Tea Party

(Elysia PoV)

The small room was filled with the light of the afternoon falling through the tall glass window with intricate patterns. In the center stood a round table. A red silk tablecloth adorned it. Carved chairs with velvet cushions surrounded it.

On the table, white porcelain with golden lines was neatly arranged. Small plates filled with cookies and candied fruits were laid out in order. Everything looked graceful, so orderly, yet the air inside was sharper than she imagined.

Elysia was one of those sitting there. Her back straight, without leaning. Her shoulders relaxed. Her eyes stared blankly at the cup and small plate of snacks before her. No appetite, not even to touch it.

While beside her, Celina and Irine sat close together. Both whispering with curious faces.

“This is my first time joining a tea party at academy, Irine.”

“Don’t be nervous. I’m the same.”

That was all Elysia’s ears could catch faintly.

She shifted her gaze, four noble girls sat in a circle across from her, their faint smiles seemingly hiding a veiled intention.

Elysia took a deep breath. She had refused the invitation. But who would have thought, they instead invited the two fools beside her. It forced her to join their little game.

Mireya was right.

Her gaze met a girl with dark blue curly hair across the table. Her hair coiled in spirals. She sat upright with a confident smile.

Arabella Stamford. That was her name. Her classmate. Her gaze was still the same, filled with envy and obvious jealousy. She was also certainly the one who had ordered the three men who delivered the invitation yesterday.

Elysia’s eyes were drawn to the golden bracelets studded with jewels on her wrists.

“Oh, you noticed. What do you think, Lady Elysia?” She raised her hand, showing off her bracelet to Elysia.

“Isn’t the academy prohibiting excessive accessories?”

“Oh, come on. You’re too formal, Lady Elysia. Don’t you know The Stamford family is one of the academy’s biggest donors. I suppose breaking one or two rules won’t mean much to me. Isn’t that right, girls?” She glanced at the three girls sitting near her.

All three nodded confidently. The corners of their lips lifted to one side. Their chests slightly puffed out.

Those three were none other than the ones who blocked her way in front of the class yesterday. The shoulder-length redhead named Emilia Trafford. The wavy blonde with red irises named Delfina Millestone. And the slender black-haired woman named Kimberley Lanesra.

All four of them came from the same empire—The Three Lions. A grand and wealthy empire ruling over many smaller kingdoms beneath it.

Not much was known to Elysia other than what was written in books since that empire lay in the southwest of the continent. Between it and the Kingdom of Lunestre stretched another empire named Bavaria, spanning wide across the continent’s center.

Elysia’s lips twitched. Typical villains from cliché fantasy novels. I might be trapped inside a story written by an amateur author.

“Rather than talking about unimportant things, what do you think about this little pastry, Lady Elysia?” She asked with a smile as thin as a blade.

“Good,” she answered shortly.

“My, that’s not the answer I expected. I heard you’re a princess from a wealthy kingdom. Is that really how you behave That’s amusing.” The corner of Arabella’s lips rose in a sneer.

Elysia had lost count of how many times she sighed, already tired of this play.

Arabella set down her cup, tucking a strand of blond hair from her face. “This is a nice place, isn’t it Too bad the students’ backgrounds are too varied. Even children of merchants and commoners can now sit in the same class as us.”

Emilia chuckled behind her hand. “Yes, you know, sometimes... they’re just too noisy.”

“Indeed,” added Lanesra. “My clothes could reek of them if I stay in the same room too long.”

While the four tried to display their disdain toward commoners, Elysia seemed uninterested, staring blankly without saying a word.

Celina, whether from the remaining effect of cauca leaves or sheer hunger, couldn’t stop eating the snacks on her plate. She even shamelessly took several more pieces from the porcelain rack provided.

Irine was not much different, more often whispering with Celina while enjoying bites of cake rather than joining the conversation.

The thin smiles that hung on the nobles’ faces faded. Their eyes narrowed, as if judging the three for ruining the true essence of a tea party with their improper attitude.

“Such country girls,” murmured Arabella. “A noble lady should know how to keep her dignity. But some... seem too careless.”

Celina leaned forward, her eyes sparkling. “Ah, maybe you mean me I often get scolded for being too talkative in class. But when it comes to chatter, Irine might be far above me.” She laughed freely, unaware that Arabella’s remark was aimed at her.

“Hey, you’re even chattier than me Aren’t you, Ely?” Irine winked at her twin sister.

“You two are no different.”

“Elyyyy!”

Both shouted, shaking Elysia’s slender body at once, refusing to accept the truth that slipped from her lips.

Meanwhile, Arabella looked at them with dark eyes. Her fingers clenched visibly. A clearly fake smile hung on her lips.

“Shall I give you some advice to make you look more elegant?”

They stopped at once, turning to Arabella simultaneously. Their eyes sparkled like children awaiting a bedtime story, completely unaware of the poison hidden in her offer.

Elysia narrowed her eyes, locking her gaze with Arabella’s sharp grin.

“Are you interested too, Lady Elysia?”

“No, thank you. I prefer being myself.”

“Oh, is that so. Don’t blame me if you regret it later.”

Elysia merely stared blankly. Yet deep inside, she was suppressing her rage. Her uniform skirt was already crumpled under her own grip.

After that, Arabella began to speak her venom. Both of them nodded firmly, unsuspecting.

A small laugh rippled from Arabella’s circle. Their faint smiles flickered, not warm but mocking.

Elysia remained silent. Her fingers traced the rim of her cup, her face expressionless. Yet her eyes shifted slightly, glancing at her twin sister and Celina beside her.

The two chatterboxes spoke with open hearts, following every instruction, unaware that each word from Arabella’s lips was a direct insult.

Arabella then took the teapot beside her, lifting it high with pride.

“This is our star for today. Gyokuro green tea.” She poured the tea from the pot one by one into their cups. “My father brought it from the eastern continent. This tea is sold exclusively to certain families. Its aroma and taste are unmatched.”

Her words flowed long, as if glorifying her own tea.

The cups filled with pale green liquid carrying a refreshing scent. But as soon as the steam reached her nose, Elysia stiffened. Her sharp senses caught something foreign, an aroma that shouldn’t be there.

Her ears twitched when she caught Irine’s whisper, heard only by fellow rabbitmen. “The smell... it’s strange.”

Elysia fell silent for a moment. The memory of the small potion given by Mireya flashed through her mind. So this is... what she meant?

Her hand moved slowly, taking the small bottle from her tunic pocket. Calmly, she dripped the liquid into her cup. She also gave a drop each to Celina and Irine.

“Woah, what did you drop in, Ely? It smells so nice now.”

Elysia simply placed her thumb against her lips.

That small gesture did not escape Arabella’s eyes. “What did you just add, Lady Elysia?” Her eyes narrowed.

Elysia straightened her back, calm. “Just a potion from my big sister. She said this drop makes tea healthier and more fragrant.”

The room fell silent for a moment. Then Arabella smiled condescendingly. “A health potion? Really? How interesting. May we try it too”

Elysia raised her brow. “If you wish.” She casually handed them the potion, letting them pour it themselves.

She bowed her head slightly, hiding a faint smirk.

I didn’t break my promise, Sister. I didn’t give it to them. They did it themselves.

Arabella smiled with satisfaction, lifting her cup. “Then, let’s enjoy it together.”

The warm liquid touched their tongues. Celina and Irine sipped happily, in contrast to Arabella who did so with grace.

Meanwhile, Elysia wore a cold expression. Her violet eyes never left those sitting across from her.

Only seconds later, the faint laughter turned into choking coughs.

Arabella’s eyes widened, her hand reaching for her neck. “What... is this” Her voice caught, her face flushed red. The three girls beside her jerked in panic, clutching their throats.

Elysia simply sat still. Calm. Her legs crossed. Acting as if nothing happened. Her eyes coldly watched them, then she lifted her cup once again. “An interesting tea, isn’t it”

Celina and Irine exchanged glances, confused. They felt nothing but the usual warmth in their throats.

Arabella glared at Elysia with burning eyes, but could not utter a word, struggling in pain.

Amidst the silence, a faint curve appeared on Elysia’s lips.

What you sow, that is what you reap.