[TKOSINM] 208 - Flowers, Paintings, Tea & Maliciousness

The prepared tea was herbal, with the leaves grown directly in the house of the Grand Duke, emphasising the fragrance of flowers and the vibrance of famous paintings.

When she heard of this plan, Lady Jasmine praised it, stating it was an excellent idea. That gave Irene quite a bit of confidence.

But I’m also nervous.

Preparations were coming to an end, and her heart, which she thought was okay, began to pound. With so much excitement, she waited for the party to commence.

“Young Madame, there is a problem.”

She thought everything was going well, but an issue suddenly occurred.

The maid whispered in Irene’s ear. Irene’s expression darkened sharply.

“Let’s go right away.” 

“You can come here.”

At Irene’s words, her maid hastily guided her. Walking after the maid in a hurry, Irene tried to suppress her beating heart consumed in anxiety.

The place where the maid guided her was a storage house to keep the cut flowers from withering. As she entered the small warehouse, Irene’s expression froze. She stood there, cold.

“What is this...”

“I think someone maliciously made it like this….”

The scene inside the warehouse was disastrous. All the flowers ordered for today’s tea party had been trampled, crushed, and torn by someone.

Irene knelt and picked up a ruined sunflower.

“...Since when were they in this state?” 

“There was no problem until I stopped by at dawn to check. It seems like someone has been there since then. I’ll find out who it is right away.”

“... Okay.”

Irene’s eyes sank heavily. As the maid said, she could only think that someone had done it maliciously. Then who?

No, before that, the flowers that were to be used for the tea party were no more, so what should she do?

The maid knew it too, and she was helpless. She looked at Irene with pity.

Today’s tea party was a very important event for Irene. Since it was her first event after becoming the Madame of the Grand Duchy, it was no exaggeration to say that it would determine her reputation in the social world.

The criminal who ruined the flowers must have done this with that in mind.

What do we do?

There was not much time left for the event, so they did not have enough time even if they were to have flowers transported to them again right now.

Irene stood still for a moment, preoccupied. She then turned around and left her warehouse.

“Young Madame? Where...”

As the maid followed her in embarrassment, Irene said with a small smile.

“Can you help me?”

“Pardon? Oh, yes.”

Bewildered by her words, the maid who could not understand her thoughts at all nodded. Irene quickly moved her steps again. The place she headed was the main building’s room.

♔♔♔

“I am looking forward to this tea party being held for the first time by the Grand Duchess.”

“It makes me even more curious because she is so veiled from the public.”

“Really, what kind of person is she?” 

“Ah, we’re almost there. But...”

The nobles who came to the tea party on time looked around the hall full of anticipation and immediately turned around in confusion.

“Clearly, the invitation was ‘We invite you to a time of flowers, paintings, and tea.’ but there are no flowers at all. Just, many paintings….” Said a young girl. 

Just as she said, the only things on display at the tea party that fit the ‘flowers’ and ‘paintings’ theme were the paintings. At the very least, someone had placed a small frame on the table. 

“Welcome. My name is Irene Kristen. Thank you for coming to my tea party today. Have a seat.”

From inside, Irene spoke to the nobles gathered in the hall.

Under the bonnet decorated with flowers for the tea party, her gentle face smiled softly.

It was the first time seeing Irene so closely, so the nobles could not take their eyes off her face. Irene was a little embarrassed when their eyes focused on her, but she tried to pretend that she was relaxed.

“Guide them.” 

“Yes. Come here.”

At Irene’s words, her servants politely guided the nobles to their assigned seats.

As they were going to their seats one by one, Lady Jasmine passed Irene. Their eyes met, and Lady Jasmine smiled brightly. Seeing that small sign of encouragement, Irene also smiled quietly. After all the nobles were seated, the tea party began. The servants quickly served the prepared herbal tea and refreshments, and the invited band started playing. A mellow tea scent and the melody of an orchestra filled the room. Even the weather was perfect.

The atmosphere was perfect, and it went smoothly.

“Madame, I love the scent of this tea. What kind of tea is it?”

“It is a herbal tea grown directly at the Grand Duke’s residence. Do you like it?”

“Oh my gosh. Somehow, I thought the scent of tea was too mellow, but it was the Grand Duke’s herb.”

As soon as they found out that it was the Grand Duke’s herbal tea, everyone could not help but marvel. The Grand Duke’s herbs were of the highest quality, and it was difficult to even drink once in a lifetime because it was difficult to supply.

For this reason, there was a saying that whenever you go to the Grand Duchy, you must drink their herbal tea.

The positive response elicited from the tea continued. In keeping with the refreshing atmosphere, the invited nobles talked about social issues and other chatter with smiles on their lips.