?The Lavender Garden - Clematis?

  The second time I saw Sylvainne was at a garden party hosted by the youngest princess, Her Royal Highness Ateia. Most young women were invited, and it was a large-scale event. It was held at the royal palace garden. The place was surrounded by various flowers, each a differing shade of blue. It was rumoured that the Emperor had requested these as a memoir for the late empress, who loved the colour.

  I went with my cousin, Ophelia, who introduced me to some of her acquaintances. Most of them were from the eastern side of the Empire, which helped calm my nerves. We chatted about our experiences at the ball. As we were all not in close proximity to the capital, we all felt slightly out of place. That fact made our bond closer.

  It was during this conversation that we got into the topic of the most influential women of our generation. Five names came up, and much to our surprise, all of them sat at the same table: Ateia, Aenarra, Caecilia, Dianne, and Sylvainne.

  Their conversation was too far for me to hear, but after my last meeting with Sylvainne, I was surprised to see her with Dianne. From a distance, it looked as if they were in harmony. In hindsight, it was probably anything but that. Dianne and Sylvainne naturally form opposing factions. While Aenarra seems to side with Dianne, it is not a guarantee, and she mostly acts as a neutral party. Caecilia, however, is firmly on Sylvainne's side. As the southern duke's daughter, Caecilia held scholars to a high standard, and it seemed Sylvainne had proven her worth, while Dianne had not. Ateia, being the princess, remained entirely neutral throughout.

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  I never did overcome my curiosity. When I saw Sylvainne get up, I used my illness as an excuse, even though I had fully recovered. Ophelia insisted on escorting me, but I refused. After I left the party, I lost Sylvainne. So, I busied myself by looking around the garden. I sat on the grass and breathed in the fresh air. In that moment, I realized how much I had missed the feeling of grass on my skin. Just then, I heard rustling in the distance. Not wanting to get in trouble for sneaking out, I remained hidden.

  Still filled with curiosity, I went to peek through the leaves of the bushes. That was when I saw Sylvainne. She sat under the shade, watching the birds in the distance. Then, someone approached her—a cloaked figure. I could also spot hints of blonde hair peeking through as the wind swayed gently. From the build, I could easily figure out it was a man. He gave her a single lavender. It was at that moment that I saw an uncomposed expression from Sylvainne. Her pale skin turned a shade of pink as she looked at the flower. It was then that I knew I was not welcomed there.

  So, I quietly made my way back to the party. I greeted the other women; I feigned ignorance. I immersed myself in the conversations, the drinks, the food—all to hopefully forget what I saw. As I talk about it, it seems I never quite succeeded. One thing's for certain: I never did once mention what I saw that day.

  Sylvainne came back a few moments later, and she looked the same as she always did, like the moment from earlier never did occur. However, before the day ended, Sylvainne whispered something to me. I knew I had been found out.

  "Is observing people from a distance a hobby of yours, Lady Lamprys?"