The Debt Of Fate
Chapter 87: Annoy her

Chapter 87: Annoy her

Anastasia, upon hearing this question, paused. She had not thought about it before. Before marrying the prince, she had not understood much about the royal family.

Although her mother had taught her many things, they were just the common knowledge expected of a noble lady; music, poetry, proper etiquette, and household management. She was merely a mistress’s daughter, and her mother could not have guessed that she would one day become the crown princess. When she learned of her engagement to the crown prince, she had been too worried and scared of the duchess’s actions to think of anything else. Although Miss Magdalene had been sent to educate her, the marriage had been arranged too soon, and she had barely learned much. In the chaos, she had forgotten that she needed to select ladies to join her court.

In truth, this was largely an honorary position, but she had read that the royal family allowed it to maintain the interest of noble families and keep them tied to the throne.

"Your Majesty, I do not have many friends, and I cannot choose carelessly. If the queen has any advice, I will listen," Anastasia said. Traditionally, she was expected to select at least five noble ladies, but she had no close companions.

"Alright. You are somewhat familiar with the eldest daughter of Lord William; she would be a good candidate. You might also consider your sister, as you two grew up together," the queen said, pausing before suggesting other talented noble ladies and asking Anastasia to make her selection.

The queen had mentioned Anastasia’s sister because she knew that Duke Thompson’s family did not care much for her. Although her status as a legitimate daughter had been restored, she did not believe her position within the family was truly solid.

"Your Majesty, I will follow your advice. Lady Rosalind is indeed a good candidat. We get along well, and she is very knowledgeable. As for the other ladies, I do not know them well. It is important to choose carefully. The prince has just left the royal city for war, so this is not the time for me to host a party. However, I can at least invite the noble ladies to tea and meet them. That way, I can make a better choice," Anastasia said.

The queen was very satisfied with her answer. "Then we shall invite them for tea three days from now. But you have not spoken about your sister. I have heard that she is also talented?" the queen asked. Of course, she was well aware that the Duke’s family was not harmonious. She merely wished to test how strained the relationship between the sisters was.

"Your Majesty, my sister is indeed talented. The teachers praise her. From a young age, she has been admired and pampered, which has made her somewhat arrogant. I am simply worried that if she joins the other noble ladies, there may be discord," Anastasia said, frowning as though she had been put in a difficult position.

Although the ladies of the court held a largely ceremonial role, they would still act as part of her advisors. They would meet frequently, and conflicts were inevitable. Anastasia’s concern was reasonable.

"Then I will leave it to you to handle," the queen said. Duke Thompson’s household had neither great power nor influence, and losing their support would not make much difference. The king had insisted on Anastasia’s marriage to the crown prince because she was said to bring good fortune.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your guidance," Anastasia said. In truth, she knew that if she included Elizabeth in her court, her sister would not dare to look down on anyone. After all, these noble ladies had standing within their own families. However, Anastasia had no intention of allowing someone who had nearly killed her to benefit from her marriage.

After conversing with the queen for a while, she returned to her courtyard and immediately sent for Miss Magdalene, whom the queen had allowed to continue guiding and serving her.

Since the queen had given her full authority over the selection, it meant she would also be responsible for hosting the tea gathering for the noble ladies. Although she had some knowledge of etiquette, the royal court and noble households operated differently. She needed Miss Magdalene’s advice to make the proper arrangements.

"Your Highness, how many noble ladies do you intend to invite?" Lady Magdalene asked.

Anastasia considered the five noble ladies the queen had mentioned. She also had to invite Rosalind. Although she did not care for her sisters, she felt that, for the sake of appearances, it was best to invite them. So, she asked Miss Magdalene to add them to the list.

"You do not intend to invite your sister?" Miss Magdalene asked, glancing at the list. Having lived in the Duke’s residence, she understood the relationship between the sisters.

"No," Anastasia replied. She saw no reason to keep up appearances with Elizabeth. Moreover, her sister had dared to push her last time, who knew what reckless thing she might do next?

"If I may, Your Highness," Miss Magdalene began respectfully. Now that Anastasia was a princess, she had become even more formal.

"Speak freely," Anastasia said. She viewed Miss Magdalene much like her former teacher, Miss Maria; someone who would only give her sound advice.

"The Duke’s family has officially recognized you as a legitimate daughter. No matter how reluctant you are, you should still invite your sister. I know you are concerned about potential incidents, but this is the palace; she will not be able to act arrogantly, not in the presence of so many people. You should also invite the young lady of General Robert’s family, since the Roberts showed goodwill toward you on your wedding day," Miss Magdalene advised.

Anastasia thought about it. Indeed, Isabel was not bad. Although she was not particularly talented, she was intelligent. She could read situations well and handle them accordingly. Though they had only spent a few hours together on that day, Anastasia had noticed her ability to navigate various social situations.

Especially when she had tried to make Elizabeth apologize. Thinking about it now, the two cousins might not be particularly close, perhaps they even competed against each other in secret.

The Robert family had claimed they would act as her mother’s family, but she understood it was purely for their own benefit. In that case, she should ensure that they were tied to her interests instead.

Isabel seemed favored by her family, making her a good choice for her court. If the two cousins were already rivals secretly, that could also be an opportunity to annoy Elizabeth.

"Let us do as you suggest," Anastasia agreed after some thought.

Miss Magdalene smiled upon hearing this.