The Leroux family now found themselves heirless, with Rogelia on the brink of losing her engagement unless her education improved. Far from garnering sympathy for their plight, the Leroux were criticized for their behavior at the funeral, openly scorning Charlotte who had come merely to offer comfort. It seemed insufficient for them to simply erase the girl's existence; she was shunned even in her compassion.
"Cursed...she came back to ruin my life," Nidia fumed with rage.
At a tea party, she overheard criticism of her and her family, while others pitied Charlotte.
At the palace, as Rogelia stepped out of her carriage, a maid greeted her and offered to guide her to the classroom. En route, they encountered Hugo, and Rogelia curtsied, her face etched with concern.
"I heard my mother asked the teachers to test you."
"That's correct, although I do my utmost, I don't understand why I must learn so much—it's all things men should know..." she complained.
"Well, if that's what you think, then you're not fit to be a princess. What did you expect? To laze around like you do at home?" Hugo sneered with a mocking smile.
Rogelia saw even the waiting maid struggle to suppress a laugh.
"There's no need to insult me, Your Highness; my duty as a woman is to be a faithful wife."
"That's of no use here. I just hope you fail and my mother breaks off the engagement."
With that, Hugo didn't wait for a reply and hastened away. Rogelia seethed with anger, baffled by the prince's disdain—she had always conducted herself as a lady of repute.
As Hugo continued on his way, he saw Count Roche approaching with Shana, both bowing deeply to the prince, who greeted them with a pleasant smile.
"It's a surprise to see Count Roche at the palace," Hugo remarked.
"His Majesty the king has summoned me, but I have brought my daughter, who wished to see the palace. I trust this isn't an imposition."
"Not at all. Be careful, Lady Roche. If you'd like, I can show you around," he offered.
"Oh, no, that would trouble Your Highness unnecessarily," Shana demurred.
"It is no trouble, Count Roche. My father is in the throne room; I shall stay with Lady Roche."
"I appreciate that, Shana, be gracious," her father warned.
"Yes, father. I really wouldn't want to inconvenience Your Highness," Shana curtsied again.
Hugo simply offered his arm.
"Come on, it's no trouble. Besides, I enjoyed our conversation at the ball."
"That is flattering. I just hope your fiancee doesn't get the wrong idea."
"Even if she does, she has no say in the matter. She knows it's an arranged commitment, and truth be told, she's being dismissed by my mother," he whispered.
"Really? But Lady Leroux is quite popular," Shana remarked, surprised.
"She is, but that's all. The teachers report her poor performance in classes, and she believes that what she's taught isn't fit for a princess. Her idea of a princess is to idle all day," he laughed.
Shana let out a chuckle at Hugo's words, and they continued their walk and conversation.
Two days later, a messenger arrived at the Leroux mansion with an invitation from the magical tower, signed by the sorceress queen. Nidia was thrilled by the invitation—it wasn't every day one received such an honor.
"We must shop, Rogelia! Our attire must be nothing short of spectacular," she exclaimed with excitement.
"Mother, but why have we been invited? Neither of us possesses magic," Rogelia recalled Charlotte's words.
"What does it matter? If it's the sorceress queen, she must want to make connections—it's our chance to get close to someone so influential." Gaining the magical tower leader's favor meant the queen could no longer oppose them.
Both women readied themselves for departure. That very day, they traveled to the magical tower, where the invitation called for a ladies-only dinner. Nidia's excitement surged upon arrival at the portal, showing the invitation to the guardian mage who opened the gateway transporting them to the magical city of Celes, where their carriage approached the grand entrance wall.
"Madam, lady, we've arrived in Celes, the city of magic."
The place was more wondrous than their home kingdom. Allowed past the wall and through the city, they reached the sorceress queen's castle. As they disembarked, awe struck them, yet they noticed they weren't the only invitees—other ladies had already arrived. A maid instructed them to follow her inside the elegant, somewhat magical tower.
"Ladies, here we are. The queen will join us shortly. Make yourselves comfortable and enjoy the dishes."
Women and girls mingled in the hall, sampling delicacies and wines while savoring piano melodies.
"I thought we were the only ones. What a nuisance to be surrounded by this rabble," Nidia muttered under her breath.
No sooner had they arrived than whispers spread: how could such a vile woman be invited? A guard called for attention, announcing the hostess' entrance.
"Her Majesty, the sorceress queen, Charlotte Leroux, has arrived."
Everyone was stunned to see Charlotte enter; her truthfulness at Roberta's tea party vindicated—she had truly invited them to the magic tower. Rogelia and Nidia were flabbergasted by Charlotte's announced presence.
"Welcome, I'm pleased to host you in my home. As I promised, you've been received at the magic tower. I hope you enjoy the dishes, and since it's night, you're invited to stay overnight. Everyone will be assigned a room, and only for tonight, you may wander the entire tower, though do be mindful of restricted areas where guards will advise you not to venture," she explained before raising a glass of wine. "Enjoy your stay."
Rogelia and Nidia were lost for words. They saw Charlotte quickly become the center of attention, with women eagerly inquiring about her life. As minutes passed, Rogelia lost sight of her mother, so she stepped out into the corridor. The palace was vast and stunning; she couldn't comprehend why Charlotte lived in such grandeur while she endured the prince's scorn, struggled in classes, and faced an impending broken engagement which would turn her into the laughing stock of all. Strolling along, she noticed someone in the garden conversing with other mages. On closer inspection, it was Sigrid, prompting a malicious smile as she approached the blond man.
"Young duke? Quite the surprise to find you here." She curtsied gracefully.
"You are...I apologize, I don't recall. Have we been introduced?"
"Rogelia Leroux...daughter of Marquis Leroux." She lifted her hand, expecting him to respond appropriately.
"Leroux? Ah, of course, the family who abandoned my queen. I'm shocked you still have the audacity to attend the celebration," he said with a disarming smile despite his words.
Rogelia's hand lingered in the air, her cheeks flushed with shame from Sigrid's words. Unlike the "ladies," he was forthright, and it was clear Rogelia repulsed him.
"I-I had no idea it was her...besides, it was my parents' doing, I did no wrong," she protested with a sorrowful look.
Sigrid leaned in, his face close to Rogelia's.
"Do you think I'm naive as those fools who fall for your act? Your performance disgusts me, and I know well how you treated my queen. It's just unfortunate that I'm not permitted to take your head myself."
Rogelia felt heavy, a chill running down her spine; Sigrid's murderous intent was unmistakable. She stood frozen as Sigrid walked away.
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