The Web of Knightspur-Chapter 220 - 218

The tea cups were set on the table as the surrounding greenery made the arrangement look surreal.

"Princess Eleanor, you look much better compared to the last time we saw you." One of the princesses commented as she looked at Princess Eleanor. Her lips were curled up in a smile.

"Yes, I am feeling much better now." Princess Eleanor said as she sighed. "But I still need to drink medicine from time to time."

Princess Eleanor looked around towards all the Princesses who were smiling and drinking tea. The atmosphere was gentle but only she knew that it was really not what it seemed to be.

There were a lot of other guests as well. People from noble backgrounds and the daughters of high-rank nobles. It was clear that it was not just a tea party to welcome her but a place where people came and pretended to be on good terms with everyone but had a deeper underlying meaning in their thoughts and actions.

Princess Eleanor looked at Princess Vida who was observing her but she was not alone, there was a lady with beautiful brown hair sitting beside her, looking straight into her eyes. Princess Eleanor took a deep breath as she smiled at them both.

’What was her name again? The heir to Marquess Gio, Lady Fiona.’ Princess Eleanor thought as she observed the brown-haired young lady. She was close to Vida. The one who was helping Princess Vida to get into the good books with the nobles.

"My lady-in-waiting was waiting to see yours. But it is just sad that she is not here." Princess Vida said as she looked to the side as she commented to Lady Fiona. "Kelly is good friends with Princess Eleanor’s lady-in-waiting and she was looking forward to meeting her."

Princess Eleanor looked at Lady Fiona who stared straight at her, as if she knew where her lady-in-waiting was and yet she wanted to hear from her.

"Nia also wanted to meet Kelly. But because she suddenly became sick, she had to stay back. It was thanks to Doctor Raul who agreed to treat her." Princess Eleanor smiled sadly as if the situation was beyond her control.

"But why did Doctor Raul make a decision on his own?" Lady Fiona’s words resounded in the garden as she asked in a domineering tone. "The Beaumont household does not allow strangers to enter it."

Lady Fiona was upset. She, as the heir to the Marquess could not enter the Beaumont household to meet Grand Duke Christopher. But a random Princess from a small Kingdom with a bad reputation not only managed to stay in Beaumont Mansion for so long, but also had so many people like her.

Lady Fiona turned her gaze onto Lady Gisella who was also looking at her with a narrowed gaze. It was well known in the circle that Lady Gisella and Doctor Raul were close to Duke Beaumont. They were the most trusted people in the Beaumont household. But sending such a person to the Royal Palace as a lady-in-waiting for Princess Eleanor spoke volumes on the Duke’s stand in this matter.

Lady Fiona was not happy with the change of events. She had once tried to be close to Lady Gisella herself, but the outcome was not good. The Lady was known to be arrogant and self-centered. A noble and arrogant person like her, to be able to serve others showed the standards of the Duke.

Lady Fiona’s fingers formed a fist as she bit her lips. Her eyes moved toward the Princess as she continued speaking. "Something sure has changed. I was wondering if the Princess has really managed to build a good relationship with the Duke."

"Relationship?" Princess Eleanor raised her eyebrows as she looked at Lady Fiona. "I could say that." Princess Eleanor noticed Lady Fiona looking pale and angry at the same time. "But it would only be possible if I had met him. But unfortunately, I didn’t even get to see his face the entire time I was there."

Lady Fiona looked at Princess Eleanor but when she thought about how Lady Gisella followed her and Doctor Raul had decided to treat her lady-in-waiting, all of her happiness disappeared in an instant.

"That is rich coming from you, Princess. After all, not everyone gets a chance to get treated by Doctor Raul. You not only got that but even your lady-in-waiting is experiencing the benefits of it." Lady Fiona smiled. Her eyes twinkled as she looked straight into Princess Eleanor’s eyes with a challenging gaze.

"Lady Fiona sure has a lot of opinions, for an outsider." As soon as Princess Eleanor said those words the surrounding became quiet. Everyone’s gaze moved toward the two as if they were waiting for the showdown. "To be very honest, I thought for a minute that you had forgotten that I was a Princess. Isn’t it bold of you to ask me such questions only because I am generous enough to answer them?"

Lady Fiona’s eyes turned sharp as she took a deep breath trying to control her breathing. "You know how to talk, Princess."

"I was never a person who could be pushed over." Princess Eleanor looked around and she saw everyone looking at her with different expressions on their faces. But her eyes landed and stayed on Lady Gisella who nodded her head as if giving her permission. "If I am not wrong, you are the heir of Marquess Gio. And yet, for you, a mere heir, to blatantly question me, a Princess who was invited here to the Empire as the Crown Princess candidate, how daring must you be?"

"You are not yet selected! And who knows if you ever will be..." Lady Fiona snapped back and was struggling to maintain her cool. Her image as a calm and elegant heir of the Marquess had totally crumbled with that ugly expression she had on her face. She could not imagine that a Princess of some small Kingdom was here questioning her. "Your attitude will not take you far, Princess."

"I think we all should agree that as Princesses, we are taught to be skillful in every situation, should we not?" Princess Eleanor asked elegantly as she looked around at the other Princesses, her tone even as she remained poised and confident. "Even the other nobles in the Empire have to bow their heads. I think Marquess Gio gained to make his daughter learn things. Maybe politics is not your forte, yes? Lady Gisella."

Lady Gisella got up at the summon and she walked towards Princess Eleanor before she bowed her head. "Princess."

"Make sure to inform House Gio that their daughter had deeply humiliated me. Not only me, but other Princess as well when she said that I am not chosen yet. Her actions tonight show what they have been teaching their lady. Are our status as Princesses not noble enough for us to be respected by the nobles of the Roulux Empire?"

Lady Gisella looked over at Lady Fiona whose eyes were wide in shock and fear as she had turned pale. It was clear that the Lady was angry and in her anger, she had failed to manage her expressions and actions.

"Do not worry, Princess. Under the name of Duke Beaumont’s household, I swear to you that I will bring in answers." Lady Gisella bowed.

"Why...?!!" Lady Fiona objected as she looked at Lady Gisella with a narrowed gaze. She had known Lady Gisella for the longest time but now it was without a doubt that she was backing Princess Eleanor. "Princess Eleanor is overreacting. I have never dishonored you. It was a harmless question." Lady Fiona retorted, throwing out a weak excuse for herself.

"Harmless question?" Princess Eleanor got up from her seat with an elegantly arched brow. Then she looked at the table filled with tea and cookies and sweets. She did not even have the chance to enjoy it. She then turned her gaze back to Lady Fiona and said, "It sure was a harmless question."

Princess Eleanor laughed lightly as she curled her lips up. "You let your own jealousy take control. It really is funny though, I thought the people here are taught well enough to make them know their own situation... but maybe I thought too much? Maybe the teachings in our small Kingdom were better all along. At least, we know when to let jealousy overpower us and when to hold back our tongues when the situation calls for it." Princess Eleanor delivered a swift and sharp jab at the manners of the nobles in the Empire.

Princess Eleanor looked straight at Princess Vida who was sweating during the entire exchange. Maybe because Lady Fiona had shown her support making the noble accept her as the candidate of the Crown Princess. But seeing Lady Fiona speechless, Princess Vida was also freaking out.

"But I agree on one thing for sure with Lady Fiona." Princess Eleanor said as she looked at everyone. "We do not know who God will choose as the chosen one. We surely cannot let others misguide us. What if the one that any of us has bullied will in future sit in a position much higher than themselves? If that happens, then only regret will follow." Her insightful and timely reminder had everyone reflecting on their own thoughts and kept them quiet.

Princess Eleanor bowed her head as she continued, "But then again, I am a Princess of a small Kingdom. What do I know about matters of the Empire?" She declared her disclaimer flippantly and then looked up as she turned around. "I do not feel too well. I should rest now. Thank you for inviting me for tea. It was really fragrant."

After delivering her goodbyes, Princess Eleanor walked towards the palace, head held high, making everyone look at her with wide eyes. Her words were all true and cannot be ignored. Each and every one of her words were piercing like a double-edged sword, causing everyone to reflect on their own beliefs and opinions, making them think through and reconsider things. Everyone remained silent as they looked at the position where Princess Eleanor sat, only to realize that the tea in the cup was left untouched.

The place that was silent soon turned lively as everyone started discussing what had just happened.