When Deanna was fighting in the salon of the Red Rose.

In a corner of the ivy-covered garden, a secret tea party was being held around a small table.





*********************

It wasn't long before the courtyard, which Deanna had found and set aside as a secret place for socializing, came to be known as the Ivy Garden, and was used by Deanna, Raia, Yolanda, and Leticia whenever they wanted to meet without being seen. Sometimes it was all four of them, and sometimes it was just two or three. Sometimes it is all four of us, sometimes it is two or three. --Just like today.

"You've got your work cut out for you, Diana. Even the Red Rose is not a monolith.
I think the Peonies have the edge in terms of cohesion.　I think Peony has the edge in terms of unity, because they have a clear objective.
It's annoying, but... Don't you understand that a country can't survive without the rising nobility?

The three "famous" people exchanged a bleak conversation while enjoying an elegant cup of tea. I'm not sure if you've seen this before, but I'm sure you've.

I'm sure you don't know what you're talking about. I'm not sure what to make of it.
This is the time when the kingdom is at a turning point, whether it will continue to prosper or not. Unfortunately, too many of the old nobles are unaware that they are witnessing a turning point in time.
...... So you're saying that the Landlords are leading the way?
Yes. Yes, that's the first.

In the event that you're looking for the best way to get the most out of your business, you're going to want to make sure that you're getting the most out of your business. The Queen Mother's brother, the current Duke of Mondria, holds the position of Prime Minister, and is the most prestigious of the prestigious families, even being called the "second royal family".

There are other families that are called "prestigious. But the Marquesses of Landrose, Liliane's parents' family, had a long history, as long as the Mondrianes, but they hadn't made any noteworthy achievements, so they weren't the most prestigious family. Even so, as the first of the old aristocrats, they are in a good position.

The family was originally at the forefront of the opposition to the knighthood system. It seems that even if the generation changes, the way of thinking does not change.
The Marquis of Landrose is a man who has been in the business for a long time. The current Marquis of Landreth, you see ......
I'm sure you've heard of it. I think he's really trying to crush the new nobility.
"What?　If you do that, ......".
I'm sure the Azure Civil War will be more than just a problem.

I'm not sure what to make of it. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. She predicted that it would be the "biggest civil war in the kingdom" and that it would cause a commotion that would easily surpass history.
Yolanda continued, her tone not particularly tense.

But if you're talking about the faction that opposed the knighthood system, didn't House Stresia do the same?
"Oh, you did?
"...... Don't misunderstand me, Master Laetitia. Yolanda, that was a long time ago. We have no connection with those who opposed it now.
Oh, that's harsh on one's relatives.
I don't want to be related to people who are after my family's status and fortune.

Nowadays, Laia is known as the "flower of society," but she herself has had a rather strange history.

Laia's father, the current Marquis of Stresia, was born as the second son of the previous Marquis. In an aristocratic society where the right of succession to the throne is basically given to the eldest son, a man who is not the eldest son must find his own way from the moment he is born. The current Marquis was no exception, attending an academy to study his field of interest and then choosing to study abroad. At that time, he was almost cut off from his grandfather, the Marquis of the time, who had a strong "conservative" view.
The Marquis, who was originally the second son and had no intention of relying on his family, went to a foreign country to study actively, fell in love like a young man, and got married. Just when he thought he would never return to his homeland, he received the usual news that his father was in critical condition and that he should return home immediately. He returned to Japan with his newlywed wife and was reunited with his father, who was in a critical condition, and his brother, who was looking rather pale.
His brother was not a very strong person to begin with. He had the impression that he was only half recuperating and half studying to be the successor, but when his father suddenly collapsed, he had to act as the head of the family, and he could not rest. He did not talk to his brother much, but it was not that they were on bad terms. He began to help his brother with the chores of the Marquis family.
Eventually, his father died, and his brother became the new Marquis of Stresia. He was in the position of a half-hearted "helper" to his brother, and his relatives treated him as a "hyena looking to take over. With him as her father, Raia was born.

When they found out that he was pregnant with an unknown woman brought from a foreign country by a puthalo, their eyes changed. The head of the family has no children, not even a wife, while his unpredictable younger brother has a wife who is capable of bearing children. If things continue as they are, the royal court may ask him to give up his title to his younger brother in order to avoid a succession problem, but his younger brother, who has been in a foreign country since he was young and has little connection to them, will not be able to take advantage of the situation. That would be a problem.
Seriously, if Laia had been a boy, she might have been feared for her life. Since it was a girl, her relatives were relieved. Having a father of noble birth but no title, Raia spent her girlhood without much interaction with the other girls. The only exception was Yolanda.

Because their fathers were friends from the academy and their houses were close to each other, Raia and Yolanda had been playing together since they could remember. From that time on, Yolanda was the daughter of the Marquess of Eustace, while Raia was simply Raia Stresia, but their positions were different, but neither the children nor their parents cared.
Still, as they grew older, they would naturally understand their own positions. For a time, she even tried to leave Yolanda, thinking that it would hurt her reputation to be friends with someone like her. But when Yolanda, who usually smiles and laughs, came to see me crying, I had no choice but to wave the white flag.

Then, the days passed. A short time later, her father's brother, her uncle, kindly let her and Yolanda make their debut at a social event.
A short time later, he caught a cold during the change of seasons, and the symptoms became increasingly severe, and he died after a long struggle. Near the time of his death, he gathered all of his relatives and announced that the next Marquess would be his younger brother, and thanks to his having written an official document, his father took over the title without any time for his relatives to complain, and at the same time, Laia was promoted from 'Putaro's daughter' to 'Marquise of Stresia'.
As soon as he took over the title, his father decided to cut ties with his relatives, who were only interested in extorting money from him, and placed the Stresia family in a position where they were "conservative" but not extremist, thus stabilizing their position in the royal court. Since he is one of the few heads of the family who have studied abroad, it is said that he is regarded as an opinionated person in the current royal court. --It was against this background that Raia was asked to join the royal court.



After briefly explaining the situation of the Stresia family to Laia, she let out a breath.

I'm sure you're not the only one who has a problem with that. But considering the Stresia family's lineage and the position they have held for generations, they have settled into that position for now.
"I see. ....... I'm surprised, I thought the Stressians had always been in the position they are in now.
That's what people usually think. ...... That's why when my father asked me to join his court, I knew right away that he wanted to keep the power unbalanced.
It's a house that looks 'conservative' but is actually 'revolutionary', the Stressians.

The Stressians are a family that looks 'conservative' but is actually 'innovative. The reality was harsh, and thanks to Liliane's outburst, there was no room for Raia to maneuver.

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that the role that was initially expected of me is now being taken on by you, Diana-sama. ....... I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's a bit of a jerk.
"Her Majesty is in such a state that it makes her even more radiant.
Yeah, I know. ...... By the way, Raia, you're going to see His Majesty tonight, aren't you?　Don't you have to prepare for it?
What do I need to prepare? I don't have to prepare anything. The maids are already cleaning my room. There's nothing for me to do. I don't want to be bothered, especially when you're busy.
...... I'm pretty sure half the reason you're so busy is because of you, Your Majesty.

If only you had thought a little more about your visit ......, not only Diana, but also the three of you would have thought of it. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
I'm not sure what to make of it," she said, nodding to Leticia.

The most effective way to stop Peony's momentum is to spread the word that you have followed Peony to Waterlilies. Good luck, Raia.
...... I'm afraid I'd curse you out reflexively if I saw your face. I'd better apologize to your father while I'm at it.
"Dear Raia, please don't say that with a straight face. It scares me.

Leticia tilted her head.

It's a waste of ...... time.
What?
What do you mean by waste, Master Laetitia?
I'm not sure what to make of it, but I think it's a good idea.　It's not too much of a shame to just end up being a 'let's make a random appearance at a named event' in order to protect Shayla-sama, isn't it?

Leticia, who grew up watching her father develop a new business, is efficient in a strange way. She thought it would be a shame to miss this chance to see the king's palace.
I'm sure you're right.

You're right.
It would be great if we could use this opportunity for the next one.
Right?
...... How to connect, that's the question, isn't it?

Yolanda picks up a pastry next to Raia, who mumbles to herself. I'm not sure what to say.

It's a miracle that His Majesty has decided to pay attention to the palace in the first place. I'm not sure what to make of that.
"...... Yolanda, that's it.
What?

I'm not sure what to make of that.

I'm sure you're not the only one. It's not hard to understand, since the palace has never before been so overflowing with concubines.
...... In other words, if you realize that the front and the back are closely connected.
"If you realize that the front and the back are closely connected, you might be able to see the palace through the eyes of a ruler.

The three of them looked at each other. --We can do it. We can do it.

It's social season. It wouldn't be unnatural to hold a garden party in the inner palace with the family members of the entourage.
It should be hosted by His Majesty. I'm sure His Majesty will be there.
If I tell him directly, he'll think I'm crazy. I'm going to be a little harsh, Yolanda, so follow up with a little suggestion.
Then I will encourage you to have a good cup of tea, so that you will want to throw a party.

The three of them smiled the smile of accomplices. The three of them smiled the smile of an accomplice, and for the first time in their lives, they might have been glad they were named.

I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who's a bit of a jerk.