It has been nearly a week since we left home, and to be honest I am exhausted on several levels. Unlike Father and Eric I am not allowed to ride a horse, so instead I am to sit in this wagon with a roof that they call a 'carriage'. You exchange the smell of horse for severe joint pain, which is basically all it does.
As such you can probably imagine what kind of pain I am in.
Umu. I have found the reason why these young ladies set their eyes on easy victims like maids and servants. They always arrive in these horrid contraptions.
Furthermore, Ameline is in our carriage as well. Mother and the heroine's mother are in here as well so it's slightly cramped. Believe me, I have been on my very best behavior ever since we got into the carriage. Any nagging and I would likely be unable to control my temper at the sheer amount of exhaustion of spending a week in a tiny carriage with Adela and Ameline and the overly friendly woman that is the Heroine's mother. Ameline on the other hand seems quite happy with everything, even going:
'Ojou-sama is finally acting like a lady.'
It's not like I haven't been able to all along, it's just that our first hand impression was kind of extreme.
At least the incident with mother had calmed down. After spending some one-on-one time with father she stopped being cruel to the maids and servants. Now she's down to ignoring them... but because I'm in the same carriage as her I can hear her mutters. I'm not sure who, but mother is definitely planning to destroy someone's reputation once we get there. She may have changed at home, but I doubt anyone would notice the difference out here in public... Well, her clothes aside. It seems her change of fashion has been a permanent change, but so seems to be the change of bedroom for her.
Originally long sleeves and covering up to the neck was my personal preference, but it appears mother has fully made it hers as well. I'm a bit worried she'll be too conservative compared to the other ladies at the party, but I doubt I need to worry about her. I have other people to worry about, like Gilbert Salender, Lionel Tepet and my fiancé Crown Prince Alstair.
The Lord of Salender is a marquess that defends the oceans here in the south, though, since the coastline is mostly cliff-sides there are very few opportunities for ships to dock other than the few safe docks made by house Salender. Compared to us they have it easy, and as a result they deal a lot with tourism instead. After all, the views from the tops of the cliffs facing the oceans is... magnificent.
Just the fact that House Tepet, House Salender and House Celeste is gathered in one place which is not the royal palace is amazing. House Tepet protects the West, House Celeste protects the East and house Salender protects the South.
What about north? Actually three houses protect the northern borders. They may have the same rank as us, but apparently their military power pales in comparison, and thus they aren't considered for the above comparison of most powerful. They weren't really mentioned in the novel either, but they border the kingdom Semor where the Great War of faeries found place.
Yet, I digress. The point is that because the houses with the most military are going to appear here, it is going to be an incredibly tense tea party, and lo and behold, we will attend an evening party held here tonight as well.
The only two idiots missing in the frame to get a good picture of my misery is the son of Duke Listere and the son of the Prime Minister... but considering the people I've confirmed invited... those are bound to be there somewhere. The prime minister is one thing, but I do not want to run into Soleil Listere. The self conceited boy would get me in trouble in an instant. I'll admit he might end up rubbing me the wrong way immediately.
---*---
Ameline looks over me one last time with a satisfied smile like she was looking over a perfectly groomed doll. She was making sure that not even a strand of my sky colored hair was out of place, and that no stray pieces of grass or... even worse... horse hair had gotten stuck in my pure white blue-pinstriped sleep bustle dress.
The dress did nothing like poof out below my waist, thus allowing me to move with a bit more ease, and weighed less than half of that of the usual ones! Half! I even managed to get myself out of wearing the framework that makes your butt stick out!
I still had to wear a corset though... Accursed thing.
I'm pretty sure my ribs are attempting to puncture my guts since Ameline tied it so tightly. My chest feels stiff...
Once she tied me up she looked happy and satisfied, even daring to go 'this way ojou-sama will not be running around' all proudly.
...this girl... she's definitely doing this on purpose.
My hair was pulled up into a swirl at the back of my head, and adorned with white feather like accessories. Compared to my usual blue style it was incredibly simple. There was no actual jewelry here. The only things that sparkled were my eyes, possibly my lips and Lumere if he decided to take on a material form, but for now he's watching over me in spirit form.
Ah, by the way, mother found out about my agreement with Alstair just before we left, and she turned pallid in an instant. Apparently her new goal is to turn me into so lovely a flower that he would fall head over heels for me properly, and since the heroine's mother did so well between Adela and father she's the current fashion advisor.
Not like Alstair was ever going to fall for me. The guy was terrified of me, and honestly I had no interest of being near him either. He may attempt to act kind and shows kindness to everyone... but I'm convinced Alstair is merely a calculating young boy.
"Lily."
My mother's voice is low and sharp. Nothing left of the blushing maiden I'd seen a week ago.
"Remember, get along with his highness." Her gaze is intense.
"Of course, Mother," I reply dryly. I was intending to behave. She doesn't look satisfied, but she cannot so much because of the deal. I'm relieved that things seem to be going as planned.
---*---
The Tea party started, and a bit against my expectations I found myself to be caught in the corners of everybody's eyes. I'd really tried not to stand out though, but I guess my change in style, and the hot topic of my poisoning quickly gathered attention from just about everyone.
I stare up at the adults women gazing at me with amusement in their eyes... like they're leering at me beyond the veil of their fans.
It makes my skin crawl.
I know they're talking about mother and I and that it's about fashion. They don't ever stop staring at the dress. It's probably just the change...
I look over my shoulder and out of habit search for a presence by my side...
An overwhelming nausea hits me.
"Lily Celeste!... I see you are as gaudy as always!"
I looked around the walls of skirts for the source of the insult while feeling a bit woozy. Who?
...
Ah...
A blonde haired young boy presses himself through the walls of skirts with great trouble like a minor character. Ah, wait, sorry, this was the failed villain of the story that ended up falling for the heroine. This is acceptable. Now, comparing us to one another it was quite clear Soleil was wearing the more expensive set of clothes for once. His white suit was even embroidered with golden thread. Who exactly is it that is gaudy?
"My my, Soleil Listere, you appear to be half asleep, do you need a nap?" I decided to use my new ultimate attack. The dazzling smile that had made Ameline faint.
"I am no-!..." Soleil stops midway as he finally gets into the circle and looks me up and down. How rude. I fold out my newly gained fan and cover the lower part of my face to hide my sullen expression. Thankfully the feeling of nausea begins to fade.
Meanwhile Soleil's expression changes into a self-satisfied grin.
"I didn't know the Celeste family was in such a bad state you'll have to wear such cheap dresses." See, Soleil already forgot about his former comment.
In return I cup my cheek and narrow my eyes at him while giving him a sweet and polite smile.
"Only fools think a high price tag makes a good dress, Soleil-sama. Though, I suppose a sense of fashion is too much to wish of you."
We really were fine. The amount of money we got from our old dresses was not to be underestimated. The women started buzzing at our exchange of insults. They're giggling openly... at least hide it.
Since Soleil's plan of attack was failing he suddenly decides to change direction.
"Ah, by the way, I heard you got poisoned, well that should be expected."
He raises his hands in a shrugs and gives me a look of pity while smiling. If I pointed it out what seemed to be a hidden insult he could point at my position of Alstair's fiance, but it was clear he was hinting at my personality.
"Oh, you were worried? How kind of you," I snap back at him while giving him another of those dazzling smiles.
Mmm? Ah, Soleil's face went blank. What, not used to be insulted with a bright smile? Believe me, the scariest opponents smile while digging your grave.
Soleil tries to collect himself, but the way his lips press together nervously give away his discomfort too easily.
"Y-your words and face don't match at all!"
Soleil retorts to pointing.
"Oh? Is that so?" I give Soleil another polite smile like this was the most comfortable conversation. Hearing more giggles even Soleil seems to realize his loss as the finger drops.
"What are you doing?" A young boy's voice set off an endless amount of warning bells in my mind.
A wild Lionel appeared! It looks hungry!
"We were just greeting each other." I respond clearly, removing any hint of hesitation from my voice as I scour the crowd for the sadist.
"Eh? You were definitely insulting me just now!" Soleil argues back while puffing himself up a bit.
"I've done no such thing, I've even kindly advised you how to judge the clothes of women," I reply with a huff.
I nearly end up forgetting about Lionel because of Soleil's pointless arguing... but...
Tug.
I freeze in the instant I feel something touch my hair and slowly turn my gaze upon Lionel. He is standing close, even leaning in a bit as if to threaten me, and I can faintly feel his breath on my forehead. His cold green eyes stare down at me like he's trying to pierce my soul.
The... bastard... is actually grabbing a loose strand of my hair...
"No matter how you dress up you'll always be a gold digging bi-"
I am not defenseless, nor a toy for him to play around with. I would not tolerate this treatment from someone supposed to be my peer. Before anything else, in my former life something like this would be considered an attack on my person. My mind goes blank as a rush of heat rises to my head.
I roughly grab the collar of his shirt as well as his shoulder and then swing my body in a fluid motion. With a pull he flies over my hip and hit the ground with a nasty thud and a cough, and he gasps as the air is knocked out of him. His eyes start swimming instantly. A gasp of shock goes through the crowd around us.
I mercilessly grabbed the hand holding my hair and violently force the hand down towards the wrist, forcing the joint beyond what it was supposed to go to make the hand let go. Lionel gives up with a squeak like sound of pain.
"Do not touch my hair, bastard." I hiss out those words as the last thing without holding back on my killing intent.
There, that's right, soil your pants and run home, Lionel.
I could see confusion and terror in his eyes at my behavior. Appears, he isn't completely ignorant to killing intent. He won't try to lay a hand on me again.
I turn away with a huff and cast a glance to Soleil. Soleil takes a couple steps back while shaking his head. Coward.
As I made my intention to leave clear the ladies around us parted like waters. I left to cool my head.
---*---
At this point I still hadn't gotten to considering the consequences of using martial arts.