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"Of course, that's a situation I don't even want to imagine, so it's best if it never happens. That’s why I’m saying this: if we want to bring Lady Averil to this gathering, we must make sure the Duke’s household can’t interfere with us at all. When teaching someone, it’s inevitable to point out their mistakes, but if they go into hysterics every time we do, honestly, it’s impossible to continue."
"Yes, I agree with that. And this time, I intend to make that point clear."
Perhaps worn out from having to correct behavior so often, Seraphina also agreed, her expression filled with determination. Just seeing her like that made it easy to imagine how much Seraphina must have suffered at the hands of the Duke’s household while trying to guide Ariette.
"Since Lady Sharon introduced me, I’d like to ask you to accompany me and mediate. And if I say anything inappropriate, I hope you’ll help me out a little."
"Of course, that goes without saying. And if I speak too harshly, please feel free to step in."
"By the way, have you checked Lady Averil’s own opinion on this?"
What Dayna asked was something that, surprisingly, no one else had pointed out. Only then did the two of them realize that they hadn’t discussed inviting Averil to the gathering with Ariette at all.
"Ah, I completely forgot. Thanks for reminding me, Dayna. Actually, she’s coming tomorrow, so I’ll ask her then."
"Ha…"
Dayna's gaze toward Seraphina had changed slightly. It was the same look she sometimes gave Letticia whenever she skipped over things and rushed ahead on her own.
'Well, Seraphina does tend to act without much of a plan sometimes, too.'
Still, Letticia hoped that this might be a step toward Seraphina becoming a little closer to Dayna.
After all, for this group to really come together, the most important thing was for all three of them to become genuinely close. It wouldn’t be ideal if the other two only saw each other as 'a friend of a friend' through her.
***
"Lord Sharon, this time I’ll actually buy a gift!"
Ariette, who had come to the tea party, spoke brightly to Lenard. It seemed she had finally received this month’s allowance.
"Yes, shall I have the invoice sent to the Duke’s residence in a few days?"
"Yes, please. First, I want to show the gift to my father and brothers."
Ariette’s beaming face showed the sense of accomplishment she felt at finally being able to buy presents for her family with the money she earned herself.
However, when Lenard showed her the catalog again, confirmed the items, and started filling out the order form, Ariette’s expression soon turned wistful.
"Now that I’ve bought all the gifts, I suppose there’s no reason for me to visit here anymore…? I won’t have a chance to see you and Lady Letticia either, will I?"
Perhaps because she had grown fond of not just Letticia but also Lenard, Ariette looked regretful at the thought of parting. Letticia, sensing this, spoke even more kindly on purpose.
"Since it’s summer season anyway, if you’d like, I’d be happy to invite you over often."
"Really? Then will Lord Sharon be there too?"
"No, I was only accompanying the Lady to assist with her shopping. I wouldn’t want to get in the way of my sister meeting her friend."
At those words, Ariette's expression clearly showed disappointment. Feeling a sense of unease, Letticia quickly changed the subject to the gathering.
"By the way, Lady Averil, I’m planning to form a small social circle. If you’re interested, would you like to join us?"
"A social circle? That means I’d be having tea with other ladies too?"
"Yes. I’ve invited Lady Eskis and my friend Lady Hailey. I thought it would be perfect if you could join us as well."
"Lady Eskis is part of it too? Then I definitely want to participate!"
As soon as Seraphina’s name was mentioned, Ariette nodded eagerly, delighted. Surprised by how she didn’t even hesitate, Letticia hurried to explain what Ariette needed to know.
"Well, it is a social gathering, but Lady Eskis did suggest something. If Lady Averil is willing, she’d like to continue what she started at the Duke’s residence during these meetings..."
Although Letticia didn’t outright say that Seraphina wanted to continue teaching her, Ariette seemed to understand, her face alternating between surprise and embarrassment.
Letticia slightly regretted not asking Lenard to excuse himself before bringing up the topic of the gathering.
"Of course, I know you’re busy with work, so she wouldn’t expect too much. But if possible, she’d like to continue whenever you have the time."
"...Um, Lady Sharon. There’s something I’d like your advice on. Could you listen?"
"I think perhaps I should take a walk for a bit."
"No, if possible, I’d like Lord Sharon to hear it as well."
At Ariette’s request, Lenard, who had just been about to stand, sat back down. Wondering what she was about to say, the siblings settled in, ready to listen. Then, without glancing around nervously anymore, Ariette spoke clearly.
"I’ve been wondering... would it be better if I quit my job?"
Out of nowhere, they found themselves drawn into a life consultation. The siblings exchanged glances, each hoping the other would respond first, but in the end, it was Letticia who gave in.
"Why... why do you feel that way, my Lady?"
"I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. I feel like just my presence is a burden to others, and I have a hard time fitting in with my colleagues at work… Saying this is so embarrassing, but the work itself isn’t easy either..."
Ariette, her face flushed bright red, bowed her head low and nervously fidgeted with her fingers.
Seeing this, Letticia didn’t know what to say and gave Lenard a subtle look, hoping for help.
"...Then, my Lady, do you have any plans for what you’d like to do if you leave your job?"
"No, and that’s actually the biggest problem. I keep thinking I want to quit, but if I do, I don’t really know what I should do next. I don’t even know what I’m good at…"
Hearing such a deeply unconfident response, Lenard gently asked more questions in a kind voice.
"Then let’s try thinking it through together. What about stepping into society, joining the social scene?"
"...I feel far too unprepared for that, I don’t think I could manage."
Having learned just how lacking she was thanks to Seraphina, Ariette seemed unable to even muster the courage for that path.
Lenard, who had been trying to subtly encourage the idea of a debut into society, quickly offered another option.
"Then how about helping with your family’s work? I imagine there are plenty of tasks at the Duke’s household. And since you studied public administration and have experience as a government officer, wouldn’t that be easier?"
In truth, many graduates of public administration returned to work for their family estates, especially noble sons other than the heir or daughters, if they failed the civil officer exams or weren’t scouted by more influential houses.
But Ariette looked even more reluctant at this suggestion.
"Well, before I graduated, I did ask for some work to try out as a test… but I kept wondering if it was really right for me."
"Why did you feel that way?"
"The tasks I was given… my father asked me to serve tea, and my brother Alex asked me to accompany him on inspections… But even when aides came knocking with papers to approve, they ignored them all, and I just felt terribly guilty sitting there doing nothing."
Lenard’s smile faltered, and Letticia had to force her face not to twist in sympathy. These were scenes from the original story, but hearing them described out loud was almost beyond belief.
"...That’s strange, isn’t it?"
"It’s always tricky working with family. Please don’t worry too much about it, my Lady."
Lenard quickly put on a perfect smile, but Letticia immediately sensed how furious he was beneath the surface, after all, people like that were exactly the kind he despised most.
"So I suppose assisting the Duke or Sir Alexander is out of the question. What else could there be…"
"Why not try what I suggested before, starting a business, my Lady?"
As Letticia casually threw this out, Lenard shot her a sharp look. But Ariette hesitated, then cautiously replied.
"Actually, after hearing your suggestion before, I did think of a few ideas… but I’m not sure they’re really things that could become a business. And even if I wanted to ask my brothers for advice, I feel like they’d just insist everything would go perfectly no matter what…"
"Then why don’t we ask my brother here? Brother, could you speak up on behalf of this unreliable little sister of yours?"
Letticia’s playful, teasing smile earned a forced smile from Lenard, who then turned toward Ariette.
Seeing that he was willing to listen, Ariette opened and closed her mouth a few times before finally managing to speak.
"The Lady suggested that I try developing products using fruit, so I’ve been thinking about fruit-based perfumes or desserts. I heard that, at the moment, the only fruit-based fragrances on the market are bergamot or orange. So I thought… maybe if I did it well, I could create something new… and as for the desserts too."
Hearing this, Letticia was startled. That was exactly the product line Ariette had created in the original story.
‘The classic business venture of romance fantasy heroines, fashion and desserts!’
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