Caine and Julie startled in their seats, glaring at Rex.
The Prince's smile turned down.
It was well known how much Rex hated the Crown Prince's character but to openly challenge the lord of an Empire to his face? Was Rex trying to get them all killed before the plan began??
Julie stamped on Rex's feet hard with her heel that shut him up before he said anything else. "What Sir Reynolds means to say is...is-"
"That the lord of the empire need not pick up swords when Sir Reynolds can do it in his sake", Caine completed stammering. Julie gave him a look of gratitude picking up a towel to hide her face and stamped on Rex once again to make him stay shut.
"The Annual Ceremony of the three Powers of our country will be conducted by the Duke Mcrose and I, but in this matter the queen's authority is required", Julie said, hoping her voice was not cracking. "But the queen has been avoiding our letters and outsiders have been forbidden from entering her palace due to the scandal which took place last fall."
"Lack of communication is not an excuse Lady Emore", The Prince thundered. "This is the 25th Annual Ceremony and the parties who will be supporting the three power heads, including myself has not been declared yet. I don't want an angry witch and hot-headed dragon in my ceremony, Lady Emore"
"We understand that. But the Royal family besides you have made it pretty clear that our families are incapable of holding the ceremony this year", Reynolds said, holding out the letter of rejection.
The Prince looked at the letter with suspicion. "This has never happened before. The Reelands were rejected?"
"Not quite. The opposite actually", Caine said rubbing his his thumb over his palm.
"What do you mean?"
Julie looked at the two of her friends before answering. "Your highness. The Mcrose family, the Reelands and my family Emore has decided that we won't be participating in this year's Annual Ceremony."