My heels click against the freshly-cleaned wooden floors as I make my way to the dining room. One of the maids has already set up the tea party but I want to make sure everything is perfect.

It might be the last tea party I’ll ever host.

It is near 12 o’clock, so the guests should be arriving soon, I scan the dining room when I get there—everything is nice, except—

I switch the seating chart up a little bit. Lady Scarlet and Princess Jolie can’t sit together, especially with the _real _meaning behind this tea party. Jolie will be in fits if she has to sit by Scarlet as she rants about the latest gossip in the Kingdom Of Baywings.

Lady Scarlet has never been much of a gossip, but with the latest scandal with the air to the throne, Prince Finnegan, she seems to not be able to keep her mouth shut. And Princess Jolie can’t stand her brother being talked about with such difiance and in such a rash manner.

But by the end of the afternoon, I am sure they won’t even care about how Finnegan can’t seem to find himself a wife.

It won’t even matter really.

I can hear clicking of heels, as the usher leads the guests to the dining area. “Lady Lorelei!” Haven Harpfields gasps as she enters, “it is stunning in here.”

“Just splendid.” Lady Rosaline agrees.

The other two guests don’t seem quite as pleased. “I thought you were going to pospond our monthly chats with what is going on with—“ Lady Scarlet sends a malevolent glare towards Jolie. “The soon to be king.”

“Why?” Jolie hisses. “Last time I checked it was none of your bloody buisness.”

“I was merely just make conversation, Jo,” her expression turns wicked, “no need to worry your little brain about it.”

“No one needs your foolish gossip anyways.” Jolie returns. “You always act like you own this kingdom just by knowing it’s secrets—but guess what, chatty, ya don’t; my family does.”

“So you own all of us, don’t you Jolie?”

Jolie just turns her face and makes her way to her designated spot at the table. “It is just a innocent little tea party.” Haven says, once everyone is seated, “no need to fight.”

“Exactly.” Rosaline agrees, she always agrees with Haven, never quite had a mind of her own. “You two have been angry for the last few tea parties, you should at least try to make this one peaceful.”

“It is quite hard with all that is going on in BayWings, maybe—“ Scarlet starts.

“Bloody hell, can you shut that stupid mouth of yours for two seconds maybe?” She creases her eyebrows angrily. “I am nearly positive that your lips have never met each other for more than two seconds with all the useless bantering you do.”

Scarlet opens her mouth to argue, but shuts it almost immediately, probably taking Jolie’s words into account.

“Okay, now that you have stopped your arguing should we catch up?” Haven asks with a smile. “Isn’t that what this afternoon is really for?”

“Actually.” I say, just as the servants begin serving the tea. “I kinda had something else in mind.”

“And what is that?” Rosaline asks, concern painting its way over her face.

“Sip your tea,” I say, “I just decided to try something new today.”

They all cautiously life their tea cups to their lips, I watch them to make sure they swallow. Just as they do, they seem to freeze in place, their expressions going blank with horror as they notice what I have done.

“Don’t worry, it will only last a day or two.” I say through a wicked grin. “Prince Finnegan was not independent enough to rule this kingdom on his own. Lucky for him, I don’t have the same issue.”

I twist the engagement ring around on my finger. No one knew that _I _was the scandal that they all have been talking so much about. Finnegan wanted me more than his arranged marriage.

Too bad he is too naive to truly know me.

But lucky for me, I have gotten to know him. I mean, the girls at my tea party sure love gossip—and they managed to spill exactly what I needed to know at last weeks tea party.

I pick up a cookie off from the table and place it a in a packaged box. “You said Finnegan was deathly allergic to nuts, right?”

Jolie may not be able to move, but I get my answer from the look of horrid that glistens in her eyes.

Who knew an innocent little tea party could escalate so quickly?

——————

_Authors note- May have strayed off the prompt a little bit, but just felt like taking this turn in the story. _