“Madam! An officer from the palace has come!” Nina, the maid, exclaims as she hurriedly arrives at the garden where the mother-daughter duo of the Zelenka family are having afternoon tea.

“An officer from the palace? Why are they here?” Madam Zelenka puts down the tea cup she was holding as she sports a confused face. Neither her husband or son have had any particular big achievements as of late which would warrant a visit from the palace. Her oddball of a daughter is even less likely to have any, which means…

“Lata.”

Lata winches, but doesn’t put down the cup in her hand right away. There’s a long silence as Lata drinks her tea, taking a noticeably longer time than usual, but eventually she puts the cup down. The tea in that cup isn’t endless, despite her wishes at that moment.

“Yes, mother?” Lata stares intently at the empty cup in front of her, trying not to make eye contact with a certain set of eyes she knows aren’t that friendly at this moment of time.

‘Ugh, I know this is the moment I’ve been waiting for, but having to deal with my mother is still not something I want to do…’

"Whatever it is that you have done, I expect an explanation… and you can probably expect a punishment, seeing your reaction," Lata visibly winches at the word punishment, but madam Zelenka ignores that as she stands up and continues, "But for now, we need to go as we can't keep the officer waiting."

"Yes, mother…"

Lata quietly follows after her mother as they head towards the waiting room.

Once in front of the waiting room door, madam Zelenka enters it without any hesitation.

The officer, upon seeing them enter, stands up and bows in a greeting. The mother-daughter duo curtsies in return. Madam Zelenka indicates for the officer to sit again, intending to do so as well, but the officer shakes his head. “There’s no need. I believe that this will be a quick matter.”

"Is that so? In that case, we’ll remain standing as well. May I inquire as to what brings an officer from the royal palace here?" Madam Zelenka asks.

"I am here to deliver a court summons for Lata Oihana Zelenka," the officer answers as he takes out an envelope from his jacket, ”Am I right in presuming that this young lady here is Lata Oihana Zelenka?”

“You are,” Lata, having been silent since entering the room, answers his question in a quiet but resolute voice.

The officer nods and then offers the envelope to Lata, who quickly accepts it.

Madam Zelenka, clearly showing a look of shock, asks, "For what?"

"Lady Zelenka is accused of harassing Lady Madelief Alyssa Gerber, the fiancee of Crown Prince Basil."

"I…see. Is there anything else we need to know?" Madam Zelenka snapped open her fan and started fanning herself, all the while feeling like she’s going to faint from shock.

"All that you need to know is written in the letter in Lady Zelenka's hands and as I've delivered it , I shall take my leave now."

"We won't keep you then."

The officer bows and then leaves.

Once the Zelenka women are left alone in the room, it doesn't take long for a frosty voice to resound in the room.

"Lata."

Once again, Lata feels a shiver down her spine.

***

A quiet click resounds as Lata closes the door to her room. She stands before the door for a few seconds before letting out a deep sigh and finally turning away from it.

Lata walks straight to her bed and falls head first into it.

She lets out yet another deep sigh as lays there lifelessly like a ragdoll.

‘By god, I thought that I was prepared for my mother’s reaction, but apparently I was not…’

‘But I can’t say that I didn’t deserve it either. I did bully Madelief. Not very well, but I did do it.’

“...”

Lata rolls over and gazes at the canopy above her head.

‘But seeing Madelief so resolutely stand up for herself the last few times was quite cool.’

Lata lets out a faint chuckle to herself.

'What's even cooler is that I've pretty much succeeded in my goal! I've already set aside enough money and secretly bought land in preparation. Farming life, here I come!'

Lata starts giggling and rolling around her bed but it doesn't last for long before she stops with a furlong look on her face.

"...But my time with Janthe will come to a stop," she mutters quietly to herself as her heart winches at that thought.

Lata stares at the canopy yet again. Her stare doesn't last for long as she soon closes her eyes and lets out a deep sigh.

"I'll miss her."