Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Noblewomen's Failed Revenge and the King's Retaliation

Lady Genevieve Aldrienne had many talents.

1. Spreading rumors? A master.

2. Fake smiles that hid pure malice? Flawless.

3. Holding a grudge longer than a dragon hoards gold? Unrivaled.

Which was why, after her spectacular failure at humiliating me during the noble gathering, she didn't give up.

Oh no.

She escalated.

"She must be dealt with," Lady Genevieve said sharply.

She sat in a secluded tea lounge, surrounded by other noblewomen who had—at one point or another—also been humiliated by me.

Lady Celeste, who had tried to have me fired.

Lady Vivienne, who had tried to spread romantic rumors about me.

And a few other noblewomen who simply hated my existence.

They were all here.

And they all wanted me gone.

Lady Genevieve placed her teacup down delicately.

"We must be smarter this time," she murmured. "No more clumsy tricks."

Lady Celeste huffed. "Then what do you suggest?"

Genevieve's smile was cold.

"We humiliate her where she is most confident."

She picked up a delicate porcelain teapot and turned to the group.

"After all," she purred, "she calls herself the best tea maid, does she not?"

~~~

The next day, a formal event was held at the palace—a charity banquet, attended by nobles and foreign guests.

And somehow, somehow, I was dragged into it.

A senior maid approached me, panicked.

"Thalia! We need you!"

I stared.

"...For what?"

"The noblewomen are requesting an exclusive tea ceremony."

My eye twitched.

"Let me guess," I sighed. "Lady Genevieve?"

The maid nodded grimly.

I sighed.

Of course.

The moment I entered the grand hall, I felt it.

The trap.

The noblewomen's expectant smirks.

The way the tables had been arranged suspiciously.

Lady Genevieve sat at the center, looking far too pleased with herself.

And then, as I approached—

She sweetly gestured to an empty spot in front of her.

"You don't mind performing a special tea demonstration, do you, dear?"

The noblewomen giggled.

I immediately knew.

This was a setup.

But I smiled anyway.

"...Of course, my Lady."

The moment I began preparing tea, I saw it.

1. The teacups had been tampered with.

2. The tea leaves had been switched to an inferior quality.

3. The chair behind me was unstable.

They had set up a series of tiny, calculated mistakes so that I would mess up publicly.

Unfortunately for them—

I had lived through worse.

And so, instead of falling into their trap—

I outperformed every single one of them.

I fixed every mistake before it could happen.

- The teacups? I smoothly swapped them with new ones.

- The tea leaves? I adjusted the blend perfectly without hesitation.

- The unstable chair? I casually kicked it aside before I could trip.

And then, for the grand finale—

I poured each cup with the grace of a noblewoman, served with absolute perfection, and ended the ceremony with an elegant bow.

The room was dead silent.

Lady Genevieve's eye twitched.

And the foreign guests?

They applauded.

"Such refinement," one of them marveled.

"Truly a master of her craft," another whispered.

I hid my smirk.

Meanwhile, Lady Genevieve and her allies looked ready to explode.

Plan: Ruin Thalia?

Outcome: Complete and utter failure.

After the event, I thought it was over.

I was wrong.

Because somehow, the King found out.

And the next day—

he summoned every noble family involved.

According to palace whispers, the meeting went something like this:

King: "It seems there has been... a pattern of behavior regarding my personal maid."

Lady Genevieve's father: "Your Majesty, I assure you—"

King: (Stares in silence.)

Nobleman: (Breaks into nervous sweat.)

King: "Consider this your only warning."

Lady Genevieve's family: Panic.

Afterwards, the noblewomen who had plotted against me suddenly became... very quiet.

Lady Genevieve still glared daggers at me, but she did it from a safe distance.

I had no idea how serious the King had been—until I overheard the stewards whispering:

"The King put pressure on the families involved."

"Some of them had their palace privileges revoked!"

"It seems he really does favor that tea maid..."

When I found out, I was shocked.

~~~

That evening, I entered the royal study.

The King sat at his desk, glancing up as I approached.

I hesitated.

Then, quietly—

"...Thank you, Your Majesty."

He tilted his head.

"For what?"

I swallowed.

"For... for what you did. With the noble families. I heard about it."

The King was silent.

I took a deep breath.

"...It means a lot."

Then, before I could lose my nerve—

I smiled.

A real, genuine smile.

The room was silent.

Then—

Something flickered in the King's golden eyes.

Something I couldn't quite place.

But for the first time ever—

He looked caught off guard.

Almost... stunned.

And then—

"...Hmph."

He turned away, lifting his teacup.

But I swore I saw it—

The corners of his lips twitching slightly.

After that night, something changed.

Little by little...

I became comfortable around him.

Not just as a King.

Not just as a demanding tea addict.

But as...

Something more.

Something I wasn't quite ready to name.

But whatever it was...

It was dangerous.

And I was already too deep to escape.