I had been in many battles before. Not literal ones. Unless you count fighting nobles with passive-aggressive conversation skills.



But this?



This was war.



Lady Celeste's complaint had officially reached the palace administration.



Which meant I was summoned to the steward's office.



Which meant I had two options:

1. Beg for mercy.

2. Strategically lie my way out.



Obviously, I picked option two.



Lady Celeste was already seated when I arrived. She gave me one of those smiles.



The kind of cold, victorious smile noblewomen reserved for when they thought they had utterly destroyed their opponent.



"Oh, dear," she said smoothly. "You must be so nervous."



I smiled right back.



"Not at all, my Lady," I said cheerfully. "After all, I didn't do anything wrong." She blinked.



The steward sighed heavily. "Lady Celeste has reported that you mishandled the tea stall during the festival."



"Absolutely false," I declared. "I was a model employee."



Lady Celeste tilted her head. "Oh? Then how do you explain the... incident?"



"What incident?" I asked innocently.



She smirked. "The one where you fell into the fountain." I winced.



Oh. That incident.



✔ Yes, I had fallen into the fountain.

✔ Yes, it had been in the middle of the festival.

✔ Yes, it had been in front of multiple nobles.

✔ No, it was NOT my fault. Cassian had shoved me.



I cleared my throat. "A tragic accident," I said solemnly. "But hardly a disgrace to the palace."



Lady Celeste narrowed her eyes. "You're saying that falling into a fountain during a royal festival is not embarrassing?"



"Not at all," I said brightly. "In fact, it was an intentional act of entertainment."



The steward blinked. "...What?"



Lady Celeste froze. I pressed on.



"You see," I continued dramatically, "the festival was lacking an artistic display of water movement."



Lady Celeste stared in disbelief.



I gestured grandly.



"As an artist of tea," I declared, "I felt it was my duty to bring fluidity and grace to the celebration. Thus, I took inspiration from the great swan dances of old—"



Lady Celeste looked like she wanted to strangle me. The steward rubbed his temples.



"...Are you telling me you fell into a fountain on purpose?"



"Yes," I said boldly.



Lady Celeste looked ready to explode.



I smiled sweetly.



And just like that—



Her plan to humiliate me backfired spectacularly.



~~~



I barely had time to celebrate my victory when disaster struck again. Because the moment I left the steward's office—



A royal attendant rushed toward me.



"Thalia," he gasped. "His Majesty requires you immediately."



I groaned. "Let me guess," I grumbled. "Tea?"



The attendant hesitated. "...Not exactly."



I froze.



"...What else could he possibly want?"



The answer, apparently, was utter madness. The moment I entered the King's study, he looked up from his desk.



"You've arrived," he said.



"...Yes, Your Majesty," I said slowly.



He gestured toward a massive silver tea set on the table.



"I need you to prepare tea," he said, as if this was normal.



I nodded. "Alright—"



"—While blindfolded."



I stared.



"...Excuse me?"



"I wish to test your skills," he said simply.



I opened my mouth.



Then closed it.



Then rubbed my face aggressively.



"Your Majesty," I began patiently, "do you understand that tea involves boiling water?"



"Of course."



"And you want me to prepare it blindfolded?"



"Yes."



I took a deep breath.



"...Do you want me to die?"



The King sipped his tea.



"Not particularly."



I screamed internally.



~~~



After barely surviving the most ridiculous tea test ever, I stormed out into the courtyard to breathe. I was midway through dramatically ranting to myself when—



A shadow fell over me.



"Complaining again?"



I jumped.



Duke Adrian stood there, watching me with his usual disapproving scowl.



"Don't sneak up on me!" I huffed.



"I was standing in plain sight," he said dryly.



I crossed my arms. "What do you want?"



He studied me for a moment.



Then, to my shock—



He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.



I froze.



Adrian, meanwhile, looked completely unbothered.



"You look exhausted," he said simply.



I blinked rapidly.



"...I—"



I was still trying to process what just happened when—



A familiar, heavy silence settled over the courtyard.



Adrian and I both turned our heads.



And standing just a few feet away—watching us with an unreadable expression—



Was the King.



The air shifted.



The King's golden gaze flickered from Adrian's hand to my stunned expression.



I slowly stepped back.



Adrian didn't move.



The King, meanwhile, remained silent.



But the weight of his stare said everything.



And for some reason, my heart pounded wildly.



After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke.



"Thalia."



I snapped to attention. "Y-Yes, Your Majesty?"



"...Tea."



I almost fell over.