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Chapter 18
“You are very clever, Sir Onyx.”
An interesting young lady.
The woman who praised the man’s intelligence continued speaking for quite some time. The corner of his lips did not fall for a long while as he watched her.
“That lady is riding a horse.”
After talking endlessly, Minuet looked out the window at the back of a noblewoman riding past, her expression full of envy.
“I’ve seen three ladies riding horses while we’ve been sitting here.”
“Even noble young ladies are usually allowed basic riding lessons.”
“That’s because you don’t know my mother. Even stepping outside the house requires approval upon approval.”
Approval?
At the unfamiliar word that slipped out from time to time, Onyx narrowed his eyes slightly.
“If you hadn’t been here today, I wouldn’t have been able to come out at all.”
“Even if you don’t leave the estate, the vast lands of House LeVine should be enough to enjoy riding.”
“What fun is riding inside the estate? And Mother would never allow it. She worries I might faint the moment I mount a horse.”
“Is there somewhere in particular you wish to go?”
After thinking for a long while, Minuet finally spoke.
“Living as the daughter of House LeVine is quite happy, if you think about unearned income… but when I consider the lack of freedom, it’s not entirely happy.”
Oh?
Just moments ago she had been proudly declaring how happy she was to be the daughter of House LeVine because of its wealth. Now she spoke of freedom.
“You are greedy. If you hold much in your hands, you must also let some things go. Not all central nobles possess the wealth of House LeVine.”
“That’s true, but…”
At his criticism, Minuet lowered her head with a deeply disappointed expression.
“Ah! Instead—”
As if struck by a good idea, Minuet’s eyes widened as she looked at him.
“Would you become my riding instructor?”
Talking with her was as exhausting as it was enjoyable. What was truth and what was false? Each time she opened her mouth, he had to sort her words quickly in his mind.
At Minuet’s request, Onyx relaxed back into his chair and looked at her.
There it is again—that sly suggestion.
Yes. I knew today wouldn’t end quietly.
“Grand Duchess! Have you seen the newspaper? The garden was featured!”
Since Minuet began visiting the Crowley estate, peaceful tea times had disappeared. And Grand Duchess Violet Crowley gladly accepted the charming commotion. Today’s afternoon tea began once again with Minuet bursting noisily into her drawing room.
“The Visk Empire has always been noisy. When I returned from the Kingdom of Nicander, I did not expect peaceful days to continue as they had there…”
The sound of Jereina pouring tea into the Grand Duchess’s cup mingled with Minuet’s slightly breathless voice.
“How can a lady’s footsteps be so unrefined?”
Though her brows were knit in mock displeasure, the Grand Duchess’s lips were curved in an affectionate smile.
When she first heard from Lilliane that the target of Onyx’s proposal had been Minuet, she had felt deeply betrayed.
“Children these days truly do not know how to comply.”
Ordinarily, the Grand Duchess would never again associate with a noble young lady who refused a match arranged by her parents. But even after learning that the bold girl who rejected the proposal was Minuet, she could not bring herself to hate the child who ran into her drawing room and chattered endlessly about the garden.
No—knowing that, who could possibly reject such a lovable girl?
She is a good child.
That was the conclusion the Grand Duchess reached about Minuet. She decided she would make no further judgments while looking at that sweet face.
Knowing there was affection in the scolding, Minuet simply smiled brightly and handed her the newspaper.
<The Flower of Nicander’s Social Circle Returns to Visk — Grand Duchess Violet Crowley’s New Garden>
The Grand Duchess nodded indifferently at the headline.
“Even if a vulgar newspaper that runs chocolate advertisements acknowledges it, I can already appreciate the beauty of my garden with my own eyes.”
Minuet stepped behind her and read along.
“…Applause for the skill of the mysterious garden decorator who has brought a new beauty never before seen in Visk…”
Until now, newspapers had only written sharp criticism about Minuet—the audacious noble lady who rejected a proposal, the disloyal House of LeVine.
This was the first time her heart felt warm while reading a newspaper.
“Unfortunately, Miss Minuet’s name isn’t mentioned. Everyone in Ivelia should know of your sense.”
When the Grand Duchess casually tossed the paper onto the table, Jereina glanced at it.
“There’s no need to be upset that your name isn’t in such a paper, Minuet. Everyone in this house knows what you’ve done.”
“Of course. We know best how hard you worked, Miss.”
“Indeed. That’s right.”
And perhaps he will acknowledge it too.
Smiling softly as she thought of Onyx, Minuet did not notice Jereina’s meaningful smile as she sat beside the Grand Duchess.
“Since the newspaper didn’t mention who redesigned the garden, the social circle must be in quite an uproar wondering who decorated the Crowley estate.”
Though the Grand Duchess valued etiquette and tradition, she treated her servants like old friends.
Jereina had once been the young girl who cleaned her room during her days as a princess. Now, with streaks of white in her hair, she was aging alongside her. Their bond had only grown more precious.
And the same now applied to Minuet.
To the Grand Duchess, who cherished relationships, Minuet was no longer merely a noble lady but a beloved friend.
“Your talent is far too valuable to be praised by an article scribbled with cheap ink and pen… Minuet.”
“Thank you for believing in me, Your Grace.”
To think that work could be this enjoyable.
Even when she completed projects that gained international attention in her previous life, even when she handled designs for top domestic brands, she had never felt such deep satisfaction. A powerful emotion swelled in Minuet’s chest.
“You have no idea how much this means to me.”
Seeing Minuet clutch the newspaper with the garden article in both hands, the Grand Duchess gestured.
“Jereina, bring the invitations.”
Jereina returned shortly with a tray holding several envelopes.
“Minuet. You said you missed your social debut while bedridden due to illness.”
The Grand Duchess flipped through the neatly stacked letters and found one addressed to Minuet.
“And even now, you do not seem close to the social circle.”
“How did you know?”
“At a time when parties are in full swing, you spend your afternoons idly in the garden with this old woman. Is that not obvious?”
“You’re very sharp.”
Minuet shrugged, feeling as if she had been caught. The Grand Duchess handed her the letter. On the pristine white envelope, her name was written in elegant script.
“Once, it took more than two months to copy a single book by hand. Now printing presses can produce over five hundred copies in a week. Yet such wonderful technology is used to chase after nobles’ private lives. Tsk. That is why I dislike newspapers.”
After clicking her tongue, Violet Crowley took a sip of tea and continued.
“It truly is a wonderful era.”
To think that she, who once ran 3D programs on a computer, would applaud the development of printing technology like this.
“Indeed. I agree with that part. I am not such an old-fashioned woman.”
Minuet’s soft laughter echoed through the drawing room at the Grand Duchess’s playful expression.
“It may not be as grand as a debutante ball, but the tea party I host carries just as much influence. I intend to hold it in the garden you cultivated. Will you attend?”
Watching the eager young lady holding the letter, the Grand Duchess added the most important remark.
“Ah, and of course, if it is my tea party, it will naturally appear even larger—on the front page.”
Before accepting your invitation, here are some useful tips to read in advance. Congratulations on receiving your first tea party invitation. You have been recognized as a promising young lady entering society. When you attend the tea party, first observe the other young ladies quietly. It is best to watch the host. If you are unfamiliar with the silver utensils beside you, speak with someone until the host begins the first course. Sit beside someone older than yourself and observe their manners. That is how we all learn.
“Sister, are you twelve?”
“Huh?”
Even as they crossed the main gate of the Crowley estate, Minuet walked while reading the small book quickly in her hands. Lilliane poked her repeatedly.
“You’re not twelve, so what is that book? Isn’t it a children’s etiquette guide?”
The Kind Etiquette Guide for Little Ladies Entering Society
Only then did Minuet close the book and hug it to her chest as if hiding it.
“It’s just that this is my first tea party… no… it’s been a very long time.”
“I know it’s been a while since you were invited to a tea party, but please don’t embarrass me by carrying around a book like that.”
Covering her face with a pink feathered fan, Lilliane walked ahead with a haughty expression, leaving Minuet behind.
