The next day, Anna frowned with worry after hearing Serena’s plan.

Since Laura was only 18 years old and had been taking classes with young ladies in the capital since childhood, the age range for finding information became wider. However, just because an idea was brilliant didn’t mean it was necessarily good.

“My lady, the Marchioness is no ordinary person. Moreover, she’s her only daughter, so it’s obvious how strictly she must have raised her.”

“You mean I should be careful? Not to let my true intentions be discovered, right?”

“Yes. Even at 18, she’s a proper young lady and it’s an age when many get married.”

Serena, now 24, understood that Laura was of marriageable age, given that she herself was treated as having missed her chance. Even 20, when Serena had her engagement ceremony, was considered late by some.

“I just took a peek earlier, and it seems the Marquis’s daughter will be wearing a blue dress.”

Blue dresses were among Serena’s recent favorites. Perhaps the Marchioness wanted to subtly convey to Abigail that her daughter was similar to Serena.

“Whatever she wears, it doesn’t matter.”

“Yes. We already have several of Lady Haley’s dresses anyway.”

Anna smiled brightly and looked at the dress hanging on the rack.

The high-quality cream-colored fabric was adorned with delicate embroidery of flowers in gold thread, and the skirt part was made of several layers of thin fabric, making it as full as a lush flower.

“Alright, I’ll wear that one, so let’s skip the accessories.”

The dress had a square neckline, but it was already so elaborate that adding anything might make it look excessive.

“Yes. Then today, I’ll let your hair down and braid a few strands, decorating them with pins.”

They say people adapt to their environment, and Serena, who until recently had been riding horses and mingling with the people in Astel, now looked more beautiful and noble than any other lady.

“You’ll surely look great in it.”

Anna had discarded all the worries she had when first leaving Astel. Serena’s status was originally noble, but her lifestyle hadn’t been. After spending a few days in the capital, she had grown to skillfully deal with the Marchioness on her own.

“I hope so. Everyone is working hard for me.”

“No matter how many people try, it wouldn’t suit you this well if it weren’t you, my lady.”

Above all, the dress from Lady Haley, said to be the best in the Empire, fit Serena as if it had been hers from the beginning, so Anna couldn’t hide her pride.

Abigail didn’t even blink when she heard that Laura would be joining the lessons after all.

The lessons were filled entirely with guiding and advising only Serena as usual, while Laura simply followed the teachings from the side.

“Thank you for your hard work today, madam.”

Abigail smiled as she looked at Serena, who now spoke with great elegance.

“It’s an honor to have someone as outstanding as you, young lady, as my last student.”

Serena nodded and gave a light bow to the lady.

“Then, see you tomorrow.”

Abigail returned the bow to Serena before leaving through the entrance. Laura also bowed to her, but since she had responded to Serena, who was of higher status according to etiquette, she didn’t receive a separate response.

“Marquis’s daughter, do you have time now?”

“Pardon? Ah… Yes! I heard from my mother yesterday. That you would have tea time with me.”

At just 18 years old, this noble young lady who had been raised preciously had been thoroughly ignored and disregarded by the strict old lady for just a few hours.

Even Serena felt she might not be able to manage her expression if treated like that, but Laura’s face now showed joy and the unique excitement of a young girl.

“Mother must have prepared the tea time in the sunniest reception room of the mansion.”

Serena had thought the young lady was quite taciturn, but seeing her chattering made her age feel real again.

“Alright, lead the way.”

Separate from her antipathy towards Miranda, seeing Laura full of excitement brought a genuine smile to Serena’s face for the first time in a while.

Come to think of it, she had never interacted with ladies her own age in Astel either, so strictly speaking, today’s tea time was her first interaction between young ladies.

“Um… Could you just call me by my name?”

Laura’s face showed a slight flush.

“I’ve always wished I had a sister. So I’d be grateful if you treated me more casually.”

“Okay, Laura.”

Seeing Laura unable to hide her joy just from being called by name, she really was still young.

“It’s here.”

Laura led the way and stopped in front of a door. Just then, Nora, the Marchioness’s head maid, was standing there.

“I’ve just brought up warm refreshments. I hope both of you have a pleasant time.”

Even Nora’s attitude, which had been disrespectful when Serena first came to the Marquis’s mansion, had softened considerably.

Whether this was due to Serena’s recent impressive actions or because Laura was now being educated together as the Marchioness wished, was unclear.

“This place gets good sunlight in any season.”

The reception room was delicately and beautifully decorated, perhaps to the Marchioness’s taste.

Laura slightly bent her knees and gestured for Serena to take a seat first. The white sofa was soft, and the fragrant aroma of tea was pleasant.

“Laura, sit down too.”

“Yes.”

Laura, who had been momentarily captivated by Serena’s voluminous dress hem and graceful demeanor, belatedly responded and sat across from her, then poured the tea.

Thanks to the Marchioness’s education, her movements were flawless.

“Um… Thank you for accepting my mother’s request.”

“Hmm?”

“If it weren’t for the Duchess’s kindness, I would never have been able to meet someone as great as Lady Abigail.”

“No. I find it helpful to learn together too. It makes things easier to understand.”

Even at a small compliment, Laura easily blushed and became shy.

“I’m still lacking. But I’m glad if I could be of even a little help to you. Although I’ve only had my debutante… There’s no one as beautiful as you in high society.”

Yet her chattering voice and admiring gaze were girlish.

Especially the rustling of the voluminous skirt hem and the intricate lace trim hanging below the sleeves that moved slightly with Serena kept catching Laura’s eye.

“Laura, you’re only 18. When you reach my age, you’ll be even more beautiful.”

This wasn’t a lie.

Setting aside personal feelings and judgments, Marchioness Miranda was quite beautiful.

Looking at her honey-like dense blonde hair, deep navy blue eyes, and plump lips, it was understandable how she had captured Marquis Sherwood’s heart.

“You take after your beautiful mother.”

And now, her face could be seen in Laura’s as well. Unlike the sultry lady, Laura’s charm, pure and brightly chattering, would deepen with each passing year.

“What? I’m not quite there yet…”

“You’re only 18, so you have your own unique beauty right now.”

Laura nodded shyly with a smile at Serena’s unexpectedly kind words.

Miranda had made vicious remarks about Serena several times and given harsh evaluations, but talking to her in person was completely different from what she had heard.

“I wish I had met the Duchess earlier. Ah… Of course, I don’t mean now is bad…”

“I know. But I was staying in Astel territory, so it couldn’t be helped. Still, don’t you have many ladies to interact with in the capital?”

Serena subtly attempted to enter the main topic.

“Of course, there’s always a group of ladies I participate in since childhood for various educations.”

“I’ve never experienced that, so I’m curious. Could you tell me more about it?”

“It’s nothing special… Just a gathering created by noble ladies. They call in tutors or have young ladies learn together and build connections.”

As Serena nodded with great interest, Laura, proud of having pleased the Duchess, opened her mouth again.

“However, I’m the only one of a different age group… Before meeting you, Duchess, it wasn’t very enjoyable.”

“Why?”

“Until marriage, my mother decides all my social interactions, so I can only mingle with similar families.”

That part hadn’t been considered.

“But there are no young ladies my age in the families my mother associates with. They’ve all either come of age and become wives or are too young… So I’m the oldest sister in that group.”

“I see.”

“Yes, it’s really disappointing. I’ve always wanted to have an older sister, so even more so.”

Perhaps Laura saw Serena as an older sister figure and took a liking to her. Unfortunately, Serena couldn’t be Laura’s older sister.

“I’m reminded of a friend I had in Astel.”

Laura’s eyes widened with curiosity.

“Her name was Elise…”

Serena carefully observed Laura’s expression as she uttered that name. If she reacted to the name, she was prepared to probe further.

“Oh, what a coincidence.”

However, Laura spoke frankly without needing further probing.

“I have a cousin or second cousin with the same name.”

“…Really?”

“Ah, she’s not in the capital. There seem to be various circumstances.”

The reason why Peter and Anna couldn’t find Elise came out. The problem was trying to find Elise who wasn’t in the capital.

“From now on, you two can become close friends. You said you wanted to have a sister.”

“What? I don’t like that child. Even though she’s only a year younger, somehow… we don’t get along.”

“Have you met her?”

“Yes. It was brief while the adults were having tea… I don’t particularly want to meet and play with her again.”

Seeing Laura draw a line primly, this aspect resembled Miranda.

“Oh, by the way, I heard that the craftsman who will cut the Duchess’s jewels is coming today… May I watch together?”

It was difficult to probe more insistently. Rather, it would be better to spend more time together and naturally draw out the conversation.

“Sure. But won’t you find it boring?”

“No, I’m excited just thinking about it. Can I really watch with you?”

“Yes, of course.”

Serena hid her true intentions and showed a bright smile. It certainly wasn’t the Marchioness’s intention, but the big lesson she had learned from her was quite useful.