After his short chat with Meredith, Lucian left the palace and rode the carriage back to the de Burke manor. Entering, he heard the faint sound of the piano happily playing, the keys letting out a melody that got him in a chipper mood.
He made his way to the music room. Upon pushing the doors open, the piano's tune became louder. His eyes fell on the woman gracefully pressing on the keys, her eyes closed to feel the music as she played.
"Sister,"
The music abruptly stopped as she opened her eyes to see her brother, Lucian, standing near the door. "Must you interrupt me?" She said, turning her head back to the piano. Her hand hovered on the keys and stopped as her brother spoke again,
"I need to ask you a favor."
"A favor?" Her head swiftly turned to him once more. It had already been a few times that Lucian had asked her for favors. And he has not repaid a single one. "You are in no position to ask that of me."
"It is for His Majesty," Lucian pleaded. "It would benefit us."
"What does he want?" She clicked her tongue.
"I need you to invite them to that little tea party of yours. To increase their reputation." Lucian walked closer to her.
She furrowed her eyebrows. "Them? You mean Lady Meredith, too? Brother, there is not much I can do about her reputation. A simple invite to a tea party will not help her become the beloved Empress nor the Emperor."
"But it is a start."
"It is a painful start. They are not quite beloved, as you know."
"Your mere interaction with them would be enough to have them change their minds."
Lillian sighed and shook her head. "It would not be genuine, brother. If you wish for them to sit on the throne, it is best that they be the ones who show that they are beloved. It is not our duty."
"Our heads are on the line here, Lillian. You know very well how quick Krillien is with his sword." Lucian tried to convince her sister, but she continued to argue with him.
"I do not wish for the noble men and women to be uncomfortable at my tea party when the two of them arrive." Lillian had always invited nobles from time to time, sometimes inviting them a few times to spend and form good alliances. It was a way to gather with the nobles and form a good bond with each other. But to invite a member of the royal family? She had never done that before.
It was a place to feel safe. To invite a royal member--two--which her brother is suggesting and the Emperor and Empress as well would cause a commotion at the party.
"Why am I hearing arguments instead of the piano?" A middle-aged man entered the music room, a cane gripped in his hand as he stood as tall as he could, a sour expression on his face making the two siblings lower their heads in silence.
"Apologies, Father." Lucian lowered his head, nervously looking away.
"What were you two arguing about? You lot have already grown and yet you continue to argue like children." He stepped further in the room, limping with his right leg. A stern expression on his face.
"Apologies, but Lucian is trying to force me to invite the Emperor and Empress for my tea party." Lillian explained and darted a glare at her brother. She hoped her father wouldn't side with her brother, but it seems she was wrong.
"It would be best to invite them. Our alliance with them hasn't been strong these past few years..." The de Burke patriarch glanced at his daughter. It was a pity that they weren't able to form such alliance with them through marriage, but he hoped the years of backing them up would be enough to continue it.
Lillian frowned as Lucian smiled to hear the words from his father. His head and their family's reputation are safe from their glares once Krillien and Meredith show to be lovely aside from their personalities that they have shown the past few years.
"But, Father, this would tarnish our relations with the other nobles who dislike them. And there are a lot. My reputation could lower and possibly this house, too!" She defended. Though her head was important, it wouldn't matter if it's gone now. Her reputation however, well that would be a different story.
"It is only a tea party," her father dismissed her concern. "You are able to not invite them the next time. Do invite them now." He ordered as he left the room. Lillian was left dumbstruck.
She then glared at her brother. "If anything goes wrong, it is on you." She hissed and left the music room as well, the door thudding behind her.
Lucian flinched and sighed. He hoped nothing would go wrong at the party.
A few days later, Meredith was able to memorize a few of the halls and rooms of the palace as well as the names of the other servants and guards. Particularly the ones assigned to her that every so often would change depending on their time.
"Your Majesty, a letter arrived for you." Fiona entered her room with an envelope in hand. A blue seal was plastered on the envelope to seal it shut. She recognized the bird insignia on the seal: it was the de Burke's. Had Lady Lillian's invitation finally arrived?
Fiona gave the letter to Meredith. Taking a letter opener from her desk, she sliced the envelope open and took out the paper inside. Carefully, she read the paper:
Greetings Dearest Empress, Meredith von Hachler,
I, Lillian de Burke, will be hosting a tea party on the 24th of this month, and would like to invite you and His Majesty to join us.
Your presence is very welcome as we hope to form a good relation with Your Majesty and the other nobles. Do join us if you wish.
The party will be hosted in the de Burke manor's West Wing. I wish you well.
Sincerely, Lillian de Burke
It was the tea party Lucian had told her about. Indeed it was true that his sister would be inviting them.
Meredith folded the letter once again and took a deep breath. It was time to show them that she was now the Empress. There was nothing to prove yet she wanted to.