HPL 13

chapter 13

The bustling street outside the carriage window passed by quickly. I had walked around the streets quite a lot, but seeing it from inside a carriage felt completely different.

I watched the streets carefully, but the baroness sitting across from me and Ariel only chattered on about the tea party. Their cheeks were flushed with excitement and anticipation.

“They say Countess McCurlin’s house is magnificent, right?”

When Ariel asked eagerly, the baroness’s eyes sparkled.

“They say it’s much larger and more elegant than the lord’s mansion. Well, it is the house of the wealthiest person in the territory.”

Hearing that, I thought of Roy, Tom, and Jack, who should have already arrived at the countess’s house by now. What were they doing, I wondered?

The carriage drove on for quite a while before arriving at the McCurlin estate.

As soon as we got off, maids waiting at the entrance guided us inside.

Just as the baroness and Ariel had said, the mansion was beautifully decorated.

The walls and ceilings were made of marble, the floors were covered in plush carpets, and the decorations scattered throughout all looked expensive.

It was a space that balanced dignity, luxury, and refinement.

The baroness and Ariel, who had been so excited in the carriage, now acted as if this was all familiar, wearing prim expressions. But their eyes darted everywhere, taking in the interior.

Their eyes moved even faster once we entered the indoor garden—this time to observe the women sitting at the center.

But wasn’t this supposed to be a tea party? Tommy had told me that for a tea party, the proper attire was something fancier than casual wear but still comfortable enough to move around in.

Yet all the women here were dressed in tight-fitting or heavily decorated outfits.

“Welcome.”

A plump middle-aged woman fanned herself lazily as she spoke, and the baroness and Ariel quickly replied.

“Countess Terena! So nice to meet you.”

“It’s an honor to see you, Countess Terena.”

“Lady Tail and Miss Ariel, this is your first time attending one of these tea parties, isn’t it? Don’t be too nervous.”

As Countess Terena smiled faintly, the other women chimed in with ease.

“Everyone has a first time.”

“We’re all just people here, so don’t think of it as difficult.”

“If you don’t know something, just ask.”

The baroness and Ariel busily flattered the women. How easy to read they were.

“By the way, is that Miss Ariel’s cousin, Lady Dinah?”

A red-haired woman glanced at me, and the others also looked at me as though I were some strange object.

The temple had spread the story that the “simpleton” Dinah had fallen ill but recovered and become normal. Had these women heard the same rumor?

Normally, the baroness or Ariel should have introduced me, but their lips were clamped shut like clamshells.

Of course. Well, I could introduce myself.

Tommy quickly whispered the proper etiquette to me.

{Hold your skirt about 30 centimeters from the waistline. Bend your knees slightly, bow your waist at a 40-degree angle. The greeting is…}

I followed Tommy’s instructions exactly.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Dinah El Tail. This is my first time at such a gathering, but I wanted to meet such distinguished ladies, so I gathered my courage to come.”

When I greeted them perfectly, the women looked surprised but also pleased. Meanwhile, Ariel and the baroness glared daggers at me.

What, surprised that Dinah managed well without having learned proper etiquette? They didn’t seem to understand that if Dinah embarrassed herself, the entire Tail family would be shamed.

After introductions, the ladies of the tea party introduced themselves as well:

• Countess Terena

• Countess Jan

• Baroness Junior

• Baroness Linne

• Karin, only daughter of Baron Uriel

The baroness and Ariel fawned not only over the countesses but even over the wealthier barons’ families. It seemed that even among barons, those with more money or power were treated as higher in rank.

When maids came to take our coats, I finally saw what the baroness and Ariel had worn.

{They’ve really dressed themselves to the nines.}

Just as Tommy said, their outfits were as flashy as any other woman here.

The two of them immediately fussed over my attire.

“Dinah, why are you wearing that?”

“I should have lent you one of my dresses. That outfit doesn’t suit this kind of gathering.”

The other women stared at my simple dress too.

So this is what they mean when they say “the dung-stained dog mocks the dust-stained one.” They themselves weren’t dressed appropriately for a tea party. They’d lived as humans for decades, and yet they had less common sense than a soul who’d been in this body for less than a month?

At that moment, Countess McCurlin entered the indoor garden.

As soon as she appeared, the women who had been acting like hosts all jumped up. The baroness and Ariel also folded their hands respectfully.

“It’s just a simple tea party, but why did everyone dress up so much? Now I feel embarrassed for not having done the same.”

The countess gave a faint smile as she looked at their outfits. Polite words, but what she really meant was, “Why on earth did you all dress like this?”

At least she had some sense.

Her gaze then turned to me, who was dressed similarly to her.

“Still, it’s less lonely having an ally. You’re Lady Dinah, aren’t you? Have we met before?”

“No, this is the first time.”

Dinah, playing the fool, had rarely met outsiders, so it was natural she hadn’t met Countess McCurlin.

The countess tilted her head with a gentle smile, and in the meantime, maids brought out refreshments.

I began eating here and there, as befitted a tea party. But the others only sipped their tea and didn’t touch anything else.

“Dinah, are you possessed by a starving ghost? Why are you eating so much?”

“You eat up all the food at our house too…”

The baroness and Ariel tried to belittle me while pretending to joke.

These two again.

Just as I was about to snap back, Countess McCurlin smiled brightly.

“This is a tea party, after all. The host is pleased when the guests eat and drink plenty. If no one touches what I’ve prepared, that would be truly sad.”

“R-right, of course.”

“Yes, of course.”

The baroness and Ariel quickly backpedaled. The other women also suddenly reached for the pastries.

While I sat there dumbfounded at their transparent behavior, the countess asked me a question.

“I heard you were seriously ill not long ago, Lady Dinah. Are you well now?”

“Yes, I’m fine now.”

Even after that, Countess McCurlin kept showing interest in me, which made the red-haired Karin frown.

That girl’s name was Karin, wasn’t it?

“Lady Dinah, do you not remember what happened before your illness?”

When Karin suddenly asked, I replied that I didn’t. Karin smirked with one corner of her lips.

“If you remembered the days when you were a simpleton, you’d be too ashamed to walk around with your head up. Guess it’s fortunate for you.”

Oh? You dare to provoke me while I’m quietly eating sweets? I can’t just let that go.

I mimicked her smirk and replied,

“Better that than strutting around over nothing, too ignorant to even know what’s truly shameful.”

I stared straight at Karin.

Did she understand my meaning—that she was more pitiful than I? Her lips twitched, and the black beauty mark above her lip twitched with them.

“Good day. May I join you as well?”

A gentle male voice suddenly rang out. Turning my head, I saw Wayne standing at the garden entrance, dressed in a crisp suit.

Behind him were three figures in robes and hoods. Their faces weren’t visible, but they had to be Roy, Jack, and Tom.

The guests all looked at Wayne with favor. Their interest grew even stronger when he spoke smoothly, striking the perfect balance between charm and modesty.

Just who are you? That sly fox had transformed into a mild, courteous young gentleman.

Even Tommy was flustered by Wayne’s radiant, sunlike smile.

{At this point, it feels like he has two personalities.}

After greeting the guests, Wayne turned to Countess McCurlin. His autumn-sky-colored eyes were filled with affection.

“Mother, may my friends and I join you?”

“Of course, why not? Come sit.”

The countess returned his look with equal fondness.

Once seated, Wayne smiled, then immediately darkened his expression.

“My friends are quite skilled in… behind-the-scenes work, but they don’t know much about etiquette. Could you arrange a separate table for them?”

At the words “behind-the-scenes work,” the guests quickly averted their eyes from Roy, Jack, and Tom. But Countess McCurlin, showing no distaste, instructed the maids to prepare seats apart for them.

Once the three had settled a bit away, the guests eagerly turned to Wayne again. Karin was the most forward of them all.

“Why didn’t you attend the ball hosted by my family recently? We sent you a personal invitation.”

Karin’s eyes curved regretfully, but Wayne’s gaze flicked briefly to me.

“I found something fascinating. I’ll be sure to attend your family’s ball next time.”

Something fascinating? Was he talking about me?

Karin tried to speak again, but Wayne turned toward me.

“You’re Lady Dinah, aren’t you? I’ve been wanting to meet you.”

Wayne emphasized the word wanting ever so slightly, and Karin’s eyes shot up in fury. Wayne, fully aware, simply smiled gently.

“I heard you overcame a serious illness. We should give thanks to the gods—they saved someone so beautiful as you.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

I replied stiffly, and Karin let out an exaggerated sigh, so desperate to steal Wayne’s attention that it was practically dripping off her.

“What troubles you?” Wayne asked, and Karin instantly donned a sorrowful look.

“You thanked the gods, but I’ve been resenting them lately. Yesterday I saw children begging in the street, and not long ago, a sick man struggling to work…”

Karin went on, listing pitiful examples, before furrowing her brows as if in pain.

“It feels like the gods ignore those who truly need help and instead care for someone unworthy. What are they doing, ignoring our prayers? Are they just watching us for amusement, as the joke goes…?”

When she said “unworthy,” her mocking gaze slid toward me.

The moment she finished, something boiled up from the pit of my chest.

“Say that again.”

“What?”

Karin snorted, then faltered as she met my eyes. A sharp, overwhelming aura was radiating from me.

The air in the garden instantly grew heavy.

“I said, say it again. Properly.”

My voice was low and chilling. Karin stammered,

“A-are you saying I just blasphemed the gods? I wasn’t mocking, I was only lamenting…”

She tried to raise her chin defiantly, but her neck shrank further and further. I glared at her, spitting out each word deliberately.

“You can’t just lump them all together. Say it properly. Name a god and accuse them of idling about. Say it again.”

Yes, there were idle gods. But there were also gods like me who worked ourselves to the bone.

Look at me! I hunted evil spirits until I was forced into a human body to stop the world from ending!

I glared furiously. Karin turned pale, trembling as though a knife were at her throat.

“L-Lord Reva… seems like he idles around. No, what am I even saying? I mean, it feels like he neglects his duties when needed…”

Humiliated and terrified, Karin clenched her fists tightly. But I released my glare and smiled in satisfaction.

That one does laze around. He deserves the insult.

When I suddenly smiled after projecting such a deadly aura, the garden atmosphere turned even stranger.

“Ahem… another indoor garden is under construction. It’s not finished yet, but if anyone would like to see, I’ll guide you. Those who wish to stay may remain here.”

Countess McCurlin rose, trying to change the mood. The other women glanced at me, then all hurriedly stood.

As the crowd dispersed, Wayne rested his chin in one hand and looked straight at me.