Serafina did her best to lighten the atmosphere.
While she was sweating profusely inside, she tried her hardest to not let it show on the outside.
Everything is difficult at first!
Thanks to her efforts, the tense atmosphere began to ease little by little.
“Excuse me, Lady Richter.”
At the cautious call of the young Countess, Serafina turned her sparkling eyes toward her.
As their eyes met, the Countess shyly asked a question.
“Could you tell me the name of this tea? It’s really delicious.”
“Of course. This is a tea made from a combination of bear's foot herb and lavender.”
“Bear's foot herb?”
“Yes. Bear's foot herb is an herb that helps with digestion. Lavender is good for calming the mind and also helps to neutralize the scent of the herbs.”
“Oh my. That’s fascinating. You seem to know a lot about tea.”
It was the Countess speaking, but the gazes of the other ladies were also focused on Serafina.
“Actually, I don’t know much about tea. But I do have a keen interest in herbs.”
“You’re very interested in herbs?”
“Yes. I even grow some myself.”
At Serafina's answer, exclamations of admiration erupted from various corners.
After all, a Duchess who grows herbs.
That must be impressive.
And this was exactly the reaction Serafina had hoped for.
Emphasizing extreme simplicity to reduce the distance.
The noble Lady Richter felt somewhat difficult to approach, but a Duchess who grows herbs might feel a bit more accessible.
As expected, questions began to pour in from all sides on this interesting topic.
“That's really amazing. You grow herbs yourself.”
“I'm embarrassed. It's just a small hobby.”
“Then, do you know any herbs that are good for skin beauty? Your skin is so nice, Serafina... I was wondering if you have any secrets.”
“Oh my, you flatter me. As for herbs that are good for skin beauty...”
Thus, the conversation flowed without interruption for a while.
Once the topic of skin beauty came up, questions about herbs that help with weight loss, enhance stamina, or improve concentration followed in succession.
The most secretive yet intriguing topic was the discussion about ‘herbs good for vitality.’
The initially awkward and unfamiliar atmosphere had vanished without a trace.
Everyone began to talk comfortably as if they were dealing with close friends.
Serafina naturally blended into the atmosphere as well.
The chatter that started with herbs meandered through various topics until it reached the story of Count Viessa.
“Actually, there was something that felt incredibly refreshing, you know? Whenever we met, he would boast so much. He would often say, ‘If you don’t know how to make money, you’re all living like fools.’ and laugh at us.”
“Exactly. But in the end, he was just pocketing money in ridiculous ways. If it weren’t for the Duke, the North would have been in even more chaos.”
“After that incident, I reflected a lot. I should have met you all sooner and listened carefully to see if there were any problems...”
Serafina, mumbling gloomily, was quickly comforted by those around her.
“No, it’s enough that you’ve arranged such a wonderful gathering today.”
“Right. I never thought I would have such an opportunity while living in the North.”
“Honestly, I had some prejudices because you came from the capital. But after meeting you like this, I regretted how narrow-minded I had been. Serafina, you are truly a wonderful Duchess!”
Wait, hold on.
This is more heartwarming and touching than I expected.
Serafina felt a slight sting in her nose. She even thought that perhaps kindness and warmth flowed in the blood of the North.
And then, it happened.
“You really are completely different from that woman from before!”
A sudden voice made people gasp in surprise.
In the awkward silence that followed, the one who spoke quickly shut their mouth with a gasp.
It was a face that clearly showed someone had made a mistake.
Nervous glances busily sought Serafina's reaction.
What’s going on? Why are they acting like this all of a sudden?
Serafina tilted her head at the sudden change in atmosphere.
It seemed that ‘that woman’ was the problem, but she had no clue who it could be.
After a moment of contemplation, Serafina decided to just ask.
“Excuse me, but who are you referring to as ‘that woman’?”
The face of the woman who had spoken turned pale.
“I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything...”
“No, I’m really just curious. Until my marriage, I was a bit weak and... I spent most of my time at home. So, I don’t know much about social news.”
“Oh. So that’s why you studied herbs.”
No, that’s not quite it.
“Oh my.”
“Goodness. Such a story...”
Those who interpreted Serafina's silence as a positive sign let out sympathetic sighs.
The ladies exchanged glances and nodded.
Since the poor Duchess was curious, it was an unspoken signal to share the story.
After all, it wasn’t exactly a secret.
Those who needed to know already knew the story.
“Well, you see... Actually...”
* * *
“I had such a wonderful time. Please invite me again next time.”
“Me too. I really want to see you again.”
“I’ll enjoy the tea you shared today as well.”
The tea party ended in an exceptionally pleasant atmosphere.
Those who had arrived with caution and tension left, exuding a sense of regret as if to say, “When did that happen?”
Ah. I really feel proud.
As the one who planned the tea party, it was a sight that filled me with pride.
If I can continue this gathering well, it will surely help Flora later.
I felt as if my conscience, which had been torn to shreds, was being restored.
However, that night.
Despite having had a fulfilling day, I found it hard to fall asleep.
Even with my eyes closed, sleep wouldn’t come.
The stories I had heard at the tea party kept swirling in my mind.
〈Well, you see... Actually...〉
The story that began with a secretive preamble was about Dante’s brother, who had been a former Duke.
Oscar Richter.
He had a fiancée with whom he was promised to marry.
It was an unusual engagement among the Richters, not introduced by the royal family, but formed of their own volition.
Having been childhood friends with frequent interactions, they had a very good relationship. People were convinced that the two would have a happy married life.
They expected that the bright and lively woman would bring a new breeze to the Richter family.
So who could have dared to predict?
That she would betray Oscar.
On a day when only a few days remained until their wedding, Julia, Oscar’s fiancée, demanded to break off the engagement.
〈I don’t love you. How could I marry a monster?〉
Despite Oscar’s desperate pleas, Julia coldly abandoned him and left.
Oscar became a shell of his former self in an instant. The betrayal of the woman he loved left a shock far greater than he had anticipated.
Even so, Oscar could not give up on Julia.
He believed and waited for the day she would return.
But less than a month after Julia left.
Rumors began to spread that would turn the entire Empire upside down.
It was that Julia, the fiancée of Duke Richter, had become the lover of the First Prince.
Countless speculations followed the rumor.
‘Actually, it’s said that the First Prince and that woman, Julia, have been lovers for a long time.’
‘Seeing the woman he loves about to marry the monster Duke, the First Prince couldn’t just stand by.’
‘That woman is funny. Then why did she say she was going to marry Duke Richter?’
‘Maybe she thought she couldn’t marry the First Prince, so she was just going to marry anyone?’
‘Wow. The First Prince and that woman. They must have really loved each other.’
It was Julia who betrayed, but Oscar became the villain.
In the cruel reality, Oscar lost his mind.
The moment he realized that waiting was in vain, he decided to give up everything.
Even his own life.
〈...He took his own life?〉
At my question, the ladies nodded with somber expressions.
Fearing they might ruin the atmosphere, they pretended to be indifferent and moved on...
But it was shocking.
I never imagined that there would be such a story about Dante and his brother.
...How much must he have suffered?
If he was the childhood friend and fiancée of his brother, Dante must have known her well.
So Dante lost both of them at the same time.
A close friend and a brother.
How immense must the feelings of betrayal and loss have been?
Now I finally understood why Dante had acted so awkwardly throughout the original story.
He must have been afraid.
Afraid to show his feelings, afraid of being betrayed. That must have been terrifying for him.
Given that the incident with his brother had already made him anxious about people and love, and that even I, the original character, had left him thinking of him as a monster...
Perhaps Dante really thought he was a monster.
To protect the one he loved from the monster, he distanced himself from Flora even in the original story.'''