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Chapter 10
There was a brief commotion, but the tea party continued. Thanks to the efforts of the other young ladies to lighten the mood, I was able to hear many entertaining stories.
The rumor that the countess secretly loved her guard and the tale of a young gentleman and lady from rival families eloping, like Romeo and Juliet, were particularly fascinating.
“People really are the same everywhere, huh? An elopement—what a story straight out of a movie.”
I was enjoying myself, listening to the stories after such a long time, when I suddenly felt a sharp gaze. Turning my head, I saw Seara sitting next to me, furrowing her brows and looking apologetic.
I smiled gently and reassured her several times that it was okay.
As the tea party was coming to an end, Seara, who had been looking so gloomy all this time, finally smiled and stood up.
“Thank you so much for coming. I also thank Young Lady Jurn for overlooking my small mistakes. Let’s meet again next time.”
As all the young ladies stood, I adjusted the hem of my dress and got up as well. I hesitated for a moment, intending to leave with Vera, but then I stopped.
“Lady Poron.”
“Yes, Young Lady Jurn? Is there something you need?”
Seara tilted her head slightly, looking curious at my sudden call.
“May I ask you a favor?”
“Of course. If it’s something Young Lady Jurn wants, I’ll do anything. Even regarding the maid’s punishment earlier…”
A strange glimmer of expectation appeared on Seara’s innocent face. I wondered why she looked like that but shook my head with a smile.
“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that maid. The favor I wanted to ask is something else.”
“Huh?”
“Could I have just a little of this tea leaves? They smell wonderful.”
“Ah, of course.”
Her expression was exactly the same as the fake smile I had been practicing.
“Did I do something wrong? Surely she doesn’t mean she’s unwilling to give it because it’s expensive?”
I felt a tiny, very tiny worry, but I greeted her casually.
“The tea was lovely. I’ll enjoy the tea leaves you gave me as well. Thank you, and I’ll take my leave now.”
As I greeted Seara, who wore an awkward smile as if things hadn’t gone as she hoped, I noticed someone quietly standing behind her.
“Lady Deline, shall we go out together?”
“Huh? Ah, yes!”
She had been hesitating among the other young ladies, but when I called her, she brightened and approached. Peony quickly greeted Seara and followed me into the garden.
The feel of the grass under my shoes was wonderful. I wondered if I should suggest to Marquis Jurn that we have grass like this in our garden as well. As we walked, I heard a small voice behind me.
“Thank you for helping me, Harna Young Lady Jurn.”
“Just call me Harna.”
When I told Peony to call me comfortably instead of using her full name, her face flushed as if she were touched.
“Then may I call you Sister Harna?”
Peony asked, her pretty light green eyes sparkling like new sprouts.
“Wait, suddenly ‘sister’?”
But since I was the one who first said she could call me comfortably, I nodded, unable to refuse.
“Alright, then.”
“Yay! Since we’re sister and little sister, speak freely.”
“Really?”
Glancing at Peony, her eyes met mine, and she looked so happy she didn’t know what to do.
“Do nobles even do this?”
But nobles are humans too, and I thought it wouldn’t be a problem to take young Peony as a little sister.
“Honestly, I came thinking there might be a big incident at the tea party today.”
“Why?”
“There’s a rumor that wherever Sister Harna goes, danger follows. None of the young ladies below baronial rank who were invited have returned unharmed…”
I felt sorry for Peony and the other young ladies who must have been trembling as they attended.
“But you comforted me when I was scared and even gave me a handkerchief. I’m sorry for judging you without seeing for myself.”
“It’s alright. That could happen.”
If it had really been Harna, she would have acted exactly as Peony described.
I turned my gaze to Peony, who was praising me just for not being mean, and couldn’t help but smile. Isn’t it funny to be praised for the first time for doing nothing wrong?
After listening to Peony’s praise for a while, we arrived at the marquis’ carriage. Peony looked disappointed.
“Sister, I couldn’t speak earlier due to a contract, but next time we meet, I’ll greet you properly!”
“What contract?”
She just smiled and gestured for me to get in the carriage. With the help of the guard, I climbed in and waved at Peony, who was still waving from below.
“Take care on your way.”
“Yes. Next time we meet, we’ll talk longer!”
Peony’s cheerful and lively charm made me smile repeatedly.
“Alright, let’s do that.”
“Yes!”
I waved one last time to her, seeing her blush and nod vigorously. She stayed until the carriage left, and I leaned back in my seat. Unexpectedly, I had gained a cute little sister.
“Ah, by the way, the maid who made the mistake wasn’t punished severely, right?”
“Yes, Miss. Don’t worry. She was properly scolded and comforted.”
“Good job.”
Telling Vera to dismiss the maid was a way to protect her. It would have been awkward for her to stay.
Seara, with her angelic face, wouldn’t have given a harsh punishment to a young maid doing her first job. I didn’t think further and hummed a tune while looking out the window.
I enjoyed the scenery for a while, but my eyelids gradually grew heavy. My actor’s fatigue had returned—my actor’s fatigue was a condition where I would fall asleep to restore energy whenever I rode in a carriage.
As I dozed, Vera moved to sit beside me and gently massaged my arms. I smiled at the soothing touch.
“Thank you, as always.”
“It’s nothing.”
Listening to Vera’s kind response, I closed my eyes. She rested my head on her shoulder and watched over me faithfully.
“AAAAAH!”
With a scream that could tear the room apart, objects in the room shattered with a clanging sound.
“How dare you insult me?”
Seara erupted in anger, thinking of Harna’s kind smile directed at her.
“Who do you think you are! Harna!”
Unable to control her rage, she threw a vase at Anne, who was kneeling before her.
Clang!
“Ugh!”
Anne tried desperately not to scream as the vase shattered in front of her. From the moment she entered the Poron estate as a maid, she had anticipated such incidents. Despite the many warnings, she had no choice but to work as a maid for money, lowering her head and biting her lip.
“If you had served the tea properly, this wouldn’t have happened!”
Seara, still furious, approached Anne. Other maids lowered their heads in fear as they watched Seara tremble in anger.
After Anne fainted under the stress, Seara turned around irritably. Only then did the maids take the unconscious Anne away. Seara wiped her hands on her handkerchief and gritted her teeth.
“Harna Jurn.”
The doll that had always obeyed her now had the audacity to break free, feigning innocence. Having heard the rumors of Harna’s change, Seara couldn’t deny it—Harna had changed.
Whatever had happened, one thing needed to be made clear:
“Even if you’ve changed, don’t forget you can’t do anything without me.”
After returning from the tea party, I changed into a comfortable dress and considered decorating the marquis’ garden, similar to the Poron estate.
Unlike the quaintly decorated Poron garden, this one was simply well-maintained. I couldn’t leave it so empty.
Should I build a tree swing like I wanted as a child? Or plant all my favorite flowers and put a table out for picnics whenever the weather is nice?
While imagining the garden, a maid rushed over.
“Miss, the Marquis urgently requests your presence.”
“Now? What happened?”
“You’ll only know if you go.”
Following the maid without knowing the reason, I guessed from her urgency…
“Did he figure out I’m not really Harna?”
My previously light steps suddenly grew heavy.
“Are you alright?”
Hearing Vera’s worried question as she walked beside me, I replied:
“I’m fine.”
Forcing a smile, I entered the building. The antique wooden floors and beautiful paintings did little to lighten my dark thoughts.
Arriving at the office, I knocked slowly on the door.
“Come in.”
Marquis Jurn, who had been organizing the piled-up papers at his desk, stood when he heard me.
“I heard you called urgently.”
“Yes.”
His previously expressionless face now smiled.
“He didn’t figure out I’m not Harna.”
I steadied my nearly falling heart and waited to hear why he called.
“I heard you attended the tea party today.”
“Yes. I had an enjoyable time.”
“But I heard nothing happened.”
“Nothing happened?”
Confused, I blinked, and Marquis Jurn took a step closer. Then he pulled me into his arms.
Startled, I flailed my hands, but his awkward touch patted my back. Feeling comforted, I leaned into his embrace.
“I knew you had changed.”
“……”
“But to return without causing any incidents… This father couldn’t believe it.”
The tall Marquis leaned toward me. Seeing Harna, who always caused trouble at social events, return quietly, he was overwhelmed with emotion, soaking my shoulder.
“Father, are you crying?”
I realized how much he must have worried, and understanding the reason for his tears, mine fell too.
We held each other silently for a while, comforting one another.
“You’ve gone through so much. I’m sorry. I’ll make sure nothing ever troubles you again. I promise.”
“Harna……”
His shoulder grew wetter from my words, but I didn’t mind.
