CH 102

A large garden converted into a cafe in the capital.

Damon and Arsene were having the happiest time of their lives.

“Come on, let’s go.”

“Ah!”

They were out, at Frey’s insistence. the children should also be able to feel the national foundation.

However, there could be people targeting the children, so Luke, who was in charge of the bodyguard, as well as Frey and Daniel, go out of the carriage together.

It was truly a happy thing to be caught in the middle of the Grand Duke Prause’s couple and receive affectionate attention.

“Damon, is it delicious?”

“yes!”

Frey lightly pinched Damon’s chubby cheek.

Seeing his slightly ruddy cheeks and sparkling eyes, he seemed to be having a good time, which made Frey feel better.

‘I won’t be able to show them around the market because of security issues, but going out makes me feel good.’

It was also the first time Frey had been here.

This cafe, which has existed since she was a child, planted fence trees in a large garden, so there was little interference from other table customers.

There were flowers and garland decorations commemorating the founding festival all over the place, creating a festive atmosphere.

The cafe’s own quartet of musicians also provided sweet music.

‘I can understand why dating a lover here is the romance of the young ladies of the capital.’

Fantastic desserts and drinks.  Beautiful scenery and atmosphere.

While appreciating all of this, Frey suddenly became curious.

“Daniel. How did you know this place?”

Being born and raised in the capital city, it was natural for Frey to hear about famous cafes nearby, but Daniel didn’t.

‘Even if he stayed in the capital for work schedules, I didn’t think he would go to a cafe alone.’

Frey asked in a lowly voice enough for only him to hear.

“Perhaps with ‘Daniel Prause’s woman’…?”

When she said it in a playful tone, Daniel’s face showed a look of bewilderment.

Arsene even explained with an innocent face.

“Oh. He’s confused.”

“Yeah, I know.”

When Frey joined in, Daniel covered Arsene’s mouth by scooping up the pudding.

And he started making excuses to me.

“Frey. About the rumor….”

“Sorry. I want to tease you a little.”

“Since I bought a mansion in the capital, I thought it would be nice to go out with you sometimes, so I just looked for it.”

“Did you find out by yourself? It certainly wouldn’t have been easy to make a reservation.”

He gave a small nod and began to empty the cold drink at high speed.

Arsene told Frey again in a clueless voice.

“He’s shy.”

“Arsene—!”

Uhuk, uhuk

Daniel eventually choked and coughed several times.

Damon smiled mischievously and handed Daniel a napkin.

While the Prause family was laughing and having a good time, the owner of the cafe politely bowed his head holding a silver tray.

“Greetings to Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Prause and the young masters.”

“What brings you here?”

“There’s a new menu developed for this year’s founding celebration, and if possible, I would like to ask the young masters to taste it.”

“….”

Daniel immediately raised his magic and checked the food in the tray.

‘It doesn’t seem to be poisonous.’

The children’s eyes were shining like puppies before their snacks.

“Then please.”

“Thank you.”

What the owner put on the table was a parfait made with a combination of seasonal fruits, ice cream, and cookies.

In the middle were four chocolates shaped exactly like the capital mansion Daniel had bought.

“wow-!”

“I will eat it!”

Damon and Arsene started devouring the luxurious parfait with the imperial flag at a frightening speed.

Suddenly Frey wondered.

‘I heard that the owner of this cafe has a very high nose and won’t come even if a high-ranking aristocrat comes.’

TL: The high nose means that the person is arrogant.

‘Why would such a person deliberately come with a special menu and try to win favor with us?’

‘Wanting to get acquainted with Grand Duke Prause?’

‘Well, Prause, who has the transcendent family head, is a bit of a great family.’

As Frey was about to come to that conclusion, the owner asked cautiously.

“Hmm, Her Highness the Grand Duchess. If you don’t mind, I have something I want to ask…”

“Me?”

“Yes, I wonder if you have any plans to handle items related to the cafe business at the top of Holt.”

“Oh.”

It was only then that Frey realized that the owner was trying to please her.

‘I want to break through a new contract right away.’

But haven’t the many books I’ve read said that? In negotiations, it is important to bounce back once in a while to gain an advantage.

“Right now, I am spending my time with my family. I’ll send someone to talk business with later.”

“Then I will wait with a grateful heart.”

The owner inwardly sighed. 

‘Thank goodness it wasn’t a negative answer.’

Damon and Arsene’s heart skipped a beat at what Frey, who was sitting right next to them, had said.

[“I’m spending time with my family right now.”]

‘family!’

‘We are family…!’

The two thought quietly with the dessert spoon in their mouth.

They had always regarded everyone as family, but hearing those words come out of Frey’s mouth made them feel even warmer.

Daniel and Frey.

‘It felt like I could do anything if I could just exist between the two of them.’

Tiik!

“Ouch. Brother you just—”

“What was that?”

‘Is it because they eat cold food quickly?’

The two children shook their heads and started eating the parfait again.

* * *

“Your Highness, Grand Duchess. Did you have a good time?”

“Lina, would you like to see this?”

Returning to the mansion in the capital city after a fruitful outing, I touched Damon’s cheek, who was sleeping peacefully in my arms.

“Isn’t it cute?”

“Oh. It looks like the young masters had a good time too.”

Putting the children in the room, I headed to the office, after briefly conveying the conversation I had with the cafe owner to Lina.

“Your Highness, Grand Duchess, there is nothing else but a problem with the sending of invitations.”

“Problem? Has anyone expressed their intention not to attend?”

I reflexively tried to imagine what the problem might be, but nothing came to mind.

The invitations would be    hand-delivered by knights as they traveled from mansion to mansion.

I knew that the family members who supported the crown prince would not attend anyway, so I only narrowed down the list to vassals or imperial aristocrats.

“It’s… The crown princess has invited all the ladies of the capital to attend, and she sent an invitation to my father, asking him to forward it to me.”

“Ah, I’m the only one who didn’t get it, how pitiful.”

When I spoke in a voice that was not at all sad, Lina offered me an invitation with the imperial family seal on it.

The location is a large garden that connects the Empress Palace and the Crown Prince Palace.

The date is the day of the competition.

And the time…

“All afternoon?”

“Yes. I think it’s a plan to keep them from going to other tea parties. There are some people who go to a few tea parties a day.”

If it was another tea party, I would have thought it was a childish trick, but this tea party was a big deal because it had a different meaning.

At the tea party held on the day of the competition, it was customary for the hostesses of the families who were eligible to participate in the competition to exchange opinions on welfare, arts, and cultural policies.

‘And that conversation is reflected in the great meeting.’

If she reacted incorrectly, it was obvious that she would be branded as a grand duchess who had neither knowledge nor opinions in the culture and art world.

Even if she moves the date to another day to avoid Garnet’s tea party, she will end up running away.

Besides, sending an invitation with the royal family’s seal in the name of the Crown Princess.

“Unlike the invitation that was sent in the name of Gelon or the aristocratic family, it would be difficult for nobles from other factions to not attend if the invitation was sent in the name of the royal family.”

Once they received the invitations, most of them would attend. 

The Crown Princess won’t let them go once they are in the garden.

“We could hold the party at different times on the same day, but as you know, it is customary in the capital to hold tea parties in the afternoon.”

“That’s right. It’s confusing because the Crown Princess monopolized good times.”

Looking at the invitation Garnet sent out, I thought for a moment.

My position now is different from before, so if I send out invitations to people I have pre-determined, some noble ladies will come.

Some will make excuses such as being sick and not attending Garnet’s tea party.

‘But it’s not a children’s birthday party where you compete to see who invites more friends.’

The success of a tea party depends on how well you talk and how much you exchange opinions about each other’s views.

“Considering that the purpose of the tea party is the cultural and artistic exchange, it is impossible for us to hold a party before Crown Princess Garnet’s tea party is held.”

Aristocrats usually enjoy entertainment until late and get up late.

‘If we wake up such people at dawn and gather them in our mansion in the morning, we will be cursed for a long time.’

“Then the only option left is to have people flock to us after Crown Princess Garnet’s tea party….”

Lina thought for a moment before giving her opinion.

“Tea parties are usually held in the garden, wouldn’t it be a bit dark at that time? No matter how much we place aquarin with luminous magic around it, the food on the table won’t be visible.”

Of course, no matter how wonderful food is served, people who are already full will not eat well.

“That’s true, isn’t it?”

I tapped the desk with my fingertips.

Thinking about it for a while, an idea flashed through my mind.

“Lina. I think if we do this, people will come…”