AVELINE I can't believe Xavier proposed to me last night. My heart still skips every time I think about it. The memory feels unreal, like a dream I never dared to have. But here I am, sitting at the dining table, eating breakfast, trying to steady my thoughts.

"National Founding Day is next week," Father says, breaking the silence. His voice is calm, but there's a weight to it that I've come to recognize.

"I'm aware of that," I reply, setting my cup of tea down.

"I suspect that Duke Brown will pull some trick. His Majesty has already instructed me to send some Lytheryss knights to the imperial castle that day."

The mention of Duke Cedric Brown sends a ripple of unease through me. His scheming nature is no secret, and neither is his daughter's peculiar behavior.

"His daughter might be involved in this, too," Father continues, his sharp gaze fixed on me. "Be careful around her."

"Lady Margaret?" I ask, though the answer is obvious. I nod slowly. "I've had my suspicions too. I'm going to her tea party later."

Father's fork pauses mid-air. "Again? You know she might be the one who caused you harm before. Why bother entertaining her games?"

"She can't harm me," I say confidently, meeting his gaze. "To know her better is to get closer to uncovering her plans. Don't you think so?"

Father exhales sharply, clearly dissatisfied with my reasoning, but he doesn't argue. "Whatever you say. Bring some knights with you."

"There's no need," I reply with a small smile. "Xavier will be escorting me. Though he might be late—he's been busy with the knights lately—but I can manage on my own."

Father raises a brow. "You're underestimating her. Margaret doesn't invite you just for tea. The invitation to bring a partner—it's probably a setup to humiliate you."

"Probably," I admit, shrugging. "But I'll be fine. Besides, if she wants to make a scene, I'll make sure to turn the tables on her."

Father leans back in his chair, his expression unreadable. "It's okay if you cause trouble. Just use the Lytheryss name. They wouldn't dare retaliate."

I laugh softly at his casual remark. "I know the Lytheryss name holds power, Father, but I'd rather not use it for petty games."

"Petty games or not, don't hold back if they cross the line," he says firmly, his tone protective.

"Okay, Father," I say, chuckling as I take another sip of tea. His concern warms me in ways I can't fully express.

The tea party awaits, and I can't shake the feeling that Margaret's scheming isn't just about petty jealousy. If she's involved in Duke Brown's plans, then this tea party might be more than just an afternoon of forced pleasantries.

Fine, Margaret. Let's see what you have

***

AVELINE "Announcing the arrival of Lady Lytheryss," the Brown family butler calls out, his voice echoing through the lavishly decorated halls.

I step inside, nodding politely at the butler. My eyes sweep over the interior. Hm, it looks like this tea party is being held indoors. The Browns must be richer than I thought—the elaborate decor screams wealth.

"It's an honor to have you here," Lady Margaret greets me, her voice as sweet as honey but as insincere as ever.

I follow her to the living room where the tea party is being hosted. A long table filled with delicacies and teapots sits in the center, surrounded by sofas and plush chairs. I take a seat on one of the sofas and notice something peculiar: everyone here has a partner. Well, everyone except Emilia.

Ah, that makes sense. Kevin is probably too busy sleeping with some other poor girl.

"Hmm, it seems like you didn't bring a partner with you, Lady Aveline," Margaret remarks, her smile sharp as a knife.

"Or do you not have a partner to begin with?" Emilia adds, her words laced with venom.

So, this is their game. Like Father said, they invited me here to humiliate me. I glance around. The other noble ladies are watching nervously, their expressions uneasy. They seem scared of Margaret and Emilia. Are these two some kind of bosses here?

"Well," I say, meeting their gazes calmly, "both of you seem to have no partner too."

Margaret's grin widens, as if she's been waiting for this moment. "What do you know, Lady Aveline? My partner is a very busy person," she says, her tone smug.

"My partner doesn't attend parties like this," she adds.

"Not even for you?" I ask, feigning curiosity.

"I wouldn't want to bother him," Margaret replies, brushing off the question with an air of superiority.

"How thoughtful of you," I say, barely keeping the sarcasm out of my voice.

Before I can add anything else, one of the noble ladies speaks up. Ah, it's Ivy Hyder, a young lady from the Hyder family. She's not exactly close to Margaret—more like an overly eager follower desperate for Margaret's attention and influence.

"Who is it, Lady Margaret?" Ivy asks eagerly.

Margaret's gaze flickers toward me before she answers. "The Crown Prince."

My thoughts screech to a halt. Xavier?

"Wow, the Crown Prince? It's no wonder—Lady Margaret is so beautiful, after all," Ivy gushes, her words dripping with flattery.

"The Crown Prince?" I repeat, keeping my expression neutral.

"Yes," Margaret says confidently. "Father said he would make an arrangement for this."

"So, it hasn't been confirmed yet?" I ask pointedly.

"It will be," Margaret replies, her voice full of certainty.

Before I can respond, the butler's voice interrupts. "Announcing the arrival of His Highness, the Crown Prince."

The room falls into a hush. I turn toward the doorway, my heart pounding for reasons entirely different from Margaret's smug anticipation.

Ah, he's finally here.

***

XAVIER The butler's voice echoes through the halls as he announces my arrival. "Announcing the arrival of His Highness, the Crown Prince."

I step inside, adjusting my coat as my gaze sweeps over the room. It's crowded with noble ladies and their partners, though the atmosphere feels... off. The tension is palpable, like a storm waiting to break.

Why did Aveline even ask me to come to this tea party? I wonder. And of all hosts—Margaret? This already feels like trouble.

The moment I enter, everyone turns toward me, and a chorus of voices rings out. "Greetings to the future of the empire, His Highness the Crown Prince."

I nod briefly, trying not to cringe at the overly formal greeting. As my eyes scan the room, I catch sight of Aveline sitting on a sofa, looking calm but alert. I feel my chest lighten seeing her there, but before I can approach—

"Wow, His Highness is here!" Ivy Hyder exclaims, her voice high-pitched and eager. "I guess His Highness must really love you, Lady Margaret."

What? I stop in my tracks. Margaret? What is this nonsense?

Margaret, ever the picture of grace and manipulation, glides toward me with a practiced smile. "Your Highness, I can't believe you've come," she says, her voice dripping with fake sweetness. Before I can say a word, she boldly takes my arm, trying to link hers with mine.

What the—?

I pull my arm away sharply, causing her to stumble slightly. Without sparing her a second glance, I make my way straight to Aveline. She's sitting upright, her expression calm but her eyes glinting with something I can't quite read.

"What is all this about?" I ask her, lowering my voice so only she can hear.

Before she can respond, Lady Emilia's voice cuts through the tense silence. "Wait, why isn't His Highness talking to Lady Margaret?" she says, sounding offended on Margaret's behalf.

So annoying.

Before I can even react, Aveline suddenly grabs me by the collar and pulls me in—straight into a kiss. On the lips.

My brain freezes. What?!

The warmth of her lips lingers, and I feel my cheeks heat up instantly. My heart is racing, and I know my face is probably as red as the imperial crest.

"Because this is my fiancé," Aveline announces boldly, breaking the silence in the room. Her voice is calm but resolute as she holds up her hand, showing off the ring I gave her just last night.

The stunned silence in the room is almost comical. Margaret's face twists in disbelief, her perfect composure cracking, while Emilia looks like she just swallowed something bitter.

Meanwhile, I'm still covering my mouth, trying to process what just happened. My lips still feel warm from the kiss, and I'm completely flushed. Why is she doing this?

But... it's kind of cute.

"We'll be leaving first," Aveline says, her tone cool and dismissive as she stands. She links her arm with mine, leaning her head on my shoulder. "Let's go, darling."

I let her lead me out of the room, still too stunned to say much. But my heart is pounding for an entirely different reason now.

Once we're in the carriage, the reality of what just happened sinks in. The warmth of her hand on my arm, the way she confidently claimed me as hers—it's all swirling in my head.

Breaking the silence, I glance at her. "Are you proud to have me?" I ask, half-teasing, half-serious.

Aveline chuckles, a soft, melodic sound that makes me feel warm all over. "I do," she replies simply, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

And before I can say anything else, she leans in and kisses me again. On the lips.

I let out a small, surprised sound but quickly melt into the kiss, forgetting all about Margaret and her schemes. Aveline... why do you always take me by surprise like this?