Chapter 86: The Taste Of Understanding
All eyes rested on Lady Rachel as she tried her best to act as normal as she could, but her face had already drained of color. Her hands moved to her gown. Lady Stephanie, who had only just noticed the sudden quietness, gently raised her head from the teacup she had been focused on all this while. Her eyes shifted to Lady Rachel, and as she realized what was happening, they widened. Then she spoke.
"This is the first tea gathering that has a sweetener. I hadn’t expected it," she said. Though her words were true, she hadn’t said them just for that; she also wished to ease the tense atmosphere.
Lady Rhea gave a soft nod.
"Very true, Lady Stephanie. They dont usually serve black tea—my favorite," she added.
Stephanie smiled, and slowly, the atmosphere returned to normal.
Lady Rachel, meanwhile, was steeped in regret—almost guilt. She hadn’t expected Lady Stephanie to help her. She raised her head, and her gaze locked onto the Queen’s. Her body froze, shame consuming her. The same friend she had just backbitten earlier had stood up for her—while the other hadn’t done a thing.
"Queen Ariana, this place is beautiful. The ambiance is truly unforgettable," Lady Stephanie remarked sincerely.
Ariana nodded, taking a gentle sip of her tea. She set the cup down delicately, then raised her hands and signed slowly so Stephanie could follow, noticing she wasn’t quite fluent.
"To tell you the truth, it is also my first time coming here. There are so many beautiful places in this palace that just when you think you’ve seen the most stunning one, another appears to take your breath away."
Lady Stephanie laughed softly, raising her hand to cover her mouth. Ariana’s smile widened. She recognized that look—Lady Stephanie was holding back her laughter, trying to remain ladylike. That alone made her smile grow even more. At least she wasn’t the only one who did that.
Minutes passed as the three chatted while sipping tea, though Lady Rachel especially fell into long periods of silence. When she was addressed, she would simply respond with a smile and a quiet nod.
Finally, it was time to leave. As they stood, the carriages had already arrived waiting at the castle entrance, and the ladies bowed. Lady Rhea then finally spoke, a small smile on her lips.