CHAPTER 133: TEA’S OR TRUTH

"Luna Ariana, it seems I would be having a new favorite now," Lady Stephanie spoke as she sipped her tea on the sofa.

The three ladies—Lady Emberg, Lady Stephanie, and Ariana—were in a room more like a tea room. The window was open, and the soft, cool wind blew in smoothly, adding to the ambiance.

"Oh, you truly do," Ariana spoke, and they all laughed.

They were in the room closest to Ariana’s.

"Anavren, that is such an adorable name, my queen," Lady Stephanie spoke softly. Ariana nodded, a little surprised that Lady Stephanie knew the baby’s name, but then she realized that Zavren must have told Lady Emberg.

"Luna Ariana, are you aware of how long it took Mother to tell me the little baby’s name? I had to beg. She finally gave in when I told her that she should not worry—I would ask you in person."

Ariana’s lips curled into a smile; she could not help it.

"Oh, please, you had only asked me, remember? I had to think, and the only thing you needed to do was convince me to change my mind," Ariana laughed softly at the banter.

Lady Emberg and Lady Stephanie had been given a room in the duplex house, as they would be staying with Ariana.

"Luna Ariana, later today we will be going to feed the fishes. I cannot wait," Lady Stephanie said with a smile.

Lady Stephanie moved the cup to her lips and took a sip. Just as she went for another, Lady Emberg’s lips curled into a smile as she turned to Ariana and spoke:

"Your little one will be having an auntie soon."

Stephanie’s body stiffened, and she almost choked on her tea. She coughed lightly at the words, she toolntye napkin as she gently dabbed on her lips giving her great-grandmother wide-eyed looks. Ariana noticed how her face flushed, her curiosity piqued, and as expected, Lady Emberg continued.

"Lord Zekel has asked for her hand in marriage," she said. Ariana’s eyes widened. Stephanie’s face burned deeply as she looked to the side, unsure how she would face them both.

"Mother, we are here to drink tea, not choke on it," Stephanie said, realizing she had nearly choked.

"Oh, sweetheart, when love is in the air, it chokes the person it chooses. So why else would others know?" Lady Emberg said, and Stephanie gave her a light glare.

"Mother, you are acting like the butler now. He says the proverbs that no one knows because he formed them right then and there," Lady Emberg laughed, realizing her great-granddaughter really was telling the truth—she was truly turning out to be like the butler.

"It would really be great news to know that Lady Stephanie would be marrying Lord Zekel. See, when a woman blushes that way, it only means one thing," Ariana said. Lady Stephanie’s face burned even more. Ariana sipped her tea, then turned to Lady Emberg, and they both smiled and said in unison:

"Love is in the air."

Stephanie’s head snapped to them in surprise. She dropped her teacup gently and elegantly onto the table and spoke:

"Oh, dear heavens, Luna Ariana, you are supposed to be supporting me!"

They all laughed. Ariana was glad Lady Emberg and Lady Stephanie were there; if she had been alone, she would have already been overthinking everything.

"If I may ask," Ariana spoke, and the room fell silent. The ladies noticed the almost sad look on her face and could already tell what it was.

"If you could tell me truthfully, that would mean a lot. Do you know how long it takes for a war to end, or could you remember how long it took for the last war to end?" she asked curiously. She knew Lady Emberg was the only one she was comfortable asking this question.

"Luna Ariana, are you sure you want to know? How about I tell you later, as I would not want to stress you already," she spoke softly. Even though her words were meant to reassure Ariana, it only made her worry more—she was now more anxious than she should be.

"You can tell me, Lady Emberg. I would only feel more stressed if you don’t tell me now."

Lady Emberg smiled softly. Just as she had thought, Ariana was very similar to her great-grandmother; there were so many similarities between them. She nodded as she spoke.

"The shortest lasted five months, two weeks, and three days. That was the shortest. The longest was within a year," she said. Ariana’s eyes widened in surprise; she had not expected that at all.

She nodded, hoping for the best. She wanted to ask how long it had taken the last time Zavren had gone, but she held back, knowing Lady Emberg had already told her a lot by simply sharing the time it had lasted.

Stephanie stood, curtsied, and spoke,

"I will leave you two to talk, Luna Ariana. I will also have my alone time in the evening."

Ariana nodded and smiled in return as she turned to Lady Emberg.

"Mother, do you also agree with that?" she asked. Lady Emberg nodded.

"Yes, Lady Stephanie, it is very much okay with me."

Stephanie smiled once more, curtsied again, and moved to the door. Just as the door closed, Lady Emberg turned to Ariana and spoke,

"I only want what’s best for her. Seeing her happy is all I want." She calmly took another slow sip from her tea, her pinky finger slightly raised from the teacup handle—a small sign of how seriously she took etiquette and her years of experience.

Ariana understood her well.

"You must be wondering why she calls me ’Mother,’" Lady Emberg spoke calmly before continuing.

"Honestly, as you can tell, I am far too old to be Lady Stephanie’s mother, but I like to be addressed that way. I would not want her to feel sad, and I know how devastating it can be to lose a loved one," she said, lowering her voice as it turned serious. Ariana listened carefully.

"Lady Stephanie’s parents both died in a carriage accident."

Ariana’s eyes widened—her mother had also died in a carriage accident.