My Fiance Is The 2nd Male Lead
Tea with the Crown Princess Candidate

"How did this happen?!" Empress Eleanor sat on one of the chairs that circled the pentagon-shaped table. His hand squeezed out the letter he received from his Son at the Eastern Border.

There was still about ten minutes before the Crown Princess candidate came to the Greenhouse to attend the tea banquet hosted by the Empress.

The Empress turned her left to look at her personal bodyguard, Eric, with a wrathful look. His golden earrings swayed as he turned his head. From his gaze he hinted for Eric to answer his question.

"According to the spies stationed at the eastern border, the casualties from the battle between the Imperial forces and the Ginryuu Kingdom forces were zero. The Knights from the Imperial side only sustained injuries."

"Do you think I care about the state of our army?!" Empress Eleanor's voice rose by an octave. His eyes lit up with anger.

Eric did not reply to the Empress' words.

"What was Frederick doing there?! Isn't General Themisree there?!" Empress Eleanor hit the table with her fist. The veins on his neck became more visible when he hit the table.

The Empress then held her neck as a result of the pressure she felt. He then tried to catch his breath. 'Duke Wisteria also doesn't seem to be doing his job very well.' Thought the Empress.

Suddenly, the glass door opened. An old servant entered the greenhouse. "Your Majesty, the candidates have arrived."

The empress let out a long sigh and then confirmed her sitting position. "Please let them in."

A few minutes later, four girls who each looked elegant and beautiful in their own way entered the room. They saluted the Empress, waiting to be invited to sit on the chair.

"Please sit down, candidates." The empress said with a smile. His hands were encouraging for candidates to sit wherever they wanted.

The blood red-haired girl quickly took a seat beside the left Empress. Others were hesitant to choose a chair.

"May I sit here, Your Majesty?" ask the red-haired girl even though she is already in her seat.

"Of course, Lady Rosa."

After all the candidates sat in their respective seats, the Empress cleared her throat. "Some of us already know each other, but it would be best if you all introduce yourself from the beginning. Please start with Lady Rosa."

The red-haired girl named Tarance Rosa then introduced herself. "I am Tarance Rosa, the first Princess of the Rosa Family." her voice sounded resolute as if she understood that she was a figure not to be underestimated. His eyes showed great confidence.

Empress nodded.

"Before that, Empress. I want to give this to you." Tarance offered a small square town to the empress. The dark blue box was wrapped in a bright red ribbon.

"I think the locket will make your appearance even more radiant, Your Majesty." Tarance said with a graceful smile on his face. He did not look nervous at all when giving the pendant, as if it was a natural thing to do.

Empress Eleanor laughed at Tarance. She then allowed Serena, who was sitting next to Tarance, to introduce herself.

"Sa-I'm Serena Tagates, the First Daughter of the Ro-Rosa Family" Serena said. He could feel his hands wet with sweat and nervousness.

The whole person looked at him with a confused look.

"Pff!" Tarance laughed insinuatingly. "It seems that in this Empire there is only one first princess of the Rosa Family and that person is me, Lady Tagates."

Hearing Tarance's response, Serena widened her eyes. His face and ears were red and heated. "I-I mean, the First Daughter of the Tagates Family." she quickly justified her mistake.

This was not the first time she had met the Empress, as she had previously attended tea parties individually with Crown Prince Frederick. Somehow he felt a lot more nervous today when he attended the banquet with the other candidates.

'If Suiren was here maybe I could have been calmer.' Serena muttered in her heart while squeezing her dress. He lowered his head.

All the girls around him looked amazingly beautiful, he could not feel that he was the least attractive among them all. They all look confident in themselves.

Not to mention when Tarance gave his card just before he introduced himself, it made him feel even more burdened as he came without bringing anything for the empress.

"You don't have to be nervous, Lady Tagates. We've met before at a tea party with Crown Prince Frederick." Empress Eleanor said in a soft tone.

Hearing that, the other candidate scrunched his forehead.

"Tea dinner?" tarance asked with a smile on her face. His lips twitched a little.

"That's right, Lady Rosa. I would like to get acquainted with the woman personally selected by my son for the selection of this Crown Princess candidate." Said the Empress while gesturing for the servants to pour tea in their respective cups.

Tarance and the other candidates then looked at Serena with strange gazes. A look like when a hunter is looking at his prey.

Serena felt her hair stand up. He had thought that all the Crown Princess candidates had the opportunity to attend an individual tea banquet with the Crown Prince, but it turned out that today his thinking was proven wrong. From the response of the other candidates, it was clear that only he had received an invitation for an individual tea banquet from the Empress.

And the Empress made sure that all the other candidates knew about it.