“Excuse me?” she replied, clearing her throat. “Who are you?”

“I am Fronica Von Wickten,” she said with a small curtsy. “I’m the daughter of Marquis Von Wickten.”

“Okay?” Maude replied, not sure why who’s daughter this girl was would matter to Maude at all.

“What is your relationship with Duke Rosenberg, Maude?” Fronica asked.

Maude drew her eyebrows together. “What does that matter to you?” she asked, feeling defensive. No matter how it was sliced, as far as Maude knew, no one really had the right to interrogate her about her relationship with the duke.

Fronica crossed her arms over the ornately decorated gown she was wearing. The gown looked like it had cost her father the same amount of money Duke Rosenberg had spent on everything he’d bought for Maude. “It matters to me because Duke Rosenberg is going to be my fiance soon.” She tossed her hair in a cheeky manner, her curls spilling everywhere.

Maude felt her heart drop. “Why would that matter to me?” she asked. “I am merely Duke Rosenberg’s guest.”

“You never know with men,” Fronica replied, glaring at Maude. “I just want to make sure you know that he’s taken before getting yourself into deeper trouble.”

“You never know with men?” Maude replied, flabbergasted. “Have you ever met Duke Rosenberg?”

“It sounds like you’ve already tried to tread on my territory then,” Fronica replied snidely. “I’m glad I came to undermine your plans.”

Maude was lost for words. What the hell is this girl’s problem? Assuming I’m stealing “her” man? Cornering me while I’m alone and not with him so I can’t possibly have a legitimate defense?

But what if she’s right? Maude thought. What if he is engaged to her? What would happen to me after he got married? It is not as though Duke Rosenberg and I ever talked about partners with one another. There was no doubt in Maude’s mind that if someone like Fronica Von Wickten would do everything in her power to drive Maude out of the Rosenberg manor.

What would that mean for him and I? She thought. No, she decided, pushing the thoughts out of her mind. I can think about this later, now is not the time.

“Our parents have been planning our engagement for a long time,” Fronica was saying. “And the prince of Aulbert is to be married to the princess of Gardia. Being the Duchess is a coveted position, and having grown up in a duke’s household, I’m sure you, too, want it.” Fronica rolled her eyes as if Maude was an over privileged young lady who was overstepping her bounds.

Oh the irony, Maude thought. She still didn’t know what to say to this lady. She hadn’t even thought about the duke in that manner, let alone what it would be like to live in any other household than her father’s. Pretty much anywhere else was likely to be a dream in comparison...but she wasn’t about to give Lady Fronica more weapons to use against her.

“But consider your window of opportunity closed, as his mother and my parents have been meeting about announcing our engagement soon. Please look forward to it.” Fronica curtsied again.

“I’m sorry, Lady Von Wickten,” Maude said, finding her voice. “I’m afraid you’ve got it all wrong.”

Fronica rolled her eyes and sneered. “So you’re just going to try to deny it even though just a minute ago you looked like you’d been struck by lightning. Please, Maude. You cannot fool me. I’ve known Jaspar since we were children.”

She called him by his name, Maude thought. It must be true. Why didn’t he tell me?

Her stomach felt all tangled up. It can’t be true, a small voice in her thought. Her heart panged against her will. Wouldn’t he have said something to me if he had a fiance?

“Fine, believe what you want, then,” Maude replied, surrendering, and not really knowing what else to say. She leaned her head back and closed her eyes again. Despite how unpleasant the conversation had been, Lady Fronica had been a great distraction. Maude could no longer see his face in the darkness. All she felt was irritation toward Lady Fronica. “Just leave me alone,” Maude asked.

Lady Fronica snorted. “If you leave my future husband alone, I’ll leave you alone.”

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“I’ll do my best,” Maude replied. It is going to be difficult living with him, though, she thought.

“I don’t want you to do your best,” Lady Fronica replied. “I want you to do what I tell you to do.”

What the fuck is this girl’s problem? Maude wondered. I could never do what she is doing right now.

Maude opened her left eye and studied Lady Fronica. Her face was pink, and she was breathing heavily. “As you wish,” Maude replied, in hopes of getting the lady to leave her alone.

Fronica made a noise that Maude could only really interpret as a growl, and then the door to the powder room burst open, with the sounds of Lady Melissa carrying Maude’s water.

“Lady Von Wickten?” Lady Melissa asked, sounding confused. “What are you doing here?”

“I was just keeping Lady Maude company until you returned,” Lady Fronica replied sweetly.

Ugh. So she was that type of girl. The type of girl Sara had always warned me about.

“Oh. Well, thank you, I suppose,” Lady Melissa said, switching places with Lady Fronica.

“I’ll be on my way then,” Lady Fronica replied with a honeyed smile. “It was lovely to meet you, Lady Maude,” she said.

“It was lovely to meet you as well,” Maude replied, unable to conceal the boredom in her voice. She didn’t even give Lady Fronica the courtesy of looking at her as she left.

Maude heard the powder room door close behind the annoying woman. Maude’s eyes met Lady Melissa’s lavender ones. “I’m so terribly sorry, Lady Maude,” Melissa said, handing her the glass of water. “It was impossible to find someone who could help me. But if I had known Lady Fronica Von Wickten was going to ambush you when I left, I would have never left in the first place.”

Ambush, Maude thought. So Melissa doesn’t like Fronica either.

“That’s not your fault,” Maude replied.

“Did she ask you about the Duke?” Lady Melissa asked while Maude gulped some water down.

“Yes,” Maude replied. “Why did she do that? Is it true that they are engaged?”

“Eh,” Lady Melissa said. “I think it’s partially true. There have definitely been talks between the Rosenbergs and the Von Wicktens over the years. So there is a pretty good chance that the Duke and Lady Von Wickten will get married.” She shrugged. Maude’s stomach sank. “However,” Lady Melissa continued, “Lady Von Wickten is also obsessed with the duke and I’ve never even seen him give her the time of day.”

“Ah, I see,” Maude replied, feeling her stomach loosen a little.

“I wouldn’t worry about it too much. I’m sure the duke will help you establish a place to live once the war is over. So you really don’t need to worry about Lady Von Wickten unless you intend to try to marry the duke.”

“Got it,” Maude replied. She put the glass on one of the end tables near the sofa. “Shall we return to the party?”

“Let’s,” Lady Melissa said with a smile, reaching her hand out to Maude. Maude took it with a smile, and the two of them began making their way back to the party.

“Can I ask you a question?” Maude asked while they were making their way back to their table.

“Of course,” Lady Melissa replied.

“How do you make tea tolerable to drink?”

Lady Melissa chuckled in a warm musical tone. “If it’s too bitter for you, add a teaspoon of honey.”

“That will make it tolerable?” Maude asked.

“I think it tastes much better that way,” Lady Melissa replied, smiling again.

“Alright, thank you,” Maude replied.

“Of course,” Lady Melissa replied, with a smile. They had reached their table, and Maude carefully adjusted her dress as she sat down.

“Is everything alright?” Lady Cristyne asked. “I was worried about you, Lady Maude.”

Maude smiled. “All is well,” she answered, grabbing her teaspoon, and dipping it into the jar of honey in front of her.

“Oh good,” Lady Cristyne replied, clutching her chest with a bright smile on her face.

“Yeah, I just went too far,” Lady Melissa replied, looking a bit sheepish. “I got so caught up in my jealousy that I got carried away.”

“Oh you,” Lady Cristyne said warmly.

“Why did you invite Lady Von Wickten?” Lady Melissa asked, lowering her voice so that only the three of them could hear.

“Do you think I had a choice?” Lady Cristyne asked, making her already small voice sound even smaller. “As soon as she heard Lady Maude was coming, she demanded an invitation.”

“Gross,” Lady Melissa scowled. “While we were in the powder room, I went to get Lady Maude some water, and Lady Von Wickten went into the room and cornered Lady Maude while I was out.”

Maude sipped the now lukewarm Jasmine tea with the honey added. Though the honey makes it better, it’s still not my favorite, Maude thought.

“Oh dear,” Lady Cristyne murmured. “I’m so sorry about that, Lady Maude.”

“Thank you,” Maude replied. “It wasn’t that big of a deal.”

“Make sure you tell your cousin that his fiance-to-be is cornering people again,” Lady Melissa said.

“I will,” Lady Cristyne replied.

Maude finished the last bit of tea in her cup. “Which one would you recommend next?” she asked Lady Melissa.

“Try the hibiscus one,” Lady Melissa said, pointing at a ceramic blue teapot with gold filigree on it. Maude carefully began to lift the teapot. “Ah,” Lady Melissa said. “The empire must have unique customs.” She gestured to one of the servants who took the teapot from Maude’s hands and then poured the liquid into Maude’s cup.

How bothersome and inefficient, Maude thought.The ladies are probably used to not having to do anything themselves and may even see it as a privilege to be served. But what a waste of time.

Maude smiled at Lady Melissa. “Thank you. I never got to take etiquette lessons in the empire, so this is all still new to me.” Maude stirred in a teaspoon of honey.

“That’s surprising,” Lady Cristyne said. “Why were you unable to take lessons?”

Maude paused for a moment and thought about how she wanted to word her sentence. “My father was very dead set on me learning, sharpening, and honing my sword skills,” she said. “There was not enough time in the day for both.”

“That sounds brutal,” Lady Melissa said.

“It was,” Maude said with a small nod. She lifted the tea cup to her lips and a fruity and floral scent engulfed her nose. She took a sip. “This is lovely!” she exclaimed.

“I’m glad you like it so much,” Lady Cristyne said with a warm smile.