CH 65

The next day.

In the early morning I was already busy in my office, sorting through the pile of accumulated documents. The workers dispersed and the outstanding work collected like a snowball.

So, I worked, completely forgetting about time.

When the sun was already at its zenith, there was a knock at my door.

“Milady. This is the butler.”

“Come in.”

I asked without taking my eyes off the papers.

“Something happened?”

“It’s time for tea party.”

“Sorry, what?”

After the butler’s words, I lifted my head and glanced at the time.

“Time flew by quickly.”

If I refuse to go now, it will seem that I was afraid to show up at their place.

“The carriage is already waiting.”

“Okay. I’ll finish now and get up.”

I double-checked the documents related to the estate and put the Duke’s stamp. When I got up, the butler brought me a full-length mirror.

My clothes were laid out in front of the mirror.

“Do I need to call the maids?”

“No, it’s okay.”

I was wearing a light purple satin dress now, and I let my hair down and looked a little younger. Ideal for tea in a secular society.

“My lady.”

The coachman opened the carriage door.

I was in turmoil in my soul.

‘I’m going there again.’

My previous visit to the Marquis wasn’t particularly good.

All the way I resisted unpleasant memories from the past, but upon arrival they were overshadowed by a new surprise.

At Edmund’s birthday party, the Marquis’s estate had only one large main building and one separate building.

However, there were now two more large annexes to the right of the main building.

The mansions of the aristocrats were identified with the symbol of the family’s wealth.

Of course, as the family’s power and wealth grew, so did their mansion, and their garden became more and more magnificent.

“The garden seems to have grown too.”

The former small garden of violets turned into a field of peonies, and their fountain grew in size.

The sculpture of an angel pouring water into a bucket also resembled the work of a sculptor of extraordinary skill.

Besides, the number of bustling servants here exceeded even those who serve the Duke.

Before my departure from the Empire, the state of the Sios family wasn’t so prominent.

The Marquis became prime minister, and his power grew by leaps and bounds.

Only one line in the report was devoted to this, but what I saw with my own eyes now far exceeded all expectations.

When I saw the magnificent view of the estate, I suddenly thought of a family that once shone brighter than others in the country.

“Duke Drua.”

Duke Drua, one of the founders of the Empire, and the longest in power.

When the Duke’s prestige was at its peak, people used to say that he was the true monarch of our Empire.

Now they were just fairy tales from the past.

And when I thought of Duke Drua, a familiar face came to my mind, but I quickly dismissed those thoughts.

It wasn’t Duke Drua that mattered now.

Dealing with Marquis Sios won’t be easy.

It grew too big while I was hiding behind the seas.

And so, while I stood there with a frozen face, the maid came up to me and bowed.

“Lady Croft. The lady ordered me to accompany you to the flower garden.”

“I know.”

In the end, I hid my coldness in my eyes and followed the maid into the mansion.

Behind the large mansion was a large greenhouse and a domed flower garden.

Even in the cold winter, it was warm inside the greenhouse, where beautiful flowers bloom.

When I entered a flower garden full of colorful tulips, my head was momentarily dizzy with a surging sweet scent.

Taking a deep breath, I came to my senses and stopped in front of a large gazebo.

The maid left. The people sitting at the table caught my eye.

The table was already full, as if I was the last guest.

And here comes the organizer of the tea party, Lisa.

“Lady Croft. Thank you so much for coming.”

Dressed in an Empire pink dress that accentuated the waistline, she was beautiful, just like those tulips in the flower garden.

I answered with a slight smile:

“No, no. Rather, I am grateful for the invitation to such a pleasant place.”

“I was worried that I displeased you with my gesture. But if you say so… Then please sit, lady.”

Lisa indicated the place.

And when I saw it, I froze.

Because it was right next to her.

The tea party of noble families wasn’t a place for light conversation and foolishness.

These events were an opportunity to build a network of useful contacts.

And the choice of the place here wasn’t accidental.

The organizer seats the person closest to him next to him.

People who think they belong.

Of course, the relationship between me and Lisa wasn’t very close.

We couldn’t have such. After all, Raymond and I divorced only because Lisa showed up.

An outside observer who hasn’t heard of our inner kitchen can say that I was the daughter of a Duke and enjoyed the privilege of being in a better place. But that would be a sweet lie.

Usually, when a nobleman of the same rank or higher was present at a tea party, he was deliberately given a seat at a distance instead of a seat right next to it.

This was not a fixed rule, but it was a long-standing unspoken custom of tea parties.

Whichever way you look at it, there was no reason for me to sit so closely with her.

But she did it on purpose…

I turned to Lisa. She looked at me with a worried look, as if worried about my thoughts.

At that time, I heard a soft voice, like that of a young and innocent girl.

“Young lady. Please sit down. We were expecting only you one.”

I turned to the girl sitting opposite.

I see her for the first time. The moment I saw the eyes of a young lady and loose light brown hair, I realized who she was.

‘And you must be the daughter of Count Vistein’s house.’

Count Vistein was the cousin of Marquis Sios. So, the young lady in front of me had green eyes that resembled Lisa.

Lady Vistein lifted her chin and looked at me.

“Right. And although I haven’t had a debut yet, you must know how cleverly you recognized me.”

I felt arrogance on the part of Vihtein, who was now staring at me smugly.

Looking at this expression on her face, it’s clear that Lisa had specially prepared a place for me next to that one.

And this young lady before me knew perfectly well the meaning of my place, but ignored it.

I looked at Vistein and put on a soft smile.

Let it have passed already 6 years, but once I was the Empress of this country.

As the first lady of an entire Empire, I dealt with countless hosts of people. The young daughter from the Vistein house posed no threat to me.

Did she release her claws to put me in my place? But I felt that this is only a small kitten making its first steps.

“Are you laughing at me now? Lady Croft, you don’t seem to be very polite.”

Vistein put on a displeased face, as if she was insulted to the core.

“You and I don’t even know each other, young lady. Was it polite to ask me to sit down without even giving my full name at the beginning?”

Vistein’s face was colored with embarrassment.

“No, I am not that…”

“If young Lady Vistein wants to be familiar with me, I will also put in my word.”

I continued to press on her.

“Count Vistein and Duke Croft… The very comparison of them would be meaningless.”

Would the count dare to go ahead against the Duke?

I looked coldly at Vistein, who now couldn’t even snap back.

“Enough of this,” Lisa interjected.