Chapter 62
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: Tea Party (6)
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"Duchess...!"
Daisy could no longer approach Rose. She was blocked by a thick wall of people.
Her face, gazing at Rose, was filled with confusion. She couldn't believe how suddenly their positions had reversed.
'That's too much... Sister, you didn't have to go this far.'
Daisy had played the role of the pitiful little sister bullied outside the family,
'Ahahat! Sister, you ate that? Wow, it's poisonous, so poisonous.'
while inside the family, she showed a completely different side, tormenting Rose alongside her stepmother.
Back then, Rose had been utterly terrified of Daisy. But not anymore.
Smooth.
Rose gently ran her hand over the bracelet on her wrist.
'It suits you well.'
She recalled the moment Dane had personally fastened it around her wrist.
I'm not alone anymore.
Now, Rose was no longer afraid of Daisy. No, Daisy no longer held any meaning for her.
Smooth.
Rose turned her face away from Daisy.
She didn't even feel like mocking or scorning her little sister. She had no time or emotion to waste on something like that.
That foolish half-sister was no longer an obstacle.
'I hope His Excellency arrives soon.'
She wanted to proudly tell him how wonderfully she'd handled everything, how confidently she'd walked.
She missed even a single short word of praise from him. Thinking of him made her want to hurry home.
'...Home.'
Rose startled herself, realizing she had started calling Schmichael Castle her home.
The ever-kind butler Bill and head maid Selma, the warmly welcoming head chef Fabry. Everyone who showed her kindness.
And...
"Madam."
Dane, reaching out with a faint smile as if he had no choice.
Schmichael was now her home.
'Just one year...'
She had once thought even that was too long, but now it felt so short. The thought of extending the contract suddenly crossed her mind.
"Hoho, today was truly entertaining. Winter tea parties are usually so dull."
"Weren't there so many spectacles? I can't wait to tell my husband."
The atmosphere grew somewhat chaotic as people moved about. Laughter grew louder, and maids hurried to refill tea and treats.
That was when it happened.
"I've been rude, Duchess."
Daisy smoothed her dress as if to rise from the table, her face gloomy and lips pressed tightly together.
"I'll be taking my leave now."
"All right."
Has she given up already? Rose averted her gaze from Daisy.
But no. The next moment, Daisy shot up from her seat and,
Thud.
naturally knocked over a teacup on the table, tilting it toward Rose.
"Oh my!"
As Daisy's fabricated scream rang out, the tea from the cup was about to spill.
"...Ah."
Rose flinched and froze just then.
Clack.
Out of nowhere, a hand shot out from the side, precisely striking the teacup and altering its path.
Crash!
The flung teacup shattered on the floor.
It all happened in an instant.
"Oh dear."
"What was that noise?"
People turned in surprise.
They saw Daisy standing there in panic and Rose sitting rigidly frozen. And below, the shattered teacup pieces and the wet carpet.
"......"
Daisy's eyes shook wildly as she stared behind Rose.
Rose turned to follow her gaze and spotted Helena pretending nothing had happened.
Wink.
Helena winked at Rose, flashing a cute smile as if to say, Just trust me.
Helena!
If not for Helena's quick thinking, her dress might have been soaked.
Dane must have assigned Helena as her maid with this in mind—to protect her in places where Rose's eyes couldn't reach.
'As expected of Helena.'
She attended flawlessly and even countered her mistress's crisis. Something Sonya could never do.
Rose turned back, glaring coldly at Daisy.
'You're still the same, aren't you.'
Something similar had happened before.
Back then, Daisy had spilled tea on her own dress and pinned the blame on Rose.
Along with the image of a wicked older sister who jealously ruined her little sister's dress.
"No, I... um..."
This time, realizing that wouldn't work, she had tried to ruin Rose's dress instead.
Truly a foolish and malicious little sister.
'If you'd left quietly, I would have let it go.'
Rose had no intention of letting Daisy play the victim any longer.
Smooth.
Rose quietly rose from her seat.
"Thank goodness no one was hurt."
Then she stared steadily at Daisy. That gaze alone made people sense something was off.
"Oh my, the teacup..."
"No way, surely not?"
People murmured softly, looking between Rose and Daisy.
As suspicious glances flew her way,
"It was an accident!"
Daisy hurriedly raised her voice.
"Really, I didn't mean to—"
"Of course."
Rose adjusted her gloves as if she needn't hear more, signaling her intent to leave.
"I think that's enough for today."
Ending it like this would etch the incident firmly in everyone's memory.
The rumor that Daisy tried to spill tea on the Duchess would follow her forever.
"Duchess Schmichael."
Countess Holland approached, barely hiding her dismay. Her face looked especially weary today.
"I've caused a disturbance."
Rose spoke softly, just loud enough for Countess Holland to hear.
"I know how much consideration you've shown me today. Thank you."
"Duchess, what do you mean."
Countess Holland shook her head in surprise, instead comforting Rose as if to say not to worry.
"It was an honor to have you here. I'll handle tidying up."
The countess turned to address everyone.
"It was a wonderfully warm afternoon. Now it's time to head home comfortably."
And so, with Daisy's blunder, the tea party came to an end.
People began preparing to leave their seats. Their cold glances brushed past Daisy, who stood rooted like a nail had been driven through her.
There was no need to spread rumors deliberately. The witnesses already looked itching to talk.
There could be no greater humiliation than this.
Click.
Rose quietly turned away. Away from Daisy, away from the pitiful Rose of the past.
That was when it happened.
"Sister!"
A voice seething with rage came from behind, and
Thud.
Daisy rushed over, blocking Rose's path.
"Talk to me."
Daisy's face was smeared with defeat.
"Become the duchess and suddenly you can't see straight?"
Ignoring the surrounding stares, she snarled right up in Rose's face.
"Forgot whose help got you that seat?"
Rose noticed Daisy's cheek trembling. She could feel the desperate thrashing to crush her somehow.
"Right. 'Mother' sent me there."
Rose lifted the corner of her mouth slightly.
"Thanks to you two, I'm so happy these days. Should I at least say thank you?"
She elegantly rephrased it: Thanks to you and Mother, I became the duchess.
Daisy's face twisted as she caught the meaning.
"There's no way a wretch like you could have won His Excellency's heart...! It can't be possible. That's why I came to see for myself..."
Daisy muttered as if convincing herself it had to be true.
"Ah, right. You were in the Magic Studies Department, weren't you, Sister?"
A chilling smile crept over Daisy's ghostly pale face.
"You didn't slip him a love potion or something, did you?"
"...What?"
"How else could someone like you be loved? Right?"
Rose glared sharply at Daisy.
The Magic Studies Department didn't teach such things. Moreover, Daisy's words now threatened not just Rose but the entire Vicander family.
How could she be so foolish!
"You, right now—"
As Rose opened her mouth to speak,
"An interesting story."
A cool voice poured in like icy water in midwinter.
Thud.
Heavy footsteps entered the room.
"...Your Excellency."
Rose shivered at the sight of Dane entering.
Thud, thud.
With each step Dane took, a faint winter scent spread. The ladies in his path froze solid.
His cape billowing, he dominated the entire space.
Thud, thud.
Dane walked straight toward Rose alone, his gaze fixed solely on her.
People blankly followed him with their eyes. Those gazes shifted to Rose, now tinged with a different hue.
The hues of jealousy and envy.
"Your Excellency."
"We greet Your Excellency."
The noblewomen finally came to their senses and stood hurriedly. Dane gave a light nod and,
"Madam."
approached Rose without hesitation. His gaze, fixed on her since entering, never wavered for a moment.
She'd thought he'd wait in the carriage, not come all the way inside.
"What brings you here?"
Rose asked, hiding her surprise. Instead of answering, Dane extended his arm and pulled her waist close.
"I missed you."
He replied curtly, then
Smack.
lightly pressed his lips to her forehead.
"Didn't you miss me?"
Crash, clatter!
Teacups shattered here and there.
The noblewomen, who prized elegance above all, gaped open-mouthed, unaware they'd dropped their own cups.
Rose stiffened, facing Dane.
'What... just happened?'
The large hand around her waist, the hot body heat against her.
Only his deep blue eyes, seeming to draw in every part of her.
And the soft curve beneath them... that is, he...
'He... kissed... my forehead?'
She couldn't believe his lips had just touched her forehead. It felt like a dream.
She nearly touched it instinctively. It burned like a spark had flown.
'Even if we're a contract couple...'
Was this necessary?