Published: August 3, 2025
A splendid tea party was being held as the dazzling sunlight poured in from outside. Several musicians, including Rosina, played gentle melodies, and in the room decorated with seasonal flowers, the high-pitched voices of young ladies and ladies of the house floated lightly with exclamations like "Oh my" and laughter.
I was the star of the day.
As the lord's adopted daughter, this was my first tea party, and an important social event for collecting donations.
"Nice to meet you. I’m very pleased to see you."
I forced a friendly smile, repeating greetings with the practiced expression drilled into me. One after another, ladies in splendid outfits returned smiles equally bright, but I’m sorry—I couldn’t remember who was who at all.
The tea party was held using the lure of connecting faces with the lord’s adopted daughter. Alongside the most popular quatre-quarts, there were roll cakes made by Ella and Hugo.
The roll cakes, wrapped with seasonal fruits and cream, were the highlight of the day.
As the ladies marveled at their first roll cake experience, Mother and Foster Mother smiled warmly. "Rosemine had the chef make them," they said.
It was literally true, but the ladies gathered there likely believed that the two had started the trend to establish my position as the lord’s adopted daughter. It’s normal for mothers to worry about their daughters entering the world of high society, so there was no need to correct them each time.
"Thank you very much for coming all this way."
Next to me, Mother and Foster Mother spoke up, calling for donations.
"Rosemine has taken on leadership of a new project. Your support would be greatly appreciated."
"We are also cheering her on."
The ladies who were addressed looked at me with wide eyes and then smiled fondly, saying, "Lady Rosemine is doing her best as the lord’s adopted daughter." Judging by their lukewarm smiles, they probably thought I was just putting on a show for prestige and hadn’t actually done anything.
"Since this is a request from Lady Florentia and Lady Elvira, we’re happy to cooperate."
"I’m indebted to those two as well."
They said this and donated with bright smiles, but nobody asked what kind of project I was starting. No one mentioned how the money would be used. They donated because the mothers, who had cared for them before, asked.
I had heard that everyone gathered today belonged to the same faction, so it made sense that if the lord’s wife Florentia and Mother asked, the answer would be no refusal.
Mother and Foster Mother quickly set an example for the noblewomen in collecting donations, so the target amount was reached while I just smiled politely without doing much.
If it were just to build a single orphanage, this would be fine, but if I planned to expand workshops in the territory, one round of donations wouldn’t be enough.
Honestly, I felt that collecting money through tea parties didn’t suit me.
"Lady Rosemine, young master Ferdinand has arrived."
Brigitte reported to me on my bed, looking a bit flustered.
I had been bedridden for about two days after the tea party and was not in a state to receive guests. The North Wing was basically off-limits, and entering required permission from the lord and from Richarda, the chief attendant.
Since they were already at the door, both permissions must have been granted.
"Brigitte, where is Richarda?"
"She can’t be found."
Normally, receiving guests is the attendant’s job, not the Guard Knights’. But since Richarda was missing and the visitor was the lord’s half-brother who was also the high priest, Brigitte had come to inform me.
"Oh Brigitte, how could you leave your post?"
Richarda suddenly appeared, pushing a tea cart and then letting go to put her hands on her hips, ready to scold. Seeing this, I hurriedly stopped her.
"Brigitte reported to me because Richarda was gone. Young master Ferdinand is here. Is that why the tea was prepared?"
"Yes. I asked Sylvester to do it."
Apparently, Richarda had been anxious about me being sick for two days and directly asked the lord to call the high priest to bring medicine. Although I had said I’d ask the high priest if I was still sick after three days, she went ahead prematurely.