Chapter 137: Tea Meeting & Pullings.
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Noon.
Tea Hall, Wyfkeep Castle.
Wyfellon, Wyfn-Garde.
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It was finally time to attend the much-anticipated castle ladies’ tea meeting. Salviana woke early, jittery with a mixture of nerves and sleeplessness, a state exacerbated by the absence of her husband. Her bed felt far colder without him, and her thoughts wandered to the distant battlefields.
The maids attended to her meticulously, dressing her in the finest gown the castle wardrobe could offer. The elegant dress flattered her figure, though she wished Spur, the new dressmaker, had already delivered the attire she’d commissioned. She thought of the grander occasions ahead and resolved that when the time came, she would outshine them all.
Breakfast was a struggle. Salviana barely nibbled at her food, her stomach tied in anxious knots. She waited for Jean, who eventually arrived, and together, they made their way to the hall with guards trailing behind.
As the grand doors opened, Salviana straightened her posture, lifting her chin with regal confidence. Her steps were measured, her demeanor deliberate—a carefully practiced grace.
Inside, the chatter hushed. Eyes turned toward her, but instead of welcoming smiles, there were snickers, glares, and eye rolls. The air bristled with veiled hostility. Salviana felt the weight of their stares but moved forward, refusing to falter.
"Princess Salviana!" Lilian’s voice rang out, sugary sweet. Her smile seemed genuine, but Salviana knew better than to trust it entirely.