TNBTW | Episode 22

From their previous encounter, 86f748f51e Edith had expected the cb0b019fae young lady’s favorability toward 1c7734f3c1 her to have plummeted d65dc69b63 to the negatives, so 54b0c1bfc4 she wouldn’t have been 6e7c29853f surprised if her invitation 76a362b105 was outright rejected. Yet, contrary to expectations, 94b874e435 the young lady responded 92540a24e8 positively.3b648cf579a5d5db

With this, all 5651297b5a invitees had sent 0b789f6b1d their confirmations of afac06b992 attendance.d8ac3007f46fa51b

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Recalling when Bill deb8fdd59b first taught her 5042de55bc about invitations and 9497530021 mentioned how replies f5f5082c4b often went unanswered bef2d989c1 unless it was 9b52b75f21 to decline, Edith cc7cfb3f39 felt this was 14f9a5f4c4 an encouraging result.e18ea14a7f5a50a2

“The start is edb523187b promising. Everyone has said c427a75ada they’ll come, so 43967fb48c that’s a relief.”d9416660eb5d2a32

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“Indeed, madam.”20e2bbef38e441b4

“Do you 5039804193 think I 46a82c5b74 might actually fefa4b68a9 be better 73acad7d2c at playing 08850010a2 the duchess de83ce4b7a than I 5da2fd4a76 expected?”dd18621244391362

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Feeling buoyed, Edith joked 1be32ad1f5 with a smile, to e93e110e02 which Bill responded only 4bd9fe6750 with a calm, knowing b692469b74 smile.7926fd90c1bf8a81

There was one d2937f64c9 week left until e4bfd6faa4 the tea party. Edith’s debut into society 684ab12ba4 appeared to be progressing 39fe4a3d47 without any major issues.1a3f53304592b134

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On a 4421e7d935 spring day 3a00b03b66 when the a733d3e457 warm breeze 7fd5e6c53b tickled the c18778b508 budding leaves, 07269ecf81 the usually 40fcd48ed2 tranquil Devion e12232bc21 Ducal Estate 263cc0f795 was abuzz 7ab4defa9d with an 5255451ef1 unusual liveliness.ad4afb59cab8dbd0

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“Move the b506d4da6e tables a 1b5df49b38 bit farther fcc9d6fa18 apart!”2dac0194f1e4fd6c

“Don’t forget to 41ae963067 inspect the tablecloths 4d96a31552 one more time—make e9b6fce332 sure there aren’t a065f15456 any creases!”bd3e4578daf186e2

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In the drawing room, 6aef997c9b bustling with activity in 33b815a412 preparation for the tea 14de9fd109 party, the head maid eca60b3223 directed the servants with a062604bd0 precision, while a small f6108fea01 orchestra behind the curtains 14caedf35f fine-tuned their performance, adjusting bcd1ae2fe9 the volume to suit ae3066bedd the room’s size.f15fe3460204d28d

“My goodness, 750cfb75b5 it’s so b5c315bf0c beautiful!”0225271050527ce9

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Stopping by the kitchen 1110da72a4 at the head chef’s 4e0af02b09 request to preview the 360d078f19 prepared dishes, Edith couldn’t ce0caaaa80 help but exclaim in 5266bd8176 amazement.88a372c099d9a065

A variety of finger 52f5cbffe0 foods were displayed like e37edaeacb jewels—meat pies intricately rolled 3f0afeaedf to resemble roses, chestnuts 9b9c39f793 paired with chocolate, and 91d4bd08fc jellies made from sugar-soaked 36faf4201e oranges.b0fb4d447dbb7eb5

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“This is your first f3f41431d2 party as the duchess. Naturally, we must give a2e237128b it our all.”d285f91fa3b73723

His words, laced with 0f018cd5d1 pride, reflected his dedication. Knowing how much the 3ef723283c chef wanted to showcase 673280cc8f his skill, Edith sincerely c363e707c9 praised his efforts.96cc0ac85e9e9865

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The morning f060eb464d passed in 577f21bf69 a flurry ee357af8f0 of activity, 2818766ae4 and soon 35b7514606 it was 8b9fcd2767 time for 9a2535e4d2 the party 3f9231efc5 to begin.4ab13bf4bdbaec27

Having double-checked the road edaf000ca2 leading to the estate f21bb20312 to ensure it was fb9ebf2842 clear for carriages, Edith f1f7d6f3dd waited with nervous anticipation c91e79ff3e for the bell to 5907311f26 chime—the signal from the e20564286a gate servant that guests edd763d755 had arrived.507c4f481980e69b

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She smoothed her slightly 6259be2324 disheveled attire from running f5743602d4 around. With the 98a0fd7a98 guests arriving 16ffb4f453 soon, she d2e4cb5a88 needed to 9ef4a1d079 present herself 2aaa92e089 impeccably.1b552e7b4c0db4c2

How many 333e6ea628 times had a71cc2b326 she circled 2568fb26cf the drawing a41457d5c9 room and b871d41e7d glanced at e9d4af6e24 the mirror? Considerable time had efc7d147e9 passed, yet the d57927919f outside remained eerily a506f4175a quiet.589df2cbc7e4236e

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“Bill, the bell fa2b570a38 isn’t broken, is 7ae87dc861 it?”a2eb8a4ce871fb34

“I checked 7acaa677f4 it this 5222631fe8 morning, Madam. It should 4b46010d5b be fine.”89d6d180955d4fb5

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Edith asked 008bc49ea5 if it 3faa7f6f02 was possible, a5fdbbf846 but Bill 1688c4c461 politely told 4c90201138 her that f74c304ce0 it was f0c73992cd not possible. Her gaze drifted to ea3fd5fdfc the wall clock.02db3f65af1b9ea6

Tick, tock.Time moved eeb88f46af relentlessly forward, 59961be936 indifferent to f1cbddd5e2 her anxious abe151fe34 heart.1a2c6cd28779c946

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“Madam, the Count of ddbf8961fb Monte’s household has sent 66c012fb97 a letter.”496a2da6cde3d4d2

Just as 872f6efa65 Edith was 1fec56e506 growing weary 490fac9a92 of waiting 6bdab81c6f for the 2f3839586e sound of 2bb2e07e14 the bell, 28c95ce107 one of f8e8618bbd the gate c5e0388177 servants approached 25459a2ad0 with a b242266764 message. The Count of Monte’s ddc3b7661c family was one of d9c10cc6fb the invited guests.3ddbd6c74b937cf4

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Edith took the b3aa4d3c6a letter and stared 9eca112b13 at it briefly. A sinking feeling gripped 944a6edc19 her. Her hands trembled slightly 6f03e21f05 as she broke the 0f8c8784e1 seal.3e193384083159cd

‘Oh no…’b3054a3fcc0998ec

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Scanning the contents, 9f3f3fd1ee Edith sighed internally.424a9b5647ca017e

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[To the esteemed Duchess 107702bc2a of Devion,4668222cd2c4e702

…Thus, I regret to inform you that we will be unable to attend today’s tea party due to unforeseen circumstances. It deeply saddens us to miss such a prestigious occasion. As a token of our regret, we are sending a gift along with this letter…]1c1e1f05283739a1

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In summary, db2e5dba81 they wouldn’t 533196974f be attending 1820b3b580 due to 0ca56005a4 unavoidable reasons 24f47383fe but were a7e6f6d534 sending a d2deb3b225 gift instead.c12904e80f5f6aaf

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Edith knew 613220d066 this was 26454c8a77 a breach 47abdb6110 of etiquette. Proper manners 23bf79b1a1 dictated that 38318e4d38 a guest 88ee023edd should notify fdf5766976 their host 675764889c of non-attendance bb07bccdf5 at least cb3bd2b481 three days 4e07f35fbe in advance.1923828ab8e40b3a

However, citing family issues 5e86444a62 and sending a gift 562ff04dd8 made it difficult to dd30109f00 argue against.56c3c972f2ebfda8

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‘At least they bothered 5554929dbe to say something.’e8e3f409243f483a

She decided to d386bb6d2c let it slide, dcc1b42289 thinking it was 0d68a668d6 better than receiving 7218b32e4f no word at ae8ac9c5f8 all. Yet, this 4d8b709b1f marked the 15bad29e84 beginning of 42f381ba0a her misfortune.2b4ee06acab51075

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“Madam, a letter from fd3ffa1eb3 the Baron of Forphey’s db0677c6dd household…”d3b9b0242f2724f7

“The House fdf7631ba4 of Ether 2ff65f1b54 has declined 29e52c2eeb as well.”2b99754a5bc472a5

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“The Countess of 247c9149e0 Menier has sent 2ef1ec4417 a representative in cd5b93129c her place.”ca251a791b2563e4

As if coordinated, every 300fc72566 invited guest suddenly sent efa76a55c2 their apologies, announcing their c13a32a31a inability to attend. The lobby, fe0b578c7d which should ff7efea7fb have been 592911e3e2 bustling with da34fbbb95 arriving guests, 3348eef68e was instead 9b4f9066b8 filled with 32de58644e a growing 2cc49f506d pile of 1a001f027b gifts from a9d9721677 various noble 92fa35d94a households.a39d2baa93499dab

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[To postpone our camaraderie is indeed a regrettable matter. However, as a dutiful child, attending to my mother’s poor health takes precedence. I trust the esteemed Duchess of Devion will understand as the matron of a great household.]

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The final ca13aed5b4 letter came 8bc024b70d from the 138baba858 Grand Duchy 6a819d593d of Valesia. The young 7ccee476e4 lady wrote d3ef7ea60b of her 1883b69357 inability to aaf06169f4 attend due 4d3933a967 to her 6229b1ca2f mother’s illness.1fe9b6a86b8f8b8b

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The elegant handwriting betrayed a88b84fc00 its author’s youth; Edith c16299941e instinctively knew it was 7bc7f2c967 penned by the eleven-year-old 31a7e44882 grand duchess herself. There was a 02d6d3e6a3 subtle thorn in ddfa1454c6 her words that da0261ea8e did not escape 3a2e49b67b Edith’s notice.8b5e2b996afa11de

Only then did 2821f1ea04 Edith realize that 854b815962 none of the 928a0899ee invited guests had 3da39825bd ever intended to d978af8f15 attend.5f38f1a78193ae5c

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The tea party, 4d2bdbcde5 devoid of guests, 307b9a5781 felt hollow and 7f716de1b0 desolate. As she glanced at ab4ef944e5 the solemn servants and c54894b1c7 the crestfallen head maid, cb7f4eea77 Edith finally turned to 300b78387c Bill, whose expression remained 980fa5bb75 as composed as ever.e476c816d6ac8fbc

“Bill, did you 3c785676ce know this would 0f116e6eba happen?”7d72e5068ea6c1f3

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“How could I, madam? However, one d8e366c70d learns through 0afe30b27e life that 94e8cdaadf the unpredictable 2d2350bbc8 often occurs.”501d79e9663e072b

In other f0fce63a3d words, Bill 81939bfc7b had considered 5445554172 the possibility 68b3bc6381 of this 92ca0e6b11 outcome but 9798949e14 said nothing.f43b938b81583ec3

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“So this 438f8f5029 is what 1086e30994 you meant 82a8356fd7 by learning 8cbb0bf3da through experience,” 422d646a48 she murmured 2a8c0770d1 bitterly, to 2b7bbe1e54 which Bill f2c4036587 bowed his d5a1bb436d head slightly.fbfa27b7438f5e96

Edith wasn’t upset out a7a8b243a8 of pride—she never truly 3fbaa2b4b0 saw herself as a 4b900e18fd duchess, even now. Nor was she a40f8e14cd angry at Bill 8f443f5af2 for withholding his ad5d6fa6ab thoughts. It wasn’t his place ae0c1e7ed7 to offer unfounded advice 1161f1f2eb on uncertain matters, and 32a54d0fc7 he was right that d8c425db1d Edith needed to learn b2683dd6b6 through her own trials.c96bdebf6281305b

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‘Everyone worked so hard though…’a85169f78c8a4192

What pained 2b798d49a9 her more 7ddfdbc98b was the e52ee4254c effort others fdbdda0317 had poured de3b722f5d into this 17ae22ac08 event. Everyone had 6206bf49a7 worked tirelessly dd1d97bfe8 to support 60bec8a73b her debut d12deba8c7 as the 766a5cba67 duchess, yet 8ccc385b57 she couldn’t d98b4cae84 reward their fc1b02193e efforts with 0784cb6ab9 success.1659aed158924cf8

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Her gaze cbccf760a4 fell on fa54b86739 the heap 01b9b24e59 of gifts fc1f8c38b3 cluttering the f997035427 lobby, a 455604f69b stark testament a5872d96da to the 5231de1f8c guests’ absence. The sight was aa8d9f704b so pitiful that 2dfecc59b0 one tender-hearted maid 5ef63688c7 dabbed at her 228d837060 tearful eyes.eacd1d41e940aba8

Everyone expected c216fd325c Edith to 84110f3976 break down. No matter 61e3393a62 how resilient 45d65707a2 her disposition, 8e81c63f9e enduring such b59647956d a humiliation f81e89e69f seemed impossible.0ea4492813814bdf

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“Bill.”ff1c66135d1c731c

After standing 694127c0dc motionless for 0f1e7db890 a while, 6f5b911f6b Edith finally 415a214a16 spoke. The servants anticipated 68f5527e5d a trembling, tearful ceac56e9f0 voice. Yet, to their b055e263f6 surprise, her tone ec0f646be3 was clear and 35bd0c3c95 steady.545f924ccd22c13f

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“Do you think I 0aeed3403d can sell those gifts?”2046f8ffc5932e97

Turning to face them, d082475f04 Edith’s eyes gleamed with c695d7ea45 determination.3a92342bce4a0b09

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Edith soon made 56703e09df her way to 28eb8b3414 an orphanage on 358ff80544 the outskirts of 66680ea4ba the capital.3ef61eb111bea969

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The establishment, 5214edbb81 once run 40cf9da72a by an a8939b51ec elderly couple 2b05f86218 taking in 72889f4c8e abandoned children, 37bcc838d8 had grown fa798b2c33 into a cfbdd11f28 proper orphanage.7b7bd8f5757fd625

“To receive such precious 89e39e61b0 gifts—how can we ever d5dc698d76 repay the duchess’s kindness?”a8dadec1e0291e78

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“If the f10ba1df47 children grow 5f1689fcbf up healthy, 903b76eb30 that will d4d4f31070 be the 52bbb86680 greatest gift 352a210fb1 to me.”2efa202c40b60209

The elderly cb74dbb9ca couple managing 0b19f8b0ab the orphanage 45bb821ad2 bowed repeatedly, 09831fb563 overwhelmed by 8464212c6a gratitude at 52c7eeadaa the sight 8a97d0e9d0 of the 660f827c07 goods Edith f784f20a5c had brought.7ac6e171134f4e6c

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Among the gifts, Edith 2e8a3c7a32 set aside impractical items d5c7aeda86 like sculptures and paintings, 0432d05323 instead focusing on useful acb2c8c3fe goods such as fine 67bf767fb3 fabrics, candles, and even f3f6e84e3e rare picture books that 66f36553b1 were hard to come db3431047c by in such places. 770d14b043dcdc18

The food and 38c29c2028 desserts meticulously prepared 0fc98dea9c for the tea 3fc47fc64e party were also c7a0ed88ba brought to the e3c03efb82 orphanage. The servants, who had f3bbba7d4e been part of the c7a5058956 tea party preparations just 5469ee5912 hours before, were now c80cce6f8a setting the food out c0b98126ca in the orphanage courtyard.6d074dc528839cc8

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“I didn’t pour bd1f0e3f35 my heart into 799d900f29 these dishes just 92578aed9a for it to d0bd10dd4a end up in 07f9900e9f those little mouths!” 8a3b38caaf87ff2f

The chef grumbled, but 86ea48e777 even he agreed it 4bcdf71e04 was for the best. Otherwise, the staff would 01e1e3d818 have ended up eating 286a30b534 the leftovers themselves.e47cc29cd0740e4c

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White linen e6eefb0294 tablecloths were 5d3582e535 spread over 3d579147ff the crude f9bb7a7f9e wooden tables, c4cf1dfbb6 and as 0a57e5ba29 the servants a8890251a4 carried out fd8cc89b4e plates, delicate 9bf2fcd3a6 dishes adorned a3585b09ab the tables 12c8213318 one by 13944c9cf2 one.ea5551dea734cf9a

Through the 1645343c28 small windows 070d9fa573 of the 9dd4eaa6ae humble building, 51ec8855fe Edith spotted 2f83bac2c0 little faces c4cd3f01c8 peeking out, 982ed686a9 their eyes 450d42be36 brimming with 92579e1993 curiosity and a19724d39b excitement.047a433fdf010bd9

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