In the Doghouse - Chapter 82
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The western garden of the imperial palace was quiet. Although most of the flowers had already withered with the arrival of autumn, the brightly colored trees still offered a sense of charm. Nearby, a magical fountain played colorful streams of water accompanied by soft music.
However, the dozen women seated along the long rectangular table had little room in their hearts to appreciate the scenery. Even the youngest of them, who had yet to fully shed their girlish innocence, knew the significance of this gathering and carefully measured their words and actions.
It was the first tea party hosted by the Crown Princess, and rumors had already spread throughout the capital that she was seeking to recruit a personal lady-in-waiting. If someone caught her eye today, they might be summoned to the palace as early as tomorrow. With this in mind, the guests sat in anxious silence, stealing nervous glances at one another.
Courtney, having carefully thought out conversation topics beforehand, found that all her efforts went to waste. No matter what she said, the women only responded with polite agreements, making it impossible to sustain any real conversation. Sitting at the head of the table, Courtney surveyed the quiet gathering once more before speaking again.
“Does the tea not suit your taste?”
“Oh! It’s not like that at all!”
“It’s delicious!”
The women, who had paused with their utensils, hastily cleared their plates. She hadn’t meant to interrogate them, but it seemed there was something wrong with the way she was speaking. More uncomfortable than the others, Courtney took another sip of her tea.
Most of the guests were unmarried young women, though a few married ladies were present as well. These young noblewomen, who had never done a day of work beyond their lessons in etiquette, desperately desired the position of lady-in-waiting for a reason.
Although serving in the palace was often seen as an honor, the pay for ladies-in-waiting was objectively meager, even less than that of a lower servant. It was a position designed for those with wealth, providing little in the way of financial reward. However, those closest to the imperial family enjoyed privileges beyond their salary, most notably an advantageous position in the marriage market.
Being closely tied to the palace often attracted suitors from families far more prestigious than their own. If a suitable match wasn’t found, the lady of the house would often take it upon herself to arrange one. In reality, what these women longed for wasn’t merely the position of lady-in-waiting, but a much better marriage prospect.
Courtney felt a pang of bitterness. While she had mostly given up on such ambitions herself, she understood their desperation. Their entire futures were at stake.
Of course, not all of them were entirely focused on marriage. Some had other interests. One such person, seated not far from Courtney, was Celine Everdeen, whose eyes sparkled as she spoke up.
“Your Highness, if it’s not too bold, may I ask a question?”
“Me too, me too!”
Hannah Anson, seated beside her, jumped at the chance to join the conversation.
These two were the same young women who had been quite outspoken at a previous tea party before Courtney’s marriage, showcasing their loyalty to the Crown Prince without restraint.
Courtney felt a headache coming on. Neither of them were actually candidates for a lady-in-waiting. As daughters of a marquis and a wealthy count, they didn’t need the position. But they had begged so much at the previous gathering that she had felt obligated to invite them.
She felt uneasy about what they might say, but with the conversation so stilted, she reluctantly nodded.
“Go ahead.”
“How was your wedding night?”
“Celine, have you lost your mind?!”
Hannah was the only one who shrieked, but everyone at the table felt the same way. The married women sighed, and the unmarried young ladies blushed furiously.
Despite the reactions, Celine and Hannah continued their playful bickering, voices rising.
“What? Hannah, don’t tell me you’re not curious too.”
“I’m not! I just… wondered if His Highness has been treating Her Highness well…”
“That’s the same thing! Right, everyone?”
Celine dragged the others into the conversation. While their faces remained red, no one dared speak up. They were too embarrassed to admit it, but they were curious too.
Standing nearby, Madam Berricker, Courtney’s chief lady-in-waiting, wore a deeply disapproving expression. She had been instructed not to intervene, but it was clear she found the situation distasteful.
It would have been better if she had stepped in, but Courtney had resolved to handle this herself—an hour ago, she had insisted on doing so. Sitting up straighter, she called out firmly.
“Lady Everdeen.”
“Y-Yes…”
Celine shrank back under the stern tone of the Crown Princess. She understood now that Courtney’s status was different and that her question had been inappropriate. But curiosity had gotten the better of her.
She wished she had tried harder to build a closer relationship with Courtney before she had become the Crown Princess, but who could have predicted it? Who would have thought that someone from the Devon family would rise to such a position?
Though a little startled, Courtney wasn’t truly angry. In a calm voice, she replied.
“Let’s just say His Highness… is a gentleman who knows how to be considerate of a woman. Does that satisfy your curiosity?”
“A-Ah… yes!”
Celine’s cheeks flushed red, her mind clearly racing with romantic fantasies.
Whatever she was imagining, it couldn’t be further from the truth.
