"Did you dye your hair? Or is it real?"
"Your eyes are so pretty, Lady Florence!"
"How's your time here in the capital?"
She could only force a smile as every other young lady kept on hovering over her, bombing her questions that made her think about which ones she should answer first
"Did Madam Gina sew your dress? It suits you, my Lady"
Hearing Chloe's voice, she turn to face her, "Yup, Madam Gina did, she's a great designer isn't she?" She remarked and genuinely smiled while admiring her dress, most everyone in the room fell in love with her innocence,
"You are so cute Lady Florence!"
"You are like an angel in disguise!"
'It's because I Am, but in a bad way' she thought as she kept on hearing embarrassing compliments sent by her fellow ladies,
"But Lady Chloe, why did Princess Michaela not go to today's gathering?" One asked Chloe, everyone then turned to face Chloe and awaited her answer,
"She sent me a letter last night, saying she can't attend because there's an emergency" she explained to them, everyone then only nodded their head as they had expected that the Princess would attend, hoping to be her friend,
But their plans are not in vain, seeing that another influential lady is at present, hoping that she is a country bumpkin who knows nothing,
"Anyways, which of you had read the spin-off of the novel 'My Own Snow White'? It's so good!!!" A lady exclaimed in delight, letting out a boastful smile, as everyone in the room then hovered over the young lady,
"Lady Kylie, Have you read it already?!"
"How did you get a copy? I hear that only 5 copies are available in the kingdom!"
"You are so lucky, Lady Kylie!"
The girl could only smile in victory, Ariana eyed the young girl, who had blonde hair and white eyes,
'Kylie Damasco, the daughter of Count Damasco, would join forces with the Princess on taking down our heroine when her beloved, the crown Prince would fall in love with the heroine' she thought, recognizing the young girl she had written,
"Are you a fan of Ria, Lady Florence?"
She was cut off from her thoughts when she heard Chloe's voice, she turned to face the young lady, who was elegantly sipping tea,
"I am, how about you, my lady? And please call me Ariana, it feels weird being called Lady Florence" she giggled at the young marchioness, hoping to be her friend,
Hearing her offering to call her by her first name, Chloe was taken back by her words, but she then let out a small smile
"I'm afraid I'm not a fan of her, Lady Ariana, but I occasionally read her books, if you haven't read the spinoff I can lend you mine" she heard her offering,
'Read occasionally huh?' She thought as she smirked at the lady who was now turning red with embarrassment, simply wanted to maintain her elegance and grace at all times, not wanting to be exposed as a fan of fiction,
"I see, but I've already read it, I've got a copy, Brother Allen gave it to me as a gift from his travels," she says, letting out a genuine smile, but it later faded seeing that the shade of pink in Chloe's cheeks,
'Oh? It seemed that I'd missed something she thought, remembering the description she had of the young marchioness who is unwed till she died in her book, not caring an extra, she didn't bother explaining why she was unwed,
"I see, it seemed Sir Allen cares for you, Lady Ariana"
"I guess he does" she only shrugged off as she took a sip of tea, patiently waiting for at least one would gossip something fun, wanting to have a new inspiration and story plot for her next book,
She eyed the group of ladies hovering over Kylie, all were calmed down, all back to their seats, and returned from their graceful selves
"I got something to share guys"
Her ears perk up, wanting to hear what tea would she get, she is eager to know but try to be unbothered at the same time,
"When I went to vacation in the Eastern Empire, as we traveled at the outskirts of the kingdom, I saw a very beautiful girl, She had pinkish hair and green eyes and I doubt she is a commoner" one shared, as everyone is listening to her words
"Is she some illegitimate child of someone?" One asks
"It's possible, she could be someone's sister too!"
Hearing those last words everyone had their eyes widen, Ariana noticed them and let out a smirk
'She's not illegitimate, she's just the Princess of the Western Empire who's been missing since birth'
She thought, and happily sipped on her tea like she had no worries in the world,
"Hey, Lady Florence, can I tell you something?" She heard someone say, as she then let out a smile, "Sure what is it?" She asks
"I hear from Father that the King would arrange you to one of his sons"
Hearing those words left in the young girl's mouth everyone had their eyes widen in shock,
"ehh?!?"
Both Ariana and Chloe could only cover their ears as each lady was beyond shock at what they had just heard,
"There's a possibility Lady Florence would be our Queen?!?"
"I wonder which son?"
"It's either the good or the bad one"
Each of the ladies had mixed opinions, but surely, Lady Kylie was not all happy with the sudden revelation, she then let out a smirk,
"I think that you and the 2nd Prince suit each other, Lady Florence, One is elegantly and frail, while the other is a tyrant, it is indeed a good pair," Kylie told everyone, then gave her a thumbs up, Everyone then shot her a questionable look
"Lady Kylie, it is obvious that the King wanted Lady Florence wanted to sit on the throne,"
"You usually have a good eye when it comes to pairings, what happens to you now?"
"Lady Florence is such a gentle young lady, why would you pair her up with some tyrant?"
Kylie then turned red in embarrassment, The result wasn't what she had expected, she only lowered her head shook in anger, and humiliated
Ariana then eyed her and silently cursed in her head, as she had now a new enemy trying to drag her down,
'It would be a hassle if she ran to the Princess asking for help' she thought as she mentally palmed herself,
She then suffered a few more hours of compliments until it was time to go home, each young lady was then escorted back to their homes, until Chloe and Ariana were left, as the Marchioness and the Grand Duchess were having a serious chat
"Did you enjoy today's gathering, Lady Ariana?" Chloe asked her, as she then smiled at the young host,
"I did! Looking forward to hosting my tea party" she honestly told her, as Chloe couldn't help but get attached to the young girl,
"So umm, do you wanna be friends, Lady Ariana? I hear that you're new so you don't have anyone you know right? I can accompany you to explore the kingdom, I know some places you'll like" Chloe offered, as they waited for their mothers to finish conversing, standing beside each other by the hallway,
"Sure! Lady Asich! I would be delighted to be your friend!" she genuinely exclaimed as Chloe smiled lightly,
"Please, call me Chloe, as you said, it's quite uncomfortable to be called Lady Asich"
The two girls then giggled at each other, just in time that their mothers were already out of their room, had finished conversing,
"My Friend, I'll see you soon, Thank you for inviting us," Joanna told Diana who only let out a smile, "I should be the one saying that, that the Duchess graced me with her presence, but sure, you are welcome" Diana joke as the two then let out a loud laugh and then turn to face their daughters
"Ariana, did you have a good time?" Joanna asked her daughter, "Did Chloe take care of you?" Diana worriedly asked her,
"Lady Chloe indeed takes care of me, and besides, she's now my friend!" She innocently exclaims as the two mothers can only let out a genuine smile that they were worried for nothing,
"It's getting late, we should get going, goodbye my friend" Joanna bid the Marchioness and her daughter goodbye, as they went inside their carriage,
"Bye Bye, Lady Chloe! Do send me letters if you're going somewhere!" She exclaimed as she waved at her newfound friend goodbye the carriage took off,
"Did you have fun today, Ariana?" Her mother asked her, with a worried tone,
"I Sure did Mother! Everyone is so nice to me!" She happily remarked,
"That's good, your father would be happy for you"
She could only force a smile, as she faced the scenery outside, and noticed something unusual by the bushes, Her brows furrowed as she tried to look at it again,
*bang*
When the carriage was suddenly forced to stop, their faces were horrified, hearing what had happened outside, hearing the screams of the knights,
Joanna then faced her daughter and hugged her tight,
"It's gonna be fine darling, we're gonna be alright"