Although I initially thought it might be awkward with Countess Melison due to our limited interaction, our conversation flowed smoothly, thanks to our common interest in gardens.
‘I guess it’s her cheerful and bright personality that makes her so popular in social circles. I wonder if Adelia will become like her as she grows older?’
As the original tea party time approached, guests in carriages began to arrive at Countess Melison’s estate.
While Countess Melison went to greet the guests, I spent time in the greenhouse admiring the flowers. Soon, ladies and young women started to enter.
“How beautiful!”
“Such a lovely garden, it’s been a while since I’ve seen one like this.”
The guests expressed their amazement and appreciation upon seeing the garden, and I couldn’t help but feel a bit proud.
“The garden looks much more beautiful than before, Countess Melison.”
“Right? Look at this flower. It seemed ordinary on the street, but here, its colors really pop.”
“Yes, even the ordinary wildflowers don’t lose their presence among the flamboyant ones. Oh, is that Lady Rosenthia?”
One young woman, recognizing me, approached and greeted me.
“Lady Rosenthia, it’s been a while.”
“Lady Seian, indeed it has.”
I exchanged greetings with Veronica Seian, a young woman from a wealthy baronial family known for its gold mines. We knew each other from the academy.
“Oh, I heard you’re quite knowledgeable about flowers. Do you know the name of this one?” she asked, pointing to a Brelia she recently bought from a florist.
“It’s called Brelia. I recently learned about it too; it’s a resilient flower that blooms near the sea.”
“Ah, I see. You really do know a lot about flowers.”
“Not at all, I still have much to learn. But thank you for the compliment.”
While chatting with Lady Seian, Countess Melison entered the greenhouse and announced the start of the tea party.
The placement of seats at such parties was subtly important, and naturally, sitting beside the hostess was considered the best spot, indicating her particular attention to the guest.
As the ladies and young women found their assigned seats, I looked for mine. Except for one table, my name was nowhere to be found. I hesitated, then checked the table where Countess Melison would sit and, to my surprise, found my name right beside her seat.
“Lady Rosenthia, please come and sit here,” Countess Melison beckoned me over.
The others looked puzzled as to why I was seated next to the hostess. I took my seat beside her, still wondering inwardly about the arrangement.
“Thank you all for attending my tea party,” Countess Melison said, standing to address everyone.
“Although it’s cold winter, it feels great to spend meaningful time in this warm greenhouse with such distinguished guests.”
After her words, she looked at me warmly.
“I heard many of you admiring the garden upon entering. Yes, it’s very beautiful. But, to be honest, I didn’t arrange it. The person who did is right beside me, Lady Rosenthia. Thank you so much for today.”
I smiled gently at her and nodded in acknowledgement.
“Countess Melison’s garden was already splendid, which made it easier to enhance its beauty. But I feel a bit embarrassed by such praise.”
“I hope everyone here enjoys their time, especially since we have such esteemed guests.”
As Countess Melison finished her speech, the servants began serving the tea and accompanying snacks.
The noblewomen engaged in lively conversations while enjoying the delicious treats, mostly discussing the recent banquet and various events that occurred there.
Midway through the tea party, Pamela Joyden, the Baroness seated next to me, suddenly raised a topic I was most concerned about.
“Still, the biggest topic of this banquet has to be Duke Laverion and Lady Rosenthia, right?”
Expecting this topic to come up, I wasn’t too surprised.
“Yes, I was really shocked when I saw the Duke and Lady enter together.”
“Indeed. Especially since Duke Laverion rarely attends such events,” others concurred with the Baroness.
“Lady Rosenthia, may I ask something?”
“Of course, go ahead.”
“Well, I overheard something at the banquet and wanted to confirm if it’s true.”
“What did you hear?”
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. I just happened to pass by and overhear it.”
She looked a bit flushed as she began.
“Anyway, I heard that the Duke and you are planning to marry soon. Is that true?”
“Really? Are you actually getting married to the Duke?”
Before I could respond, the conversation spread rapidly among the guests.
I silently watched them, quickly organizing my thoughts on how to respond.
Just then, a young lady from afar spoke up loudly as if wanting everyone to hear.
“Personally, I never thought Duke Laverion and Lady Rosenthia would actually end up getting married. Didn’t everyone feel the same?”
A moment of silence followed her comment.
Despite my own thoughts about breaking off the engagement with the Duke, I couldn’t help but feel a bit disheartened knowing others viewed our relationship similarly.
Even though I considered myself unworthy, directly facing others’ perceptions was tough.
I couldn’t show weakness here, so I was about to speak up when someone else’s voice intervened.
“Lady Airian, it seems rather rude to discuss such things in front of Lady Rosenthia,” Countess Melison, the hostess, interjected.
“What? But I wasn’t the only one thinking that, right?” Lady Airian looked for support, but the atmosphere had already shifted, leaving her words hanging in the air.
With a heavy sigh, I pondered how to handle the situation.
While it wasn’t my fault, the conversation had taken this turn due to being about me, so it seemed right for me to mediate.
Besides, I didn’t want to ruin Countess Melison’s tea party, especially after she had defended me.
“Well, let me first answer Baroness Joyden’s question,” I began, drawing everyone’s attention.
“What you heard is true. However, contrary to what the Duke mentioned, the wedding will not happen immediately. There are personal reasons for the delay. And…”
I paused and looked directly at Lady Airian, who was sitting at a distance.
“Lady Airian, while I can’t prevent or change your thoughts, it wasn’t necessary to make such comments in front of the concerned parties. Whether it’s true or not, discussing my relationship with my fiancé, the Duke, as a topic of conversation is not particularly pleasant.”
With that, I managed to offer a composed smile, though my heart was pounding fiercely, unlike my usual demeanor.
Of course, it won’t be long before Lady Airian and most of the people here find out the truth.
They will see our annulment and confirm their suspicions were right.
Still, at this moment, I didn’t want to just let it pass without saying anything.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
