241
"It makes me so happy to hear such kind words from you madams. Honestly, I never imagined I'd meet my destined partner in the very first season, but this unexpected fortune has made me truly happy."
"That's how fate usually works, it comes when you least expect it. Hopefully, Lenard's fate will come to him soon as well."
"I'm sure he'll meet someone when the time is right. For now, since my brother is focused on work, it might be a bit difficult, don't you think?"
"But devoting yourself only to work isn't good either, Letticia. Even our Count here was so consumed with his duties in his younger years that he never got engaged, and lived as a bachelor until he met me."
When Countess Freke sighed regretfully, Letticia only shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't think my brother is that extreme. At least he enjoys his hobbies now and then. What worries me more is Sir Bright. Since His Highness the Crown Prince is busy, Sir Bright ends up busy too."
"That's true. His Highness is every bit as busy as the Count. Do you think you'll be able to manage your engagement well in such circumstances?"
"It'll work out somehow. We still have time, so I'll do my best."
The elderly ladies smiled warmly at Letticia's confident reply, but when the Crown Prince was mentioned, unease appeared on a few of their faces.
"His Highness really should find his own partner soon. The Emperor and Empress must be terribly worried, since he only ever immerses himself in work."
"Countess Sharon, have you perhaps heard anything from Her Majesty the Empress? I wonder if there might be a few debutantes she has her eye on."
"Her Majesty always says that His Highness's will is what matters most. So, in the end, it all depends on him."
At Camilla's answer, one of the relatively younger ladies sighed.
"If we're only waiting for His Highness's decision, who knows when a marriage will actually happen? Among the noble daughters of suitable rank in our country, there are hardly any left. At this rate, the Crown Princess might end up being a foreign princess."
"There are already so few royals in the Imperial Family. For the sake of stability, His Highness should marry soon and ensure the line continues."
At that uncomfortable remark, Letticia quietly raised her teacup to hide her lips.
It was true that having more legitimate heirs strengthened succession security, but whenever such topics came up, she could understand why Matthias might shy away from marriage altogether.
"Still, fate is fate. Someday His Highness will surely meet a soulmate, just like His Majesty did."
"That's enough talk."
Duchess Dinever's low voice cut in, warning the lady who had spoken. The elderly matron seated beside her, likely her mother-in-law, also glared sharply, silently urging the woman to hold her tongue.
The lady had probably intended only to praise the love between the Emperor and Empress Lilliana. But spoken carelessly, it risked sounding as though the late Empress Emilia had not been his true partner.
Sensing the atmosphere sinking, Countess Freke quickly spoke again with a deliberately concerned tone.
"Emperor Michael the Great also devoted himself to governance and made this nation even more prosperous. His Highness must take after such a grandfather. Still, I do hope he remembers to look after his health."
"Does His Highness resemble Emperor Michael?"
Seizing the chance, Letticia interjected. Several of the older countesses and noblewomen gladly answered her.
"Yes, in personality, very much so. Once he sets his mind on something, he has an incredible drive to see it through."
"And his ability to read the tide of the times was remarkable. When we were young ladies, we never imagined commerce would flourish like this."
"Why, back then, we hadn't even laid eyes on Amarasun silk. It was only after the Great Emperor expanded trade that textiles multiplied and fashion grew more diverse."
"I see. I've read about Emperor Michael's great achievements in books, but hearing it from those who lived through his era feels much more vivid."
Of course, Letticia did not add that the chronicles she had read painted the Great Emperor as nothing but a saintly ruler, dull and one-sided. After all, in her eyes he was just part of the setup.
"Then does His Highness resemble the Great Emperor in appearance as well? He doesn't really look like His Majesty the Emperor."
Her question silenced the table for a moment. But after a few seconds, Camilla calmly lifted her teacup and replied, breaking the tension.
"No. His Highness takes after the late Empress. Though, the color of his hair does seem to come from His Majesty."
For over twenty years Camilla had reigned as the queen of the social world, but the one blemish in her glittering career was that she had been overshadowed by her debut-mate, the late Empress, and had never become the "Diamond" of society.
So of all things, her own daughter had now brought up the late Empress, and naturally, everyone stiffened. Still, no one cast a reproachful look at Letticia.
Because Empress Lilliana lived and thrived, and her famous love with the Emperor was the stuff of legends, people had long avoided speaking of the late Empress Emilia. Letticia's generation barely even knew what she had looked like.
But that did not change how awkward the situation had become. Realizing her slip, Letticia quickly masked her expression and continued the conversation with feigned composure.
"Ah, I see. If His Highness inherited those looks from her, then the late Empress must have been truly beautiful as well."
"She was indeed beautiful. It's a pity I never had the chance to properly converse with her."
"Well, she never really enjoyed social gatherings, so that couldn't be helped. But surely the Duchess of Dinever knows well? Weren't you the late Empress's chief lady-in-waiting?"
The same tactless lady chimed in again, and the duchess replied with a blank expression.
"That was long ago. Now I'm nothing more than a retired old woman enjoying a quiet life."
"Old woman? Hardly, you're still perfectly fit. Isn't it true you make the debutantes go through strange trials at the start of every season?"
Countess Freke shot the lady a sharp look, but Duchess Dinever answered without a flicker of change in her face.
"If they cannot endure even that much, how will they ever survive in high society? People only grow by experiencing hardships."
"But what if they wither before they even bloom? Wouldn't it be kinder to give the young ones more chances to meet eyes and dance with one another, instead of forcing them to put up with the foul moods of cranky elders?"
"As I said before, such things are part of experience too. Once they marry, they'll face their in-laws. Better they learn now, so they'll know how to handle it later."
Before they realized it, the conversation had shifted into a debate between Countess Freke and Duchess Dinever about the philosophy of running society gatherings.
With the topic safely diverted, and now that she had identified exactly who she needed to be cautious of, Letticia wisely avoided returning to the earlier subject. Instead, she waited for the older ladies to finish speaking, then swiftly summoned a maid.
"Since the weather is getting warmer, I thought we could serve chilled éclairs. I've prepared them in a variety of flavors, so I do hope you'll enjoy them."
"A variety of flavors? Could these be the éclairs Countess Sharon mentioned in her letter?"
"Yes. They're a new creation in development at Faymont. They'll be the signature item of the second shop we're planning to open, but I wanted you ladies to have the first taste."
The éclairs Letticia had prepared this time were decorated with extra care, a thin layer of jam-mixed cream spread atop the pastry, then delicately chopped fruit arranged on top.
Maids also offered to sprinkle finely crushed nuts for anyone who wanted, which made even those not fond of overly sweet desserts light up with delight.
"Thanks to Lady Sharon, we get to taste Faymont's latest creation even before its release. How wonderful."
"Where will the second shop open? On Ferrand Street this time?"
"Yes. Since the flagship is in Clermont, the new branch must be elsewhere."
Letticia had already secured a property on Ferrand Street through Wallace. Acting through an agent, she arranged contracts with the current tenants to relocate them to Clermont under the same conditions. At first they resisted, but when offered space on Clermont's famously expensive street, they signed without complaint.
Ferrand might be the capital's second-most bustling street, popular with the younger crowd, but it could never rival Clermont's prestige or rental prices.
"We're aiming to open this autumn, so I hope you'll all visit often. In the meantime, please do stop by the flagship store."
"Naturally. Honestly, without Faymont's triple-berry tart, I don't even feel like having tea."
Thanks to the éclairs, the atmosphere grew lively and cheerful once more. After exchanging a few more words, Letticia rose from her seat.
She had already shown herself among the elder ladies, proving that as Camilla's successor she was inheriting her network of connections. Now it was time to return to the younger circle.
Fortunately, during her absence, Dayna had kept the conversation flowing smoothly. The mood remained as bright as ever, with both the fruit éclairs and the orange sorbet receiving glowing praise.
And as the tea party drew to a close, Letticia quietly approached Duchess Dinever to offer an apology for her earlier misstep.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
0 Comments