Over the past few days, a storm had swept through the Carlton Manor, but on the outside, everyone acted as if everything was fine.
After resting in her room and regularly applying medicine on her ankle, Hestia slowly recovered. There’d been no gifts, no letters and no news of him since that day.
She was relieved, however, at the same time, she was sensitive to the item under her bed, but after a while it wasn’t difficult for her to pretend not to notice and ignore it.
As soon as Countess Carlton returned from the shop, she re-educated Daisy on the virtues a wife should have and how to run a household.
She also advised, especially if Daisy wanted to be with Lord Kingston, that she should be careful of what other people think of her image.
As a result, the carriage ride to the tea party held at Madame Laurent’s mansion was extremely peaceful. At least, that’s how it seemed on the outside.
“I’m so glad your ankle is completely healed, Hestia.”
“It’s all thanks to your concern.”
“As I already explained, not only noble ladies but also many ladies your age are attending today’s tea party. It’ll be a good opportunity to make friends.”
“So, maintain dignity and elegance, I know.”
Daisy smiled slightly and looked back and forth between Countess Carlton and Hestia. She’d never apologize for what happened on their outing.
Hestia hadn’t said anything about it either since a superior never apologizes to a subordinate, but she felt no obligation to apologize to Daisy as well.
Her mother had given her a valuable item to thank her, and that was all there was to it.
“We’ve arrived.”
They soon arrived at the Laurent family’s mansion, and, escorted by an attendant who opened the door, they descended from the carriage.
The Laurent family’s butler, dressed in a pristine suit, personally came out and guided them. As they entered the parlor for the tea party, Madame Laurent greeted them with a bright smile.
“Welcome. Countess Carlton, Lady Carlton, Lady Welter.”
“Thank you for inviting us to this precious occasion.”
“Come this way. This is my daughter Violet.”
“Oh my, what a beautiful young lady.”
“It’s an honor to meet you.”
They exchanged formal greetings and sat down. The mansion of the Laurent family, which headed a spice business, was luxurious, befitting a family with a lot of money.
The interior, decorated with beautiful fresh flowers, gave the feeling of being in a garden, and the tea cups and silverware used were all of high quality.
Soon, most of the invited guests arrived and most of the chairs were filled. Because the imperial ball had already ended, most everyone was able to recognize the faces of the other attendees, except for those who were unable to attend.
“I would like to thank everyone who attended today. The tea prepared for you is ‘Lady Rennen,’ a black tea made from tea leaves produced in the Rennen region of Bellata.”
Being the hostess, Madame Laurent carefully poured the guests’ first drink. As the fragrant scent filled the room, the faces of all those present lit up.
“As expected, the tea is very fragrant, it befits Madame Laurent’s discernment.”
A pleasant conversation continued, stemming from Mrs. Gray’s praise.
Many topics were discussed, such as the shops that sell tea, the new jewelry store that opened on Ripello Street, their husbands, their children’s education, etc. The atmosphere was friendly and harmonious.
As her cup of tea was about to be finished, the butler quietly came in and whispered something to Madame Laurent.
Madame Laurent looked surprised for a moment, then smiled brightly and stood up.
* * *
Everyone looked at Madame Laurent with a puzzled expression. Madame Laurent announced the news to her guests with boundless joy on her face.
“Everyone, the Lady of the Marquis Haleson has arrived.”
As soon as she finished speaking, the atmosphere of the room trembled slightly. Everyone’s faces were filled with anticipation, except for one.
Those currently attending Madame Laurent’s tea party were all from similar ranking families. In other words, they were families with great wealth and good reputation within the capital, it didn’t matter what they were like in their own territory.
But Marquis Haleson was different. The Haleson family was one of the five most prestigious families in the empire.
When sending out invitations to a tea party, everyone always sent invitations to people in power, even if they thought they probably wouldn’t attend. You never know, you might just get lucky.
“Welcome, Lady Haleson.”
As expected of a noble family’s quick-witted servant, the Laurent family’s butler placed a new chair at the head of the table, an appropriate distance from Madame Laurent.
It was a move that could have been considered rude by the guests seated first, but no one objected. Their feelings were unimportant compared the unexpected good fortune that lay ahead.
“Thank you for the invitation, Madame Laurent.”
Soon, a lovely voice rang through the hall. Lady Haleson, who entered the room while escorted by a servant, looked at Madame Laurent and then the rest of the room, smiling brightly.
“I fear I may have interrupted the tea party. My aesthetics class ended later than scheduled.”
Lady Haleson knew better than anyone else that she held the upper hand here.
That’s why she casually pointed out that the Baroness’s tea party was less important than her private lessons. But all the eyes that looked at her were still full of favor.
“You’ve caused no interruption. You’re always welcome, Lady Haleson.”
Madame Laurent guided her to her seat and spoke kindly, the other ladies also adding in their own words.
“Exactly. The more people a tea party has, the more enjoyable it is.”
“Especially if it’s someone as dignified as Lady Haleson.”
“Everyone is so kind.”
She smiled brightly and lifted the new teacup the maid brought her.
The way she lifted the tea cup, the way she closed her eyes slightly to take in the aroma, the way she sipped the tea, all of it was so different from the other young ladies.
Hestia knew her well.
Diane Haleson, daughter of Marquess Haleson.
With a petite and slender body and an angelic face, she was a famous beauty at the Academy.
Silver hair that shone like snowflakes, white skin, delicate facial features, and transparent, sparkling purple eyes. Her beauty was comparable to that of the princess, whom the people loved.
But it was this woman with an angelic appearance that’d destroyed Hestia’s life at the Academy.
Hestia was well aware that she had come to this gathering just for her. Without realizing it, her fingers holding the teacup became tense.
“I saw you at the last imperial ball and was impressed by your appearance.”
“That’s right, you were so elegant!”
“Indeed. She will be the future Grand Duchess.”
The ladies began to heap praise upon praise upon praise, for what would they not say if they could form any kind of connection to her family, and to the family to which she would later belong!
Above all, they looked up to her and fawned over the biggest card she held.
“You’re too kind.”
Blushing softly, Diane was so pretty that nearly any man would fall in love with her. The young women around Daisy’s age all gazed at her in awe, she was a beauty that could’ve emerged from a painting.
The formal conversation continued for a while. It was the usual social gossip about the recent imperial party, the young ladies who had just made their debut and Madame Lorna’s new dresses.
“I’ve heard rumors that Madame Laurent’s garden is so beautiful, and I’ve been curious about it since.”
Diane, who’d only been moderately engaged in the conversation, interrupted, setting down her teacup without a sound. She spoke in a roundabout way, but her meaning was clear.
Her desire to move on from the stiff, formal tea party, to the garden meant that she wanted to meet with the other young ladies her own age, not engage in formal conversations with older ladies.
“Let me show you around, Lady Haleson.”
Violet, the lady of the manor, came forward. She was younger than her peers, as she was still a year away from her debutante, but she was quick witted, having been taught diligently by her mother, Madame Laurent.
Her mother always told her that if unexpected luck rolled in, grab it. Now was the time.
Countess Carlton glanced at Daisy and Hestia and smiled. What luck! Lady Haleson was also from the Academy, so she must be familiar with Hestia.
She would introduce Daisy as her cousin, and if she’s lucky, Daisy might get an invitation to a tea party at Haleson Manor sometime next week! No, maybe it’d be a dinner party in which the entire Carlton family was invited!
“Oh my, Lady Laurent is really kind.”
“Then how about you go there with the other ladies as well? You can spend some time among other young ladies of the same age.”
Most of the girls nodded at Mrs. Gray’s suggestion. It was a best-case scenario for all of them if, as Countess Carlton hoped as well, their daughters befriended Diane.
Women who didn’t have daughters or didn’t attend could only sip tea and try to stifle their disappointment.
“Thank you for your consideration.”
After Diane spoke with a bright smile, the six ladies stood up and left the parlor following Violet’s guidance. Of course, Hestia was included among them.
* * *
The ladies followed Violet and went out to the garden. The fragrant scent of flowers wafted throughout the air. Sunlight illuminated the garden, further enhancing the elegance of the carefully maintained foliage.
Daisy stood in awe, forgetting her mother’s instruction to never forget her dignity, no matter what.
For Diane, however, the splendor of the garden seemed to go unnoticed.
