The first meeting of nobles typically started with a light tea party as a matter of etiquette. Of course, this was an etiquette Guinevere was unaware of, and Siod had informed her about it.

So she did host a tea party, but Guinevere was not well-versed in upper-class etiquette. She had already risen to a position where even the emperor had no choice but to turn a blind eye to her not following such protocols.

Naturally, while she had attended parties before, this was her first time hosting one, and it was also her first time experiencing a situation where everyone remained silent and focused solely on her. She was internally flustered.

Siod whispered in her ear.

“Offer them tea.”

Guinevere mechanically lifted the teacup. And awkwardly said,

“Drink.”

At that, everyone let out a sigh of relief and lifted their teacups. Guinevere felt like she could die from embarrassment.

‘Why do I have to be doing this?’

Just as her resolve to do anything for the children was about to scatter like dust along with her sanity, it happened.

“Thank you for inviting us, Lady Rodante. I am Elise Dimoir, Juliana’s mother.”

A woman with a kind-looking face said with a gentle smile. As soon as Guinevere heard the name, she recalled the girl with sharp eyes. The one who dared to try to ostracize Larisa… No, she hasn’t ostracized her yet.

“Lady Dimoir. I’m the one who should be thanking you for coming.”

Guinevere forced a smile. Mrs. Dimoir flinched at the twisted smile and began to sweat. But for Guinevere, that was her best effort.

“Yes, yes.”

Mrs. Dimoir, who had been trying to maintain her noble pride despite her family’s fall from grace, lost all her courage in an instant. Just as Guinevere continued to stare at Mrs. Dimoir, wondering if the conversation would continue.

“Ahem, ahem. I, I am Katrina, Cecil’s mother. I run a dress shop in the capital.”

As Katrina drew Guinevere’s gaze, Mrs. Dimoir whispered softly.

“Thank you, Katrina.”

After that, the ladies who had been watching cautiously began to introduce themselves one by one. Siod, observing the strangely unfolding situation, decided to remain quiet for now.

Originally, at a noble’s tea party, the host would have memorized all the attendees’ details and even assigned seating. Of course, since Guinevere seemed unaware of this, Siod had planned to take on that role.

He had intended to have Guinevere lead the conversation adequately, and when she didn’t know someone well or the conversation stalled, Siod would provide support from the side…

‘They’re stating their names and ranks on their own.’

As the ladies introduced themselves, Guinevere nodded. She suddenly seemed to have regained her composure and appeared to be enjoying the tea aroma, while only the ladies remained tense, waiting for their turn.

‘Is it because they’re not proper nobles? But even so, everyone gathered here should be gentry.’

It was certain, given that most of them knew tea party etiquette. After all, common people busy with making a living don’t have the luxury to educate their children. Yet, they all seemed excessively intimidated.

‘I worried for nothing.’

If anything, it was Siod himself who had underestimated the Rodante name. Well, a transcendent being like Guinevere was the kind of figure that might appear once in a thousand years, so even Siod, who had lived among humans for a long time, couldn’t predict how people would treat Guinevere.

‘They’re like mice before a dragon.’

This might even have the opposite effect. It would be troublesome if the parents excessively restrained their children, making them too wary of Larisa. Siod began to worry slightly about the reception room where only the children were.

‘I wonder what these mothers told their children before coming here.’

They might have already scared them, telling them not to make any mistakes with Larisa. While Siod was lost in thought, everyone’s self-introductions had ended. And silence fell again.

Everyone was staring at Guinevere with tense faces. Siod also looked at Guinevere, wondering what she would say next, when he suddenly realized that her tea hadn’t decreased at all.

‘Could it be that she’s nervous?’

He couldn’t tell because of her expressionless face. Siod hurriedly stepped in.

“Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Siod. I have the honor of being Miss Larisa’s tutor, though I may be inadequate.”

As Siod spoke with a bright smile, people began to awkwardly smile along.

“This is my first time at such a gathering too, so I’m quite nervous. Hahaha, Lady Dimoir, you must be familiar with tea parties?”

“Ah, yes. But I never expected to be invited by someone like Lady Rodante.”

“I was also so surprised when I was first asked to be the tutor. Hahaha.”

As the conversation started flowing, people began to visibly relax. Guinevere quietly sipped her tea while observing them.

This was her first tea party. Even at balls, she only drank alcohol, and at banquets, she only ate food. So Guinevere had no idea what else to do at a tea party besides drinking tea.

“Lady Guinevere is so worried about Larisa. Have your children mentioned anything about Miss Larisa?”

“Our Juliana told me a pretty friend had joined them. When I saw her earlier, she was indeed a lovely young lady.”

“It would be wonderful if they became close friends.”

“Indeed.”

Hahaha.

Hohoho.

Guinevere silently drank her tea. As she sat doing nothing, her mind kept wandering.

William’s time reversal magic didn’t feel quite orthodox. It was too complexly intertwined to be magic manifested instinctively by the subconscious, and each magic circuit seemed designed to trigger a chain reaction for other spells.

Usually, magicians don’t structure their formulas this way to minimize mana usage. But William did. Probably because he couldn’t control his mana himself. If so, perhaps the approach to interpreting it should be different altogether.

Yes. In a way different from ordinary magicians…

“Lady Guinevere?”

“What?”

“Shall we move to the reception room where the children are?”

“Ah.”

Guinevere reflexively took Siod’s hand. As she was escorted to the reception room, the other ladies followed behind like maids. Guinevere whispered softly.

“Is this what a tea party is usually like?”

“No.”

“Then did I mess up?”

“I don’t think it’s messed up, but I’m not sure.”

Guinevere bit her lip. Had it been a mistake to stay quiet, fearing that anything she said might ruin the atmosphere? Why was this so difficult?

As they arrived at the reception room where the children were gathered, piano music could be heard. Juliana was playing the piano. The children turned one by one towards the door as they sensed the presence of others.

“Mom!”

Upon seeing their mothers, the children rushed over, calling out and burying themselves in their skirts. The mothers affectionately checked on their children.

“Did you have fun?”

“Yes.”

Watching this scene, Guinevere turned her gaze to Larisa. She awkwardly spread her arms, but Larisa didn’t seem to notice. Guinevere quietly straightened her posture.

“Mother, Juliana played the piano for us.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes.”

“What else did you play?”

“Juliana kept playing the piano for us. It was amazing.”

“I see.”

It seemed there had been a long piano recital by Juliana during the mothers’ tea time. Guinevere looked at Larisa, who was trying to maintain a bright smile, and pondered for a moment.

“Come here.”

“Pardon?”

Guinevere lifted Larisa up in her arms.

She didn’t know what noble etiquette was, nor did she fully understand the upper-class social circles. But her desire for Larisa to be happy was genuine.

It would be fortunate if Larisa could be happy without friends, but Guinevere had already witnessed the outcome of William growing up lonely three times.

Hadn’t Guinevere sworn to do her best?

‘I don’t know how I’m supposed to show affection, but.’

Guinevere approached Mrs. Dimoir while holding Larisa. She then knelt on one knee. Mrs. Dimoir stepped back in surprise, but Guinevere’s action was simply to make eye contact with Juliana.

“Thank you for playing the piano.”

“Pardon?”

“Auntie doesn’t know how to play the piano.”

“Pardon?”

Mrs. Dimoir gasped at the term “auntie”.

“So would you come over sometimes and teach our Larisa how to play the piano?”

As Juliana hesitated, Mrs. Dimoir gently urged her.

“Yes, you should.”

“Yes.”

Juliana answered softly and quickly hid behind Mrs. Dimoir’s skirt.

“Thank you.”

Guinevere then turned her gaze to another child.

“You’re Cecil, right?”

“Yes? Yes…”

“Come play again next time.”

“Yes…”

Guinevere greeted each child one by one. Then she escorted everyone to the front door of the mansion while still holding Larisa. Siod watched this scene with a curious expression.

The expressions of the children and mothers leaving the mansion were much more relaxed than when they had arrived.

As she rode in the carriage heading home, Mrs. Dimoir suddenly smiled and said to Katrina, who was with her,

“The mansion was more ordinary than expected, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, it was a beautiful mansion.”

“And she doesn’t seem as scary as the rumors suggest.”

“You’re right, really. I was so nervous… She didn’t say anything during the tea time, but then she spoke to all the children. I was surprised.”

“She might have a warm heart despite looking intimidating on the outside.”

Mrs. Dimoir suddenly burst into laughter as if something had occurred to her.

“She called herself ‘auntie’ earlier, my goodness. With such a young-looking face.”

“Really? A mother is a mother after all.”

“The feelings of raising children must be the same for everyone, right?”

“That’s right.”

Siod, who had eavesdropped on the conversation using magic, grinned.

“Why are you smiling like that?”

“It’s nothing. You did well today.”

“What?”

“Just everything, from start to finish, you did well.”

Guinevere furrowed her brow.

“Are you mocking me now?”

“No? I’m serious!”

“Alright, Lala. You go in first.”

Guinevere put Larisa down.

“Yes, Mother!”

As Larisa scampered into the mansion, Guinevere glared at Siod and said,

“I know I was a mess. It must have looked pathetic to you, but…”

“No, Vera. Really. I just eavesdropped using magic, and their reactions were good.”

“Eavesdropped?”

Guinevere looked at Siod as if she had seen something strange.

“You do that too?”

“Yeah, it’s a bit advanced, but not difficult for me. Why, want me to teach you?”

“No thanks. It sounds perverted.”

Siod felt hurt.