The banquet would be tomorrow morning, so the invitations should arrive that evening.
A delicate little table stood in the rear garden of the Princess Residence. Princess Qian Niya sat at it, drinking afternoon tea. After several days of working through her emotions, she seemed much calmer.
"Your Highness, Count Teta Xiao has sent someone with an invitation."
"He has an answer already?" Princess Qian Niya, who had been looking down at her tea, raised her head. A flicker of surprise crossed her face.
Romon had just told her that he would send an invitation as soon as there was news. She had only recently returned, and the Royal House had already responded?
"Where is the invitation?" Princess Qian Niya asked, frowning at the attendant's empty hands.
"The messenger is still outside. Your Highness said last time that you would receive no visitors for the time being, so..." the attendant explained.
"Is Count Teta Xiao a visitor? He is the lord of this territory." Princess Qian Niya lightly pressed her forehead, sounding rather helpless.
"Yes. I'll have someone fetch the invitation at once." Seeing her expression, the attendant realized his mistake and hurried out.
He left at a brisk pace. When he returned shortly afterward, he held an elegant, beautifully made invitation.
Princess Qian Niya took it and opened it. Sure enough, the neat, graceful handwriting inside was Romon's. Yet after reading its contents, her feelings grew complicated.
"You may all leave." With a wave, Princess Qian Niya dismissed the attendants and maids around her.
She sat alone at the table in the vast garden, the invitation lying before her.
"Your Majesty..." Recalling its contents, Princess Qian Niya looked sorrowful.
She had always known that her father would not let the kingdom collapse over her second brother's death, but the