Chapter 40

Well, today is the day of Lord Dranbald's visit. Unlike the last time when I went to the Duke Dangrey's house, it seems that various people have been invited this time. ...So, I was extremely nervous.

"Airis, you don't have to worry so much."

Fortunately, this time, Mother is with me, which is a great comfort. The next time at Baron Messy's house, I will be alone, so I want to regain my composure this time.

Upon arriving at the Dranbald residence, we were greeted by all the servants at the entrance. Then, a man in a tailcoat escorted us. The place we arrived at was a beautiful green courtyard.

"Welcome. Lady Melris, Lady Airis."

A woman standing in the center of a round table stood up and greeted us with a smile. Her soft, pale golden hair sparkled in the sunlight. She had a slightly round face, but she looked cheerful and kind... That was Lady Dranbald.

"Thank you for inviting us today. My daughter and I have been looking forward to this day."

Mother's tone was formal. Even though she and Lady Dranbald are good friends, the reason for this formality is probably because there are other guests present.

"Oh, what an honor to hear that from Lady Melris. Please, take a seat over there."

Lady Dranbald said this with a smile and pointed to an empty seat. A man in a tailcoat was already standing by.

"Then, I will take you up on your offer."

We each headed to the empty seats.

The well-maintained garden was lush with greenery. The table, covered with a white cloth, stood out amidst the scenery. More noticeable, however, were the dresses of the guests. Light pink, light yellow, and light blue... all in pastel colors. Perhaps they were set up to resemble flowers. Indeed, the pastel color scheme for the dresses, as specified in the invitation, made sense.

"Let me introduce you. This is Lady Remedy Cardina."

"Nice to meet you."

The lady to Lady Dranbald's left nodded slightly. Seeing this, I also bowed my head gently.

"This is Lady Dora Danas."

"I have been looking forward to meeting Lady Melris and Lady Airis."

The woman next to Lady Remedy also nodded slightly. I nodded my head again, like a nodding doll.

"And this is Lady Salina Mines."

"It is an honor to meet you."

...And so, everyone was introduced. I was grateful that it ended before the names and faces started to blur.

The tea party then began. We enjoyed the sweets on the table and drank the tea that was served. Hmm, delicious... Of course, I tried to follow the conversation.

"Your outfit at the last party was very beautiful. Where did you get it?"

Lady Dora asked me this question.

"It is made from fabric obtained through trade with the East. We haven't secured enough to start selling it yet."

"Oh, I see. The fabric was lovely, but the dress design was also new and very beautiful. Who designed that dress?"

"I asked a clothing store in the Duchy of Armenia to make it."

"Then, did you design it, Lady Airis?"

"No, it's not really a design... I just explained the general idea of what I wanted."

I couldn't say that I wanted to take it easy... After all, I had been in comfortable clothes while working and didn't want to wear a tight corset and a heavy, frilly skirt.

Thanks to the designer at the clothing store, I got a dress that wasn't too heavy, and I was quite satisfied with it.

"Is that so? But I think that dress will become popular. Don't you agree, Lady Remedy?"

"Yes. It received so much attention at the party. I'm sure the clothing store is getting a lot of orders now."

...Is that so? If it's true, it might be a chance to promote the clothing store in the Duchy of Armenia?

While I was thinking about this, the conversation had already changed. It was about current trends and the state of each family.

The center of the conversation was Lady Dranbald and Mother. Lady Dranbald subtly directed the conversation to everyone and kept the atmosphere lively. Mother, on the other hand, made sure not to overshadow the hostess but tried to brighten the atmosphere.

"By the way, about the House of Monroe. Have you heard that they have been doing quite well recently?"

Lady Remedy brought up this topic.

"No, I haven't. But I've heard that the House of Monroe has been hosting a lot of events recently. One day, the lady was wearing a large diamond necklace, and the next day, she was wearing large emerald earrings and a necklace. When I casually asked the jeweler who visited her house, I heard that Lord Monroe has been buying a lot of jewels and dresses. He has also been visiting the Azuta Trading Company frequently."

"I only manage the Azuta Trading Company, and the customer management is handled by others, so I don't know much... But it does sound impressive."

The attention turned to me, so I responded. I generally only oversee the overall business, and the customer management is left to Sei and the staff. I don't know how much each house has bought. Even if I did know, I wouldn't say.

Moreover, if what Lady Remedy said is true, why is Lord Monroe doing so well? Originally? No, I think that area is a granary. I haven't heard of any new business ventures...

"Is that so? It was also a topic at the party."

"Envious, isn't it? Speaking of jewels, Lady Dora, where did you get the jewels you wore at the party? They were so beautiful, and I was captivated at first sight."

Mother changed the topic here. I wanted to hear more, but perhaps this was the right time to shift. Mother is indeed good at observing people at parties.

"That was a topaz. The red hue was so beautiful, and I was captivated at first sight, so I asked my husband for it."

"Women's requests are a good opportunity for men to show their chivalry. Did Lord Danas enjoy it?"

I wondered if that was true but kept my mouth shut. In my previous life, I didn't have a husband, and in this life, even though I had a fiancé... When I went shopping with Edward, he looked quite annoyed.

"No, my husband is not very knowledgeable about jewels..."

"Even if he is not knowledgeable about jewels, he must have been captivated by the sight of Lady Dora in them. Don't you think so, Lady Melris?"

"Lady Dora is so youthful and lovely. I bet Lord Danas was on edge during the party."

At Mother's words, everyone let out a high-pitched "Kyaa!" From there, the conversation turned to who was handsome in which house. The ladies with daughters talked about what kind of husband they wanted for their daughters. I didn't join in the conversation and just listened.

...Does Mother also want me to marry someone? After what happened with Edward, I don't really have a prospect. Mother hasn't mentioned what kind of husband I want, perhaps out of consideration for me. ...But I am grateful for that.

"...What do you think, Lady Airis?"

I snapped back to reality at Lady Remedy's words. I shouldn't be so absorbed in my thoughts during a tea party.

"Sorry, I was a bit spaced out... What did you ask?"

"About your future husband. What kind of person do you think would be suitable?"

"I, as you all know, had my engagement broken. I plan to spend my life quietly in my territory."

My future dream is to live surrounded by children at an orphanage. ...Isn't that a good future plan?

"Oh... Lady Airis, you are joking. As a lady of the House of Armenia, with a brilliant career as a regent and a business owner, and with the special attention of the Queen Mother, you have many suitors."

"...Is that so?"

"Yes. If our family were a duchy, I would have definitely proposed."

Lady Remedy sighed regretfully. Lady Salina nodded in agreement.

I was surprised to hear that. ...But if asked if I want to marry someone, I don't have that thought right now.

...The party continued until just before sunset. It was tense, but in the end, it was a very enjoyable gathering. This was thanks to Lady Dranbald, who tried to make everyone have a good time.

I have never hosted a party, and I don't know if I will in the future... But if I ever have to host a gathering like this, I want to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere like Lady Dranbald or a refined one like Mother. I decided to start practicing little by little.