Chapter 61

Chapter 61

In an atmosphere that quickly became awkward and cold, Min-ha quickly stopped Seth and winked at Sir Lancelot, who had approached them before she knew it. She had to separate Noah first. Then, she had to calm Seth, who was angry because she was getting worried.

It was not because of these people that she was afraid. As the Marquis had said, she was worried that Seth would look hateful to the Emperor because of this.

Even though Seth said that he did not care and that the Grand Duchess and he were of the same nominal status, that was only nominal. Was it not common in history for the Emperor to lose his temper and punish the nobility because of the favored mistress…?

When Min-ha thought of that, her heart became anxious and she bit her lower lip.

‘If he would not be harmed, I can go to hundreds of tea parties like this.’

Yes, that is it… Even though she did not know what this meant, if she wanted her to come, there was nothing Min-ha could not do.

Secretly glancing away, she could see that Lancelot was holding Noah and were leaving the banquet hall. And, although he calmed down for a moment at her restraint, she stroked Seth’s shoulder affectionately and gazed up at him.

“I’m fine.”

Min-ha whispered softly enough that only he could hear. After letting go of his hand, she raised the corner of her mouth laboriously and spoke to Grand Duchess Blaine.

“I’d love to. Come to think of it, I think I’ve got the energy to share a cup of tea.”

“Oh, my God. The Duchess knows my heart!”

“Haha! After all, the Duchess is wise! After all, a noble lady should also know how to get along with the other nobles!”

“Where’s the salon? If you know, can you guide me? I don’t know where this place is.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll guide you, Duchess.”

“Yes, thank you. However, Young Lady Vivian should take care of the Grand Duchess first. I’ll follow the butler’s guidance and follow.”

“…Oh.”

“Can you call him for me?”

At Min-ha’s answer, Grand Duchess Blaine and Marquis Loengram, and his daughter brightened their expressions. However, she ignored the words of the Marquis, who smiled wildly, praising her, and flatly refused Vivian’s words that she would guide the way.

At that, Marquis Loengram took a step back before awkwardly stiffening his expression. Meanwhile, Vivian asked back in a bewildered voice.

“Yes…? You’re coming later than the Grand Duchess? Then—!”

“It’s okay, I’ll wait.”

“Grand Duchess!”

“Go ahead, Young Lady Vivian.”

“…Oh. Yes, Grand Duchess!”

“You must be here before the tea cools down, Duchess of Persen?”

“Of course.”

Before Min-ha answered that question, it was Grand Duchess Blaine who answered her as though cutting off her words.

As the Grand Duchess, who got the promise from Min-ha that she would attend till the end, was supported by her maids with an expressionless face, she strode somewhere else first. Eventually, Vivian followed her with a bewildered face.

The Marquis of Loengram glanced back at Min-ha with a small frown while he walked to the other side of the banquet hall. It seemed that he was bringing in the servant.

“….”

She watched their backs silently with a thoughtful expression on her face.

Finally, after some distance from them, Min-ha turned her head to Seth, who had been staring at her with a stinging gaze for a while.

“Ha…”

As if waiting, he let out a long sigh. He held onto her wrist gently and spoke in a subdued voice.

“…Are you really okay, Madam?”

“I’m fine, Seth.”

“If you don’t like it and say you’d go with me instead, then you don’t have to go.”

“Even though I don’t like it, it doesn’t mean I can just leave. I already promised.”

“…Ha.”

“Well, what’s going to happen? I’m not worried. After all, if anything happens to me, you’re going to save me, right?”

“Of course…”

“I feel the same way. I don’t want you to get caught up with His Majesty because of this.”

“I’m fine.”

“No, I’m not okay.”

How much he has built up so far… it could not be shaken by things like this?

Answering him with a casual smile on purpose. As if telling him to not worry, she also patted his hand softly.

Eventually, the servant of Loengram came up to them, bowed deeply and said, “I’ve been ordered by the Marquis to guide the Duchess to the salon. Shall we go?”

“Yes. Let’s go.”

She nodded her head happily in response to the head maid’s words. However, as she tried to follow him as he walked ahead first, she was stopped by Seth, who took her hand affectionately. When Min-ha turned around, Seth brought his lips closer to her ear and whispered.

“If something happens, make sure to shout out loud. I’ll definitely go rescue you.”

“Okay. I’ll do that.”

As though to reassure him, who was only worried about her until the end, Min-ha held his hand that was holding her wrist once and let it go. Then, she turned around and followed the head maid whilst muttering to herself as if brainwashing that it would be okay — that even if something went wrong, she would surely be okay.

ﾟ· : * ✧ * :· ﾟ

How many times did she go around and walk through the winding corridor after leaving the spacious banquet hall under the guidance of the head maid? Min-ha, who was walking while admiring the portraits hanging along the walls of the hallway decorated with silk, stopped in front of a door and saw her stop.

Standing in front of the door, she asked.

“Is this the mansion’s salon?”

“Yes, Duchess. Now, please go inside. The ladies are waiting for you.”

“All right. Thank you.:

Min-ha politely bowed and greeted the servant, who opened the door and swallowed her dry saliva. From now on, she has to be ‘Minase Persen,’ not ‘Kim Min-ha.’

With such determination, she entered the open door.

“Oh! You’re finally here, Duchess of Persen!”

“Welcome, Duchess.”

A large room with ivory silk wallpaper and large doors and windows leading to the garden… In addition to Grand Duchess Blaine and Young Lady Vivian, there were three more ladies and maids in the large drawing room decorated with a translucent silver curtain that covered the doors.

Min-ha was momentarily taken aback by the way they greeted her.

‘What is it, are they acquainted with Minase Persen…?’

Judging by the way they treated her, they did not seem to be very close though they seemed to be somewhat acquainted.

Trying her best to smile shamelessly, she replied to them.

“Yes, it’s been a while. How’ve you all been?”

“Thank you for your concern. We’ve been well!”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“Sit down, Duchess Persen.”

“Yes. Hopefully, I’m not too late, am I Grand Duchess?”

“Of course not. Now, sit down and have a cup of tea. It’s just cold enough to drink.”

“Thank you.”

Approaching the seat where Grand Duchess Blaine was beckoning, she pulled out her chair and sat down. As she picked up the moderately warm teacup in front of me, Min-ha pretended to drink it and gently brought it to her lips. Although she could not do anything openly in a place like this, she decided to do this just in case.

After that, she slowly put down the teacup and opened her mouth to the noble ladies who were staring at her.

“It smells very good. I’d love to have it in my castle as well.”

“….”

“…Aren’t you going to drink it?”

“Oh, no. You should drink it.”

“Come to think of it, I’m a little thirsty.”

When she asked that, the wives, who had been watching her until a while ago, smiled awkwardly and picked up the teacups in front of them one by one. In the meantime, Min-ha watched them take a sip and put them down as if they had planned it.

At that time, Grand Duchess Blaine, the first among them to put down the teacup, spoke to her.

“By the way, you arrived earlier than expected, Duchess of Persen.”

“Yes. Thanks to you, I arrived safely.”

“…Oh. I see.”

However, upon hearing her answer, Grand Duchess Blaine smiled strangely. She then exchanged her gaze with Vivian, who was sitting right next to her. Min-ha felt as if they were laughing as they glanced at her and exchanged glances with each other.

‘I would like to hear what they are thinking when they look at me with those eerie eyes.’

Smiling brightly on purpose, she asked the ladies who were still smiling at her strangely.

“What’re you having so much fun with, you two? If it’s such a fun thing, don’t just keep it between yourselves and let me know as well.”

It was Vivian who responded to Min-ha’s question. She glanced back at her as if surprised, and answered.

“Oh, it’s not because it’s fun. It was just that me and the Grand Duchess were surprised by the appearance of the Duchess, which was different from the rumors. Were you offended?”

“What could have surprised Young Lady Vivian and Grand Duchess so much?”

“Um, well… Ever since you arrived here?”

“…All the time?”

‘…What was this again?’

Min-ha questioned her words, which avoided specific answers to her question, as though interrogating her. At that, Vivian finally replied with a smile.

“Somehow, I wonder if the Duchess’s outfit is too simple. Your long hair’s half loose and down, you’re not wearing panniers, and it seems like your corset isn’t tight either.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yes. It was the same way when the Duchess first arrived and arrived at my father’s drawing room, and the way it is now. I thought you’d be well-dressed, at least for the party, though I’m a little surprised that you’ve only changed your dress or jewelry… Rumor has it that the Duchess couldn’t take a single step out of the bedroom unless you were fully dressed. Nevertheless, it seems like that’s not the case with the Duchess, whom I met today.”

“….”

“Besides, the maids… Did you even go without a chaperone? Perhaps, that’s why when you sat down a while ago, you pulled out the chair and sat alone without the help of a maid or attendant…? All nobles are more comfortable having a servant or maidservant, and even more so if they are from the former Imperial Family. I was a little surprised by the behavior of the Duchess a little while ago.”

“I see.”

“I felt a little sorry for the Duchess. I wondered how much the Duke hated his wife, whom he was about to divorce, and let her get used to dressing up like this and going around without anyone’s help.”

“….”

As she said that, Vivian stared at Min-ha with a heartful look of pity.