"You don't have to worry about the money,Lia. I will somehow get it."
"It's not reassuring at all,princess."
After few days,a sudden letter from the high priest appeared. The contents of the letter was to terminate the contract between the temple and the princess.
Dear Princess,
I tried to hide the fact about the contract. But as you know,the queen has the temple in her palm. She won't give us any fund if we do not terminate the contract. She is one of the biggest supporting weapon for the temple. If she stops giving us money,we will suffer a heavy blow. I suggest you to meet with me as soon as possible.
Ruby scratch her head, "Ha,that's absurd."
"Isn't it more absurd that you are giving the temple money?"
"Come on,Lia. Even you are saying this?"
"I am just worried about you. Anyway,you didn't forget that you have to attend lady Elrose's tea party right?"
"I totally forgot about it."
Amelia sigh as she start rummaging through the clothes to find something for Ruby to wear.
"This one? Nope maybe this black one would suit you more? How about the purple one?"
"Anything is fine." Ruby yawn trying to keep her eyes open.
It took more than half an hour for Ruby to get ready. Tea parties are not very exciting but when it comes to all kinds of gossiping,it becomes one of the perfect place. So,the reason for Ruby to attend those tea parties is to know more about the aristocrat society. Though unless you have power,an illegitimate princess doesn't get much of a respect from the society anyway.
"You look gorgeous."
"Thanks. Let's have fun today,shall we Lia?"
"Fun?"
"Ahem,i mean let's get going."
"We have arrived princess."
Victor helps Ruby as she get down from her carriage. There were many carriages lined up in front of the mansion. Looking at the fabulous mansion,anyone can tell how rich the duke is.
"Welcome,princess." a beautiful lady bows.
"Nice to meet you."
The girl looks around before grabbing one of Ruby's hand, "I have been waiting for you for a while my dear princess."
Ruby felt a chill down her spine and took a step back. She has never seen anyone act so much friendly with her before. Whether it was a trick or not,Ruby didn't want to get close to someone like her.
"I am Elrose Phantom. I am sure you have heard about me a lot."
"A little bit."
"I really wanted to meet you so much. Oh look everyone is waiting for you."
The other ladies greet Ruby. They didn't think Ruby would actually come to a tea party. She didn't even debutante into the society yet here she is attending tea parties. Some ladies didn't take it as a good sign.
"Princess,when are you going to held your debutante ball?"
"Soon."
There was no sound anymore. It was a environment where no one could breath properly. Few of the ladies tried to gossip about the love scandal between a musician and a noble lady and others only listened to it with vast attention. After an hour,lady Elrose tried to break the gloomy environment.
"Come on everyone. Why are you all so gloomy today. Let's enjoy the tea party."
"The tea is very good lady Elrose." Ruby put her cup down for another one.
"I am glad that your highness liked it. I can sent you the recipe if you want."
"Thank you. I was thinking of hosting a tea party. I think i learnt from you a lot. I think it's pretty late. I should probably go now."
Elrose looked at Ruby with contempt eyes. Ruby stand up trying to leave when a strong hand grabs her by the elbow.
"Ouch."
"I am sorry princess. But the tea party isn't over yet."
"I am really busy you know. I think you should end the party here."
One of the young lady stand up hiding her laugh, "Oh my princess. This is really a bad manner to leave in the middle of a tea party. You are disrespecting the host."
"I don't think you are in any position to tell me that. Elrose,you invited me here to get criticised,didn't you? Then you have succeed. All of these ladies here are your minions. Throughout the whole tea party,they only talked about all those love scandals of other people. Is it because i am an illegitimate princess that you told them to do that? It's true my mother was a maid but my mother never wanted to get pregnant. She never supported cheating yet she fell in love with my father. She didn't want to have me but she also couldn't get rid of me. She even left the palace so that i won't be tortured by the queen. You will definitely pay for what you did today.
"Ha,your mother was a prostitute. You are right about it. I did invite them to criticise you. You are just a princess with an unknown origin. But you came out of nowhere getting people's attention. Everyone is saying that you are a princess with beauty and brain."
"Are you saying that it's my fault?"
Elrose crossed her arms. Without answering Ruby's question,she only glared at her. Her only fault was that her mother wasn't a noble. Ruby thought she could make some friends but the society wasn't a very welcoming place for her. Especially someone like Ruby who didn't have any power and came from the countryside.
"Princess,are you ok?" Amelia gives some tea to Ruby.
"I am ok. Your tea is always best Lia."
"I thought you loved the tea from lady Elrose's place?"
"That wasn't as good as yours."
"What will you do now?"
"What do you mean?"
"Since you fought with lady Elrose. There is no way to make friends with the Phantom family."
Ruby sigh, "There is nothing i can do about it. I will now focus on starting the business."
"But princess doing business is not a small matter. Above all,a casino business? I do not agree with you at all."
"I have a helper."
"A helper?"
"That's right. Someone who will definitely be useful at this."
"And the issue about the temple?"
"Let's meet with the queen tomorrow."