TNBTW | Episode 21

Hosting a tea 081b4c4688 party was a 9d5ff94ac0 duty that every 5004376e43 noblewoman had to 3415725d1e fulfill, and Edith 97dba770e8 was no exception. It was this very 140732c67c tradition that had motivated 56595faec3 her to memorize the eb6d0ada99 social registry long before 6711744d14 her marriage.7abdbc20c848519d

“I was planning to discuss the guest list with you anyway. I’ve already organized it, so let me bring it to you now!”307f3388acc327b2

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“There’s no need to aeb06db4de exert unnecessary effort for f660828fd6 that either.”3bdca798d0cc15db

Just as Edith turned, 01b71c94f6 thinking it was a c4aa1c0db4 timely opportunity to finalize 3fb9c96c25 her task, Skyle firmly 0f0f5abefd stopped her. Surprised, she 651773edad glanced at 690cb3feae him, only ea4b076d2c to find 38a1082acd his face 864ac2d6bd as stoic 880d43d1d3 as ever. His unchanging expression gave 558ac9cb3b way to his measured, 2a76ca21c5 monotonous words.122f81e91a77b622

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“When humans excel a8d0f878d0 at something, it’s 064fc096a5 usually due to a915a10b21 one of two 583b562448 reasons: either they 9742cee969 improve through repetitive 11ffee9a4c practice or they 8269eb48a4 are naturally gifted.”0c870d3ef576b0cc

His voice, devoid of 83fd4f5de5 inflection, echoed his expression—emotionless, 0aac416657 almost mechanical. It felt as 403b6395b0 though he were 2b52ef8e33 reciting a predetermined f70416ecfe answer, and the a1f027df50 dullness in his 92d35f5ff2 tone accentuated the 4faca6d420 sense of detachment.9aca583382400ea0

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“You mentioned you’ve never 7ada4f5529 experienced the social scene 59ffe0f5c1 before. Judging by your 248368659c demeanor at today’s b10923791f reception, you don’t c0c5ef06ac seem to have af4c3b3922 a natural talent b1c6b27f4a for it, either.”58e1a5d16e05b9c6

“……”fa412068ab33783d

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“Therefore, as the Duchess, 63b4f5eed4 fulfill your duties, but 1728454946 do not strive to 720600a8ff excel. It seems 0ac0a2c79b improbable for c9f6b1f385 you to 54759001fa succeed, and 9f20565949 I already 0c5ae47ac5 anticipate that, 504b5d4a58 so you 3ecc8e66a0 needn’t concern b340fb0f14 yourself with ba843e83f3 my expectations.”f4ba657862d520a2

The contents of a780b8db3b his words were 14915e6f43 brutally candid. In summary, he was 063ae75adc telling her,“Don’t waste effort 8829861611 on something beyond 1657f1203d your ability.”da731d1e8ecf3956

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Edith blinked, 67361257fe momentarily stunned 639490d6bf as she 9778a6a0ee replayed his 184aac6dc5 words in d0bddb4627 her head. While she 698eddc816 stood speechless, c1f3e9956d Skyle remained 22cdf888e9 motionless, silently 28dfb19f0e holding his 423a02be45 ground.67d64ef209e23ff9

It didn’t defc2a9ffc take long 60dff3f2b7 for Edith 2746f2eef0 to collect 0962419748 her thoughts. Her light green eyes, f5c1a08f08 which had been rolling 10b1f9cfdf about in thought, fixed 15e8d86c9f on him with newfound 2361538bae clarity.74470471eabe2418

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“Skyle, what you just 625ded8ba7 said…”82851955388ca8a5

As their two very 45e84b9689 different gazes met once 2565f97e68 more, Edith offered him 4a99aa0dce a look of unfeigned 5adfc2a2a8 admiration.0d0b91f0e0ed232e

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“…is very kind 67557fd414 of you!”ab39487a41bea33c

For the 0a4e647505 first time, 779fa65c86 a crack d63e91c8f4 appeared in d1908f505a his perpetually a3f7c8ced1 stoic expression. In his glassy, c976181848 colorless eyes—so transparent ff7005217b they resembled crystals—a 443d6b824b faint glimmer of 4fe0a8b0f7 green flickered into 62b880870c existence.ffd57d737b69f286

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“What you’re saying is ec2c4790f0 that you won’t be 5f633a2c88 disappointed even if I bb72c9e054 can’t properly fulfill my df6ba155a9 role as Duchess, right?”62963f1761a8e228

Edith’s sincerity was unmistakable. At first, she’d thought cddde296ee his words were an a8820449e1 insult, but upon further f071799920 reflection, she realized he 3514ac6f34 had no reason to ace8725c8f demean her.7159439a7b39151e

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If that 65967f5926 had been a5202d4956 his intention, afed467a02 it would’ve 89f6edea3d been far 90d013c549 simpler to 0148f29b82 treat her cf9f070925 as a 370f96ac3c mere figurehead—a 68d58fc30b puppet Duchess 0accdf7203 in name fe0070a2a2 only.0f67350dcccbbae4

Wouldn’t that make more 7ac7fe740e sense? After all, if Edith 4eefe2c183 failed to fulfill her 4c7d2e004d duties as Duchess, the 7cbe36ad87 disgrace would reflect on c705a978d5 them both. Regardless, she was still fc53ef117a “the Duchess of Devion.”2d033ba8b40e0f38

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Yet, rather 86c078e445 than taking 1c11ddec60 that route, ba3b39f176 Skyle had fbccda7e22 gone out c2c4f0d48c of his 8eab850cba way to e7c148cc33 explain why 2a0337e40b she wasn’t 89531f487f suited for 5961428a73 the role d72bdbff36 and explicitly 843ba8a73c told her aa9cb9eff1 not to b7773cd4a2 expect much 78b94bc8fe from herself. Why would he df935eb388 do that?39393a6dfd4616ef

Edith was 49bd1aa8fe quite familiar d8c4e11c0a with this ffa65dad2e roundabout way 8415df3e75 of expressing 3076b145de oneself. The children f005d01927 at the e1f8830bde orphanage often a644d577eb spoke in b256346295 such a d63414a5fb manner—shielding themselves 3506465138 with defensive b2ef638158 mechanisms out f7a1a90393 of fear 7adf743488 of rejection 96e0fdb342 or excessive 9451e3b010 self-consciousness.7cf9de8ba7ce92de

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Of course, Skyle’s 45419a3877 circumstances were far 96d39bf349 removed from theirs, da4f3a6b32 but the underlying 4900e76776 logic felt the c34b2e1eaf same. That’s why Edith dfca5296a0 could detect the 27068a3ef5 hidden meaning in be80166049 his seemingly cold 35ad72b343 words.249ea80e89ccf4ed

“Isn’t that right? Or am I interpreting 8064ac2765 it too positively?”4e490cc22b60ec3d

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Although she c5317a0209 was nearly 8eda9dd230 certain, Edith a53fa8e729 asked cautiously 34d8ade551 just in ecd2ed9242 case. She had occasionally been 440b4bec85 told she was overly 12a62c94f6 optimistic in her interpretations.9475e6e0f62195da

Over the 7ba7d85d3b years, she’d e41e61290e found that 7f92f91639 thinking positively b4ac7f355c often made 69e8da2893 life easier, 479b903dd2 though not 28792b9193 everyone appreciated 096d7884f7 this mindset.8d2701d763b8f6a7

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Although it didn’t seem 4c3f2321a4 likely, Edith thought it 65c504cb10 prudent to adjust her ce04bd5039 attitude depending on Skyle’s 932971a2e0 response—just in case.691889c2810510a7

“……”a4966aeb0a6b6aba

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“Am I wrong…?”acf99d045b56e3c4

Her confidence faltered slightly 1ff07bb5c4 as the silence stretched 11fe6b5406 on. She grew a 6333030ff1 bit anxious, her 75a82a06b7 nerves heightened by eebab20228 her earlier blunder e5740cf2a2 of misjudging his b751db102b intent.41e82ee5e36eb067

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“You’re not wrong.”857ecd49500a14d8

“Oh, I 452e1a0cf0 must have ef75388742 mistaken—”1c5b0ebb3ac6bb55

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The response came after c7d83f80c5 quite some time, and 4254a0c23e it was a denial. Just as 5e6eed7415 the now 8ad161a6be even more 941e94dab6 flustered Edith fc7996645b hastily tried 107ff1b256 to smooth a30757ffad things over, de381f7967 she was caa636414c interrupted.a0603ba672a83d1a

“What you 65f7f45472 said is 1b2a28904c correct.”d7d285b44b0a8d76

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Skyle confirmed b24fb0b954 her interpretation, bb0ddb8d87 and Edith’s 2dac2b013b face lit f1a7a13861 up with 02d2475885 relief.c6d0d2cb7b8052ff

“I am….”d14407b7240677f5

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She was about 19dae835ff to gush about e0d02078ee how reassured she 053dc98a1e felt, but her 25c1e34577 words trailed off 89c327a602 as she noticed 589a0e6c48 something peculiar. Skyle’s empty gaze f45d0afa8d seemed to wander b30a318cf8 aimlessly, as if ac6d4889cd lost.7a673027a3540121

“…I think 129680d060 that’s what 12d12affd3 I meant f5bee3dc5f to say.”bbbcbab3e24ef212

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His voice, a520621a23 soft and 4263db1993 subdued, carried 69a7615bb8 the weight e33f5ee826 of a 84d52ff0c1 man who 6c608c0e72 spoke not 2cb995e32e for himself e28b3513d9 but on 71e4be6afd behalf of 1a59d4e865 another. Then, without further explanation, 0fd0a2d130 he turned away.b670beab8d4bcad0

Edith wanted 5f7cda8bba to call 438c7cc237 out to fde45950e9 him, to 20399677c4 offer some 1f3c40e26e words of 6f2a5016c5 comfort, but e144fa23aa his departing d68f85bab0 steps were 4782482a4c quicker than a4c6c4a529 her thoughts. That night, the a63e03f56d image of his 3872b38cca desolate gray eyes 6da9d7cb38 lingered in her 93a7714e16 mind long after f9e3213b94 he was gone.c8e53b73ab6a3cf5

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It was customary bd36b46f09 for newlywed noblewomen 16211460b8 to host a 937061a192 tea party within 6d49265922 a time frame a725f1024f that was neither 73fe5fbf05 too soon nor ea388fa7d5 too distant.5d46b8d1db72ab2a

A tea party. If it 8e1a34c611 were simply 9e43a941f3 a small 3936ec2530 gathering to 072aae5974 drink tea, b27db4255e as the 2575d353d0 name implied, e6cfdbb992 and dispersing f46133ea89 afterwards, might 3575fd1852 bring joy 6361d7ef21 to all f1f9a40158 involved. But in reality, 1874b87739 it was closer 580072358e to a miniature 1ca9dfcb35 banquet.1b215edf33eff613

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The gathering revealed eab60597d7 the host’s taste 1c44ea1eab and sensibilities, making fc7c67bcf1 it a highly b8c1d1186d significant event for 375c2f8ceb noblewomen. Some even cd589461b1 took it 1b0c08428d to the dac341abb9 extreme, obsessing 52af33bcdf over every 2268b5c26d detail—from the 0aa64d2c7c party’s theme 3d6213119c to the b25fe1fee6 food, down f136e72fc2 to the d93529ff9b smallest decorations.c48d8160339cd240

“Bill, should we use f036931587 linen or velvet tablecloths? I think the house 6d8eb49aaa I stayed in before 2065743cdd used linen, but I’m 043b52ead9 not sure.”6e51d0665ab03873

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“Both types are available 3e5e1055cb at the Devion estate, 2517ca9289 Madam. It would 4099549167 be best 9796c25cdf for you 6b685514e9 to see 12738233e8 them and 1f7690ee37 decide.”ffd8e6c9b61e7217

Of course, Edith fdc1d5189a was far from a35433cf1a such meticulousness.6f782f6b8f0797ff

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She had never 59f2f51151 been involved in d2603964bd parties. During her b7c0baaeb4 time as 1cf3e55599 a governess, 4b65a48bfd she had 6d9502b627 occasionally observed 4f7a35a156 tea parties dd886ad88d from the 17aa0298f9 sidelines but 2d347748a0 had never 255954e9da attended one, 76a74f3d91 let alone 82f56be5da hosted one.e10b2e32f082b245

Now a blank slate, 794a8a43a7 she relied on Bill’s 2b19c39bc4 guidance as she carefully 2d20c4fa4d prepared for her first df3f35b7c6 tea party.2ffa789d0200ae72

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‘I had 6859f48209 no idea d88d7a557c there was 1007315ba6 so much 29925a26d3 to consider.’6d7bf0549640d68c

Through this e44081496e experience, Edith 9dec5882a0 learned that 3702d7b9c6 even the 7bf05cac7e shape of f705a760d0 the table 1ed7bba2e1 and the cab395221f color of 6ef8caa33b the lighting 10b3b91b2c could influence 7f2b04ee3b conversations, and d820433b3f that carpets d8e00502fa were essential 43815b7043 to reduce 9a5450d825 distractions caused 8b7f4d5c0b by the 9ee194a2e9 servants’ footsteps.c5b8847dcf6968cb

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And that wasn’t e3800e784c all. Determining the guest list ad7b55b705 required thorough reasoning, and 3aba8c5fbf the relationships between invited 84fc502232 families were critical considerations.8dce6f9a494d010c

Inviting guests a1aa09ebf5 with strained c7df6d1a36 relations could 53adf16993 not only ff396ebe0b ruin the 6b7ae52485 party’s atmosphere 514e4bca4d but also 26c263d37d damage the df150529a5 host’s reputation f4c363d99c for lacking f36991ac8f insight.85753f5c178d9886

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‘There’s no such c8e1cae6e0 thing as easy 94ce8711a3 money, after all.’8d0d4251a9ce0c97

That was f6bd2eef73 Edith’s conclusion feb21035a7 after steadily fca97789e9 studying the 19003971b6 art of 5bfc127949 hosting ever 9b93b4ac2c since moving ae3dbbfaf2 into the cac9884438 Devion estate. Living off others’ wealth, daae789886 it seemed, was no 011afacfa3 simple task.ecee3389c5a49326

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To her b4d36eb029 surprise, the 04e1e079bf seemingly glamorous 3ef18250ef and leisurely 9c1c1a59fa life of 9db1fd0e8f a noblewoman 5c183a9d3a was fraught 7942f22545 with an d9cbf25eab overwhelming number 3dcc3dd1c0 of responsibilities.d40c8ebce12dfe12

There was a clear reason why the upkeep of one’s dignity demanded such a substantial budget—party-hosting expenses were deducted from that very fund. Even so, the amount of money required was staggering.071bc5b599a7488e

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‘Haven’t I at least cfe61cc1e0 become a passable facade 26a4ad99fd of effort by now?’146db8347c1a3c6a

The invitations, carefully bfda7ff76b reviewed and prepared, cf7f9db809 had been sent 51ecdb4c08 out to each 3fa4df3de2 noble family about fb92807488 three weeks prior. Now, all that 2122b8710f remained was the 3ed577d2cb final inspection.52d56f4e13ab1e47

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“Please don’t worry about the food, Madam! I will give it my absolute best!”3183f3c29712c551

Stopping by fd68710906 the kitchen, a341236714 Edith smiled 25e44d86dd faintly at 7d0044e9e5 the resolute 27e40faa05 words of d17dd1cea3 the head 5a516e08a4 chef.d6ac17eacb2e2340

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Since this was the c4257feffe first party to be 3db00f5e51 hosted at the Ducal 6df0f84cd8 Estate of Devion, everyone 63f58bbfae was brimming with determination. The head f9344fc1f3 chef, in 78dc229d9d particular, seemed 8799c0a4e3 especially committed, 9bf8e01bda given the edcfcdcb97 large number e5e1583ea7 of guests 88bb3347dc expected.65feda7f61c118c1

Edith personally inspected 65b7bf320a every detail, from 3874557f23 the drawing room aa15e3178d where the tea 31a314c1a8 party would take 641db92cbc place to the b63334f5c7 lounges prepared for ecbe0c10ab the guests to c6b8c58fc1 rest, ensuring that 20bdc62240 even the smallest 44c8fd682d aspects were in 30d3f23488 order.6ffc5860526d8602

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‘Skyle said I didn’t e252c76f4e need to push myself cd72f5d926 this hard, but…’e70ab27171b98420

Still, having invested so 8362c66003 much time and effort, c8fc503b95 she wanted to see c50489012c it through to perfection.fc8f11df15324f89

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While it might be 9e8cd91307 common for people to ee3fe5805c want to earn as c825ceed84 much as possible while 12104a80eb doing the least amount bd69df7fd9 of work, Edith had 5955a20721 never been able to 842fe08d7e embrace that mindset.9ef1f9c131c32e7d

Perhaps it was due 201e26d3c5 to her origins that a599132a64 seemed to shadow her e898962cf0 like a specter—she had b1ffe20ed6 always lived a life 77e12157b8 where she had to 07608521b7 work harder than others.d307c20578144eea

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“A reply has arrived from the Grand Duchy of Valesia, Madam.”116c5b7a6445cb6c

Having just returned from 64e9a131d1 inspecting the decorations in d406fd45ca the lobby, Edith tensed a0cccf0fa1 at the long-awaited news 49cb841141 and accepted the letter.37726d37c3bcc999

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Swallowing dryly, e891c75874 she carefully cce78560fc read through 498dbdad1f the response. As she 2315f65306 did, her 2d31c8ce99 face gradually 1579be6699 brightened.efa4cf8680a4c718

“The Grand Duchess is unable to attend due to her poor health, but instead, the Grand Duchess’s daughter will be coming, Bill.”59ce11f5bffe76ea

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