Veinti said, “Milady, why are you sitting so quietly? Look, the guests have arrived!”

In response, Arianthe retorted bluntly, “I know. Normally, when guests come, it’s that…”

Bridgit whispered, “‘Modestly,’ milady.”

“That’s right! You should sit modestly. Veinti, fool.”

“Isn’t calling me a fool not very ‘modest’ either?”

“Quiet! People are getting off!”

Arianthe, visibly shaking her fist at Veinti, gave him a stern look with widened eyes. As the carriage doors opened one by one, today’s important guests were the first to appear. In other words, they were Arianthe’s peers, children of the same age.

“Lady, you should get up now.”

Bridgit whispered again, and Arianthe quickly got off her chair. Then she looked around.

“Where’s Mayana?”

Ibi spoke in her place, “She went to change clothes. Don’t worry; she said she’d be right back.”

The children invited to the tea party, holding the hands of their mothers or fathers, looked around the Duke’s beautiful garden decorations and fountains somewhat maturely. Arianthe, stiffened, took short breaths several times, then, with a tense face, smiled and spoke to the first boy who approached.

“Welcome. I’m Arianthe Viero Falterminster. Thank you for accepting the invitation.”

The boy was slightly taller than Arianthe and looked a couple of years older. Neatly manicured brown curly hair looked childlike, and a clean cravat with lace and a fresh summer jacket looked neat.

With a fervent expression, the boy smiled and performed a formal courtly bow.

“Nice to meet you, Miss Falterminster. I’m Silas Altra. Thank you for inviting me.”

Silas held Arianthe’s small hand, then hesitated for a moment and lightly kissed the back of her hand. Arianthe’s eyes widened, and even Veinti, Bridgit, and even Ibi were taken aback by the boy’s action.

For noble children like Arianthe, it was a natural reaction, but…

Following Silas, other children also exchanged greetings with Arianthe. However, none of them exhibited Silas’s behavior. Mostly, the girls behaved modestly, and the boys seemed a bit immature or tried to appear grown-up.

“Oh, look over there.”

Someone said. Although it imitated a whisper, it was loud enough to be heard by everyone gathered in the garden.

“Lord Viero Falterminster is here. It’s been so long since I last saw his face.”

“With his frequent trips to the capital, it’s natural not to see his face often.”

“By the way, are you still unmarried, my lord? Oh my, it seems that all the noble ladies of El Lautica are slow to marry.”
Laughter echoed for a moment. However, when Cedelois came to the center of the garden, the laughter naturally subsided. Parents, who had come as guardians with their children, lightly bowed to Cedelois.

Having surveyed the people once, Cedelois spoke with an unusually calm expression.

“Thank you all for accepting the invitation, even though the construction is likely to fail. Since today’s tea party is hosted by my daughter for the first time, we have high expectations. I hope it will be a pleasant time for all of you.”

Some people praised Arianthe while looking at her. Others, as if just learning that Arianthe was Cedelois’s daughter, whispered and looked at her with surprise.

As the marriage between Verbo and Liria was shrouded in secrecy, Arianthe’s existence was not well-known among the nobles living within the Duchy.

Cedelois lowered his gaze and looked at Arianthe. The child who had been so excited until the morning was now quiet. When she faced strangers, especially those who stared at her with curious eyes, she seemed frozen.

“Arianthe.”

The small hand he quietly grabbed felt cold. Even in Arianthe’s gaze looking up at Cedelois, there was an inexplicable fear.

Cedelois said, “You shouldn’t keep the guests waiting, should you? Now, guide your guests. Don’t worry about others.”

Upon hearing those words, Arianthe seemed to gain some courage. The child who had let go of Cedelois’s hand, unlike usual, took a very quiet posture, then, smiling brightly towards Silas and other children, said,

“Over here.”

Arianthe continued, “I’ve prepared refreshments, so everyone, please have a seat.”

The children walked silently to the table as if they were in a play. Unlike the adult tea party, where adults would open the party, a large round table was prepared for Arianthe and eight other children to sit together.

The host, Arianthe, sat first, and the invited children sat in order. Silas, who had surprised everyone with his courteous and casual first greeting, sat on Arianthe’s left.

As the servants brought tea, cookies, cakes, and other tea foods, the table where the children sat started to get lively. Cedelois, along with other noble guardians, sat at a separate table, and everyone had an eager and interested expression, as if there were many questions to ask.

“Lord Falterminster, your daughter has grown wonderfully.”