Chapter 21
A week had passed since then.
“Even better than I expected… perfect.”
Not every noble who received the kittel had followed my instructions, but even the actions of a few caused a significant ripple.
Some had even fashioned the kittel into necklaces or brooches, wearing them proudly, and word of it spread like wildfire.
Thanks to their dazzling displays, the crowd at Raizen swelled so much that the space nearly ran out.
Raizen’s reputation improved by the day, and more people came to visit, inspired by those who had gone before them.
The managers seized the moment, focusing every ounce of energy on ensuring impeccable service.
The clientele seeking Raizen had grown far too broad to be contained under the label of “high-ranking nobles” alone. My plan had succeeded spectacularly.
Of course, as people and events increased, my sleeping hours shrank. Meals were often skipped while reading documents, and insomnia had begun to plague me—so much so that I now burned more than three scented candles in my bedroom.
“But who cares? The profits coming into our family have grown this much.”
My satisfaction soared to unprecedented heights.
“Phew.”
I leaned back in my chair, considering that enough for today, when a soft knock came at the door.
“Miss.”
When I opened the door, Meisha peeked in and stepped inside.
Lately, she had been keeping close watch over me, checking in several times a day in case I was overworked. At first, it had made me feel guilty, but now it had simply become routine.
“What is it?” I asked.
“You’ve received letters, Miss. Two of them.”
“Letters?”
Not documents—letters. And two at that.
Had there been another royal party?
I took the letters from Meisha and noticed the seal on the first: the emblem of the Duke of Tehas pressed into black wax.
To Lady Clodie,
The handwriting appeared formal at first glance, but the strokes softened at the ends, mirroring the Duke himself.
I hear you’ve been busy with Raizen. But if it’s alright, I would very much like to meet again. There are a few things I’d like to discuss.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t met the Duke since proposing our partnership.
Now that we were business partners, there were indeed matters to discuss. I nodded lightly at the thought and read on.
I know you must be busy, but I hope you can spare the time. I await your reply.
Carl Tehas.
Though brief, the letter fascinated me beyond measure, as anyone who knew his character from a previous life would understand.
I smiled softly and reached for the second letter. This one was sealed with pink wax.
“Pink wax…”
The stationery looked familiar. It bore the emblem of the Casla Viscount family, which I had seen when Lael had told me about the social circles.
Why was it from the Casla Viscounts?
Curiosity gave way to surprise as I read the contents, instantly sweeping away any lingering concerns.
To Lady Clodie,
The handwriting was small and gentle, radiating a bright, cheerful energy.
You may recall that we first met at the tea party. I was impressed by you and wanted to get to know you better, so I am writing this letter.
If it is agreeable to you alone, I would like to invite you to our estate. We will prepare sweet desserts and tea, and of course, no one else has received this invitation. There will be no uncomfortable situations like before.
I await your favorable reply.
Eli Casla.
I covered my mouth with both hands in shock.
After the tea party at Forhanga, I had never imagined this kind of relationship.
Honestly, I thought it would be even harder to build a connection than last time. Who would dare show interest in someone more influential than themselves? Yet this was entirely unexpected.
Eli Casla. A name I had heard before, when Lael had explained the social elite.
Known as the second daughter of the Casla Viscount family, she had started by running the business alone, making her own name through her accomplishments.
Though she had once been obscure in society, she had quietly secured a firm place in the social circle—a fact Lael had described to me as a remarkable case.
Perhaps because of this, she moved through the social sphere confidently, unbothered by the skeptical glances she drew, and still commanded a significant presence.
Hm, but honestly, who she was mattered little to me.
“If I play this right, maybe I can grow closer to her.”
A light smile curved my lips at the thought that my relationship with Lady Eli could improve after the tea party, a matter I had been pondering.
I quickly pulled paper from my desk drawer and wrote replies to both letters, pouring extra care into Lady Casla’s.
It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady Casla. Thank you very much for your kindness. Could we meet soon?
That night, I slept deeply, unusually so.
From then on, Eli and I exchanged many letters.
What began as simple greetings gradually shifted to personal stories, and the volume of correspondence increased steadily.
Even the day before our scheduled tea party, we were still writing to each other, eventually allowing ourselves to address one another by name, drawing closer in a single bound.
Click-
I stepped out of the carriage at the Casla estate, and from a distance, I saw Eli.
Perhaps she had been watching the front gate, for the moment my feet touched the ground, she sprinted toward me.
Her hand pressed down the sky-blue ribbon on her hat as she dashed across the flower-filled garden path in Mary Jane shoes.
Her pale pink hair bounced with every step, and her radiant, childlike smile lit up her face as she closed the distance.
“Beryan!”
“Eli.”
She waved cheerfully as she reached me, clasping my hands in hers.
“I was so worried you wouldn’t come, Lady Clodie!”
“What are you saying? I should be the one thanking you.”
She stomped her foot lightly, smiling brightly as she held my hands.
As we exchanged thanks and moved to enter the estate, something caught my eye—someone hidden behind one of the pillars flanking the entrance.
At first, I couldn’t even make out a person, but as we walked toward the gate, the figure became clearer.
Did Eli see it too? She dashed forward before I could react.
“You showed up without a word?” she said.
“I needed to speak with you for a moment,” came the reply.
Our eyes met.
It was—
“Lady Clodie?”
“Vian Pizent?”
Vian Pizent.
I was surprised to see him again, unexpectedly, after the Crown Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony, but I waved warmly.
He smiled brightly, approaching me with the same ease and familiarity as before.
“Long time no see, Lady Clodie.”
His friendly manner lifted my spirits, brightening my tone.
“Indeed, Vian. I trust you’ve been well?”
“Yes, of course.”
He smiled lightly, as always, and I paid little attention, until—
“Huh?”
Eli, standing beside him, glanced at him as though she couldn’t tolerate what she saw.
“You two know each other?” she asked with a playful smile.
“Ah, we met once at the Crown Prince’s coming-of-age ceremony,” I replied.
“Hmmm…”
Eli let out a sound of mild annoyance, passing Vian with a sharp glance.
“I—”
“Beryan, let’s go inside. The pie is perfectly baked today.”
She cut off Vian’s words sharply, pulling me by the arm and hurrying me forward.
“…? Yes, of course, Eli.”
Unable to gauge their relationship, I simply followed, and Eli, seeing Vian’s dejected expression, shook her head and strolled leisurely into the estate.
“Ahaha, see?”
Back inside, Eli launched into a torrent of social anecdotes, leaving me in stitches.
Even after tens of minutes, her stories never ceased, fascinating me with the little-known dramas of the social scene.
“And then, what happened next?”
Relaxed by the atmosphere, my voice rose unconsciously.
Pleased by my reaction, Eli continued, always explaining in ways I could easily understand, all while keeping her gentle smile.
It made our conversation feel even more natural.
After a while, her stories concluded, and our attention turned to the tea and snacks before us.
“Ah, Beryan,” Eli said, cutting a fruit tart and bringing it to her lips, “were you really engaged to the Crown Prince?”
Cough!
The tea I had been sipping caught in my throat.
“… Excuse me?”
