TNCFO 39

~Chapter 39~

About an hour later.

After Shariette surrendered to the “mountain of dresses” and collapsed on a couch, Nixia took her to the next place.

“This is a tearoom I often visit. They release a special limited menu every month. Today, a new menu starts.”

Salon de Rosa Bloom

Just like its name, white and yellow rose vines decorated everything from the entrance on the first floor to the balcony seats on the second.

Shariette read the signboard outside the door:

August Limited Menu: Flua Compote Cream Cheese Tart, Red Flua Mousse Cake, Ginger Flua Tea

Right, Flua flowers were in season.

She remembered the red flowers overflowing in the basket Josef had once brought.

They were good for eating, but you had to be careful with combinations.

“Is this why you insisted we come today?”

“You caught me. But Shariette, once you taste it, you’ll understand. I’d hire the patissier for our estate if I could, but for the public good, I’m restraining myself.”

The moment the door opened, a staff member rushed up.

“Welcome, Lady Nixia. Shall I guide you to your usual seat?”

“Not today. I’m with a friend, so please seat us together.”

At the word friend, the staff glanced at Shariette.

It was the same kind of look she’d felt earlier in the boutique and the apothecary.

That expression of sudden recognition.

Like an herbalist realizing a weed was actually a valuable herb.
Like an examiner noticing something unusual in a test subject.

“Yes, then please follow me, both of you.”

Inside, soft music mixed with the clink of teacups and silverware.

The air was filled with a faint mix of flowers and tea.

Though it had only opened recently, many tables were already occupied.

Snippets of conversation floated around, along with quiet glances cast their way.

‘That’s Nixia Rubellot. And with her—who is that? Was there such a lady?’
‘Impossible. If she were a noble lady, we’d know. A commoner?’
‘No way. Look how close the Lady acts with her. And her way of walking—it’s not common at all.’

Shariette, pulled into the spotlight like leftover stock packaged with a popular item, looked back at them in turn.

Faces, gestures, tones, speech patterns—so many samples to study.

She also noticed one woman in a yellow dress, seated by the window, staring at her persistently.

“Shariette, what tea will you have?”

“Peppermint.”

Nixia shuddered.

“Ugh, how strange. I can’t stand mint.”

“I like how it makes my mouth feel cold.”

“That’s exactly what’s strange about it.”

Just as they finished ordering, the woman in the yellow dress approached them.

“Nixia! It’s been so long!”

Shariette noticed her dress was the same design she’d just seen earlier in the boutique.

“I heard you were busy with family affairs. How did it go?”

“Hailey! What a coincidence, seeing you here. I was just about to contact you.”

Nixia greeted her warmly, then naturally drew her gaze toward Shariette.

“This is my friend, Miss Shariette. She’s an honored guest staying with our family. She’s also helped me greatly.”

The unusual introduction, combined with Shariette’s mysterious appearance, made Hailey’s eyes widen.

She had already wondered who this young woman was, to sit arm-in-arm with the picky Lady Rubellot.

‘If she won’t even mention her family, maybe she’s nobody. But suddenly calling her a friend? Not just a guest, but the duke’s honored guest?’

Not only Hailey, but all the nobles nearby, pretending not to eavesdrop, had the same thought.

‘Helped greatly? Who is she?!’

“Hello, I’m Shariette Verdette.”

Startled into staring blankly, Shariette gave a polite nod when Nixia looked at her.

“Shariette, this is my long-time friend, Lady Hailey Perez. She’s the daughter of Count Perez.”

“Nice to meet you, Miss Shariette! I’m Hailey Perez. If you’re Nixia’s friend, then you’re my friend too. Please feel free with me.”

Hailey smoothly hid her shock, sat down beside them, and spoke kindly.

‘Whoever she is, she must be important. And I’m the first to be introduced!’

If this mysterious lady became the hottest topic of the capital’s social scene, being the first to make contact was a huge gain.

“Yes, Lady Hailey. Nice to meet you.”

Shariette repeated her greeting.

At this point, even she realized—

Nixia had been shouting “She’s my friend!” all day long.

Even now, she was saying it in a voice loud enough for other tables to hear.

“Congratulations. Now everyone will know who you are.”

Noxian had said that too.

‘Is knowing who I am really so important?’

While she puzzled over the meaning of this “forced promotion,” Hailey began chatting excitedly about gossip.

“By the way, Nixia, did you hear about the Maze viscount family?”

“Maze? Oh, the young lady who supposedly fell in love with her guard knight?”

Nixia pushed a tart plate toward Shariette as she replied.

Hailey lowered her voice dramatically.

“Yes. But this time, she even staged a suicide attempt!”

“Oh dear. The young lady wasn’t hurt, was she?”

“Not yet. The family is trying to hush it up, but things have been strange since—”

Suddenly, a sharp scream cut through the music and chatter.

“Kyaaah!”

Everyone turned at once.

“I—I can’t breathe! Hahh, hhckk…!”

A noblewoman clutched her throat, gasping. She tried to stand but collapsed onto the floor.

Her companions and the nearby tables cried out in panic.

“Poison! There must be poison in the food!”
“Call the guards! And a doctor!”
“Madam, wake up! Madam!”

Chaos erupted.

“We need a doctor at once!”

“You there, call for the manager! And you, fetch the nearest physician!”

Nixia, calmer than most after once seeing someone poisoned, barked orders to the staff.

“Yes, right away!”

Two servants rushed off in different directions.

“…Wait. Shariette?”

Nixia blinked, realizing her companion was no longer beside her.

Meanwhile, the stricken woman’s husband desperately patted her back and gestured.

“She has to vomit! Bring water quickly!”

“Don’t!”

A clear, firm voice stopped them.

A white-haired young woman appeared out of nowhere, kneeling beside the fallen lady.

“What? Who are you to interfere—”

“Her airway is swelling. Forcing her to vomit could suffocate her. Do not give her anything until her airway is secure.”

Shariette swiftly examined the woman’s condition.

Swelling of the neck and face, redness, shortness of breath.

‘This isn’t poisoning…’

She scanned the table.

Half-eaten Flua compote tart. A few bites of Flua mousse cake. Both brand-new menu items.

She sniffed the spilled teacup on the floor.

The faint scent of chamomile.

“…This is why Flua must be used carefully.”

Shariette muttered as she realized.

“> It’s not poison. The tea and the dessert are fine on their own, but together they cause problems. Flua and chamomile combined can trigger an acute reaction in sensitive people.”

“You—who are you?! How dare you—”

The husband grabbed her shoulder angrily, while fearful, suspicious eyes fixed on her from all sides.

Before Nixia could step in, Shariette tugged the chain at her neck and showed the pendant.

“> I’m an apothecary. We need to perform emergency treatment immediately, before the doctor arrives.”

The emblem of herbs and scales swayed in the light. Some of the doubt lifted from the onlookers’ faces.

There were still whispers of unease, but Shariette had no time to persuade them further.

“If we waste time, she’ll die! Move aside!”