Giving her another bow before I went out, visibly better than when I first went in. I know so since it showed on her face, brightly smiling at me with her hands clasped together near her face.
I go straight back to my room and sit down slowly.
"...Tea party, huh?" I mumble as I furrowed my eyebrows while rubbing my temples.
I have to do it. I'll turn 19 this February and I'll be ridiculed for not hosting some kind of noble gathering. Something as simple as a tea party is to be expected of someone who has come of age.
Yet, I continued to push it back as I used the excuse of training.
"I can't delay this any further." I stand up and walk to the library in the mansion.
I ask the librarian to hand me a few books about social gatherings in high society, as well as anything connected to tea parties. He bows his head as I walk to the shelves that had romance books.
"I'll have to wait a little longer..." Whispering solemnly at the sight of the books I want to read as I let my fingers slide the isle. Sigh, that schedule I wrote will have to wait, since I have to plan this whole thing first.
And the next few days went by faster than expected.
I'm almost finished planning everything, with the help of my mother. All that's left to do is to invite the people.
I bite my lower lip lightly as I felt nervous while looking at my written plans.
Despite the fact of knowing fully well that I'm going to be a knight, I am a lady in the Ponterise household. My honor as a lady is as important to me as my honor as a knight. Slightly a bit lower in importance but nonetheless, it is my honor.
I ring my bell as I call for a maid, then I ask them to bring in the butler.
Knock knock.
"Come in."
The door opens and our family butler speaks with his head bowing.
"What can I do for you, my lady?"
"Can you please gather a list of women my age and invite them next week to my tea party?" I said with a large smile my hands clasped together.
He gives me a reassuring smile.
"I shall do my best."
I grin back in satisfaction.
"I knew it! I can always trust you! Thank you!" I lightly hit his back and laughed.
He chuckles with me then continues to give a warm-parently smile.
"It is your first time hosting your own tea party. I'll do my best to support you, my lady."
He bows again before leaving my room.
I go to my bed and stare at the white ceiling.
"What if it fails?" I whisper to myself, then biting my lip, ending up too hard that it bled.
After wiping if off, I breathe in and out to at least relieve my anxiety.
I only plan to make one tea party in my whole lifetime, so this should be something decent. Doesn't end up on anyone's head, positively or negatively. I just need to pass the bare minimum and I'm good.
***
The next day, the butler knocks on my door after lunch while I was finalizing the food to be prepared for the gathering.
That was fast. Thank goddess for our butler.
I allow him entrance and he gave me a list of the people he sent invitations to.
"I sent one to ten noble ladies that are of the same age and same status as your ladyship."
Taking the list from his hand, I read the names off the list. Same status, meaning any noble lady my age in the Quintesse Empire. But my eyes only widened at one particular name, despite all of these being big shots, including myself the host.
The butler notices this. "My lady, is there someone who is not to your liking?"
"Oh, no... I was just surprised to see a daughter of the Duke would be here too..."
Staring at me for a while then he purses his lips.
"Oh, that's fine."
'Uh, yeah, of course, it is.' I raise my eyebrow. Is it not supposed to be fine?
"She is the same age as you, and she is the official daughter of the Duke."
I slowly nod in agreement but my head is still full of shock. Dumbfounded, I wave my hand to let him know he can go, and as always, he gives me a bow before going out.
Breathing out to get my senses back, I place the paper on my desk and rub my temples.
"Jasmine de Vanderwale. Will I really have a chance to meet you this early?"
The female lead of 'The Crown Prince is in Love With Me!' is going to my tea party!
Just thinking about it makes my heart beat so fast. It's like I'm meeting a superstar!
A character I admired so much while reading the novel Jessica, is a human being, alive in this world, breathing the same air as me.
"Ahhh!" I squeal out of excitement and jump on my bed. I take a pillow and cover my face with it to muffle my loud screams.
I can't imagine how beautiful she really is! Jasmine was always described as the most beautiful woman in the Empire so I'm sure I'll be blown away! Since it was a web novel and the only official art we had of how the two of them looked was from the cover, I can only vaguely remember what she looks like. There were a few fan arts here and there, but I'm sure seeing her in real life would be akin to meeting a goddess!
As I feel the excitement subside, anxiety grows inside me even more.
Wait, if the female lead is coming... is something dramatic going to happen?
Jasmine is indeed smart, but another trait she has is that she's timid and shy at first. She'll later grow confident as the Crown Prince helps her find herself. And around this age, they wouldn't have met 'again' yet.
The reason why I love that novel is it's full of cliches, as how romance novels are commonly written back in my previous world, but also, the characters are so lovable that you can't help but adore them.
"Ah, whatever! I'll meet Jasmine anyway!"
I throw my pillow up and it falls on my face.
That's right. I have to make much more effort for this if Jasmine is going to be here! I'll have to read more about how to strike up conversations in high society! I'll prepare better snacks and much better tea!
After a few minutes of fangirling, another question comes into my head.
Am I going to befriend her or am I going to just admire her from afar?
If I befriend her, I'm going to be involved with her story. If I don't, I will let the story flow without me being in it.
I would've chosen the latter if it was another character, but it's Jasmine de Vanderwale, the sweetest and kindest lady in the Empire!
If she's going to be Empress soon, I'm going to be her most loyal subject!
I stay in silence for a long time.
Wait, why am I thinking about it too much? So out of character for me to be thinking and worrying over something like this.
I'll just go with the flow like I always do!
Hopefully, nothing too dramatic will happen.