Blood Peonies (Who Made Me a Princess)

The Four Great Ladies of Siodonna

Well, that conversation was quite interesting. I did expect that Obelia would push through a political marriage for this but for them to be accommodating to Siodonna's demands? Things must be quite tense at Obelia right now with how political unrest is brewing. I imagine it would be the aristocrats who would push for this marriage and they sent Duke Alpheus who is a known figure of the Aristocratic Party. Huh, typical political manoeuvre, they would try to sway me to their views once I became Empress because surely, they would arrange the marriage with the widowed Emperor. How arrogant of them. Bel mused as she was finishing up her lace needlework. It is not a secret that the Lady enjoys handsewing, aside from doing embroidery, she also makes her own clothes, however, it was seen as a blight by the Duke Piviones and was talked in hushed whispers in polite society. A lady making her own clothes whereas she can buy high quality dresses to adorn herself with? Scandalous! She scoffed then sighed as she cut the excess thread and set down her work. Stupid privileged nobles, to think that what they gossip about still irritates me. Anyway, this should be good for my next dress project but with all of my duties, I would be hard pressed to make enough time to even have time for sewing. Idle times like these are rare.

"Eriole, anything planned for me today?" Bel asked her maidservant as reached for one of her sketchbooks and her favourite stylus for sketching. She started idly making a new design for her next dress project, her hands gliding through the paper as she sketches the outline of the body. She hummed while she let her hand glide over the paper. Designing is one of Bel's passions, which coincides with her artistic skills in painting and other handiworks. It makes her even more desirable in the eyes of some nobles but mostly Bel ignores her suitors who are vying for her attention. She just wants to create in peace and doesn't give much thought to what other people think about her passions.

"Nothing as of planned, my lady. Do you want to have tea served?" Eriole responded.

"Yes, also please tell the butler to prepare to head out. I will have some letters sent for an afternoon tea I plan on having a few days from now."

"Understood, my lady. I'll be back in a moment." Eriole left the room and after a few minutes, she returned with a tray with a tea set and some brioche. She set it down on the low table in front of Bel and has poured her a cup of Lippe tea.

"Any news you can tell me regarding our contact in Obelia?" Bel asked Eriole when finished setting up her tea, watching her reaction from her peripheral vision.

"Letter has arrived this morning and Lian penned that the presence of the magician has stabilized the Princess' random bursts of magic. She said that they were always seen together and rumours in the palace have started to circulate that they would be wed to each other." Eriole reported as she tucks in an errant curl behind her ear.

"That magician, he was the one who appeared when the Emperor called for all magicians to save the princess, right? Quite timely, if you ask me." Bel said as she continued to sketch.

"Yes, he was also very skilled for someone of his age, a genius, they say. He was immediately slated as the Imperial Court magician after saving the princess. We also gathered that he was the only playmate the princess has had." Eriole said.

"So the Emperor is a daughter con." Bel snorted, her golden eyes having a bit of shine in them. "Based on Lian's reports, the princess is also a cunning kid, to think that she would stubbornly make herself adorable enough for the Emperor to reciprocate to her filial shenanigans." Bel is very amused with this piece of news.

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"My lady!" Eriole sighed. It was rare for her Lady Bel to laugh without reservations so she doesn't really reprimand her as a maidservant should when the lady does unladylike things, like snorting. Eriole massages the bridge of her nose in exasperation. During times like this when they're in private, Eriole has seen how much her Lady Bel controls herself in front of other people. It's a big contrast when they're in private. Lady Bel is a proud lady, albeit a cold one, but no one can say anything bad about her aside from being impassive most of the time. She was stoic in public but she shows her genuine emotions around those she trusts, in this case, Eriole.