Chapter 22. Host of the Party

The maids and staff were bustling about, diligently preparing for the Tea Party hosted by their young miss. The Marquis had always doted on his daughter, so it was no surprise that the event was grand in every way.

"Is everything prepared?" asked Marquis Valentine, speaking to his butler.

The butler lowered her head and answered the Marquis' question, "Yes, my Lord. The guests for the young lady's tea party will arrive at two in the afternoon."

"That's good," the Marquis nodded in approval. They were discussing business matters when their conversation was interrupted by a sweet voice.

"Daddy!"

Marquis Valentine quickly paused and turned around to see his daughter running towards them. The Marquis's face showed a mixture of delight and concern.

The young lady of the Valentine family, the Marquis's beloved daughter, swung her arms and embraced her father.

"Ella, you shouldn't run like that. It's dangerous. What if you trip and fall? You could get hurt," the Marquis scolded.

"Daddy is such a pessimist," Estella, the young lady of the Valentine family, pouted as she spoke.

"Pfft."

Both of them turned their gazes toward the person who had just snorted. The butler, Freya, quickly straightened up and feigned innocence.

"Freya, you..." the Marquis started to say.

The butler promptly bowed her head. "I apologize for my impoliteness just now, my Lord. I simply found the lady's words to be genuine."

Estella looked up and smiled at the butler. "You seem to be in high spirits, Freya."

"Of course, my lady. Merely catching a glimpse of you brings me joy."

"For Daddy's butler, you're quite the smooth talker, Freya."

"I'll take that as a compliment, my lady."

The two ladies giggled, momentarily forgetting the presence of anyone else besides themselves.

The Marquis cleared his throat to draw the attention of the two, and he succeeded.

"Ella, you should go now and start preparing. My daughter needs to look the most beautiful among all the young ladies attending your tea party," the Marquis enthusiastically stated, while Freya nodded in agreement.

"But Daddy, Lady Clorance is the most beautiful among all the young ladies I know," Estella remarked.

Upon hearing Estella's words, the Marquis and Freya exchanged glances before turning their attention back to the young lady, who was now smiling.

"Well, I don't care about being the prettiest lady at today's party because Lady Clorance will be the most beautiful lady in my eyes," Estella said with a smile. She then turned to her father. "She will be attending today's tea party, right, Daddy?"

Freya, the loyal butler, discreetly tapped the Marquis' arm, noticing his slight confusion. It seemed that his beloved daughter found beauty in someone who was known as a villainess.

"Ah, yes, she will be there. Didn't you receive her letter? Just focus on your tea party and have fun," the Marquis replied, regaining his composure.

Estella looked delighted. "Then I will take my leave now, Daddy," she said and started walking back towards her room, with a maid following closely behind her.

❛ ━━･❪ 🌹 ❫ ･━━ ❜

It was already 2 in the afternoon, and there were a total of five ladies attending Lady Estella's tea party, including Cassia.

"Greetings, Lady Estella. Thank you for inviting me to your tea party," greeted Lady Giselle, the second daughter of the House of Fortnum, as she entered the hall.

"Welcome, Lady Giselle," Estella replied, gesturing to one of the maids, who quickly understood and stepped forward.

"Follow me, Lady Fortnum. I will guide you to your seat," the maid said, escorting Lady Giselle.

All the invited ladies had already arrived, except for Lady Clorance. Estella, eagerly anticipating her arrival, waited by the front door. She wanted to be the first to see the young lady when she arrived.

"Oh my God, why is Lady Clorance so late? This is unacceptable," whispered one of the ladies.

"And Lady Estella is waiting for her. How disrespectful," remarked another.

"I heard rumors that Lady Clorance is a complete villainess," added a third.

"Yes, I also heard she treats her maids and staff cruelly," chimed in another guest.

"I even heard she personally punishes them with a whip."

Estella clenched her fist upon hearing the negative whispers about someone she admired. She tried her best to remain calm.

"How dare these low-ranked ladies gossip about Lady Cassia, believing such baseless rumors. How ridiculous can they be?" Estella muttered to herself.

[For better understanding: The invited ladies are the daughters of Barons and Viscounts, while Cassia, as the daughter of a Count, and Estella, as the daughter of a Marquis, hold higher noble ranks.]

But what could be causing Lady Clorance's delay? Estella had received her letter, confirming her attendance. Could it all have been a lie?

Estella shook her head, dismissing those thoughts. She knew Lady Clorance was not the type of person to deceive. But where could she possibly be?

❛ ━━･❪ 🌹 ❫ ･━━ ❜

I was at a loss, staring at the wreckage of the carriage I had just been riding in moments ago, now crashed into a tree with its wheels detached from the impact.

I had come so close to... death.

A sudden chill ran down my spine as that thought sank in.

"My lady, are you alright? Are you hurt?"

I snapped back to my senses upon hearing a deep voice. As I turned my gaze to the person speaking, I saw Sir Rick standing before me.

"Sir Rick..." I muttered, my voice trembling and my hands shaking.

"Damn it!" Sir Rick's curse, though not overly loud, carried a fierce intensity.

He immediately lowered his head and knelt down. "I apologize for allowing this incident to happen to you, my lady. I am unworthy to be a knight who serves and protects you. I beg for your forgiveness."

My eyes widened in shock. It suddenly dawned on me, the reality of what had transpired. I was still not fully composed, as I was recovering from the accident.

"It's alright, Sir Rick. Please rise," I urged, my voice filled with gratitude.

Thankfully, he complied and stood up, though his head remained bowed. A gloomy aura surrounded him.

I let out a heavy sigh, then lowered my head. "Sir Rick, thank you for saving me!" I exclaimed.

"M-My lady..." I heard him murmur. "Please raise your head-"

"I..." I interrupted him, looking up at him. "I am truly grateful for what you have done. You saved my life. If it weren't for your swift intervention, I might not be here-"

Sir Rick cut me off with his words.

"I would never allow anything bad to happen to you, my lady. It is my duty as a knight to protect the young mistress of the Clorance family, to whom I have pledged my loyalty. But I failed in my duties by allowing this accident to occur. I am deeply sorry, my lady."

I offered him a small smile. "Then ensure that such accidents never happen again," I said, and he smiled in return.

Just then, two knights wearing the Clorance family's uniform approached us. One of them was Geneva, a female knight. They explained what had transpired.

Apparently, a rabbit had unexpectedly darted across the path, startling the horses and causing them to bolt uncontrollably. It was truly an accident, fortunately.

But now, what was I supposed to do? The tea party might have already started by now. This was truly terrible timing. The carriage was wrecked, and we were stranded in a forest-like area.

"Excuse me, my lady."

All of us turned toward the man who had suddenly appeared, walking towards us.

Sir Rick and Geneva positioned themselves in front of me, discreetly keeping an eye on the man.

"Who are you?" Sir Rick inquired, his tone cautious.

The man bowed his head politely. "I apologize for not introducing myself. My name is Remus Bardot. We happened to be passing by and noticed your predicament. My master kindly offers you a ride to your destination, as we are also traveling toward the Capital."

"But we don't know who your master is," Geneva interjected, her voice firm.

While they conversed, my gaze drifted to the nearby carriage. Inside, I spotted a young man. Though his face was partially obscured by sunlight, I could see his lips, and I realized he had been observing us-the feeling of being watched was justified.

"May I inquire about the name of your master?" I interjected, interrupting the discussion between Sir Rick and Remus.

"My master is Lorenzo Floyd, the son and heir of House Floyd."

A momentary pause filled the air. That name . . . it was familiar to me.

"I appreciate your offer and graciously accept it," I declared, causing both Geneva and Sir Rick to turn their attention towards me.

They seemed on the verge of protesting, but I raised my hand to halt them, offering a reassuring smile.

I understood that my decision carried risks and could yield either positive or negative consequences. However, that didn't matter at this point-I simply had to reach the tea party, and given the circumstances, I had no other viable options. Even if we were to call for another carriage, I would not make it in time.

Remus led the way to the carriage. While not as grand as the Clorance carriage, it still exuded an air of elegance. Adorned with the ranunculus flower symbolizing House Floyd, it bore a touch of sophistication.

Sir Rick would ride one of the horses he had used earlier, accompanied by the other knights, while some knights would remain at the site to await the arrival of those sent to retrieve the damaged carriage.

As I climbed the carriage stairs, Remus extended his hand to assist me. Taking a seat facing the back, where the coachman and horses were positioned, I settled myself comfortably.

Once seated, his piercing gaze remained evident. Our eyes met, and a smile tugged at the corners of my lips. He was exactly as I had anticipated.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Clorance," he remarked in an angelic-like voice.

Unable to contain my secret delight, I grinned subtly. He was precisely as I had imagined.

"I am sincerely grateful for your kindness in offering me a lift, Lord Floyd," I replied, a delighted expression on my face.

You look exactly as what the novel describes you, Lorenzo Floyd. My favorite male character in Sky Full of Stars.

❛ ━━･❪ 🌹 ❫ ･━━ ❜

As the room fell silent, all eyes turned towards the door that had just swung open. Lady Clorance, the awaited guest, finally made her grand entrance.

Estella's heart skipped a beat as she beheld Lady Clorance's captivating presence. Clad in an elegant gown adorned with intricate lace and delicate embroidery, Lady Clorance exuded an air of grace and sophistication. Her flowing tresses cascaded down her shoulders, accentuating her ethereal beauty.

A hush fell over the room, and the other ladies couldn't help but gasp in awe at the sight before them. Lady Clorance's arrival had instantly captivated their attention, and the room seemed to be enveloped in an aura of admiration.

Estella, too, found herself spellbound. Lady Clorance possessed an enchanting allure that surpassed all expectations. It was as if a shimmering star had descended upon the tea party, casting a radiant glow over the entire gathering.

Lady Clorance's eyes met Estella's, and a gentle smile played upon her lips. Estella felt her cheeks flush with a mixture of excitement and admiration. She had longed for this moment, and it had finally arrived.

"My apologies for the delay," Lady Clorance spoke with a voice as melodious as a songbird's. "Thank you for inviting me to this exquisite tea party, Lady Estella."

Estella's lips curved into a delighted smile. "It is an honor to have you here, Lady Clorance. Your presence adds an enchanting touch to our gathering."

As the other ladies gathered their composure, they greeted Lady Clorance with a mix of awe and reverence. The atmosphere had shifted, infused with an undeniable sense of excitement and anticipation.

The tea party had truly begun, and with Lady Clorance's arrival, it promised to be a memorable affair filled with elegance, beauty, and perhaps even a touch of unexpected adventure.

To be Continued...