Killing the Possessor - Chapter 113

An afternoon tea party. In any romance fantasy novel featuring noble ladies, it’s a scene that’s almost guaranteed to appear at least once.

In real life, if a group of girls around the same age gets together, it usually means an enjoyable, lively gathering full of endless chatter and interesting topics.

But in fiction, social gatherings have a different flavor—especially when the main female lead is about to capture the love of all the male leads, and among the guests are high-status ladies who are likely keeping a wary eye on her.

“I never expected to be invited! For the future princess to call me to the palace—it’s like a dream come true!”

Once again, Illui, who is utterly clueless about social cues, cheerfully blurted out such things in front of me—the one currently receiving the nation’s collective pity for not being the future princess.

Maybe not as bad as Dahlia, but honestly, her mind is almost too clear and innocent. Good thing I’m not the real Camilli, so I don’t care about that title anymore.

“Oh, I’m sorry!”

“It’s fine.”

Perhaps she suddenly remembered my history with the prince, because her face turned sheepish as she apologized. She hadn’t even realized I was the prince’s ex when she first heard my name, so I could forgive her for the oversight—at least a little.

“Come to think of it, Camilli was invited too? Is it because she’s a foreigner? Maybe she doesn’t know how things work.”

As if! There’s no way she doesn’t know. News about Prince Wyner’s engagement hasn’t been officially announced yet, but it’s spread far enough that even Illui’s heard the rumors. The princess herself is right here in the palace—of course everyone’s talking.

It was also widely known that the Empress had appointed me as Princess Avelline’s temporary lady-in-waiting. But at least, Avelline herself didn’t seem the least bit interested in making my life difficult. Actually, I wasn’t even sure she was aware of my existence.

The day after my audience with the Empress, I hurried to gather information about the palace layout from Bali, then went to find Avelline in her guest residence.

Contrary to my expectations that she’d be flitting about everywhere, she refused to even step out of her room. She wouldn’t let me inside either, and Yuli was just as indifferent, telling me to go home or wait in the parlor if I really wanted.

Since keeping an eye on Yuli Langa was more important to me than interacting with Avelline, I stuck it out in the sitting room, even when I had nothing to do.

But, contrary to my fears that Yuli would begin plotting something, all she did was lounge around reading books or call in a dressmaker to order new gowns. For her part, Avelline spent all day sleeping.

After several days of this, the monotony made me feel both bored and oddly relieved. Maybe Yuli really was planning to settle down and live quietly after all.

At least, that’s what I thought—right up until today’s tea party.

“But Camilli, are you sure you’re okay? You didn’t have to come if you didn’t want to.”

I told Illui, who assumed I’d just arrived for the party, the real reason: the Empress’s order meant I had to see Princess Avelline every day. Her jaw dropped as she started ranting about how cruel the Empress was.

You’re one to talk, I nearly said. You keep accidentally poking at my wounds too. But I stopped myself—her genuine concern and warmth made it impossible to be annoyed for long.

Every time I saw her, I couldn’t help wondering if today might be the day Kim Hee-mang finally arrived.

“Wow!”

When she first arrived, Illui had been shy, but now she was happily gawking at everything as I led her out to the palace garden, beautifully set up for the tea party.

I was honestly anxious about the whole thing, especially since it was obvious there was a specific reason behind inviting someone as unremarkable as Illui.

“They must want to make things difficult for me.”

“Huh?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

I waved off her question with a sigh. My hope that Yuli Langa had decided to live quietly was clearly misplaced. The fact that Illui Hope had been invited to this gathering screamed ‘scheme’ to me.

Even after spending several days watching her, I couldn’t figure out exactly what she was up to, but I knew I didn’t like it.

When we arrived at the garden, there were about eight noble ladies already gathered, not counting Avelline and Yuli.