Living Up to Your Expectations - Chapter 6

“Lady Felicia. This tea is Earl Grey from the Lanil region. I hope it suits your taste?”

Iris, the maid serving in Via’s household, poured from the pot with perfect movements and smiled cheerfully. Even her serving was flawless.

The tea gently poured from the pot shone with a clear amber color. Rising from the cup along with the refreshing scent of bergamot was a faint, soft sweetness reminiscent of wild roses.

I gently brought the rim of the teacup to my lips.

Excellent aroma. The taste is also impeccable.

“As expected, Iris. It suits my preferences perfectly. The bergamot aroma is refreshing, and the astringency is restrained. The slight sweetness that lingers in the aftertaste is simply irresistible.”

My eyes naturally narrowed. While the quality of the tea leaves is one thing, the temperature and steeping time are exquisite. Today’s tea party is off to a good start.

“Lady Laila, how do you find the taste of that scone?”

Laila relaxed her cheeks and answered.

“It’s wonderful! This fragrant aroma and the crumbly texture. Which shop is it from?”

“That was baked by our chef. We have some wrapped for you to take home, if you would like.”

“Oh, how delightful. I’ll gladly take some home with me.”

The fragrance of tea wafted softly on the breeze, mingling with the aromatic scent of the garden roses.

The roses in Via’s garden are splendid again today.

Via had prepared a small, special seating area for us in a secluded corner of the hedged garden, like a viewing box.

With cup in hand, I awaited that “beginning.”

It should be about time.

“Ah, Lady Felicia. They’re here.”

Laila lowered her voice and whispered in my ear.

“You both will have a better view from here. Please, come this way.”

Urged by Iris, we quietly rose from our seats. Without making a single footstep, we moved to the edge of the garden.

Peering through a gap in the hedge, ahead lay a spacious lawn with a white stone-paved path at its center. At its end was a dazzling tea table set. And there… she was.

“The ‘heroine’ and the young masters have gathered, haven’t they?”

At Laila’s words, I also narrowed my gaze.

“Yes. Lady Allie seems quite determined. But her coordination is a mess. What is her wardrobe attendant doing?”

“Hehe, Lady Felicia. There is no wardrobe attendant. But the level of the baron’s household maid isn’t much either, if she didn’t stop her from going out like that.”

That’s true too.

Lady Allie, the dress she wore was like a “color competition.” A bluish-purple dress reminiscent of Lord Elliot’s color, a red necklace for Lord Lance’s color, and green earrings for Lord Conrad’s color. Everything was too assertive, lacking cohesion.

…It’s tiring to look at.

“If it were me, I’d be embarrassed to be seen next to her. What do you think, Laila?”

“The young masters only see the gifts they themselves gave. They aren’t looking at the whole picture. How disappointing.”

Truly. That self-absorbed attitude is almost pitiable.

“How about we call this performance ‘The Course of Fated Love’?”

When I asked, Laila chuckled quietly.

“Yes, that sounds right. One met Lady Allie in the library, another in the courtyard—fated encounters. I heard Lord Elliot caught her when she almost fell down the stairs.”

Lady Allie, are you a director too?

“It’s starting!!”

Laila gasped and leaned forward.

“Thank you for inviting us, Lady Olivia.”

Lady Allie greeted in an affected voice, and Via responded cheerfully. As expected, Lady Allie. She’s completely regained her composure.

“Hehe, welcome to our ducal household. Now, please have a seat.”

At first glance, it seemed the beginning of an elegant noble social drama.

“Olivia, Allie gathered her courage to accept this invitation. I won’t forgive you if you hurt her.”

Lord Elliot’s words rang out like a warning.

“I would do no such thing. I sincerely hope we can enjoy tea and pleasant conversation together.”

“Hah! I hope that’s true. Remember, we’re ‘friends.'”

Lady Allie looked around at everyone with dewy eyes.

“Lord Elliot, please stop. You should cherish your fiancée.”

“Ah, Allie is so kind.”

“Truly. You don’t need to defend those who might do who-knows-what.”

The young masters gathered closer to Lady Allie.

“No. It’s my fault. I’ve been indulging in everyone’s kindness. If only I were a stronger person who could say ‘I’ll be fine alone, please prioritize your fiancées’.”

A meek attitude. A tearful voice.

“Lord Elliot, the tea will get cold.”

Via’s cool voice echoed through the salon.

Via held her cup with one hand, wearing a calm smile as if nothing had happened. Yet, her gaze held a cold, clear, blade-like light. I could clearly sense the young masters’ expressions hardening across the table.

Even under their glares, Via didn’t flinch. The gesture of elegantly bringing her lips to the tea was the very picture of a perfect young lady. But behind that elegance, a firm confidence was subtly visible.

—And in the salon, the soft sounds of sipping tea continued.

Silently, calmly. The refined movements of those well-versed in noble etiquette.

Except for one.

Clatter, clatter “…Gulp, gulp…”

……Lady Allie.

The rude clattering of tableware. And her drinking manner was like a farmer gulping down water. Moreover, with every bite of her scone, dry crumbs scattered onto the table and her dress.

“Lady Allie, there are pastry crumbs on your lovely dress. Were you unaware of how to eat properly?”

Via stated this without a change in her tone. At those words, Lady Allie’s shoulders jerked.

“How cruel! To say such a thing…!”

Her protesting voice trembled. But it wasn’t sadness. A complex mix of shame and anger seeped into her words.

“It’s better to take bite-sized pieces.”

“It’s fine if your own plate gets messy, no matter how much. But please be careful with the table and your dress.”

Lady Clarice and Lady Carla pointed this out matter-of-factly. Their voices held no accusatory tone. If anything, it seemed kindly meant. Perhaps that only irritated Lady Allie’s feelings further.

“You’re looking down on me because my rank is lower. Such childish behavior!”

The one behaving childishly is you.

Lady Allie’s lips trembled. But she didn’t address the content of the criticism at all, only shifting it to an attack based on “status.”

“Olivia, you deliberately prepared hard-to-eat scones, didn’t you!”

Suddenly, Lord Elliot raised his voice and stood up. The table wobbled. In that instant, the salon’s atmosphere froze solid.

But Via didn’t bat an eyelash.

“Of course not. Since you said you like sweet pastries, the chef went to the trouble of making jam by hand. Scones do crumble a bit for anyone, but I never imagined someone would stuff their mouth so full, nor that someone would place a jam-covered knife directly on the tablecloth.”

Her words were far too quiet, far too logical. Via’s gaze slowly turned toward Lady Allie. Like a hunter moments before taking down their prey.

Lady Allie’s cheeks rapidly flushed. With anger or shame? Words seemed caught in her throat, unable to come out.

Watching this out of the corner of my eye, I gently tilted my cup. The amber liquid quietly moistened my lips. I savored its aroma and lingering taste thoroughly.

“Hehe. The end of the second act seems unexpectedly soon, doesn’t it?”