I was invited to a tea party!

Why do awful things keep happening to me?

I clutch the invitation in my hand. Cecilia's handwriting is as exquisite as her heart is rotten. "Dear Seraphina, my most beloved friend," she begins, and I can practically hear her sickeningly sweet voice dripping with deceit. I want to puke. How could Seraphina have fallen for her treachery? "I kindly request your presence at my private tea party, today at four," the letter continues. This is such a pain in the ass!

"Ugh," I groan, louder than I intended. Lily catches the sound and glances my way, concern etched across her gentle features. "What's the matter, Your Highness?"

"Nothing," I lie, trying my best to mimic Seraphina's kind demeanor. "Just an invitation from Cecilia for tea." I wave the crisp paper in Lily's direction. She nods and looks down slightly, her soft brown eyes betraying her uneasiness. "I'll make the arrangements."

The moment Lily exits the room, my mind races. Why is Cecilia asking me to a tea party? Does she intend to poison my tea now? Maybe she wants to try a new toxin... After yesterday's fiasco with Tristan, I'm sure they have concocted a new scheme. I need to stay alert and ready for whatever they throw at me. With determination, I leap off the bed just as Lily walks back in, startling her with my sudden movement.

"Your Highness!" she exclaims, her eyes wide with surprise.

"We must prepare for this tea party," I exclaim, my tone sharp. "We don't have much time."

***

"Alright, Your Highness," Lily says, wringing out the washcloth one last time. "All clean now."

"Thank you, Lily," I reply, stepping out of the warm bath and wrapping myself in a plush towel. She helps me dry off before beginning the arduous process of preparing me for the tea party. First, she braids my hair, adding a few delicate flowers for a touch of elegance. Next, she applies a light layer of makeup to my face, just enough to enhance my features.

Finally, it's time to put on the dress. I brace myself for the excruciating process. I hate wearing such constricting, obnoxiously lavish garments. With Lily's help, I manage to squeeze into the beautiful white gown adorned with delicate pink pearls cascading down the skirt. Then comes the gloves, the necklace, the earrings, and the worst part: tightening the corset. But I endure it all. These are my battling clothes now, and I'm prepared to go to war.

The carriage ride to Lady Cecilia's mansion is not too long. We arrive at a small mansion situated near the edge of the noble neighborhoods of the capital. The exterior is elegant, yet modest – clearly belonging to a noble, but not one of the richest or highest ranked among them. It seems Lady Cecilia isn't quite as well-off as I'd thought.

As Lily calls on the door, we're greeted by an old servant who appears to be the only one present. The woman looks more like a hag than a servant, her gnarled hands and hunched posture suggesting she's far too old to still be working. She greets us with a gruff, "Lady Cecilia is waiting for you in the tea room. Follow me," her tone as rude as her appearance.

"Thank you," I reply, trying my best to remain polite. As we follow the servant through the mansion, I can't help but wonder if Cecilia has financial troubles. Is this all she can afford?

The old servant pushes open the doors to the tea room, revealing Cecilia in all her finery. "Seraphina, darling, how wonderful to see you," she coos, wrapping me in an embrace that's as tight as the smile that fails to warm her eyes. I grit my teeth and let her hug me, trying to hide the disgust churning in my stomach.

Cecilia is dressed magnificently, her deep red dress displaying far too much cleavage for a simple afternoon tea. I'll have to focus really hard not to let her see that I know about her plot to murder me and her affair with Tristan. Not to mention, try not to get myself killed. This war might not be fought with swords and daggers, but it will be just as dangerous – if not more so.

"Come in, Seraphina," Cecilia beckons, leading us into the tea room. The size of the room is modest, but she has done her best to cover it with expensive fabrics and decorations. Some are old, and the overall effect is excessive – as if she's trying to impress, which doesn't make sense for such a trivial event.

My gaze sweeps over the table, taking in the elaborate tea setup and an array of pastries and finger sandwiches. Despite its opulence, I can't shake off the feeling that something is amiss. Glancing around, I realize there's no one else present and immediately get my guard up.

"Where are the other guests?" I ask Cecilia, confusion lacing my voice.

"Guests? What do you mean, darling?" she replies.

"You said this was a tea party, so I assumed there would be more people here," I explain, my heart pounding in my chest. Could this be her plan – cornering me here, with no witnesses around?

"What are you talking about, Seraphina?" Cecilia says, slightly annoyed. "It’s always only the two of us".

Oh no! Did I mess up? This is something the Princess would know, that whenever Cecilia invites her to a "private tea party" it means she invites her to chat alone. Is she looking at me suspiciously? What if she realizes I’m not Seraphina?

I feel panic creeping onto my features and I quickly try to cover it up with a nervous chuckle. "Of course, I was just joking," I say, as convincingly as I can manage. Still, Cecilia's sharp green-eyed gaze is fixed on me and my heart beats faster.

I quickly change the subject, walking over to the table and inspecting the extravagant spread. "Wow, Cecilia! You've really outdone yourself today," I say, picking up a delicate finger sandwich for effect. "Royal chefs would be envious of this spread!"

Cecilia's icy gaze softens at the mention of her extravagance, and she gives a boastful laugh. "Why, thank you, Seraphina. I do try," she says, her eyes sparkling with satisfaction. "But please, sit. Let's enjoy our time together."

As we take our seats, Lily fades into the background, positioning herself in the far left corner of the room and making herself practically invisible, just as I instructed. I swallow hard, hoping that she'll be able to help me if things go south.

"Thank you for inviting me to tea, Cecilia," I say, forcing a smile. "It's always a pleasure to spend time with you."

"Likewise," she responds, her eyes glinting with unspoken malice. She gestures toward the pastries on the table, bragging about their exotic origins and expensive ingredients. "You simply must try one of these imported treats, Seraphina. They're divine."

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"Maybe later," I reply, my stomach twisting at the thought of ingesting anything that could be poisoned. "I'm not very hungry right now."

Cecilia looks annoyed, her brow furrowing ever so slightly. "Oh, come now. Just one bite won't hurt." She pushes the plate of pastries closer to me.

"Really, I'm fine," I insist, trying not to sound suspicious. "I'd much rather just enjoy the tea."

"Very well," she concedes, pursing her lips as she turns her attention to the old servant who has finally returned with the tea. "About time," Cecilia snaps impatiently, her tone sharp and biting. "Serve us our tea."

The servant glares at her but dutifully complies, pouring the steaming liquid into our cups. "I've chosen a special blend for us today," Cecilia announces, her voice light and airy, but I can't help but wonder if this is where the poison lies.

"Smells delicious," I say, sniffing the tea cautiously as I try to detect any hints of poison hidden within. Finding none, I glance at Cecilia. "Why don't you have the first sip? It's your special blend, after all."

"Seraphina, dear, you're the honored guest. You should take the first taste," she insists, her green eyes locked on mine.

"Alright then," I acquiesce, knowing that I need to play along in order not to arouse suspicion.

Luckily, I had all morning to figure out what to do in this situation.

I raise the cup to my lips, and then...

"Ah-choo!" I fake a loud sneeze, my hands fumbling with the teacup as I set it back on the table.

That’s Lily’s cue! At my signal, Lily 'accidentally' knocks over several metal plates, creating a cacophony of noise. The old servant looks appalled, but before she can scold Lily, Cecilia is on her feet.

"How can you be so stupid, servant? That's expensive! Clean it up!" Cecilia barks at Lily. "And you," she says to the old servant, "Why aren't you watching her?"

The old servant glares at Cecilia but stays silent and begins cleaning up the mess.

"Make sure nothing valuable has broken!" Cecilia orders, her eyes flashing with anger as she examines the mess.

Seizing the opportunity, I swiftly switch the teacups while everyone's attention is diverted.

"Apologies, Cecilia," I say as she returns to her seat, looking annoyed. "I'll pay for any damages caused by my maid."

"Very well," she replies, smiling sweetly at me. "I'll send you the bill."

Feeling more secure, I take a sip of tea from the switched cup. To my relief, I don't taste anything suspicious. I watch Cecilia carefully as she sips her own tea, but she shows no reaction to any poison either. It seems the tea wasn't poisoned after all!

So... what is this about, then?

Setting the cup down, Cecilia leans in and touches my hand. "You know, Seraphina, Tristan is quite the catch," she begins, her voice dripping with a sweetness that doesn't suit her. "He's devoted, handsome, well-positioned, and let's not forget, deeply in love with you. It baffles me why you would reject his proposal."

I take a sip of my tea, buying myself a moment to craft my response. "Did Tristan tell you I rejected him?" I ask, feigning innocence.

Cecilia nods, her lips pursed in a thin line. "Yes, he's heartbroken, poor soul. He can't understand what he did wrong."

The irony of her words almost makes me choke on my tea. He almost frickin punched me! Not to mention the cheating, and trying to kill me. Urgh. I can’t stand this snake. "You talk so highly of him, maybe you should marry him…" The words slip out before I can stop them, laced with more venom than I intend.

Cecilia's smile tightens, but she doesn't miss a beat. "Oh, darling, I'm merely looking out for your best interests. Tristan adores you. He's brave, charming, a true gentleman. He would make a perfect husband. Don't you love him?"

The question is a dagger wrapped in velvet, aimed straight at my heart. Why is Cecilia so adamant about me marrying Tristan, what is their plan? Of course, she doesn’t know I’ve uncovered their dirty secrets, so this sudden change of direction must surprise her. Marry Tristan? I’d rather eat dirt for a year.

"Do I love him?" I echo, my voice softer now, tinged with feigned sadness. "I'm sorry, Cecilia, but my feelings for Tristan have changed," I say as I shake my head. "I simply can't marry someone my heart no longer beats for." I pause, the weight of my next words pressing down on me.

Despite the distaste curling in my stomach at the thought of saying what I'm about to say, I see no other path that doesn't lead Cecilia to pry further. It's clear she spoke to Tristan after that disastrous proposal in the garden; so she must know what happened anyway.

With a deep inhale, I take the plunge and add, "Actually, there's more. I've... I've found someone else. Prince Hartley and I are getting engaged." The words turn sour in my mouth. Engaged to that cruel monster? The mere thought sends shivers down my spine. I can only pray that Cecilia drops the topic and moves on.

Cecilia’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "Hartley? Of Ironhold? But you two have barely exchanged two words in public. When did this romance blossom?"

I hate this woman, she’s faking it, she already knew what happened in the gardens! Oh, how I wish I could just choke her right here and be done with it. "We exchanged letters," I lie smoothly, the falsehood tasting sweet on my tongue.

"Letters?" Cecilia parrots back, her tone filled with incredulity. "And you fell for him just like that?"

"He's good with words," I shrug, not knowing what else to say.

"You never told me about it, how did it start?"

"I don't have to tell you everything," I reply, feeling increasingly annoyed.

"But I'm your best friend...! Frankly, I'm offended," Cecilia adds, scoffing and crossing her arms.

I look at her, wondering if a slap across her face would be an appropriate response in this situation. Resorting to violence was always a quick solution, too bad it's not an option for me right now.

Cecilia leans forward, anger etched into every feature. "I can't believe you. So you're really going to marry him? That animal, the Prince of Ironhold?" Cecilia's voice rises in pitch, her words tumbling out in a rush. "Are you deranged, Seraphina? This is so unlike you. Is that awful, cruel man forcing you into this?"

I sigh, a headache brewing at the base of my skull. "Cecilia," I start, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "Please, I ask that you speak more respectfully of my future husband."

Her mouth snaps shut, her eyes wide with shock. I press on, "It's my decision, no one else's, and I expect you to accept it. I didn't mean to hurt you by keeping you out of the loop, but there are certain matters that I prefer to keep private. So, please, let's not delve into this."

Cecilia's face turns a remarkable shade of crimson, her usual poise crumbling under a wave of offense. "Private? Respect? Seraphina, I—"

But I raise a hand, stopping her mid-sentence. "Cecilia, that's enough. We have been friends for a long time, and I value that. But in this matter, I must insist on your understanding."

The room falls silent, save for the distant chirping of birds from the garden. Cecilia looks at me, her anger giving way to a grudging acceptance, though her cheeks remain flushed with rage.

The tension in the room is palpable, and yet, I find a twisted sort of amusement in Cecilia's barely contained fury. Her usually impeccable composure is fraying at the edges, and it's a sight I relish.

"And when is the announcement supposed to be?" she asks, her voice laced with skepticism.

"Tonight," I blurt out before I can stop myself.

"Tonight! Really?" Her eyebrows arch in disbelief, her gaze piercing me as if trying to unravel the truth.

"Really," I affirm, injecting a confidence into my voice that I'm far from feeling.

"We'll see," she retorts, her words a thinly veiled challenge.

I rise from my seat, smoothing the fabric of my dress. "I should be on my way. It's been delightful, as always," I remark, making my way towards the exit.

But I can't resist one final jab. With a sweet, innocent tone, I turn to Cecilia and say, "You know what? I've always thought you and Tristan would make a terrific couple. You should give it a try; you have my blessing."

The shock that flashes across Cecilia's face is worth more than gold. For a moment, she's speechless, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. I turn my back on her, a mischievous smile gracing my lips, and beckon Lily to follow me.

Once we reach the Palace, I quickly excuse myself and return to my chambers, a knot of anxiety twisting in my stomach. After closing the door behind me, I release a muffled scream into my pillow. Shit! Why did I have to open my big, stupid mouth? I can't stand Cecilia! Now, I'm in trouble; I'll have to publicly announce the engagement and make it official!

I don't even want to be near Alexander, let alone pretend to be betrothed to him!

What am I going to do?