Chapter 47: Tea Time (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 47: Tea Time (2)
“Northern News!”
The Grand Duchess’s voice rose in surprise.
“I’ve read that before!”
“You have, Your Highness?”
“I found the column on Capital trends quite entertaining.”
Cecilia’s cheeks flushed with excitement.
“Th-that... that was the article I wrote.”
To Cecilia’s surprise, the Grand Duchess seemed genuinely curious about how a daughter of a viscount had come to write for a magazine. Cecilia honestly confessed that she had wanted to work, so she had asked a distant relative who owned the publishing company to let her write articles, even for low pay.
“It’s a wonderful thing to have something you want to do,” the Grand Duchess said, her voice clear and encouraging, even as the other young ladies around them furrowed their brows in disapproval.
‘If the mood is like this...’
Encouraged by the Grand Duchess’s favorable attitude, Cecilia finally voiced the request she had been holding back.
“Your Highness, if it wouldn’t be too rude... might I write an article about you?”
The suggestion was so preposterous that the other ladies all glared at Cecilia with sharp, narrowed eyes.
“Lady Cecilia, are you seriously suggesting that you use Her Highness the Grand Duchess as mere fodder for an article?”
“To write about such a noble personage in a magazine read by commoners... you should beg Her Highness for forgiveness this instant.”
While Northern News wasn’t actually a magazine that would bring shame to a noble house, Cecilia was flustered by the ladies’ aggressive reaction and hurried to explain.
“I was simply so stunned by the beautiful dress Your Highness is wearing today... I only wished to boast of your extraordinary taste to the people of the territory. If I have offended you, I offer my deepest apologies.”
“Offended? Not at all.”
The Grand Duchess didn’t look displeased in the slightest.
“On the contrary, I’m quite happy that you think so well of me.”
Just as Cecilia’s face began to brighten at those words, the Grand Duchess added with a serious expression, “But actually...”
“I think a cooking recipe column would suit Northern News even better.”
At that, Meisel let out a sharp snicker.
“Her Highness is absolutely right.”
Meisel’s lemon-colored eyes sparkled mischievously.
“How could things like fashion and trends even be appropriate for a magazine read by the lower classes? It’s much better to include recipes for maids. Most of them are illiterate anyway, so they’ll be lucky if they can even read it.”
The other ladies couldn’t hide the smirks in their eyes. They seemed to think the Grand Duchess was pretending to listen only to humiliate Cecilia in the end. Just as Cecilia’s heart began to sink, the Grand Duchess shook her head quickly.
“No, I’m being serious.”
She looked at the confused Cecilia and added kindly, “I asked the innkeeper, and she told me that in Blenheim, most people learn to cook from their mothers. Because of that, I heard it’s difficult for them to try new dishes.”
Cecilia let out a small “Ah!” as she began to follow the logic.
“She said their only option is to ask the neighboring wives for advice,” the Grand Duchess continued. “That’s why I thought a column sharing recipes would be incredibly popular.”
“You’re absolutely right!”
Cecilia took a sharp breath at the unexpected realization.
“If you post recipes consistently, wouldn’t more women seek out the magazine? While general columns might pique interest...” The Grand Duchess paused, her eyes shifting as if in deep thought. “It’s hard for those to lead to consistent purchases.”
A spark ignited in Cecilia’s eyes.
Northern News had recently been struggling with a sharp decline in sales, and the staff had been at their wits' end with no solution in sight. Similar magazines were popping up like mushrooms, and because they all covered the same mediocre topics, it was difficult to stand out.
And yet, the Grand Duchess, who had been at the castle for less than a month, had provided such an insight.
‘She’s not just some ordinary noblewoman.’
Cecilia truly began to like the Grand Duchess.
“I will follow your precious advice, Your Highness.”
As Cecilia spoke with newfound determination, the Grand Duchess waved her hand dismissively.
“Advice? It was just a passing thought.”
Just as Cecilia was resolving to visit Alcent, the owner of the magazine, first thing tomorrow, Meisel spoke up, one corner of her mouth curling into a smirk.
“If it were me, I would have written an article about Your Highness’s wedding.”
The other ladies’ faces turned pale. Meisel, clearly piqued, was finally crossing a line she shouldn't.
“Your Highness’s dress must have been exquisite, wasn’t it? I’m also curious about what kind of formal wear the Grand Duke wore.”
After prattling on for a moment, Meisel noticed the Grand Duchess’s indifferent expression and put on a show of being startled.
“Oh! I completely forgot that a proxy attended the wedding... I’ve misspoken.”
“You only stated the facts, so it wasn’t exactly a slip of the tongue.”
The Grand Duchess took a slow sip of her tea.
“Indeed, what’s the harm in a wedding by proxy? As long as the interests of the families align, one can become a perfectly fine couple without the need for affection.”
You are a wife who will never be loved.
Just as Meisel’s lips curled into a triumphant smile, a voice rang out.
“His Grace the Grand Duke is entering.”
The closed doors swung wide, and Grand Duke Loik Blenheim stepped into the tea room.
‘Wait, him?! Why is he coming here of all places!’
The man striding in with a cool, composed face was unmistakably the Grand Duke. I could only blink in shock at my husband’s sudden intrusion.
“We greet His Grace the Grand Duke.”
The ladies scrambled to their feet to show their respect, and the Grand Duke gave a curt nod in acknowledgment. He gently stopped me as I tried to stand up late.
“It is fine. Please, stay seated.”
“What brings you here?”
I tried to sound nonchalant, but my eyes were frantically signaling him.
What on earth are you doing here?!
However, the Grand Duke ignored my desperate gaze and turned his head.
“Is this not the first tea time Her Highness has hosted? I merely stopped by to see if there was anything uncomfortable.”
As the Grand Duke’s gaze swept over the standing ladies, their faces flushed red. Well, it was likely their first time seeing our Grand Duke.
‘You’re shocked because he’s so handsome, right? I understand the feeling.’
The ladies’ eyes lingered on the Grand Duke’s face for a long time before traveling down to stop at his clothes. Only then did I realize he was wearing the outfit I had commissioned for him.
‘Wow, I really am amazing!’
I let out an internal cheer, admiring my own taste. The Grand Duke was perfectly pulling off the "romance fantasy" style—a look I had always lamented not being able to put on the idols I used to model.
‘He looks better in this than any idol.’
Wearing a white shirt with a modern yet elegant diagonal cut and a slim spring coat with a sophisticated short front hem, the Grand Duke was breathtakingly charming. Excluding the half-naked state I first met him in, this was the most aesthetically beautiful I had ever seen him.
As I broke into a soft, dazed smile while looking at his clothes, the Grand Duke turned back toward the ladies, looking slightly bashful.
“The North is new to Her Highness, so things may feel unfamiliar. Please see to it that you attend to her well.”
“Of course, Your Grace.”
The sound of the ladies’ hearts fluttering at his gentle voice seemed almost audible to my ears. Just then, Meisel, who was standing beside me, muttered under her breath.
“What...?”
Startled by the pained tone of her voice, I turned my head and flinched. Meisel was trembling as if she were about to bolt forward and throw herself into the Grand Duke’s arms at any second.
‘What’s wrong with her all of a sudden?’
If Meisel so much as touched the Grand Duke’s body, mana would flow into her, and she’d collapse or have a seizure. That would be the end of the tea time and everything else. To secure space between the two without provoking Meisel too much, I slowly stood up.
“Thank you for coming, Your Grace.”
Now go! Hurry up and leave!
I put all the strength I could into my eyes to send him the signal. The Grand Duke seemed to catch my meaning, letting out a small “Ah,” and then he gently took my hand.
In an instant, his lips softly pressed against the back of my hand before pulling away.
A moment of silence followed. And then...
“Oh, my goodness!”
The ladies, flustered by the husband’s affectionate kiss, began to fan themselves with their hands.
‘Wait, why the sudden hand kiss?!’
Feeling steam practically rising from my head, I hurried to see him off.
“I’m sure you’re busy, so please, don’t let us keep you.”
“Then, I shall.”
With another nod to me, the Grand Duke accepted the ladies’ bows and left the room.
‘Phew, thank goodness.’
When I looked to my side, Meisel was standing there with a face that looked like she was about to burst into tears. I let out a sigh of relief, thinking that a disaster had been averted.
The other ladies began to cry out in excitement, clutching their cheeks.
“Oh my, to think we’d actually get to see the Grand Duke!”
“How can he be so dashing! I thought my heart was going to stop!”
“The Grand Duke must truly cherish Her Highness. For someone who never shows his face to attend a tea time!”
The demureness they had shown when they first arrived was gone; they were acting like typical young girls. The sight was quite amusing, and I burst into laughter.
“I thought you all came to see me, but it seems your real goal was to see the Grand Duke?”
The ladies waved their hands in denial, their cheeks flushing a peach-pink, when suddenly...
“Your... Your Highness.”
Cecilia’s voice trembled with something close to a hiccup as she clasped her hands together.
“Please, please allow me to write an article about the Grand Duke’s fashion as well!”
This time, even the other ladies couldn’t help but burst into laughter. Aside from Meisel, who was playing the role of a tragic heroine and weeping inwardly, the day’s tea time was a resounding success.