บท 23: Lady Margarita

Waist-length brown hair with straight bangs falling into her jewel-blue eyes. Diana cannot take off her eyes from the beauty of the young woman. It was exactly how she described the young lady in her novel.

The character that she used to write was now in front of her.

Jennette Margarita.

The protagonist of 'The Lovely Princess'

The young woman who managed to melt Claude's icy heart with her sunny personality and angelic heart.

Jennette was the daughter of Penelope Margarita, the ex-fiance of the current emperor. His beloved.

'I actually felt bitt- Cringe! when I wrote that part...' Diana thought when she remembers Penelope. 'Well, I was the one who wrote that character tho...'

According to the novel, the young Jennette inherited the beauty of her mother. Her beautiful brown hair, her face but her blue eyes...

'Was something that resembles Athanasia's and Claude's eyes'

A beautiful blue jeweled eyes.

Jennette Margarita was such a wonderful character, but because of this, the Athanasia in Diana's novel suffered.

She was framed by poisoning the protagonist and died to such a meaningless death.

In the hands of her father.

'But that won't happen right?' Diana kept staring at Jennette. 'I believe that it won't happen because the flow of that novel wasn't following our current situation, and it is very different from that novel. I will make sure that it won't happen since I am here!"

"Good Afternoon, Princess" Jennette sweetly to Athanasia. "Thank you for inviting me"

"Good Afternoon as well, Lady Margarita. Come on and sit with us" Athanasia replied.

Jennette sat down beside Athanasia.

'Wow, They really look like they're best friends' Diana thought. 'What a wonderful sight. They look like an angel!'

"Princess. Is she the lady that you were talking about?" Jennette asked Athy. Athanasia proudly said 'Yes' to the young lady. "She looks exactly how the princess described her"

"Like a fairy, A Night fairy!"

'Eh?'

Diana unconsciously pointed at herself. "P-pardon? Are you talking about me?" Diana asked Jennette. Diana's face was slightly pink. "You flattered me, young lady. You are beautiful as well" She said with a smile on her face.

Jennette was suddenly captivated by the beauty of the black-haired woman called 'Dianne' She can somehow remember something with that beauty.

In Jennette's eyes, Dianne somehow looks like Princess Athanasia with black hair. The woman really resembles her.

"Oh, I haven't formally introduced myself to you, I am Dianne! A friend of princess Athanasia. It is a pleasure to meet you" Diana suddenly spoke. Her hair fluttered when a wind approaches. She immediately brushes her disguised hair with her bare hands. "Forgive me for the lack of manners. As you can see... I am only a commoner who happened to befriend the princess"

"N-no problem! I think I like the Lady Dianne's personality" Jennette replied to Diana. "Anyway, I am Jennette Margarita. Lady Dianne. I am grateful to meet the Princess's friend"

"Thank you. You are such a sweet child" Diana gave the young woman a warm child.

"Lady Diana is sweet too, I think I know why Princess likes you" Jennette replied with shining eyes.

'It feels warm' Jennette thought while glancing at Diana. Jennette touched her chest, she can feel the warmth in Diana's aura. She can't help but to smile. 'If my mother is still alive. Would staying with her will feel like this?' The young woman thought.

'Lady Dianne's aura feels like a warmth of a mother'

••••••

Athanasia started to eat the sweets in the basket. Her eyes were at Jennette's and her mother. She can see that her mother was really happy when she met Jennette and Jennette probably feels like that too.

Jennette and Diana chatted happily.

Athanasia puts down the sweet on her hands. 'They really look happy' She thought. 'I can't really blame my mom since she was the author of 'The Lovely Princess' Meeting her character in person would be a great achievement in her life'

"Princess, is there something bothering you?" Lilian asked the princess when she noticed the sudden change in Athanasia's face. Athanasia flinched after Lily approached her.

"Huh? Oh! Nothing. I just feel thirsty!"

"I see, would you like me to prepare a tea for you?" Lilian asked.

"Yes, please!" Athanasia replied with a smile on her face. "Lipeh tea and make it three for my mom-- Lady Dianne and Lady Margarita"

'I almost said that out load' Athanasia thought. 'I must be careful, Jennette might find out our secret'

Athanasia glanced back at the two again. 'Anyway, what are the two talking about? I cannot keep up with their conversation. I think I was too pre-occupied' She thought.

Lilian smiled when she noticed Athanasia's behavior. She pats Athy's shoulder as she stands up. "Princess, I will go now. Do you have anything to request more?"

"Nothing, just the teas" Athy replied while still glancing at them.

Lily let out a smile as she whispered to the princess. "My princess, do not be jealous"

Athanasia's body stopped. Her face turned red as she gave Lilian a look.

'Me? Jealous? I was already an adult! There's no way that...' Athy took a peek at her mother. 'It's just my mom is the author of that book! and she looks happy talking to Jennette, her protagonist...'

"What are you talking about Lily...?" Athanasia suddenly uttered. "I wasn't jealous..."

"Princess" Lily spoke with a reassuring smile. "Lady Diana will always be your mother. She loves you very much"

'I know...'

"I will go my princess," Lilian said. She walks away before Athanasia could say anything.

'I wasn't jealous, there's no reason to be jealous'

"Really?" Athanasia's mind went back when she heard her mother's voice. "Did Athanasia danced with the young magician too?" Diana asked Jennette.

W-what?

What did suddenly...

"Oh, she did not... I think the magician did not attend the party" Jennette replied politely. "But..." A smile appeared on her face. "The Princess danced with Ijekiel at the debutante party"

"WH-What? He's the son of duke Alpheus right?" Diana asked Jennette.

"Yes"

Diana rubbed her chin before she shamelessly uttered. "It's a shame, I thought that the magician danced with her, It would be wonderful to imagine"

"Pardon?" Jennette asked.

Athanasia immediately heard that. "Ma!-ma Lady Dianne!" She suddenly shouted.

Her mother was suddenly teasing her out of the blue!

Diana chuckled when she saw her daughter's reaction. 'Can't help it' she mouthed to Athanasia while trying to suppress her laughter.

"However..." Diana paused. "I wish I was there to witness Princess Athanasia's debutante party" Her eyes suddenly filled with loneliness but she's still smiling. Diana glanced at Athanasia.

Her ruby eyes met her daughter's lovingly. "I am sure that the princess looks beautiful on that day"

Athanasia went silent when she heard it.

'I see...' she thought

'I get what Lily means now'