~CHAPTER 27~
* * *
The grand hall of the Kalard Ducal Castle.
For a household rarely seen in public, the annual gala hosted by the Duke’s family drew far more guests than expected.
People greeted one another, dressed with more care and flair than usual.
The hall, decorated with spring flowers rarely seen in the North, looked bright and splendid.
Tables lined the space, filled with finger foods and drinks.
Each table also held tea leaves, teacups, and kettles.
Amid the crowd favoring alcoholic beverages, a noblewoman showed interest in a small jar of tea leaves.
“Oh my, what kind of tea is this?”
“I’ve never seen this kind before. Should we try it?”
Four or five noblewomen gathered to brew the tea.
Each took a sip and smiled with satisfaction.
“Mmm, the flavor is nice.”
“It almost feels like my fatigue is melting away the moment I drink it…”
“That’s not an illusion, it’s real.”
A sudden voice came from behind them.
Startled, the ladies turned and saw a woman smiling brightly.
“Wh-who are you? I don’t recall seeing you before…”
“Good evening. I am Jenna Kreutz, lady of the Kreutz Viscounty.”
Jenna placed her hand gracefully over her chest and greeted them.
The ladies exchanged puzzled looks at the unfamiliar name.
“Kreutz? Was there such a house in the North?”
“I’ve never heard of it either. Must be some border nobility.”
“Then how did someone like that get invited here…”
Their eyes subtly swept over Jenna from head to toe.
Her striking looks aside, her attire was modest for a guest at such a grand event.
No extravagant jewelry, and though her dress was fine, it looked slightly worn.
Judging her as someone out of place, their expressions turned faintly dismissive.
Jenna ignored the shift in mood and spoke cheerfully.
“The tea you just drank was made with frozen astragalus. It restores energy after just a few sips.”
“Ah… Lady Kreutz, was it? How do you know that?”
“Because I refined those tea leaves myself.”
Holding the jar of tea like a model in a magazine, Jenna smiled.
“With Duke Kalard’s permission, I provided the tea and aromatic oils for tonight’s gala.”
“Then… you met the Duke himself?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, how enviable!”
The noblewomen suddenly murmured with interest, eyes gleaming.
“How was he in person? He’s said to be incredibly handsome, isn’t he?”
“Ah, I’ve always wanted to see him, but he so rarely appears in public.”
“I heard he looks like a statue carved from ice.”
At that, Jenna’s eyes flickered briefly.
She recalled the Duke of Kalard she had met.
Tall, well-built, and pleasant to look at—sure.
But worthy of *that* much praise? Hardly.
Honestly, Aizen’s better-looking. But I shouldn’t say that here.
“Yes… so I’ve heard. What matters is that His Grace acknowledged my tea and oils!”
She smoothly shifted the subject, exaggerating slightly.
The noblewomen now looked genuinely interested.
Jenna pointed to one of them.
“Madam, I noticed you picked up and put down a dessert earlier. Are you perhaps watching your figure?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“Oh, that must be hard. Not being able to eat what you like. But if you try this, it’ll be different.”
Jenna picked up a jar of reddish tea leaves made from garcinia from another table.
Her smile was the perfect mix of warmth and persuasion.
“Just one cup a day helps reduce body fat.”
“Is that true?”
“Absolutely!”
The noblewoman’s eyes glanced at Jenna’s slim figure, growing more convinced.
Jenna hadn’t actually claimed to have lost weight with that tea, but the impression worked.
Spotting her next target, she turned toward a noblewoman who had entered with a balding husband.
“Would you be interested in aromatic oil, perhaps? This one has an excellent hair-growth effect. Even a small amount works wonders.”
“…Truly? Even where it’s already thinning?”
“Of course.”
Jenna winked playfully.
Her smooth tone and bright face mesmerized the woman, who accepted the bottle at once.
Soon, a small crowd gathered around them, curious about the teas and oils.
Jenna proudly introduced herself again and again.
“Everyone, I’m Jenna Kreutz of House Kreutz!”
Her clear, ringing voice made sure no one would forget the name.
“If you’d like to purchase tea or oils, please come find me—Jenna!”
* * *
The promotion went better than expected.
Still, one couldn’t spend an entire evening at someone else’s gala pushing their own products.
Especially when the Duke’s family arrived—instantly drawing every eye in the hall.
“His Grace the Duke Kalard, the Duchess Dowager, and the Young Lord are entering!”
The servant’s loud announcement echoed as they appeared atop the grand staircase.
So that’s the Kalard family… but why do they look more like reapers than nobles?
They were wrapped tightly in black masks and hats, hiding even their hair color.
All except one.
My eyes stopped on a familiar child standing proudly among the adults.
Golden hair, red eyes, angelic features.
Mathias.
I wasn’t surprised.
He had come to me a few days earlier and revealed his identity himself.
“Thanks to you, Lady Viscountess, Tommy was able to reunite with his sister. I truly appreciate it. And let me introduce myself properly.”
“You’re suddenly so formal. Are you going to tell me which noble house you’re from?”
“I am Mathias Kalard.”
“…Kalard? As in *the* Duke of Kalard’s house?”
It was indeed *that* Kalard.
The cheeky, stray-cat-like boy turned out to be the nephew of the ruler of the North.
Good thing I never said anything inappropriate around him.
Hands behind his back, Mathias stood tall as our eyes met.
He gave me a polite, almost prim nod.
Ah, so cute.
Mathias stepped forward and delivered a composed greeting on behalf of the Duke’s family, wishing everyone a pleasant evening.
The rest of the family, dignified and silent, left right after.
Then why host the gala at all?
Puzzled, I drifted through the crowd, looking for someone my age to talk to.
I spotted a small group of young women and approached with a friendly smile.
“Hello, it’s nice to meet you. Would you mind if I joined your conversation?”
I kept my tone polite, but the glances I received were sharp and appraising—worse than the older noblewomen’s.
A brunette at the center snapped open her fan and whispered to her friend.
“Ha, isn’t that the tea peddler from earlier?”
“Yes, that lowborn viscount’s wife… Croker or something.”
They know I can hear them.
Their open mockery was almost impressive.
The brunette flicked her fan again and said curtly:
“Sorry, but we only associate with people of our level.”
“Oh, perfect. So do I.”
I smiled, eyes curving pleasantly.
“Then I’ll go find someone who matches mine, so we don’t cause any trouble.”
The insult was subtle but clear.
I had no desire to befriend anyone that petty.
“Wait—what did you just say? Are you implying *we’re* the troublemakers?”
The brunette scowled, clearly irritated by my calm tone.
“Oh dear, I never said that. Perhaps that’s just how you took it.”
“Ha!”
She sneered and stepped closer, tapping my shoulder with her fan.
“You must not know your place, Lady Viscountess. I’m Sylvia Hoffman.”
“And I’m Jenna Kreutz.”
I replied lightly to the belated introduction.
Her face twisted further in annoyance.
The girl beside her hurried to speak up.
“Haven’t you heard of the Hoffman Marquessate? Lady Hoffman is their only daughter!”
“Oh, how nice for her.”
“If you offend her, you’ll never step foot in Northern society again!”
“Goodness, how scary. Luckily, I’m already standing here.”
I lifted my skirt slightly and tapped my foot twice.
The move made Sylvia’s face flush bright red.
“Enough! Clearly you’re impossible to talk to. Don’t bother us any further—”
“Alright then, I’ll be going.”
I bowed politely and turned away.
Behind me, I could hear her seething with frustration.
We went our separate ways, thankfully, but another problem soon became clear—
No one wanted to talk to me.
Every pair of eyes held the same disdain.
My teas were interesting, but as a *noble*, I wasn’t worth their attention.
So this is what it feels like to have no footing in high society…
Reading about it in novels was one thing.
Living it was downright unpleasant.
Muttering to myself, I went to the restroom.
The first one was crowded, so I moved deeper inside the corridor, where it was quieter.
Hmm, no one here. Perfect—
Then suddenly—
“Ugh…”
A strange sound came from the farthest stall.
Someone was retching.
Worried, I knocked on the door.
“Excuse me, are you alright? Should I call a doctor?”
Silence.
Then, after a moment, the door opened, and a pale dark-haired noblewoman stepped out.
She dabbed her lips with a handkerchief and smiled politely.
“I’m fine. Please don’t worry.”
“But…”
“It was just a brief spell of nausea.”
She refused my offer to help and went to wash her hands.
I watched uneasily as she did so.
Then, as she quietly turned to leave—something fell from her purse.
Thud, roll—
Oh? What’s that…?
