Page 54 of I Ran Away to Evil #3

Enough Emotional Maturity to Count for Two Lifetimes

Gerda

“Please find a seat; I will be with you shortly.” Calisto waved at a long table set under an open-sided tent. There were beautiful lily floral arrangements in front of every fourth seat, and vines hanging from the beams of the tent.

The duchess smiled at us before leaving to go speak with one of her attendants just a little ways off.

“Your seat.” Julian courteously pulled out my chair for me, and I raised my eyebrows at him. His mask of polite indifference was back in full force. I had to admit, it made me want to tease him.

“Thank you.” Was all I said, taking my seat.

We were seated just down from the head of the table where his mother would be sitting.

Lady Amy was seated at the far end, between Lord Erik and the arson in pink.

It was too far away for me to lend a helping hand if Amy needed it, but the elf girl seemed happy, laughing at something the giant said.

There were a few things to note about Grand Duchess Calisto’s afternoon tea.

This was often the first “official” event for coming-of-age youngsters.

That number varied from region to kingdom, with it being as low as sixteen in some and as high as twenty-five in others.

That didn’t mean I was surrounded by teenagers, because there were as many reasons to join high society as there were to avoid it.

If a baker leveled up to sixty, they would join the other elite on the continent and receive an invitation.

If a once cursed hedgehog prince was finally freed, he might decide to join—considering if he was still single after that.

The point of the afternoon tea was to help marriage-minded individuals meet other people around their level.

And, of course, there were political alliances to be made, rivals to be tested, and enemies to be bested.

Tabitha and Gail, Duke Julian’s cousins, had told me all about the tea party at the Spring Ball—and I noted that Duchess Calisto had started that event off by leaving everyone to their own devices as well …

“How many of these have you been to?” I asked my escort.

“Too many.” His eyes met mine, and he broke into a small half smile that made my heart beat faster. Stupid heart. “This is usually only for newcomers because Mother wants everyone to be at ease, but I’ve been brought in to even out the numbers when there’s need.”

I poked him in the arm to lighten my own mood. “Why do I think that is more often than not?”

“I’m sure she’d like me to find someone, but …”

“But you have business in the North,” I said, repeating the phrase he’d used in the game. I nodded.

Julian stared at me. I smiled at him.

After a moment, he leaned in close to whisper. “Miss Gerda …”

“Yes?” I replied.

“I would like to apologize,” he broached, “for being late to pick you up in the garden, and I understand if you are—”

“Oh my gods.” The words slipped out before I could stop myself. I felt the blush all the way up to my pointy ears, and I covered my face. “I am so sorry. I completely forgot that was where we’d planned to meet.”

The half elf raised an arched brow. “This from the oracle who knows all? Am I so forgettable?”

He was playing with me, I could see it in his eyes, and so I answered accordingly. “Oh, you should be flattered that I remembered we were partnered at all.”

“Noted.” Julian leaned back in his chair.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, but is this a good time for introductions?

” a dwarfess sitting on the other side of Julian cut in awkwardly.

She had brown hair with purple streaks, and a purple beard with brown streaks.

She wore matching light-purple pants and vest over a white tunic.

Her buttons were large cut amethysts. “I’m Lady Betta Ameth of the Baldorin Mountains, and this is my partner, Sam Glenwood of Servalt. ”

Her partner was an elf with brown skin and strawberry pink hair, wearing a hood with intricately embroidered oak leaves over a sky-blue tunic and pants. Sam waved nervously.

Julian and I shared a look. His face resumed its stern neutral expression while I smiled wide, showing off my pointy troll tusks.

“It’s nice to meet you. I am Miss Gerda Jones from Nilheim, and this is my partner, Duke Julian von Slyke, Border Master of the Northern Fortress, heir to the duchy of North Sumbria,” I stated, purposely highlighting the duke.

Lady Betta’s eyes took on a sharp gleam. “I can’t imagine what it must be like, living in the Dark Enchanted Forest. I could never—”

“You are being too humble.” His voice carried an edge as he interrupted the dwarfess and waved a hand at me. “May I introduce my partner, Miss Gerda Jones, an elite member of the Dark Horde—and the famous Madame Potts.”

“What an honor!” Sam clapped once.

“Thank you for waiting, everyone.” Calisto returned and elegantly sat in the chair at the head table. “And for joining me in a light bit of refreshment before tonight’s celebration. I’m so happy that you could make it.”

Her head was held high as she swept them all a friendly smile, and I didn’t need my ludicrously high perception to notice that she stared at Julian and I longer than the others, her smile getting wider. I started to sweat under that look.

“For many of you, tonight will be your first debut into society.” The duchess waved a hand, and servants in palace livery came forward with enchanted tea pots full of different varieties of expensive tea.

The one set before Julian and I was an aromatic blend of mint and citrus with a hint of something familiar I couldn’t place.

“While our tea is brewing, allow me to explain a few important details.

“First, you all should have an escort for this evening. If anything changes between now and then, let me know immediately . We want you to feel comfortable and have someone you can trust by your side during the festivities. Everyone is going to meet in the main hall outside the ballroom. Usually, we would announce everyone as they enter, but this is a masquerade ball. Where’s the fun in that?

“Instead, we will simply enter as we did today. There will be time to mingle and enjoy the open buffet for an hour’s time, then there will be a toast. After that, Chloe and Julia will open the dance floor with a solo performance, after which we have an hour of dancing before the great mask reveal.

You are not expected to keep your mask on all evening. Please take it off any time you wish.”

“Your Grace!” An eager hand popped up from the end of the table belonging to a lizardkin woman with orange scales and long black hair. “I don’t have a partner for this evening.” The lizardkin shot a look at Julian that surprised a moment of jealousy out of me, and my fingers twitched.

If this were a cheesy romance, I might have grabbed Julian’s arm or glared at the lady … but I was a grown woman with enough emotional maturity to count for two lifetimes—and Julian had already promised to escort me , so she was just out of luck.

“I’m sorry to hear that, Miss Terralith. Come see me after the tea party.” The duchess smiled reassuringly at the lizardkin before addressing the group again. “Now! Let’s pour some tea, and then I will go over a basic etiquette lesson for anyone interested in a refresher.”

As to be expected, the tea was delicious.

The smell that I couldn’t discern earlier was immediately recognizable with the first sip.

My mind remembered the joy of root beer in my previous life, and savored the familiar taste.

It had no carbonation or foam, but it was so close to home that I closed my eyes and let the moment take me.

I wondered where they’d found the sassafras? I could make and share a root beer float recipe—No. There wouldn’t really be time before I left for the North.

I placed my glass down and looked up at Julian, who was staring at me and my tea. We would be leaving tomorrow.

And that was that.