Days later...
[House of Monreal]
Marceline went straight to her territory once they concluded their endless etings about the church. Unlike Draken and the rest, she wasn’t as injured as they were. Besides, Atlas had attacked a portion of her territory—although no one had been hurt in that attack.
How?
Atlas’s n had already infiltrated her territory before they launched the strike, forcing her people to evacuate the area. So when the missile dropped, not a single soul was hard.
"What a scary thing," she chuckled as she read the reports in her ho office, shaking her head. "If I picked a fight with him, I would’ve lost before I could even start."
That was her realization that day.
Atlas knew exactly how to attack her. He could send his n to infiltrate her territory and tear her down from the inside out. Yet no matter how she tried to challenge him, Atlas never truly took their rivalry to heart.
"I should still raise my security," she muttered, leaning back in her seat as she pondered it.
A knock on the door snapped her out of her thoughts. She looked up just as her butler walked in.
"Madam, an invitation ca today from the Order," he announced, holding a tray with the invitation placed neatly on it. He set it on the desk and smiled subtly.
"An invitation from Madam Zorken, huh?" she humd as she picked it up. She opened it and chuckled at the short ssage. "It’s a tea party."
Marceline lifted her eyes to the butler.
"How long has it been since I was invited to a tea party?"
"You’re always invited, Madam," the butler lowered his head with a chuckle. "But it’s been a while since you’ve attended one."
"Should I go to this one, then?"
The butler straightened his back and looked at her. His smile widened slightly, seeing that Marceline had already decided. She wanted to go, and it had been a while since he had seen her this interested in a won’s gathering.
"If it’s from Madam Zorken, I think you should, Madam."
*
*
*
[Flashback]
"Madam Marceline."
Marceline stopped before entering her car and looked back. There, she saw Lola marching in her direction.
"Madam Zorken," she intoned. "Did you co here to send off?"
"I think it’s only right to send you off."
Marceline chuckled. "With how busy you were, you didn’t have to."
"But I wanted to." Lola nodded as she stepped closer. "Thank you for lending your power to . I appreciate the trust you’ve given."
When Lola straightened, her smile widened.
As for Marceline, she simply studied her before chuckling in amusent.
"My n hated you. They’ve been complaining that you worked them to the bone." She paused before nodding in approval. "Good job on that."
"Haha!" Lola laughed and smacked her lips. "Madam, I apologize in advance."
"Hmm?"
"I heard about what the Order has done to your territory," Lola confessed. "So while you were all unconscious, I sent so people to coordinate with your n and deal with the damage we caused. You might think I overstepped, but I believe it’s our responsibility."
Marceline arched a brow as she rested her hand on the open car door.
"Madam Zorken, you understand that it was a necessary asure your husband took, didn’t you?"
"Yes. But that doesn’t an the Order shouldn’t take responsibility for it," Lola replied evenly.
A mont of silence fell between them before a helpless sigh escaped Marceline.
"Madam Zorken, you should join us in the council etings," she invited. "Since Sybil is old, it’s exhausting dealing with n alone at that table."
Lola chuckled. "I appreciate the invitation, but I’m afraid I can’t."
"And why is that?"
"My husband earned his seat in the council, and his word represents the Order," Lola explained. "I don’t think it’s right to have two voices from the Order speaking in the council."
This ti, Marceline burst out laughing.
Why?
Because it suddenly reminded her of Iris Bellemonte—that pathetic little lady who thought sitting in the council was enough to be a part of it.
"However." Lola cleared her throat, waiting for Marceline to recover from her laughter. "If it’s not presumptuous of , I would love to invite you to Mama."
"Mama?"
"Yes." Lola nodded. "It’s a restaurant run by my mother-in-law and her friend, Aunt Jessa. Penny is planning a girls’ gathering—sothing like a tea party. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d love to invite you. I think... you’ll get along with them. Especially Aunt Jessa."
Marceline arched a brow, studying the sincerity in Lola’s eyes.
"Tea parties, huh?" she humd, tilting her head slightly. Then she smiled subtly. "Send the invitation, and I’ll think about it."
That was what Marceline said back then.
Honestly, when Lola finally sent her the invitation, Marceline felt more curious than anything else. It had been a long ti since she attended a tea party.
After all, the guests at those gatherings were usually powerful won.
This was the first ti she would be joining a tea party with won who were not on that level. She had no idea what kind of conversations would happen there—or how lavish it would be.
So she attended the tea party.
And Marceline could confidently say it was a decision she would make again and again.
It was one of the best decisions she had ever made in her life.
Because that invitation brought her people she could safely call her friends.
*****
Months later, at Mama...
Marceline was neither a custor nor anything official in the restaurant. However, she frequented it despite living far away. At the very least, she would co once a month just to spend ti with them—even though Allison and Jessa practically lived in her pocket.
"Seriously..." Jessa scoffed, narrowing her eyes. "...I feel like those boys are hiding sothing again."
Allison, seated at the table, nodded.
"Charles has been acting strange lately. Tsk. That new friend of his... he’s been hanging around as well."
Marceline chuckled as she sipped her tea, glancing between the won.
"Should I force Draken to cough up what they’ve been hiding?" she asked, making Allison and Jessa turn toward her.
Marceline set her cup down. "I sent a ssage to his wife and invited her to our monthly etings."
Jessa leaned forward. "One more ally isn’t bad. Anyway, what did she say?"
"She said it’s an honor."
"Haha." Allison chuckled, and Jessa joined her. "Marceline, is that part of their culture? Sotis you talk like an ancient soul."
Marceline simply smiled. "That’s what happens when you live in the secret society."
"That again." Jessa clicked her tongue but didn’t press further.
There was one interesting thing Marceline had learned by spending ti with these won.
From what she originally thought, Allison and Jessa had no idea what Atlas was involved in or anything about the secret society.
But it turned out they knew.
They had caught on—they just never confronted them about it.
Their reason?
Because the idea of Charles and the children lying through their teeth while thinking they were fooling them was far more entertaining.
So Marceline no longer needed to hide the fact that she belonged to the secret society.
As the won chatted away, the chi above the door suddenly rang.
The trio paused and turned.
Jessa and Marceline, especially, narrowed their eyes.
Walking inside was another mber of their group—Mrs. Davis, Finn’s mother.
"How dare she?" Marceline scoffed.
Jessa nodded and leaned closer to her.
"Go, sister," Jessa urged, glaring at Mrs. Davis. "How dare she walk in here looking that glamorous when she knows we’ve been slaving away in this restaurant all day? Outrageous!"
With that, Marceline and Jessa rose like two bullies ready to confront their target.
But Mrs. Davis was no pushover.
She crossed her arms and smiled beautifully, flaunting her elegance despite being the eldest among them.
As for Allison, she could only shake her head while watching the showdown from the sidelines.
Still, she smiled and chuckled as she watched Jessa and Marceline scoff at Mrs. Davis’s audacity.
"How co... this group keeps growing the older we get?"
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