"In fact, the pastry chef had recently developed a new dessert and wanted to show it off. The tea is Dumare Island black tea."
"Oh my! Thank you for giving me the honor of being the first to taste the masterpiece of the Imperial Pastry Chef, Your Majesty!"
"Dumare Island black tea, I'm looking forward to it!"
The atmosphere brightened with the appearance of the Dumare Island black tea, which is of the highest quality but has such a limited production that it is only delivered to the Imperial family, and the dessert that could be called a 'work of art'.
The real party started then. Everyone asked each other about their recent lives, talked about their children, and exchanged gossip about social circles.
After a while, someone brought up Viviana as a topic of conversation.
"But… I think this is the first time I've seen Lady Lowry at a place like this."
It was understandable. Viviana and they were too different in age, and there was no way that Viviana, the Emperor's mistress, would laugh and joke with the Empress's aides.
Viviana, sensing that she was being challenged, responded without embarrassment and with a clear smile.
"I have always wanted to meet you all, but I guess I didn't have the chance because of our age difference."
It was a sarcasm that meant, "What do I have to do with you old ladies?", but the ladies gathered there were veterans of the social circle, so they didn't even bat an eyelid.
"That's right. How old is Lady Lowry this year?"
"I'm twenty-five."
"Oh my! She's the same age as our daughter. Hohoho!"
And that lady's husband was about the same age as the Emperor.
Viviana felt a slight sense of shame, but she kept her smile on her face, thinking that these people would be the first to prostrate themselves at her feet once she became pregnant with a son.
However, there are always people who cross the line wherever you go.
One of the ladies, who had been staring at Viviana sharply since the moment she appeared, openly attacked her.
"I heard that a shaman has been visiting the Peyton Baron's house frequently lately."
The lady next to her widened her eyes at that.
"A shaman?"
"They say he's a shaman who is famous for helping people get pregnant. It's the end of the world when even nobles are getting into shamanism."
The way she clicked her tongue and shook her head showed that she was clearly disrespecting not only Viviana, but also her father.
Then she asked, with a mocking smile.
"I guess Lord Lowry is trying to have a late child?"
Lord Lowry, whom the Emperor had married Viviana to in order to make her his mistress, was an old man in his sixties this year.
And there was no one at this place who didn't know that Viviana was the Emperor's mistress, and that she was trying to have a child with the Emperor.
Viviana clenched her fists and vowed to report the lady who had insulted her to the Emperor. She also vowed to punish the Empress who had created this place to torment her.
However, Beatrice said something completely different.
"Madame Talon, since we all know each other, don't be sarcastic like that."
"Yes...?"
"Lady Lowry is beloved by His Majesty the Emperor. Naturally, she is trying to have His Majesty's child."
Viviana thought Beatrice was determined to disgrace her even further, but she apologized to Viviana with affectionate eyes.
"It seems like Madame Talon has some misunderstanding about Lady Lowry. For the sake of my face, I hope you can generously forgive her."
"Oh, th-that, I...."
"It is a joyous occasion when the imperial family is abundant. If Lady Lowry gives birth to a child, it will certainly be as cute as an angel. I also have high expectations."
At that, Viviana became completely embarrassed.
'What, what is this? Is she sincere? Or is this a high level of sarcasm?'
However, to consider it sarcasm, Beatrice's attitude was far too kind and composed.
Even more, thanks to her order for Madame Talon to apologize, Viviana was able to receive a heartfelt apology on the spot.
'Why is she so composed? Does she possibly believe that even if I give birth to a son, he won't be made Crown Prince?'
If by any small chance this was the case, it was ridiculous.
The Emperor was truly immersed in her, and before his interest runs out, if she gives birth to a son, she'll certainly be able to make him the Crown Prince.
And so, Viviana boldly provoked the Empress.
"It is an unsurpassed grace and joy that Her Majesty wishes for my pregnancy. Since His Majesty also said he wants to see a son from me, I am doing my best."
At those words, the faces of the ladies present were dyed with shock.
What is the audacity to speak of bearing the Emperor's son in front of the Empress? It's no different than aiming for the seat of the Crown Prince.
While everyone was frozen and watching the situation, Beatrice smiled as if pleased.
"That's right. If there's anything I can help with, don't hesitate to tell me. Alright?"
The ladies gathered at that place were moved by her gentle attitude. They said the Empress was truly gentle and kind.
At the same time, they also felt sympathy and a will to protect Beatrice.
'We can't let someone with such a weak heart lose in the power struggle of the Imperial family!'
As such, by the time the tea party was over, everyone's loyalty towards Beatrice deepened, and to that extent, their hatred towards Viviana grew.
After the tea party ended, she returned to her room after seeing off the guests, and Beatrice took off her head ornaments one by one. Eventually, unable to endure it, she burst into laughter.
"Ahahaha!"
She laid face down on the dressing table, laughing for some time before raising her head. She laughed so much that there were tears at the edges of her eyes.
"Your Majesty, was there a good event?"
The maid who was helping her remove the head ornaments asked with a surprised face.
"No, no. It's just that something funny happened."
Beatrice lowered her head and dabbed the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief, then took a deep breath and suppressed her laughter.
"I saw someone waiting for the seeds to sprout in a field that hadn't been sown."
"Yes?"
"Oh, of course that person knows that the seeds have been sown."
The maid's expression became more and more confused, but Beatrice again suppressed the laughter that threatened to burst out.
She knew very well that Kendrick Evaristo was overly fond of women. So she had been steadily feeding him "seed-drying" medicine since before his favor for her began to wane.
In the beginning, there was only one case among the women he touched who was lucky (?) enough to get pregnant, but after a few, she was able to abort the child by giving her cosmetics containing a poisonous ingredient.
After that, no one was able to have the emperor's child, and 15 years ago, she confirmed from a bribed imperial doctor that the emperor was completely infertile.
'Work hard, Viviana. I'll even send you medicine that's good for pregnancy as a gift.'
This allowed her to show that she was not at all hostile to Viviana, and the emperor would trust her more and even gain the sympathy of the social circle.
Today's tea party was a great success.
However, she was not entirely satisfied with this situation.
'There are not many nobles who can be won over with just a tea party. I need to do something bigger.'
Beatrice pondered how to undermine Carlyle the whole time the maid was combing her hair.
* * *
Gabriel still served as Beatrice's staunch ally.
Thanks to the priests of the Golden Bough Brotherhood, led by Gabriel, who had been steadily spreading slander about Carlyle, the rumor that 'Carlyle is a servant of the devil' had recently been heating up the social circle.
"Welcome, High Priest!"
Beatrice greeted Gabriel, who had come to see her for the first time in a long time.
"Have you been well, Your Majesty?"
"Thanks to the High Priest, I'm careful not to burst out laughing."
"I haven't done anything special...."
"You haven't done anything!"
Beatrice clasped her hands together and folded her eyes gently.
"How did you come up with the idea that Carlyle might have summoned the Karakash? You're a genius!"
The rumor, which had been spreading quietly among the believers, swept through the social circle like a fire spreading through a dry forest after a certain point.
There were many reactions that it was nonsense, but thanks to the fact that it was a very stimulating story, people were curious, and over time, people started to believe that it might be true.
Golden Bough Brotherhood priests, and even Gabriel himself, had frequently mentioned the Book of Hamak in their prayers recently.
[...The demon Karakash, who was banished to the underworld by Libato and Elderis, had declared that he would return, saying, "He who can summon me, Karakash, is the one who has taken the lives of a hundred, set fire to ten temples, and has no god to serve above him."
They warned that the empire was gradually falling into decadence and that Karakash would soon return if things continued this way.
At the same time, they slyly added words reminiscent of Carlyle.
[There is already someone in the empire who has met all the conditions to bring about the return of Karakash. Noble status or not, Karakash does not distinguish between the high and low status of humans...]
[The shadow of Karakash has fallen over the imperial family. Libato and Elderis, please look down upon this country.]
[As a human, it is not easy to take the lives of a hundred other humans. However, such things happen on the battlefield...]
Although Carlyle's name was never mentioned, no one could have failed to recognize who they were talking about.