The Mind-Reading Mate: Why Is the Lycan King So Obsessed With Me?!-Chapter 98: Small Numbers

[Well, well, the greenhouse isn’t that bad. No—actually, how can this place look so beautiful?]

That was the first thing the Duchess of Cindralis thought the moment she stepped into the greenhouse.

Even though she tried to show a sweet smile on her face, everyone could still see the subtle trace of judgment in her expression.

She was Arabella Cindralis, the Duchess who was said to be deeply loved by her husband, the very woman who had inspired noblewomen across Noctvaris to start demanding wedding rings from their husbands.

People often described her as a gentle and loving woman.

But why did Primrose feel the exact opposite?

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Arabella said politely as she, Baroness Brielle, and Lady Mirelle curtsied before the queen.

Among them, Brielle Valehart, the Baroness of Viremonth, was the oldest.

She was already around fifty years old, but the reason Primrose invited her was because of the powerful influence she held among the nobility.

Brielle was a former royal knight, a Dame who had once led countless soldiers under her command. The previous king had granted her the title of Baroness in honor of her victories on the battlefield—victories that helped expand the territory of Noctvaris.

"I apologize for my late arrival," Arabella said with a smile. "My coachman suddenly fell ill, so I had to wait for another to take me here."

Though her tone sounded polite, Primrose could clearly hear her true thoughts. [If only my husband didn’t force me to come here, I wouldn’t have come at all.]

She continued, [Just look at this party! Only four guests? Did His Majesty cut the queen’s budget so badly that she couldn’t afford to invite more people?]

[I guess the rumors are true. His Majesty doesn’t like his human mate.]

Primrose had done her best to show the public that she and Edmund shared a loving relationship, but clearly, the news hadn’t reached far enough to change public perception in other cities.

This was exactly why she had invited Lady Mirelle Barberini.

She wasn’t a noble like the others, but she was a wealthy merchant, whose fortune could easily rival many noble families in Noctvaris.

And more importantly, she was known as the Queen of Gossip.

Primrose had heard that name from the palace maids.

They said that Lady Mirelle knew everything about the nobles because the servants and guards who shopped at her store often gossiped about their masters behind their backs.

Because of that, many nobles were afraid to offend her, worried that she might expose their darkest secrets to the public and some even paid her generously just to make sure she kept quiet.

"You don’t have to worry," Primrose said with a warm smile. "Since you all arrived around the same time, I don’t think anyone could be considered late."

Once they were all seated, Lady Mirelle didn’t waste any time. She leaned forward and asked, without a hint of shame, "So ... is this everyone you invited, Your Majesty?"

It wasn’t hard to guess. Primrose had only prepared six chairs in the greenhouse, including her own. That meant she hadn’t invited a large group and everyone could see it.

"Actually, there was one person who didn’t show up," Primrose said, directing her gaze toward the empty chair beside Brielle. "I suppose she was too busy to come."

That empty chair had been meant for Lady Naveer, the daughter of the Count of Noirhaven. She wasn’t well known in Noctvaris yet, but in the future, she would become a talented alchemist.

More than that, Lady Naveer was around the same age as Primrose, so she had hoped they might become friends.

But maybe she was asking for too much.

Maybe she was too busy. Or maybe she just didn’t think the Queen’s tea party was worth attending.

"There’s nothing wrong with a small number," Baroness Brielle said gently, finally speaking for the first time.

Her voice was gentle and full of grace, like someone who had led people through battle yet still carried the patience of a teacher. "Smaller gatherings let us talk more freely, don’t you think?"

[Though five is definitely on the small side,] Brielle added silently. [Most tea parties usually have at least ten guests.]

Oh no. Was the Baroness going to judge her too, just like the Duchess?

[Has His Majesty been too stingy with his wife? She looks so thin and malnourished. Have the palace maids been keeping food from her or what?!]

M-Malnourished?!

Primrose was certain she was not malnourished.

Apparently, Brielle had spent too much time around soldiers with bulky muscles and thought that anyone without them was malnourished.

The way beastkin viewed the human body was just far too different.

They really needed to stop commenting on her appearance every chance they got!

"Lady Brielle is right!" Mirelle chimed in cheerfully, clapping her hands a few times to lighten the mood. "We’ve all known of each other for years, but this is our first time properly meeting the queen."

"Your Majesty, it’s truly an honor to be here," she said boldly, not a trace of shyness in her voice. "I didn’t expect you to be so beautiful and elegant in person."

Her wide eyes sparkled as she looked at Primrose.

Some people might’ve thought she was just buttering up the queen, but Primrose knew she was being sincere.

Mirelle’s thoughts were overflowing with honest compliments:

[Her eyes really do shine like gold! And her skin—how can someone be this flawless?]

[If she weren’t the queen of this kingdom, I would’ve begged her to work at my shop. I’m sure customers would line up just to see her!]

Primrose’s smile twitched slightly at that last thought.

Yes, that sounded like the highest compliment, but Mirelle’s shop was ... an adult shop!

Instead of continuing her family’s premium candy business, Lady Mirelle Barberini had built her own empire—A successful adult store filled with erotic novels, adult toys, and provocative clothing that people often referred to as "dresses from hell."

In just one year, her business had flourished and expanded across Noctvaris.

She even opened branches in other kingdoms, including Primrose’s homeland!

Her parents had never imagined that such a scandalous business could bring in three times more profit than the original Barberini confectionery.

"You flatter me too much," Primrose said softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Her cheeks turned a little pink, though deep down, she didn’t disagree with any of the praise. "You’re very lovely as well, Lady Mirelle."

Lady Mirelle beamed at the compliment, clearly pleased. "Oh, Your Majesty, if I had known you were this fun and lovely, I would’ve begged for an invitation months ago!"

Primrose chuckled softly. "I only started planning this tea party recently, actually." She glanced around the table. "It’s my first one since the wedding, so I wanted to keep it small."

"Ah, that makes sense," Baroness Brielle nodded. "It’s wise not to overdo things too early. A few trusted ladies are worth more than a room full of strangers."

Lady Raven, who had been quietly nibbling on another cookie, finally spoke again. "It’s quiet ... but not unpleasant." Her tone was still cool, but this time, it didn’t sound so distant. "Sometimes, it’s easier to speak freely when there are fewer ears."

"I couldn’t agree more," Primrose replied.

The maids brought out a fresh set of hot tea and carefully poured it into their teacups.

Despite the warmth of the tea, the air around the table still felt a little stiff. None of the women seemed to know how to break the silence, and honestly, Primrose didn’t know where to start either.

Don’t get her wrong.

Primrose had actually been a social butterfly back in her homeland. She could become friends with someone in less than an hour, even faster if they shared similar interests.

However, after spending years in solitude in Noctvaris, she had slowly forgotten how to socialize properly. On top of that, she had no idea what kind of topics were appropriate to discuss with beastkin nobles.

Fortunately, Mirelle wasn’t the type of person who could stay quiet for more than ten minutes.

She leaned forward with interest and broke the silence. "So, Your Majesty," she began, "what do you think of Noctvaris? Are you comfortable living here?"

Primrose offered a polite smile and nodded. "This kingdom is good enough for me."

Wait. Why did she suddenly sound like Edmund? No—this must be the side effect of spending too much time with her overly stiff husband!

She quickly added, "I mean ... the climate here isn’t too different from my homeland, so it was easy for me to adapt."

She lowered her head slightly and decided to drop something more intriguing to stir their curiosity. "But honestly, the main reason I feel at home here ... is because of His Majesty."

That caught Brielle’s attention. "Has he been treating you well?" she asked.

[His Majesty is known for being harsh, especially toward his soldiers,] Brielle thought. [I assumed his attitude would make Her Majesty uncomfortable, or worse, that she’d end up resenting him.]

She wasn’t wrong. In Primrose’s first life, she had, indeed, hated Edmund.