"Lady Rosamunde. I see that you have been well," I uttered, acknowledging her.

Rosa, who was sitting across the room and being attended by one of the employees, flipped her hair.

"Hmp. Of course, I am. Why wouldn't I?"

'Still acting tough, I see.'

I glanced at the girls surrounding her and saw Chiwa among them, intensely glaring at me with hatred. The others were drinking tea and were also looking at us.

'Heh. She's definitely everywhere huh.'

"I suppose you're here for the dress," I replied.

"Obviously, and I'm sure you do as well," was her response.

She was still speaking like her typical snobby self but I understood that it was just her usual every day tone.

"Actually, not. I'm just tagging along with my friends who are also here for the same reason as you," I said and gazed at my friends.

As I was speaking, Gwen had already broken off from our group and started talking to one of Adele's assistants. I heard her mutter something along the line of, 'I'm going', before she left and had no chance of replying because she had already gone off before I could.

"I'm going to ask Nubadi for a moment. You're going to be okay, right?" Bea whispered at me.

Silly...

She clearly knows my current relationship with Rosa but she's probably worried about that glaring woman over there.

"Of course," I answered.

Bea nodded at Rosa and then went on her way to approach Nubadi who was at the counter.

Up until now, Gwen is still not sure how to deal with Rosamunde, so most of the time, she's just ignoring her. Bea had no qualms, on the other hand. She's pretty chill about it and even though they are basically rivals for the Crown Princess position, they are kind of civil to each other.

It's a surprise, but a welcomed one.

As I've said, Rosa and I are already pretty much acquaintances. I'm not sure if we're considered friends but yeah. The point is we're not hostile.

Therefore, having my friends not holding grudges to the opposite side is awesome. Not gonna say the same with Rosa's entourage though. Chiwa was the only haughty one anyway who still can't accept that glaring fact.

Rosa glanced at Gwen and Bea for a second before focusing on me.

"Are they now? How about you?" She inquired as she leaned back.

"I'm sure that my dress is already underway so I don't find it a problem," I replied.

Rosa smirked, "Heh. Pretty advantageous for a muse, huh."

"It really is," I answered while beaming.

And it's not because I'm a muse but because Adele prioritizes me all the time as one of my privileges. It has the same result ultimately.

"You should try it too," I added. It was meant to come out as a joke but apparently, Chiwa is not amused by it.

"Tch. Just because she's Elen's muse, she has the nerve to be so cocky in front of Lady Rosamunde."

She had whispered that but it was loud enough to be heard by me.

The other two girls flinched from the shock and looked at her with uneasiness. One of them was even silently castigating her and trying to shut Chiwa up.

"Chiwa..."

'What a stuck-up bitch, am I right?'

She's acting like this because there are no other people around except us, to judge her. If we're in public, I would bet that she won't even try to utter a single ill word about me at all.

But because we are in a secluded place with no other ears around, she has the audacity to speak out all she likes. Nobody would berate her, nor condemned her. Unless these girls would stab her in the back and tattle to everyone else, which I doubt they would.

Rosa's left brow raised and lazily side-eyed Chiwa, looking a little miffed from her behavior just now, yet decided to keep quiet. Rosamunde, even if she treated them like followers, in actuality, sees Chiwa as a friend.

She denies it but everybody around them already knows.

'Whatever, she's not worth the time of wasting my energy. Let's pretend that she doesn't exist, okay everyone?'

"Hmp. Surely, Elen would see one day that I'm most worthy of being her muse and will cast you aside to have me," Rosa remarked.

She might have been thinking the same thing as me so she spoke again and brushed Chiwa's comments off.

Which sucks if you are supposed to be under her wing, you know, and more importantly, a friend. This just made Chiwa seeth in anger.

'Ignore... ignore...'

"Oh? And when would that be?" The side of my lips quirked in amusement.

"On the night of the founding ball, of course. I will definitely outshine you," Rosa stated.

"Fufufufu~ Let us see then."

"Fufufufu~ You better be ready for your loss because you will."

The two of us were then having this strange exchange of our own version of evil laugh. Whereas, the other women were just watching the whole thing with unfathomable expressions. Either they are curious as to why we are laughing at some petty competition, or they are thinking we are engaging in a stupid conversation.

Just then, someone cleared their throat, it was Batthew.

"Lady Nadia, we apologize for not attending to you sooner."

"Oh, it's fine. I just got here anyway."

"Does the lady want to sit in the reserved private booth?"-- he then gasped and corrected himself. "Ah! My apologies! Of course, the lady should be in a private booth. Then please come this way--"

I cut him off.

"Don't worry about it. I'm only here to accompany my friends and to look around as well."

"If-- if the lady says so."

Batthew then retreated to the side after being turned down.

"Mr. Assistant," Rosa called out, "Is Adele still busy?"

"Miss Adele is still dealing with something important, Lady Rosamunde. But she will be here as soon as the matter is solved," was his reply.

It should have been enough, given that the atmosphere was light. But yes, someone has to ruin it, all the time.

"How long are you going to make us wait?" Chiwa exclaimed in a loud voice, seemingly pissed off.

"Ah--"

"We have been here for almost an hour already and all you offered us is this couch. Then that woman came and you are suddenly leading her to a booth? You are clearly looking down on Lady Rosamunde!"

She didn't even let Batthew speak and just rattled on.

Batthew wasn't rankled anyhow and answered her.

"That is not true. Lady Nadia here is a VIP--"

"And Lady Rosamunde is not?! How preposterous! She is a daughter of a duke and a candidate for the Crown Princess, show some respect!" Chiwa pointed out.

Oh, wow. This is turning into an ugly situation.