Find the One Who Abandoned Me - Chapter 31

Hearing Susan’s nagging, chirping away like a little sparrow, made me laugh. Today, Jack didn’t have anything for me to do, so he gave me a day off. Excited, I ran straight to my room. I’d probably end up lazing around and sleeping all day again.

I touched up my lips with a color that matched my skin tone, and lightly dusted my pale face with a soft apricot powder. Instantly, my complexion looked more lively. Turning my face left and right in the mirror, I checked the time as I stood up. I had only fixed my makeup and outfit slightly, yet already forty minutes had flown by.

“Time to head down.”

Without hesitation, I went out to the terrace where the tea party was set up. As I pushed open the terrace doors, the summer breeze stirred the curtains, which matched the color of the tablecloths. I stood neatly near the entrance, ready to greet the guests as soon as the attendants led them in, giving a final check over the tables. The seating, the flowers—everything was arranged just as I wanted. It was perfect.

“Young Lady, the guests have arrived.”

An attendant quietly informed me just before they entered. I turned my head toward the hallway without a word. Two young ladies, walking gracefully under the guidance of a maid, approached slowly. Their dresses, in delicate floral shades, looked like they had been designed to match.

“Welcome, Lady Berchia, Lady Roberta.”

“Hello, Lady Anastas. Thank you so much for inviting us to your tea party.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Your estate is truly wonderful. Thank you for having us.”

Lady Berchia and Lady Roberta, now fifteen and sixteen respectively, were famously inseparable. Although Lady Roberta was a year older, there were even rumors that she might delay her debutante ball so she could have it together with Lady Berchia.

With a bright smile, I welcomed them and exchanged light greetings. As soon as their introductions were over, an attendant smoothly guided them to a table. More guests arrived one after another—and finally, the ones I was waiting for most appeared.

“Welcome, Lady Calliope. And welcome, little Lady Calliope.”

It was the Calliope sisters. As promised, Ortea had brought her younger sister with her, approaching me with a wide, cheerful smile. Young Armant clung shyly to the hem of her older sister’s dress.

“Thank you for the warm welcome, Lady Anastas.”

“I’m the one who should thank you for accepting the invitation. Carolie hasn’t come out of her room yet. She’s being stubborn, but since she got up early to get dressed, I’m sure she’ll be here soon.”

Ortea let out an exaggerated sigh and chuckled, tilting her chin up slightly.

“You must have a hard time with your younger sister too, Lady Anastas. I tell you, I had a real battle this morning.”

“Sister!”

“She kept saying she’d go, then she wouldn’t, letting her hair down, then tying it back up again.”

As Ortea teased her, Armant, who had been hiding behind her sister’s dress, suddenly leapt forward, fuming in embarrassment. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud at the adorable scene, but the child immediately stiffened. Realizing she was tense because of me, I blinked, and it hit me—it was because she still felt awkward around me.

Lowering myself to her eye level, I spoke gently.

“It’s so good to see you, little Lady Calliope. Thank you for coming to visit Carolie again.”

The little girl shyly ducked back behind her sister’s dress.

“N-no, thank you for inviting me…”

It was clear she was embarrassed. After all, she was facing the very person she had once carelessly spoken badly about. But seeing how aware she was of her mistake, I didn’t feel upset. Wondering how I could ease her nerves, I remembered something that always worked with Carolie.

“There’s cookie cake today. Would you like to share it with Carolie?”

Just as I expected, her eyes lit up immediately. Seeing her face brighten made both Ortea and me burst out laughing. But Armant quickly turned gloomy again.

“But… what if Lady Carolie doesn’t want to eat cake with me?”

“Hmm, this is a secret…”

I leaned in closer, putting on a serious face. Sensing I was about to share something important, she listened carefully.

“Carolie actually likes you much more than you think.”

The little girl blinked up at me, wide-eyed. I smiled warmly and straightened up.

“Would you like to sit down? It looks like the next guests are arriving.”

“Ah, yes.”

Ortea gently took Armant’s hand and followed the attendants to a table. There, a special small chair had already been prepared for the younger guest. After sitting down and kicking her legs under the table, Armant whispered to her sister.

“I think I really messed up.”

“Yeah, looks like it.”

“And also…”

Armant sneaked a glance at me, who was busy greeting another guest.

“I think she’s even prettier than you.”

“Hmm.”

Though she half-joked to tease her sister back for earlier, Ortea didn’t laugh. Instead, she nodded seriously.

“Yeah. She really is.”

“Uh, uhm?”

Armant stumbled over her words, looking flustered.
Meanwhile, Ortea kept staring at Calliope seriously, her expression thoughtful.

Ortea had been praised for her beauty all her life.
Even if she couldn’t remember, she was sure that the moment she was born, adults had probably exclaimed, “I’ve never seen such a beautiful baby!”

If she said this out loud, people would probably laugh and call her ridiculous.
But still, it showed just how much she had been told she was pretty from the very beginning.
Ever since she was thirteen and started mingling with girls her age, she’d made many friends—but deep down, she’d always thought she was the prettiest among them.

It wasn’t that she chose her friends based on looks.
It was just that, as a teenager, she naturally became a little obsessed with appearance.
Even she knew it wasn’t the best habit.

“I guess it’s time I fix that.”

“Sis, why do you look so serious all of a sudden?”

“Be quiet, Armant. Your big sister is growing as a person right now.”

“…What are you even talking about?”

While the sisters had their strange conversation, Calliope welcomed the last guest.

From under the summer sunlight, a girl appeared, wrapped in a vivid red dress that seemed to glow even brighter under the sun.
Her hair was a deep, striking purple, and her sharp, slightly upturned eyes were a fierce blue.
The women of the Dylas family had passed down that same deep purple hair for generations—it was a color seen nowhere else in the kingdom.

“Welcome, Lady Dylas. Thank you for accepting the invitation.”

Vercia Dylas, the only daughter of the Dylas family, didn’t bother to answer.
She simply gave Calliope a long look, then gracefully opened her fan with a snap.

“I came because my dear aunt personally called me. It might not live up to much, but since I’m here, I’ll stay for a little while.”

She left the subject of the sentence vague, but it was obvious she was saying that the tea party was disappointing.
Calliope, who had heard even harsher insults before, stayed calm, smiling as she lightly covered her mouth and gave a soft laugh.

“The tea party was arranged with personal advice from the Marchioness herself.
But it seems even with her guidance, it still falls short of Lady Dylas’s refined taste.
I hope I can learn at least a little from your excellent eye today.”

In other words: My aunt helped organize this, so if it’s not good enough, it’s not my fault.
Even though Calliope’s words were perfectly polite, her real meaning was clear.

Vercia paused for a moment, raising an eyebrow.

“Isn’t the Marchioness busy with family matters these days?
I wonder how she’s doing.”

It sounded polite, but underneath it was another jab—implying that Vercia, who was active in society, knew more about what was going on than the Marchioness, who was stuck at home.
Calliope had to admire her nerve.
Wow, you’re really dragging your own family just to brag about yourself. Amazing.

Still smiling sweetly, Calliope answered without a hint of hesitation.

“Your thoughtfulness is admirable, Lady Dylas.
The Marchioness has been busy, but she’s doing very well.
She even took the time to give me her personal advice for today’s tea party.”

“…I’m glad to hear she’s doing well.”

“The Dylas family must treasure you greatly, Lady Dylas.
If the Marchioness heard how much you cared for her, she would surely be very pleased.”

Yeah, yeah, you’re amazing.
Raised like a princess, just like the rumors said. Must be nice.
Too bad your aunt would probably faint if she knew how you’re acting.

At that moment, Vercia snapped her fan shut with a sharp clack.
But Calliope only kept smiling, her face pure and innocent.

“Since you are our final guest, allow me to personally show you to your seat.”

Although her words were polished and polite, a girl as sharp as Vercia would definitely notice the hidden meaning behind them.

Still, Calliope kept her smiling mask firmly in place as she led her to the seat.
For some reason, Vercia only glared softly at Calliope’s back but didn’t cause any real trouble.
Maybe she was trying to act polite since it was the Marchioness who had invited her.

Vercia sat gracefully at the seat Calliope had prepared for her, straightening her back with perfect poise.
She looked every bit the model noble young lady.
The other girls watched her with a mixture of fear and admiration.

Vercia, used to such attention, sat proudly and stared straight ahead.
But inside, her mind was filled with suspicion.

“There’s something weird about the way that girl talks…”

There was something about Calliope’s tone that was strangely irritating.
Yet, there was no open hostility, no words that could be held against her.
Even her smiling face seemed oddly disarming, lowering people’s guard.

It was true that, in high society, smiling while stabbing someone with hidden words was almost a sport.
But honestly, Vercia Dylas…

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