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She held out a letter.
When I looked at her, puzzled, Llewellyn added an explanation with an awkward smile.
"We're having a tea party at my house next week. I was wondering if you could attend."
Opening the invitation, it stated that it was scheduled for 3 PM next Thursday.
When I checked the invitation and remained silent, Llewellyn seemed to think her intentions had been misunderstood, and she quickly added,
"Oh, of course, you're busy, so you can refuse. I just wanted the other young ladies to know you're a good person."
"......"
"Of course, it might sound funny for me, who used to hang out with Elise, to say this..."
Llewellyn's eyes, trailing off her words, were filled with regret.
It seemed her concern for me was genuine.
"Anyway, you can really feel free to refuse, so if you ever feel like attending—"
"I'll go."
At my cheerful answer, Llewellyn's eyes widened.
"R-Really?"
"Isn't it a place Florence invited me to for my sake?"
And, well.
It might be a bit childish, but I didn't dislike the feeling of now enjoying what Elise had enjoyed.
I smiled and confirmed.
"Then I'll see you that day."
A week later.
As promised to Llewellyn, I attended the Florence family's tea party.
"Welcome, Miss Chloel!"
It wasn't the butler who greeted me as I got out of the carriage, but Llewellyn.
"Miss Florence...? Isn't this when you're supposed to be busy preparing?"
"My mother and the head maid will take care of the preparations. Rather, greeting our first guest today is more important."
Llewellyn led me to the greenhouse in the mansion's backyard.
As I stepped inside, half a dozen noble ladies who had arrived earlier and were chatting all looked at me.
"We have a new guest at our gathering. As you all know, this is Miss Chloel, who saved my life."
Being under so many gazes...
'This feels like introducing myself in front of the class on my first day of school?'
This gathering, having a close encounter with a small number of people, felt more burdensome than facing an unspecified number of people at a social event.
Of course, I had once lived as a flower of high society.
But after my marriage, I hardly participated in social activities, and especially because the memories of being falsely accused and kicked out in my previous life were more intense, that time felt distant.
'But it's nothing difficult.'
I put on a businesslike smile and greeted everyone skillfully.
"It's been a while since I've been invited to such a gathering. Nice to meet you all."
"Welcome, Miss Chloel! I've been wanting to meet you since that incident, and I'm so glad to finally meet you like this."
"Exactly. You're the savior who saved Llewellyn's life. As a friend, I wanted to thank you."
The ladies, who had been awkward and hesitant, started greeting me one by one.
The reason they were awkward with me was, of course, because I was unfamiliar, but more than that.
'While hanging out with Elise, they probably evaluated me negatively, whether sincerely or not.'
Their feelings of guilt and embarrassment must be greater.
But I didn't care.
'After all, I'm not trusting them as humans either.'
Llewellyn is someone I helped, so I trust the gratitude she shows me.
The others were people who would turn their backs on me if a similar situation arose again.
Nevertheless, the reason I accepted Llewellyn's invitation was...
"Oh my, is that dress the new one from Mariposa?"
It was because of such attention.
'Attending social events like this and subtly showing off my clothes.'
And there was another decisive reason why I attended this gathering.
"Looking at it up close, the fabric and design are so luxurious. The hunting season is coming up soon, so I might buy one."
"Oh, then I'll go with you! I bought a dress for the hunting season a while ago, but it's so uncomfortable. Ailey, are you going too?"
"Hmm... No. I think I'll buy riding clothes this time. It's an outdoor event, and dresses are too stuffy."
I naturally blended into the conversation, listening to the story about the hunting season.
'The consumer's story is the source of ideas.'
And their conversation really gave me a new idea.
After finishing the tea party and returning.
I smiled with satisfaction, recalling the conversation and ideas I had just heard.
"Hunting is honestly boring. Even though it's an outdoor event, women mostly sit and talk quietly."
"That's true. It would be nice if there was something we could do while moving around, even if it's not hunting like the men."
"But what can you do while wearing a dress?"
"Or how about riding horses? Going around a lake or something."
"Oh, that sounds fun."
"Wait, I don't know how to ride..."
"Me neither."
"Actually, I'm not very good at it either. Then, while the men are hunting, why don't we all learn to ride together?"
The outdated idea that women should just sit still and wait for men was fading.
And the voices pursuing their own fun were getting louder.
I got this season's idea from that change.
'Let's make riding clothes, not dresses.'
Dresses are already sold all year round for all social events.
And they're sold at other boutiques too.
Of course, people like a level that adds a slight peculiarity to the familiar, rather than uniqueness.
But I thought it was time to give this a variation.
'I have to tell Ahmon this idea quickly.'
Instead of returning straight to the grand duke's residence, I turned the carriage to the boutique.
But the madam's expression, who greeted me, was unusual.
"Um, Lady Leticia."
"What's wrong?"
"Viscount Chloel has come to see you."
At the unexpected name that popped out, I frowned without realizing it.
'He acted like he would never come again.'
As expected, the letter seemed to have another intention.
I never expected him to be quiet for the rest of his life, but I didn't expect him to come back so soon.
"I told him you wouldn't be coming to the store today, but he kept blocking the entrance..."
The madam didn't tell me the details, but I could guess how much of a commotion my father had caused in front of the store.
'Well, I can't avoid it forever.'
It was something I had to face at least once.
After dismissing the madam, I took a deep breath and entered the drawing room.
Then, I saw a familiar but unwanted face.
"Leticia?"
"...Father."
"I finally see your face! That woman outside said you wouldn't be coming to work today, but it was all a lie. How dare she."
I cut off my father before he could say anything more unpleasant about the madam.
"What brings you here? Last time, you said you were sorry and didn't have the face to see me."
Then my father cleared his throat with an embarrassed face and changed the subject.
"Ahem! No matter what, we can't just live without seeing each other at all. I was late in checking on you because I had been to the East Continent."
I didn't ask why he went to the East Continent or what he did there.
I could roughly guess, and I wasn't curious.
But my father brought up a story I hadn't even asked about.
"That's why I came to find you. I happened to bring something from there that might be helpful to you."
At the same time, he opened the box that was on the floor.
Inside was fabric of an unfamiliar material.
"This is a very precious and expensive fabric from the East Continent. It's thin and soft. If you make a dress with this, it will be like butterfly wings."
Only then did I think I knew.
Why my father came to find me.
'He came to sell this fabric.'
But unfortunately, the fabric my father brought looked black in my eyes.
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