Chapter 34

Duchess Hana, a prominent figure in the court and the undisputed master of the Autumn Kingdom's customs and etiquette, was conducting one of her refined classes for a select group of young noblewomen. She had scarcely dismissed her students when an assistant to Duke Akiyama delivered an official notice. A hopeful smile briefly lit the Duchess's face as she recognized the First Counselor's seal; perhaps it was auspicious news or some long-awaited recognition. However, as soon as the messenger withdrew and she scanned the lines of the letter, her countenance shifted: hope gave way to a cold fury, and the letter was crumpled in her hand with a sharp, angry gesture.

"Why was I not informed of this?" she hissed internally, indignation simmering. "Prince Ryuuji has an official fiancée? And a foreigner from the decadent Winter Kingdom? My daughter is the one who should hold that position! I raised her specifically for this."

Duchess Hana, in fact, projected onto Haruhi all the ambitions she herself had failed to achieve, dreaming of seeing her daughter as Queen. The news of Leticia's arrival was a direct blow to her meticulously laid plans.

"I cannot openly refuse a request from Duke Akiyama," she pondered, her mind already racing through alternatives. "But I will make him, and all the others, recognize that Haruhi is the only choice."

The stage for her first lesson would be afternoon tea, an event where appearances and mastery of etiquette were crucial. Hana did not merely summon her students; she selected the most beautiful, the most talented, and, above all, those most infatuated with Prince Ryuuji, instructing them to display all the elegance and delicacy inherent to the ladies of Autumn. As they awaited Leticia's arrival, Duchess Hana, with the mastery of an experienced court player, planted the seed of discord:

"A curious rumor is making the rounds, my young ladies," she began, with an air of confidence. "They say that Prince Ryuuji already has a betrothed. Princess Leticia."

A chorus of sighs and shocked exclamations filled the air.

"I don't believe it!" one of the young women cried, disappointment clouding her delicate features. "I have always dreamed of marrying him."

Others shared the same longing, and Duchess Hana, sensing fertile ground for her machinations, took advantage of the situation with a veiled smile.

"Oh, my dears, an arranged engagement does not prevent you from demonstrating your own worth. Perhaps the prince's choice could be... reconsidered, if more suitable alternatives were to present themselves."

"So, if I demonstrate my qualities... there would still be a chance?" The young women's eyes shone with a new, competitive hope. The trap was set.

When Leticia entered the tea room, a momentary silence fell. Many were struck by her distinct beauty: the long black hair contrasting with her fair skin and unusual blue eyes, so different from the citizens of the Autumn Kingdom, who generally possessed brown eyes.

More than her appearance, however, it was Leticia's posture that conveyed a refinement and a serene confidence that Duchess Hana had not anticipated.

"I thank you immensely for the invitation, Your Grace," Leticia said, her voice clear and melodious.

"The honor is all mine in finally meeting you, Your Highness," the Duchess replied, the courtesy in her voice hiding the ice in her heart.

Leticia settled herself with grace. To the Duchess's growing frustration, the princess demonstrated a flawless mastery of all the norms of Western tea etiquette. Moreover, she engaged the young nobles in conversation with a genuine interest, seeking to know them, and in doing so, quickly gained the sympathy of the majority, disarming any prior hostility.

Thwarted, but not defeated, Duchess Hana decided that the next encounter would require a considerably more arduous task, this time under the direct observation of Counselor Akiyama.

A few days later, during the following training session, the Duchess summoned her daughter, Haruhi, for a demonstration of the complex Eastern tea ceremony. Both Duke Akiyama and Leticia were visibly impressed with the grace and precision of Haruhi's movements.

Every gesture—the way she purified the utensils, the manner in which the chasen, the bamboo whisk, danced in the bowl, transforming the green powder into a jade foam—was executed with a hypnotic perfection. Duke Akiyama nodded slowly, a rare gleam of admiration in his stern eyes, and offered praise for the young woman's exquisite education.

With calculated elegance, the Duchess then requested that the assistants prepare the setting for Leticia. No prior instruction had been given to the princess. Leticia felt the weight of their gazes, the expectation in the air. Haruhi, sensing Leticia's discomfort, approached on the pretext of helping with the garments.

"Your skill in the tea ceremony was perfect, Lady Haruhi," Leticia commented with sincerity as the young woman adjusted her obi.

A rare, shy smile lit up Haruhi's face.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Accustomed to her mother's rigor and absence of praise, Leticia's kindness had touched her.

Meanwhile, Duchess Hana chatted distractedly with Duke Akiyama, but her eyes remained fixed on Leticia, eagerly awaiting her imminent victory.

"I doubt this foreigner knows the intricacies of the Eastern tea ceremony," she thought with contained satisfaction. "Show them all how inadequate you are. Flee. Hesitate. And then the Duke will realize the mistake they made in choosing you as the prince's bride."

The Duchess then announced that Leticia would also perform the ceremony. Duke Akiyama showed genuine enthusiasm; he hadn't imagined the Duchess had instructed Leticia so quickly that she would already be capable of a formal demonstration.

Leticia entered the ceremonial space once more. The traditional robes, which might have seemed restrictive on another, on her only seemed to accentuate a sovereign elegance that made the Duchess discreetly clench her fists.

Leticia, though uncertain of the Duchess's intentions in imposing a task for which she had not been prepared, suspected it was a test of her poise in unexpected situations. Her gaze swept the room and landed on a musical instrument resting discreetly in a corner: a shamisen. A solution.

She positioned herself before Duke Akiyama and, with a respectful bow in the Eastern style, spoke with clarity:

"Your Grace, I regret that I do not, at this moment, possess the knowledge required to perform the Eastern tea ceremony with the reverence it deserves. However, to compensate you for your time, I would like to offer another performance."

"Your Highness, there is nothing for which to apologize," Akiyama replied promptly, gesturing for Leticia to raise her head.

He did not understand the Duchess's reason for proposing such a task, but he awaited Leticia's alternative with interest.

With grace, Leticia picked up the "shamisen." Her fingers slid across the strings, and a traditional, nostalgic melody of the Autumn Kingdom filled the hall. Akiyama was visibly moved; it was one of his favorite songs. The Duchess, on the other hand, could barely contain her frustration. She had firmly believed that Leticia, confronted with the unknown, would retreat. She had not, however, counted on Leticia's heritage from the Summer Kingdom, where learning a musical instrument was an essential part of any noble's education.

At the end of the touching performance, Counselor Akiyama bowed deeply, thanking her for the beauty of the moment Leticia had provided.

As soon as the presentations concluded, he requested a private word with Duchess Hana.

"Duchess," Akiyama began, his tone formal and cold, "what exactly was your intention in exposing Princess Leticia to a task for which you knew she was not properly instructed?"

The Duchess remained silent, and the Duke continued, his voice firm:

"And do not offer me the excuse that it was to test her in an unexpected situation. Your intention seemed far less noble to me."

"Your Grace, you must recognize that my daughter, Haruhi, possesses all the qualifications to be Prince Ryuuji's wife! She was prepared for this!"

"Lady Haruhi is, without a doubt, a young woman of excellent qualifications, I cannot deny that," Akiyama conceded. "However, Duchess, I demand that you treat Princess Leticia with the respect and consideration due to her position. Nothing less. Have I made myself sufficiently clear?"

"Certainly, Your Grace," the Duchess replied, bowing with a forced submission, while a dark thought echoed in her mind: "This is not over!"

✧ Chapter Glossary ✧

Shamisen (三味線) – A traditional three-stringed musical instrument, played with a plectrum called a bachi. Its sound has a unique beauty: at once delicate and intense, capable of conveying deep feelings without the use of words. It is a symbol of elegance and emotional depth.

Tea Ceremony (茶道 – Sadō or Chadō) – An ancient practice that goes far beyond simply serving tea: it is an art that symbolizes respect, harmony, purity, and tranquility. Every gesture, from the way one walks to the manner of serving the powdered green tea (matcha), carries meaning and intention. In noble contexts, it is a way to assess the education, refinement, and self-control of the one conducting it.