Chapter 47: Tea Time (2)
“The Northern News!”
The Grand Duchess’s voice suddenly rose.
“I’ve read it before!”
“You, Your Grace?”
“I really enjoyed the article about the capital’s fashion trends.”
Her face flushed with surprise.
“T-that was written by me!”
The Grand Duchess seemed genuinely curious about how a young noblewoman from a baron’s house ended up writing articles.
Cecilia honestly explained that she had wanted to work, so she asked a distant relative who owned a magazine company for a chance. She now wrote articles for a small fee.
“Having something you want to do is a wonderful thing.”
The other noble girls looked at her with confused or even judgmental expressions, but the Grand Duchess encouraged Cecilia with a bright and warm voice.
‘At this rate…’
Encouraged by the Grand Duchess’s kindness, Cecilia finally asked the question she had been holding back.
“Your Grace, if it’s not too forward… may I write an article about you?”
The noble girls all turned on her with narrowed eyes.
“Cecilia, are you seriously saying you want to use the Grand Duchess as article material?”
“To write about someone so noble in a magazine for commoners—apologize immediately to Her Grace!”
In truth, Northern News wasn’t seen as inappropriate for nobles, but the intensity of the girls’ reaction startled Cecilia. She hurriedly added,
“I was just so inspired by the beautiful dress Your Grace is wearing today… I only wished to share your refined taste with the citizens. If I offended you, I sincerely apologize.”
“Offended? Not at all.”
The Grand Duchess looked completely unbothered.
“I’m happy you think so kindly of me.”
Cecilia’s face lit up at her response.
“But actually…”
The Grand Duchess continued more seriously.
“I think Northern News would be better suited for a recipe column.”
At this, Meisel let out a laugh.
“Her Grace is absolutely right.”
Her lemon-colored eyes sparkled mischievously.
“A magazine for commoners covering fashion and trends? Ridiculous. Recipes for housemaids would be more fitting. Most of them can’t even read, so that’d be a miracle in itself.”
The noble girls struggled to hide their laughter.
They thought the Grand Duchess was mocking Cecilia while pretending to be nice. Cecilia was too started to feel a bit hurt.
“No, I meant it sincerely.”
The Grand Duchess shook her head quickly.
“I spoke to an innkeeper and learned that in Blenheim, most people learn to cook from their mothers. So it’s hard for them to try new dishes.”
Seeing Cecilia still confused, she explained further.
“They don’t really have other sources—just asking around to other housewives.”
After thinking for a moment, Cecilia softly exclaimed, “Ah!”
“So I thought recipe columns would be really helpful and popular.”
“You’re absolutely right!”
Cecilia gasped, now fully realizing the idea’s potential.
“If we keep publishing new recipes regularly, more housewives might buy the magazine. Regular columns on trends can be interesting, but…”
The Grand Duchess glanced thoughtfully.
“That doesn’t always lead to consistent sales.”
Cecilia’s eyes sparkled.
Northern News had been struggling with falling sales and lacked unique content. Many similar magazines existed, but they all covered the same kinds of topics.
That the Grand Duchess, who had only arrived in the North recently, could offer such insight—
She’s not just some pretty noble lady.
Cecilia truly started to admire her.
“I will gladly follow Your Grace’s advice.”
Cecilia spoke with determination, but the Grand Duchess waved her hand lightly.
“It’s not advice, just a little personal thought.”
Just as Cecilia decided to visit the magazine owner, Alchent, the next day—
“If it were me, I would’ve written about Your Grace’s wedding.”
Meisel smirked with one side of her mouth raised.
“Everyone was so curious. No one in Blenheim actually saw the wedding, after all.”
The girls all turned pale.
It was clear now—Meisel had crossed a line.
“Her Grace’s dress must have been stunning. I also wonder what kind of formal wear the Grand Duke wore.”
After going on for a bit, Meisel looked at the Grand Duchess’s unreadable face and feigned surprise.
“Oh! I forgot—it was a proxy wedding, wasn’t it? That was a slip of the tongue.”
“Well, it’s just the truth, so it’s not really a mistake.”
The Grand Duchess slowly sipped her tea.
“And really, what’s so bad about a proxy wedding? If the families’ interests match, a couple can have a fine marriage even without love.”
You’re just a wife who’ll never be loved.
As Meisel raised the corners of her lips in a smug, victorious smile—
“The Grand Duke has arrived.”
“……?”
The tightly shut door suddenly swung open, and Grand Duke Loic Blenheim stepped into the tea room.
‘Wait, what?! Why is he here?!’
The man striding in with a cool, composed face was unmistakably the Grand Duke.
“Grand Duke?”
Caught off guard by her husband’s sudden appearance, she just blinked in surprise.
As the noble girls hurriedly stood and bowed, the Grand Duke gave a casual nod in return.
When she tried to stand too, the Grand Duke gently stopped her.
“It’s fine. Please stay seated.”
“What brings you here?”
Trying to act calm, she glanced at him, silently screaming with her eyes,
‘What are you doing here?!’
But the Grand Duke ignored her desperate look and turned away.
“This is your first tea party, isn’t it? I came to check if everything was alright.”
As his eyes swept across the gathered young ladies, their faces turned red.
Well, it was probably the first time they’d seen the Grand Duke in person.
‘Yeah, he’s ridiculously handsome, right? I get it.’
The girls’ eyes lingered on his face, then slowly moved down… and froze on his clothes.
That’s when she noticed—he was wearing the outfit she had picked out for him.
‘Wow. I really nailed it!’
The Grand Duke perfectly pulled off the outfit that she never got to put on that idol she used to style—something straight out of a romance novel.
‘He looks better than most K-pop idols.’
He wore a modern yet elegant white shirt with diagonal lines, topped with a sleek, light spring coat. It clung just right and was tailored to perfection.
Aside from when she first saw him shirtless, this was by far the most stunning she had ever seen him.
As she gazed dreamily at his outfit, smiling unconsciously, the Grand Duke looked away, a bit embarrassed, and turned back to the girls.
“The North may feel unfamiliar, so please help her feel welcome.”
“Of course.”
“We’ll do our best.”
His gentle tone made the girls visibly swoon.
“Grand Duke…”
Just then, Meisel whispered faintly beside her.
‘What now?’
The tone was so emotional she glanced over—and froze.
Meisel looked like she might jump up and throw herself into the Grand Duke’s arms any second.
‘Why’s she acting like this all of a sudden?!’
If she touched him and had a magical reaction or fainted, it would ruin everything.
To keep things calm and maintain distance between them, she slowly rose to her feet.
“Thank you for coming, Your Grace.”
‘Now please go. Quickly!’
As she sent him a fierce look, the Grand Duke seemed to finally get it.
He made a soft sound, like “Ah,” and gently took her hand.
“……?”
And then—
He kissed the back of her hand.
A beat of silence.
And then—
“Oh my!”
The girls fanned themselves, flustered by the sudden romantic gesture.
‘Why a hand kiss now, of all times?!’
Feeling her head about to explode, she rushed to dismiss him.
“You must be busy—please don’t let us keep you.”
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
He gave her a final nod, accepted the girls’ bows again, and left.
‘Whew. That was close.’
Turning her head, she saw Meisel standing still, looking like she was about to cry.
But at least disaster had been averted.
Then, the noble girls squealed with excitement, clutching their cheeks.
“Oh my, I never imagined I’d get to see the Grand Duke in person!”
“He’s so incredibly handsome! I nearly fainted!”
“He must really care for the Duchess. He never appears in public, yet he came to her tea party!”
Gone was their formal and composed air. Now they were full-on fangirling.
It was so amusing, she laughed.
“I thought you all came to see me, but now I think it was the Grand Duke you were after?”
Their cheeks turned peachy-pink as they waved their hands in denial.
Then—
“Y-Your Grace…”
Cecilia stammered, hands clutched together.
“Please, I beg you—may I write an article about the Grand Duke’s fashion?”
“What?”
The other girls burst into laughter.
Except for Meisel, who stood there like a tragic heroine, quietly drowning in misery.
All in all, the tea party was a complete success.
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• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •By Freya• ❁ • ❁ • ❁ •
If you want to support the translation and the translator, you can buy a coffee~
Advance chapters of this novel are available of my kofi channel
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