Chapter 38 …
“Leana?”
Leana, quietly scooping her sherbet, lifted her head. Hazel and Elena’s gazes turned toward the child. Leana blinked her big eyes.
“I promised to meet Antoni… but I have friends too! I want to see my friends too.”
Leana hesitated, holding the sherbet spoon in her mouth. Judging by how she glanced around, it seemed she thought she shouldn’t go. After all, the number of times she had been out was so few it could be counted on one hand—it was understandable.
Hazel and Elena exchanged a glance.
Perhaps, someday, Leana could go out like other ordinary children and spend time with friends. And when that day came, there would be no need to be so cautious.
“How about going to meet Antoni? Don’t ask Olen to bring him—go find him yourself.”
“Really?”
Leana’s eyes widened. Hazel nodded with a smiling face. She spoke in a voice tinged with amusement.
“Then we know what we’re doing. Tomorrow, Elena will have her tea party, and Leana and I will go to the palace.”
Elena and Leana nodded solemnly.
The young ladies gathered at the coffee house, studying a single invitation intently.
“You got one too?”
“You too?”
“Being invited to the Adellopf Ducal House… it feels like a dream.”
“We can’t go empty-handed. We should buy a gift… but what should we get? Does anyone know Elena’s taste?”
The ladies whispered excitedly. Their interest focused more on the Adellopf Ducal House than on Elena herself. Yet the important fact was that Elena’s marriage to Maxim Adellopf had been announced.
A princess recognized by the royal family!
Even if they weren’t particularly interested in Elena, having a connection with her could prove useful in the future. The invited young ladies decided to include her in their circle rather than ostracize her.
Then a shadow fell over them.
“What’s this?”
It was Camellia. Her unusually pale face stood out. Rudeness aside, she picked up the invitation without permission and inspected it.
“Oh, Camellia! What are you doing?”
“I wondered what schemes you all were plotting. But to think you were discussing something so pathetic,” Camellia said coldly.
“I want to go too. Then I can help you pick a gift.”
“Camellia, that’s…”
She put the invitation into her bag. Even while committing such a brazen act, Camellia carried herself with confidence. This was a chance to teach clueless Elena some manners.
And a chance for Elena to escape before her marriage, should she be scared. Camellia smiled coldly.
“You wanted advice on a gift, right? Don’t forget Elena is from rustic Lebunto. Her tastes are obvious. Something like an embroidered handkerchief, or objects filled with thought and sentiment—things with no real value.”
Camellia laughed coldly and left the coffee house. She hadn’t expected such a reward from this brief visit. The invitation had clearly been made by Hazel, not Elena—lavishly adorned with gold on expensive paper.
And that was the right of the royals, a display of wealth that an Adellopf must show. Even for the honor of the Adellopf name. Could Elena endure this? That poor country girl?
Left behind, the other young ladies looked at each other.
“Lady Hazel will certainly be displeased.”
“And Camellia is unstoppable as always. We didn’t give it to her—we were robbed.”
“That’s right. We did nothing wrong.”
The young ladies remained silent. The choice of peer girls, unwilling to incur the displeasure of either Camellia or Hazel, was quiet observation and ignoring her.
Following Camellia’s advice, they bought handkerchiefs with luxurious embroidery.
Elena applied herself to everything she was given, including the events Hazel had prepared. Maxim, stopping mid-step while going to work, leaned on the second-floor staircase railing.
Resting his chin on his arm, he watched Elena scurry about the first floor.
“Mrs. Greta, what time did you say Elena started all this?”
“At 5 a.m. She got up with the servants.”
“So she’s been at it since everyone else was still asleep. Perhaps our aunt gave her too difficult a task?”
“Maybe she’s just excited,” Mrs. Greta said with a gentle smile in her voice.
“Excited? In what way?”
“She said it’s been a long time since she could spend time with peers her age.”
Maxim nodded, as if understanding was beyond him. If this mattered to Elena, then it mattered. And seeing her like this wasn’t unpleasant.
“Uh… I think… I should place this here. Are all the madeleines for the tea party ready?”
“Don’t worry, young lady. Everything is perfectly prepared.”
“I hope so… I hope I’m doing this right.”
Elena repeatedly asked the same question while moving about Audrey Hall, where the tea party would be held. Her face, flushed with a peachy glow, truly showed her excitement. Maxim smiled.
“Aren’t you going to work?”
“It’s fine to be a little late today. Were the flowers prepared enough?”
“Hmm, probably. Lady Hazel likes surprise events…”
“Call the company. There must be flowers reserved at the department store. That should be enough to decorate Audrey Hall.”
“Yes?”
“Quickly.”
Maxim released the railing. A faint smile graced his usually cold face.
“Wow! It’s so beautiful! Everyone will love this, right?”
Elena’s exclamation echoed through the quiet mansion.
“My, my.”
The invited young ladies gasped. Every mansion had a hall for such gatherings, but none could match the beauty of the Adellopf Ducal House. From rare Aurora roses to pure white baby’s breath, the atmosphere was dreamlike.
Even the furniture arrangement, small ornaments, and decorations radiated elegance.
Actually, the first to exclaim was Elena herself.
“Really, my goodness.”
Earlier, when Elena had finished, it hadn’t looked like this. She had filled the gaps with scented candles, but now Audrey Hall overflowed with the grandeur of flowers.
“I didn’t expect this.”
But as the host of the tea party, she couldn’t show her surprise. Elena managed to maintain her composure. Who could it be? Lady Hazel? Mrs. Greta? Or… maybe Maxim?
Elena smiled, imagining happily.
“Did you decorate this yourself, Miss Elena?”
“Yes. I’m glad everyone seems pleased.”
“Liar.”
Someone spoke sharply. Elena turned to find the source. The gathered young ladies all looked at one person: a woman with dark brown hair and striking reddish-brown eyes.
She seemed vaguely familiar.
Elena stared at her.
“What do you mean?”
“Of course, Lady Hazel had a hand in it. Elena, why not be honest? No one here will scold you. Everyone present praises and loves the Adellopfs—they’ll understand.”
Elena’s expression stiffened slightly. Everyone else remained silent, alternating their gaze between the two women.
The star of the day was Elena Joseph. But it seemed someone else wanted to be the center too.
How should one handle such a situation?
Hazel invited that woman? Then was this a test of her abilities?
Whatever the case, Elena mustn’t frown here. She tried to smile. Just as she was about to speak, another voice intervened.
“Why should Camellia decide that?”
This time it was blonde. A radiant blonde with brown eyes drew everyone’s attention.
‘I’ve seen her somewhere before…’
Elena blinked, feeling a sense of déjà vu.
“If it’s not Elena, then it’s not. If it is, then it is. And what if Lady Hazel helped? She’s Elena’s chaperone, isn’t she? Does no one heed the chaperone’s advice?”
Camellia’s cheeks flushed at the pointed remark. Her lips trembled as she struggled for words.
And in that moment, Elena finally remembered who the woman cornering Camellia was.
‘Sheryl!!’
