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Chapter 32
A little later, Madam Lindsay and a maid brought tea into the drawing room. As Sereret had instructed, scones and madeleines were served as tea food.
“Thank you for your effort, Madam Lindsay.”
Sereret met Madam Lindsay’s eyes with a gentle smile—a smile that meant if you recognize me as the lady of the house, then I’ll acknowledge you as head maid.
“Please enjoy your conversation.”
Madam Lindsay greeted politely and left the drawing room.
“I don’t drink black tea, so I don’t really know how it tastes. I just hope it suits Lady Elliot’s palate.”
Sereret spoke, gazing at the tea in her cup.
Then her eyes caught the pink lace ribbon adorning Lydia’s hair. The sight brought back memories of her previous life, unbidden.
It was when Yuan had invited Lydia to stay at the ducal residence.
On the fifth day of each month, a market opened in the square in front of the ducal residence. It wasn’t just any market—it was like a social gathering where the people of the duchy bought and sold goods, strengthening their bonds.
So, whenever Yuan and Sereret stayed at the ducal estate, they made a point of visiting the market, buying things, and listening to the people’s stories.
That day the market had opened as usual, but Sereret had been unable to accompany Yuan. Since her due date was approaching, her body was heavy, and Yuan had insisted she need not strain herself, escorting her all the way to the lobby before sending her back.
Although she returned to her chamber as Yuan said, Sereret couldn’t shake the unease. Already disliked as the duchess, she feared that failing to show her face at such an event would only deepen the resentment.
After much hesitation, Sereret finally headed to the market—only to regret it almost immediately. She understood why Yuan had not taken her.
Yuan and Lydia were standing before a stall, choosing ribbons. Yuan picked up a pink lace ribbon and held it against Lydia’s cheek.
“Beautiful. Let’s take this one.”
Lydia beamed, and Yuan’s lips curved in satisfaction.
That joyous smile on Yuan’s face was still vivid in Sereret’s memory. The two of them choosing ribbons so tenderly had seemed such a perfect match that even now, the thought left a bitter taste in her mouth.
“The fragrance and taste are both delightful.”
Lydia set down her cup after taking a sip.
“That’s a relief.”
Sereret smiled as she lifted her coffee cup, hiding the bitterness in her heart. The rich aroma of coffee rose up, but after recalling the past, she no longer felt like drinking. She set it down again.
“Why does Lady Inohater drink coffee instead of tea? Do the Moshellys prefer coffee to tea?”
Lydia asked with a faintly scornful expression.
Among nobles, tea was far more favored than coffee. Though coffee had been introduced into the Ailune Empire nearly fifty years ago, it had never surpassed tea in popularity.
Nobles tended to look down on coffee. By the time Sereret bore her child, coffee was just beginning to catch on in salons, but that was still a long way off.
“It’s not that. I just don’t care for black tea.”
“Heavens, really? Tea?”
Lydia looked astonished. Knowing how odd that must sound among nobles, Sereret gave an awkward smile.
“I have some terrible memories tied to tea.”
Terrible memories you and Yuan gave me. For an instant, Sereret’s eyes flashed cold.
“Oh my, what kind of memories?”
“I can’t say. It concerns Yuan’s honor…”
Sereret let her words trail off. You and Yuan put poison in my tea and made me drink it. I still remember the moment it spread through my body, Lydia.
“Yuan’s honor?”
Lydia’s curiosity was piqued. Her face said she was dying to know, but Sereret only smiled.
“Now that you mention it, I also have a memory tied to tea.”
Lydia looked at Sereret with a slightly coy expression.
“Do you?”
“Unlike you, Lady Inohater, mine is a happy one.”
She laughed brightly, as if eager to boast.
It was almost as if she were begging Sereret to ask. So Sereret feigned curiosity.
“I’d love to hear it. What’s this happy memory of yours?”
“It was when I was little, with Yuan. I hadn’t been taking tea etiquette lessons long, so I was clumsy at everything. I ended up spilling tea all over my dress.”
Lydia’s face lit up as she chattered.
“Oh dear.”
What a riveting story. Sereret bit her lip to stifle a yawn.
“Yuan was there, you see. He dabbed at my dress with his handkerchief, and it tickled so much that I burst out laughing.”
“Yes.”
“Hearing me laugh, Yuan laughed too, and so did my brother Regan. In the end, we were all scolded for disturbing teatime.”
Her face glowed with joy at the memory, her pale skin blooming with a rosy hue. She looked even lovelier.
In the past, Lydia had always flaunted her memories with Yuan. And now, she was clearly doing the same. Sereret curved her lips slightly.
“What a delightful story. Yuan is truly kind. He once helped me when I was little, too.”
Sereret smiled faintly, recalling one of the few memories she had of Yuan.
In her past life, she had only envied Lydia’s stories. But now, she felt no envy—only the desire to return them in kind.
“Each winter, the duchy holds a great hunting tournament, as you must know?”
“Of course. I always wanted to go, but never could—His Majesty never permitted it, though I received an invitation every year.”
“Winters are bitterly cold in the duchy. Perhaps that’s why His Majesty refused.”
“Likely so. He’s terribly strict.”
Lydia said with an air of pride.
“Our family attended every year, being retainers of the Frecktuster line.”
“I see.”
“Yes. One night, heavy snow began to fall. I was just a child, and I rushed outside in my nightclothes to tramp in the snow.”
“My goodness.”
“Even though it was freezing, I was so happy to play in the snow. Then Yuan appeared. He wrapped me in a wool coat. So very kind.”
In truth, he had thrown it at her more than wrapped her in it. But Sereret added some polish to the memory. Yuan had said something so very kind at the time:
‘Are you insane?’
How tender he had been. Sereret let out a dry chuckle.
“Then he took me back to my room, saying I mustn’t go out in nightclothes, that it was terribly dangerous.”
He had shoved her back into the room, saying if she wanted to freeze to death she could do it again next time.
“Isn’t that so kind of him?”
Sereret laughed exaggeratedly at the recollection. At the time, she had been treated like a lunatic, but it was still one of her few memories of Yuan.
“Yes. Very kind indeed.”
A twitch ran across Lydia’s lips, though her eyes still smiled.
“I think I loved Yuan from that moment on. When he first gave me a fox tail, I felt like I owned the whole world.”
Sereret kept her smile, though sadness glimmered in her eyes.
To think she had been used and killed by the man she loved so long. Her life felt unbearably wretched.
“He gave you… a fox tail?”
“Yes, for the first time, from Yuan himself.”
It was an old Ailune custom to give a fox tail from one’s hunt to the person one loved. The day before proposing, Yuan had given Sereret a silver fox tail.
A silver fox meant eternal love and eternal fate. It was rarer and more precious than any other.
Though what she had received in the end was betrayal and death, in that moment she had been happy.
“I envy you, Lady Inohater.”
Lydia’s words slipped out.
The sincerity showed on her face. Had Yuan never given Lydia a fox tail, then?
“Envy me?”
Seeing Lydia’s genuine envy, Sereret felt strange. It had always been she who envied Lydia.
For a moment, a murderous glint flickered across Lydia’s face.
Catching it, Sereret tightened her grip on her teacup. Her hand trembled slightly, but she forced a smile, as if she had seen nothing.
“Why don’t we call each other more comfortably?”
After sipping her tea, Lydia asked brightly, her earlier malice gone without a trace.
“More comfortably?”
“Let’s call each other by name. I’d like to be closer with you, Lady Inohater. We can even gossip about Yuan together.”
Lydia smiled cheerfully.
“Shall we?”
“Gladly, Sereret.”
“That’s nice, Lydia.”
With smiling faces, they hid their true feelings. Each looked at the other with dazzlingly bright smiles.
“Do you like the food, Lydia?”
At dinner, Sereret asked kindly as Lydia ate roast chicken.
Sereret and Yuan sat side by side, while Lydia sat opposite Yuan.
The meal had been decided suddenly, so the menu was simple: roast chicken with vegetables and red wine.
“It’s delicious.”
Lydia wiped her lips with a napkin and replied.
“That’s good. Isn’t it, Yuan?”
Sereret turned to him. Yuan only nodded lightly, his eyes lingering on Sereret.
Because Lydia was present, Sereret kept up her gentle demeanor toward Yuan. He, puzzled by her sudden change, studied her face now and then.
“Yuan, you’ll wear Sereret out. Keep staring like that, and I’ll get jealous.”
Lydia spoke through tight lips. Sereret forced a pleasant laugh, suppressing her disgust.
“That’s right, Yuan. But no matter how much you look, it won’t come between me and Lydia.”
“When did you two become such friends?”
Yuan looked between them.
“Today. Isn’t that right, Lydia?”
Sereret smiled.
“I’m even thinking of entrusting my friendship with Yuan to Sereret. You won’t mind, will you? Don’t be jealous.”
Lydia’s expression was sweet as honey.
“Just hearing it makes me flutter with excitement.”
Sereret clasped her hands over her chest with a blissful look.
The meal became a theater of pretenses, the two women competing to flaunt their affection as if to prove who liked the other more.
Yuan frowned throughout, unsettled by the sudden bond between them. He didn’t welcome it—indeed, he suspected both women of having ulterior motives.
A fiancée who marries only to divorce surely has some scheme. Otherwise, why befriend the woman rumored to be her fiancé’s first love? Maybe she wants to force them together and use it as grounds for divorce.
Yuan’s gaze at Sereret grew wary.
“I’m so glad to have met Lydia.”
“You’ve stolen my line, Sereret.”
The two laughed together, competing to see who could laugh brighter.
After the strained meal, Lydia hurriedly rose, saying she had stayed too long.
“I had such a lovely time today, Lydia.”
Sereret escorted her to the lobby with a smile.
“Will you keep stealing my lines like this?”
Lydia looped her arm through Sereret’s, then turned back to Yuan.
“I’ll visit often to see Sereret, all right, Yuan?”
Yuan gave a curt nod.
Lydia stopped, opened her arms, and hugged Sereret. Sereret’s face cooled instantly within the embrace.
“We’ll be the best of friends.”
She whispered to Sereret, though her gaze was fixed on Yuan, her smile seductive.
Yuan, watching them with folded arms, raised an eyebrow.
“Goodbye, Lydia.”
Sereret pulled away and spoke.
“Goodbye, Sereret. Yuan, farewell.”
With a graceful smile, Lydia departed.
As soon as she was gone, Sereret turned and met Yuan’s eyes directly.
“How does it feel?”
She asked, not looking away.
“What do you mean?”
“Having your first love and your fiancée become friends.”
Sereret’s lips curved into a smirk.
(To be continued…)
