“If you hate him that much-”
“Nuh-uh, what do you mean hate. I don’t hate Linsy. Life is just too short to waste my time interacting with my darn brother.”
At those words Lady Lisa Everton Brandstein, who had spoken initially, gave her a shrug. Her shrug delivered the message that she wasn’t buying a single word of hers. Leticia squinted her eyes and looked at Lisa.
“Lisa, now don’t go and spread weird rumors to reporters again. Because of you there was an article stating falsely that I favor my sister Lena over Linsy, which buys me an earful from His Majesty every time it is mentioned.”
“Hmm…but that was a fact, is it not?”
“I take photos with Linsy on a regular basis. And I don’t even act close to my sister in the presence of others.”
“I would say you can’t please everyone, but I’m sure you won’t hear a word I say.”
“I want to live peacefully. Why do people have to take sides? Why can’t they just allow me the freedom to choose who I want to talk to?”
Lisa made a face that said ‘here she goes again’ and avoided the discussion by turning towards the wine. As for Leticia, who had already had a few glasses, she was feeling emotional and tipsy.
“In this large city I should venture out and meet people that are not a part of my family. Expand my relationships, make friends, find love. And if I have to be on the papers with my family it would be better if it were regarding political affairs and mentioned with my sister Lena rather than because of gossip.”
“I doubt the prince will agree. Princess Leorna and you are so unmatched.”
“Yes, if they put two of you together then it would make it seem like you are rivaling for the throne.”
“So, you’re more like a free lone wolf…enjoying the wild from a distance?”
“And also preying on handsome men?” One lady piped in unceremoniously.
At those taunting words the young ladies burst into laughter. Leticia giggled and downed the wine glasses they had brought over. The daughter of Cersei Jose Tyringale who had been sipping wine along with the crowd, leaned forward.
“But princess, luckily Prince Linnsbern won.”
“Oh.”
“They encountered a defeat beforehand, yes, but that was the deputy’s fault for not realising the leak of information.”
“I guess so.” Leticia shrugged in response when one lady brought the jarring topic she wanted to avoid, “Princess, don’t you have a prey in mind right now, do you?”
The unpredictable direction the conversation was veering to, paired with Cersei’s glistening eyes made Leticia extremely nervous. Instinctively, sensing danger she tried to get away and was getting up from her seat when Cersei stopped her and hooked her arms around her.
“Princess, don’t you remember what you promised?”
Leticia frantically tried to recall from memory the kind of promises she would have made while under the influence of countless drinks and the noisy surroundings. But there was no need as a flimsy piece of paper was waved in front of her, reminding her of her mistake.
“I, Leticia Levanstein, vow to carry out whatever penalty the members of the Sangwol Club offer if Linnsbern Levanstein leads the war to victory without a mistake of his own.”
“Thi-this…This!”
The diagonally crooked penmanship was definitely identifiable as her own handwriting even after consuming a bottle of rum. Her seal was stamped at the end so there was no way that she could deny it. Even without the seal, she had to keep her promise as she had made a royal oath and bet her throne on the line.
‘My mouth should be sewn up.’
While Leticia stared at the memorandum in despair and felt to her very core that her hands were the source of evil, young ladies gathered around and started to excitedly chatter. They were familiar with parties full of all kinds of unusual entertainment hosted by Leticia, and had lost interest in the current formal banquet. They rushed towards the crowd like a school of sharks just in time to enjoy the meat that was the princess.
‘Maybe if I don’t look at it everything will go away.’
While Leticia continuously banged her head against the table, Cersei hooked her arms around her.
“Princess, there’s a saying that a man will be classified as handsome only if he catches your attention.”
“Some people put too much meaning in other people’s personal taste.”
“That’s why whenever there is a banquet all the men around here pay attention to you and only you. As an excluded woman, I can’t help but be upset. Don’t you think I would want to be in a handsome man’s company as well?”
Leticia shrugged dismally.
“Which is why princess, your penalty shall be…” Cersei giggled and leaned in to whisper the penalty into Leticia’s ear. “…to dance with someone who is not handsome.”
Leticia was highly tempted to shout something along the lines of ‘I want to pluck out your eyes’, but she clenched her jaw tightly to keep the ugly words at bay.