Who Made Me A Princess - FANFIC - Last Time For You

Strings of A Marionette (Pt 2)

"Jeanette?" Ikejiel called through the white hallways.

He grabbed the hand of a maid passing by, "Do you know where the Lady is?"

"The Lady?" She answered shockingly, "Ah... I do recall that she told me she would be going to Countess Elizabeth for a tea party, My lord."

"Thank you. Continue on." Ikejiel sighed. He didn't know what to do to make Jeanette happy. He had to do her share of work along with his regular duke duties. 
It didn't help that she was poorly versed in the high-society, barely making a debut in there. 
But if there was one thing the Alpheus family constantly reminded her about, it was to stay away from Countess Evergreen, who resented Claude for killing her sister in the Ruby Palace massacre. 

Countess Elizabeth and Evergreen were like sisters, their husbands died and they were left as the sole inheritor, bearing no children in their two years of marriage. 
On the day of the count's funerals, not a single tear was shed under their veils. Only blood-red lipstick and a frame of venom eyes remained underneath. 

Cruel. Cruel they were. Anyone who got in their way would immediately fall from high society. 
They were the heads. Countess Elizabeth the Princess and Evergreen the Queen if Royal Hierarchy stood in place. 
It was a relief for them when Athanasia didn't step in and claim her rightful place as the Queen of High Society, although she bears the power. 
But it made sense for them to target the princess since when she became Empress, she'd naturally assume the role of Head of High Society. 

Ikejiel fingered the walls. 
I'm so tired. 

"Markus."
"Yes, my lord?"
"Arrange a carriage to Countess Elizabeth's tea party."
"Yes, my lord."

-Countess Elizabeth's Tea Party (From after Baroness Ilomy left)-

Jeanette's laugh sounded cheerfully throughout the garden. 
"Thank you so much!" Her eyes dutifully look at them, her gentle lips forming an everlasting cute smile. 
"Lady Magrita, has anyone ever told you that you look exactly like the sun?" Countess Evergreen said, cheering the other ladies to sweeten Jeanette up.

Jeanette beamed, "Quite no", "I think you shine even brighter though, Countess Evergreen." 

"Do I now?"

"Yes!"

What impudence!
The other ladies thought but held it in. Having the Alpheus house in their hands was an Ace card. Especially the dumb new lady. 

The countess reached towards Jeanette's cheeks. 

"Is that so?" She rubbed her hands against them affectionately. "But you're oh-so-cute <3!"

The ladies finally giving in to the Countess' coddling, fawned over Jeanette. 

Jeanette was flustered. It was the first time she'd been given so much attention. 

"Jeanette!! Jeanette--Jeanette. Why did you leave without telling me? Do you know how worried I was?!"

"Ijekiel..." Jeanette smiled. 

He ran all this way for me. He truly loves me. Ah. Everything is great.

The ladies immediately bowed.

"We greet the Young Duke of Alpheus."

"A pleasure meeting you, Countess Evergreen, Countess Elizabeth..."

The Countesses smiled. Head of the High Society truly did bring power. 

"I hope I am not interrupting, but I will be taking my fiancee away now. Blessings to the remainder of the tea party."

"Ah-no. We shall stop here. The main guest is leaving so how dare we continue?"

Jeanette blushed, obviously pleased with Countess Evergreen's words. 

Evergreen smiled, her lint green eyes eying Jeanette as if eying a piece of gold carefully. 

"If I may, invite you to another tea party soon?"

"Yes! It would be my honor!" Jeanette gasped. Ijekiel reached to tell her not to involve herself with the Evergreens but Jeanette refused to listen. 

Smiling from ear to ear, she curtsied and waved bye-bye. 

-In the carriage-

"I warned you not to get close with the Evergreens, Jeanette."

"Why not?? Didn't you see her? She's SO nice!!" Jeanette looked out the window, her eyes in a daydream where she was the only lady by Countess Evergreen's side.

*Sigh*
"They are opposing the current emperor."

Jeanette turned around. Her lips, unable to hide the smile. 

Ijekiel was thrown off by this but regained composure when she quickly changed it into a frown. 

It would be character that she was on the Princess' side. Naturally, as her friend. 

"I suppose so. But nothing bad will happen if I get close to them right?"

"Jeanette..."

"Why?! It's not like you ever pay any attention to me at the Manor! Do you know how lonely I am every day? Even the maids taunt me because I'm of lowly origins and I'm dumb."

Ijekiel falls silent. He was leaving her alone. But he had so much work he needed to be accustomed to. The parties, meetings, paperwork. Managing the estate in place of Jeanette. Trade deals...etc. 

Jeanette starts to cry, "It's like you're trying to take all my fun away! You've been pushing me to do the manorwork even though we're not married yet! Now tea parties! Why can't I join them?"

"I'm sorry Jeanette..." He reaches to wipe her tears away. "I'm sorry... you can attend."

Jeanette smiles. The carriage stops in front of the manor and then she pranced off to her room. A maid calling that horsemen from the Evergreens have arrived. Leaving Ijekiel all alone in the carriage. 

He looks at his reflection and recalls the time Athy called him an angel. No, he would never be one. 

Look at how I treated Jeanette. 

Princess... Where are you?

AHEM. 
NO, No, Nooooooooo, no. This is NOT AthyxIjekiel. NEver Ever in all universes I write about. 
But it's important to understand the dynamic of Jeanette and Ijekiel and the foreshadowing of what will happen.

This is a relatively short chapter and I apologize for it. I've been really busy and lately been obsessed with Demon Slayer so my fangirling of WMMAP was slightly held back.