“Madam, dinner is ready. Shall I bring Master and the Lady?”

“Yes, please do that. I’ll be down shortly.”

“Understood.”

After the polite servant, who bowed her head, briskly disappeared, Meiana turned her gaze away from the letter she was writing and let out a short sigh.

It seemed like a good idea to host a tea party as suggested by the Alt Countess. Most of the nobles residing within the count’s jurisdiction were acquaintances of hers, and the parents of the children who always played with Ariante were also part of the circle. It wouldn’t hurt to build more camaraderie on this occasion.

However…

“It feels a bit bland. Should I make it more extravagant?”

Writing an invitation! That was the problem. The last dinner invitation was written by Cediloy, but this time, as Meiana was only inviting the ladies, and it being the first gathering, she thought it better to write it herself. However, no matter how much she revised it, she couldn’t come up with a sentence she liked.

“Madam.”

Another maid came to call her. Meiana then put down her pen and stood up. Sitting and pondering would only pass the time, she thought.

“Thank you, I’ll come down.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️

As they descended to the dining room, Ariante and Swan, as well as Cediloy, were already seated. A maid opened the door courteously, and Meiana glided into the dining room as if sliding.

“Mother is the latest!”

Ariante teased when she saw Meiana. Apologetically smiling, Meiana approached the table. A silent footman quietly pulled out the chair behind her, helping her take her seat.

“Thank you.”

As Meiana spoke, the footman blushed excessively, took a few steps back, and left the room.

After becoming the Countess, the Valtheminster residence underwent a major upheaval. Most of the employees who had long stood guard in the absence of their master, Cediloy, were either dismissed or quit without much ceremony.

About 90% of them, who had been rude to Meiana when she became the Countess, were cut off, and some, who had murmured among themselves about the mysterious disappearance orchestrated by Head Housekeeper Jocelyn, were also fired.

Only about a dozen or so people, including Kosa, the housekeeper, and Gemero, Cediloy’s secretary, remained after several had left and others were fired.

When new employees were recruited, most were either newcomers to mansion work or people who came from places far from Valtheminster.

Among them, there was someone who knew that Meiana was originally Ariante’s nursemaid. However, no one dared to treat her brusquely.
There was an absolute trust and affection from Count Valtheminster towards his wife, but it was also because Meiana herself was by no means an easy person.

It was generally learned within the first week, as the employees who received a ‘strict’ warning from Meiana once never again spoke or acted carelessly anywhere.

“When Madame was out?”

In response to Cediloy’s question, Meiana nodded.

“Yes, just briefly this afternoon. The children came along as well.”

Ariante chimed in, “Sailor and Swan fought!”

Upon hearing this, Swan shot a sidelong glance at Ariante, lips pursed, a look that said, ‘I told you not to say anything.’

Cediloy turned his gaze towards Swan, asking, “Swan fought?”

Meiana glanced at Swan and answered instead, “It was just a disagreement.”

As she gave a wry smile, Swan finally started eating the egg dish on his plate with a mischievous grin. Ariante seemed to want to say more, but due to Swan poking her in the side, she closed her mouth.

Cediloy said, “Disagreements can happen while playing, but… have you reconciled, Swan?”

Swan, with puffed-up cheeks from chewing, quickly nodded.

“We reconciled.”

“Good, you did well. Even if friends fight, it’s important to reconcile.”

Swan grinned broadly. At that moment, Meiana glanced at Ariante and said, “Ariante, didn’t you promise your mother that you wouldn’t pick out the peas anymore?”

Then, Ariante, who was using a spoon to pick out the peas, pouted her lower lip.

“But I don’t want to eat them.”

“You said you would eat them last time. You actually ate them and said they were delicious, didn’t you?”

“I don’t think they’ll taste good today.”

Enough with the excuses. Meiana let out a small sigh. She took the spoon Ariante had put down, mashed the peas one by one, mixed them with other things Ariante liked, and created a substantial portion.

“There you go.”

Ariante, looking down at the spoon, opened her mouth like a baby bird.

“Spoon! Right, it’s tasty.”

Ariante’s mouth finally curved into a teasing smile. Despite thinking that she shouldn’t always indulge her, Meiana’s resolution often crumbled when she saw Ariante laughing like that.

These days, she rarely refused to eat. Meiana thought so. In the past, there were things she hated so much that she rarely ate them, but sometimes, without warning, she would make a fuss.

In those cases, Meiana would feed Ariante spoon by spoon, hoping to receive approval like her mother would.

“I have something curious to ask.”