Tatiana swallowed the ice cream and nodded at the queen with excitement.
"This dessert tastes great!" she squealed and ate another scoop. "Where do you guys get these? I should ask William for this when I get back to my room! The summer heat is taking a toll on my energy and this is the best one for me!"
Most of the ladies were bewildered by the princess's sudden outburst. Some of them even tried the ice cream and some stayed and watched the queen's reaction.
The queen scoffed and looked at Tatiana like she was some sort of stupid monkey. She wonders why the princess is acting this way. Maybe she has something up her sleeve again.
"Stop acting like this is the first time you've tasted this dessert. You're acting like some sort of mountain girl." the queen said.
Tatiana swallowed the ice cream and shook her head at the queen, along with her index finger. Some of the guests gasped, and the queen was taken aback by it.
"What do you mean, mountain girl? That's offensive!" Tatiana said. The queen was immediately flushed with embarrassment and looked over at one of the nobles who lived up in the mountains. Their eyes met, and the noble lady looked away because of the awkwardness.
The queen laughed out loud, and the others followed her lead. "How vulgar."
"Then don't mind me and talk to each other!" Tatiana smiled sweetly and gestured them to each other, "I'm just going to sit here silently and enjoy the food."
"You see, I was surprised to know that you would attend today's event!" the queen started. "I thought you would be reflecting on what you did wrong for a whole month."
"Why? What happened?" Lady Cortez asked, "If-if you mind me asking."
"Oh that?" the queen dramatically shifted on her chair, "the princess and I had a little argument. She dared to lock my great teacher in the dungeon."
"Your teacher?" one of the ladies gasped, "that's-that's preposterous!"
"I know, right? I even asked her to come all the way to this castle just to teach the princess etiquette as I was worried she would forget all about it when she was in a coma."
Tatiana was soon surrounded by whispers and judging stares. They can't help but gossip about the princess' rude behavior once again. The queen secretly smiled.
"I never asked you to give me a teacher," Tatiana simply said, "I would have been more grateful if you found the person who was responsible for the poison."
The queen's smile faded and her nails started to dig into the armrest's cushion. Tatiana smiled meaningfully at her and proceeded to sip from a cup of tea.
Meanwhile, Norma, who was sitting silently at the edge of the table, started to feel fear as she glanced in the direction of the queen. Both of her hands started to shake under the table, and she tried to steady her breath and calm herself down.
'There is no way the princess would know' she thought, 'she lost her memories and she isn't that smart.'
"If-if I would dare say so," one of the ladies said. Tatiana recognized her as soon as she saw her face. Thin and nonexistent lips and ears so big that they know every rumor around social circles. "The queen was only concerned about you and did her best to provide you with service."
Lady Mateo. A known social climber who loves rumors and is willing to kiss the feet of the queen just to gain her favor. She's also a coward who couldn't even say it to the princess' face.
"Yes, that's right."
"The queen was only concerned."
"And yet the princess has thrown her teacher into the dungeon?"
Tatiana inhaled a deep breath.
"She was there for a reason, and just because I disagreed with her views does not mean she has the power to insult my name." Tatiana wondered why she was explaining this to them, but she was starting to feel cornered and agitated.
"And what is this view that you don't disagree with?"
"That women and men are not equal in standing," she answered. "I think it's unfair that only men are allowed to go to schools and work while women only stay in their houses and care for the family."
"I don't see anything wrong with that." A lady said, "marriage is everything. Marrying someone rich is everything."
"Yes. We just have to grow up into marriageable ladies and enjoy fashion and gossip!" another agreed.
Tatiana asked, genuinely shocked by their answers. "So, you think that women shouldn't be taught how to read, write, and think for themselves?"
"Why should we? We just have to be beautiful and care for the family!"
Tatiana scoffed and wanted to laugh. She could not believe how these people manage to live their lives being illiterate and settling for less.
"Why are you suddenly interested in education?" the queen asked her, "you have never cared for that in the past."
"Then is it wrong to care about it now?" Tatiana asked in return. The reason why they live in gossip and rumors is because of this warped perception of education.
"You shouldn't be sticking your nose in things that you don't belong to. You are just a woman after all." the queen told her in a warning tone.
"Then I apologize for being the only one awake with this kind of topic when all that you enjoy doing is fishing for compliments and gossiping about other people's lives."
The room turned silent. Great. Now she ruined the mood and made every noblewoman hate her.
"Do not test me, Tatiana." The queen warned her through gritted teeth, "This is my party and you will not ruin it for me."
"I never asked to be invited."
"You," she scowled, "are just as thick-faced as your mother."
Tatiana's blood started to boil. If there is anything that the previous Tatiana left for her, aside from fragments of broken memories, that is the rage that she feels for everyone in this world.
"You are just a replacement for her. You are sitting on the throne that she used to sit on. Now, who is more thick-faced between the two of us."
The queen stood up and lifted her hand up in the air to slap Tatiana, but this time, Tatiana managed to block it. She stood up, gripping tightly the queen's wrist.
"How dare you!" the queen snapped. "Your father will hear about this!"
"Let him," Tatiana dared as she slowly leaned towards the queen's ear, "and he will know that you attempted to assassinate me by poison."
The queen's eyes widened in fear, and her body started to shake.
"How-how did youâ" the queen looked over at Norma who was looking over them nervously. "Y-you!"
"Don't test my patience just because I lost most of my memories." She hissed at pulled away.
"Well then, ladies, I would like to excuse myself for a moment as I need some fresh air." Tatiana grinned at them.
--
END