chapter 7

Hadrian, oblivious to their silent battle, decided that Lilic needed to improve her social standing.

"You'll be attending a tea party with the noble ladies," he announced the next morning over breakfast.

Lilic, still half-asleep, nearly choked on her tea. "Pardon?"

Hadrian gave her a firm look. "You need to form proper connections."

Leor, who had been sipping his coffee, suddenly smirked. "That's an excellent idea, Father."

Lilic narrowed her eyes at him. He was too pleased about this.

As it turned out, she had every reason to be suspicious. Because when she arrived at the tea party, she was seated next to none other than the most gossip-prone noblewomen in the kingdom.

"Oh, Lady Lilic," one of them cooed, barely waiting for the tea to be poured. "Tell us, is it true that your brother is madly in love with the daughter of the Viscount?"

Lilic, recognizing the trap immediately, simply smiled. "Oh, I'm sure my brother has many admirers."

Another lady leaned in. "But we heard he's been acting rather distracted lately. Surely you know why?"

Lilic internally cursed Leor for setting her up for this. But two could play this game.

"Oh, but isn't it more exciting not to know?" she said dramatically, clasping her hands. "Mystery is the essence of romance, after all."

The noblewomen, intrigued, began whispering wildly amongst themselves, drawing their own conclusions. And just like that, Lilic had successfully redirected their attention elsewhere.

Leor, upon hearing the exaggerated rumors that later spread from this event, nearly lost his mind.

Lilic, meanwhile, sipped her tea victoriously.

Before she could fully enjoy her triumph, however, a shrill voice cut through the chatter.

"Oh my, I do find it impressive how well you navigate these conversations, Lady Lilic," Lady Genevieve drawled, her voice dripping with artificial sweetness. "After all, it must be quite the challenge to keep up when one isn't exactly from noble stock."

The table fell silent. Some of the ladies exchanged knowing glances, waiting to see how Lilic would react.

Lilic set down her teacup with deliberate slowness, her lips curling into a polite, amused smile. "Oh, Lady Genevieve, what a fascinating observation. One might almost think you were implying that noble birth automatically grants one intelligence and grace." She tilted her head slightly. "Yet, as we all know, history has proven otherwise time and time again."

A few soft gasps echoed around the table.

Genevieve's smile stiffened. "I only meant that some things come more naturally to those raised in proper households."

Lilic feigned surprise. "Ah, but dear Genevieve, you mustn't sell yourself short! It is quite admirable how hard you try despite those limitations."

Lady Rosaline Velmont, who had been watching the exchange with a smirk, let out a soft chuckle. "Well said, Lady Lilic. A sharp wit is far more valuable than mere birthright."

Genevieve turned red, but before she could sputter out a response, Rosaline gracefully shifted the conversation elsewhere, allowing Lilic to sip her tea in peace.

By the time Lilic returned home, she was exhausted. Social battles were far more draining than she had anticipated.

Hadrian was waiting for her in the drawing room, looking up from his documents as she entered.

"How was the tea party?" he asked.

Lilic hesitated. "Eventful."

Hadrian studied her for a moment before setting his papers aside. "Good. Then you won't be too busy tomorrow."

Lilic blinked. "Tomorrow?"

"We're going out," he said simply. "A father-daughter outing."

Lilic's brain short-circuited for a second. "I—What?"

Hadrian gave her a rare, small smile. "You've been working on your social standing. I thought it was time we spent some time together as well."

Lilic, unsure whether to be touched or terrified, could only nod.

What was happening? Hadrian Aster, the intimidating Lord of the estate, wanted to take her on an outing?

Tomorrow was going to be interesting, to say the least.