The Black-haired Noblewoman, Who Disguised Herself, Seems To Have Been Doted On While Serving As The Caretaker For The Duke Who Dislikes Women - Episode 55

At last, the tea ceremony has begun.

As soon as the master takes his seat, we maids all spring into action and serve tea to everyone. As the newcomer, I had no choice but to go to the back and inevitably ended up serving tea to Lady Padma and Countess Everly. My hands trembled uncontrollably with unprecedented tension. What on earth would they say? Surely, I would be harshly scolded with words that couldn’t be heard by those around. I braced myself for it.

However, neither Padma nor the Countess says a word to me as I serve tea beside them. It’s as if they are treating me like just an insignificant maid. Even though they have been glaring at me all this time.

Unexpectedly, I was able to serve tea and snacks normally and leave the place, and I let out a small sigh of relief. In the back, laughter and conversation had already begun.

“It has been a while, Your Grace. My daughter Alicia has been truly looking forward to meeting you.”

“Go, good day, Your Grace.”

A beautiful young lady was greeting the master with a slightly strained voice, gazing at him. The other young ladies at nearby tables were also looking at him with sparkling eyes. Amidst this, Lady Bracey, the marquis’s daughter, quietly sipped her tea with a calm demeanor.

For a while after that, the ladies began to promote their daughters to the gentleman, each trying to outdo the other. “My daughter is very interested in management…,” “My daughter graduated at the top of her class from the noble academy,” “My daughter studied abroad until last month and is very skilled in other countries’ cultures and languages,” and so on. Lady Harrington, the former duchess, listened and nodded along, occasionally adding explanations to the gentleman.

Indeed, judging by this situation, it seems certain that this tea party is for finding a wife for the master.

I couldn’t discern the expression on my husband’s face as he had his back turned to me, but he sat quietly without uttering much. Occasionally, he would sip his tea and respond briefly in a low voice if spoken to. …He didn’t seem very happy, but the young lady sitting next to him was completely captivated by his face. His dreamy profile was clearly visible from my side.

Only Lady Bracey and Padma were sitting quietly without showing any signs of excitement, and it was unnervingly unsettling.

The tea party was quite lively with the former Duchess of Harrington and the other ladies and young ladies who had gathered, and everyone was chatting cheerfully the whole time. We maids were carefully moving around, serving tea and replenishing sweets, making sure not to make too much noise.

After a while, when the chatter had somewhat quieted down, the former Duchess of Harrington gently spoke to Lady Bracey.

“How is it, Miss Deena? Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Yes, very much so. I am grateful to you, madam, for allowing me to visit the Harrington Duke’s residence once again. There was something I absolutely had to discuss with Lord Lloyd as well.”

When Lady Bracey, the Marquis’s daughter, replied with a quiet voice and an elegant smile, the former Duchess Harrington nodded slightly.

“That’s right. …Lloyd, I’ve heard from her that there was some misunderstanding between you and Miss Deena. She really cares about you. The other day, she even came all the way to the villa where I’m staying to see me, and she was very troubled because she thought her words, which she meant to be kind, had upset you. It seems you took quite a stubborn stance again, so I felt sorry too… I invited you both because I thought it would be a good opportunity for you

It seems that the young lady of Marquis Bracey reported to the former Duchess of Harrington that she had been banned from entering here by her husband and pleaded for help. I don’t know what her attitude was at that time, but the kind-hearted lady probably couldn’t just ignore her.

I still can’t read my husband’s expression, but somehow I feel a heavy atmosphere coming from his back.

“Thank you very much, madam. I didn’t go into detail with you at that time, but today, if I may be so bold, I would like to properly explain to Lord Lloyd what I mentioned back then. For that reason, I have taken the liberty of inviting those people over as well. Right? Countess Everly, Padma-san.”

The gazes that had been directed at the young lady of the Bracey Marquisate all shifted simultaneously to the two at the end of the table. At that moment, my heart began to pound painfully. A sense of dread that was utterly unavoidable made my back sweat, and I felt a dizzying sensation.

No way……

Countess Everly, addressed by the young Lady Bracey, smiled calmly and then spoke clearly.

“Indeed, Lady Bracey. When I heard the story that my daughter Padma, who is here with me, shared with you, I was truly astonished. And I was concerned. It seems that if things continue as they are, our esteemed Duke Harrington, a pillar of our kingdom, might be deceived by a worthless young girl due to his kindness, leading to significant harm. …All because of Michelle Flandre, who is pretending to be a poor, destitute commoner

Countess Everly, after saying that, pointed straight at me with a sharp gaze.