Book 5: Chapter 6: Sinner (1/2)
Caroline's designated venue for the tea party was set in the courtyard tea table where the tea party practical lesson had been held the other days.
The current weather was nice, so many of the ladies seem to have tea parties here, and in addition to the table Monica was ushered to, there were several other table sets available for people to spend time at their own leisure.
With all these people watching, it's unlikely that they'll be ganging up on her in an obvious way or splashing tea over her head.
Feeling a little relieved by this, Monica took her seat.
Besides Monica, three other young ladies seated at the table. Caroline was seated facing Monica.
Caroline was a young lady with big, bright eyes. Though she was the same age as Monica, she was more mature and had a glamorous air about her.
Huh? Why these people's eyes were…
Under the bright courtyard with the afternoon sun, Monica felt a small sense of discomfort.
But before Monica could mention her discomfort, Caroline's chambermaid handed out the tea.
Smiling, Caroline sipped her tea.
”Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to come here today, Miss Norton.”
”T-Thank you for inviting me.”
Monica, who has trouble making eye contact with anyone, kept her head down before speaking in hushed tones.
It made the young ladies next to her giggle behind their fans. Their laughter, like a chorus of series of small chuckles, was strangely disturbing. And yet, when Caroline opened her mouth, it stopped.
”Where do you come from, Miss Norton?”
”Rennac…”
”My, then perhaps you're related to the Counts Kerbeck family?”
Monica thought back to the setting Louis Miller had come up with.
According to his settings, she was the adopted daughter of the former countess. Then, it would be safe to say that she's related to the Count Kerbeck family.
”Y-Yes… The Count and his family have been very kind to me…”
Monica admired herself for being able to respond so well.
Despite her timidness and stuttering, she has made unbelievable progress compared to the Monica of the past. After all, she now was able to hold a conversation.
As Monica was thinking about this, the lady right next to her opened her mouth.
”Say, Miss Norton. What do you usually discuss with the student council president?”
”…huh? Well, it just… about…”
In fact, Monica never spoke to Felix, except when it came to student council activities.
Sometimes Felix tried to initiate the conversation with Monica, but she would just tell herself that she was a rock and sit quietly whenever he did.
”I envy you being able to serve by His Highness' side.”
”Indeed, you can see His Highness' face every day, after all.”
The young ladies gazed up into the air in fascination and let out a longing sigh.
As Monica watched the scene, she was deeply impressed by the power of the golden ratio in attracting people's hearts.
What would be the result if you put a golden ratio sculpture and a non-golden ratio sculpture side by side and took statistics to see which one was more desirable?
Thinking vaguely about this, Monica lifted the cup.
When that happened, Caroline and the others lifted their fans in unison to cover their mouths.
Is this… a basic move of a villainess that Lady Isabelle told me recently!?
The chorus of giggles coming from behind the fan had a precision that could only be a result of training. It was neither too loud nor too quiet, and the nastiness of the laughter that disturbed her ears was quite exquisite.
I see, so this is that move… while admiring something out of place, Monica sipped from her cup of tea.
The taste of the tea in her mouth was rather bitter. It was not astringent, but bitter.
I wonder if this tea is supposed to have a taste like this.
It was bitter, to say the least, but not undrinkable.
Monica, who was accustomed to drinking bitter coffee regularly, felt a little uncomfortable with the tea, but she drank it.
Immediately, the color of the ladies faces changed.
Hmm? Is there something wrong with me?
The ladies peeled their eyes open and looked at Monica as if they were looking at something uncanny. Their faces looked pale.
Monica took another sip of the intensely bitter tea to cover her impatience, wondering if she had done something wrong.
Miss Caroline made a small ”Ah” sound.
Huh?
Her pounding heart sounded awfully loud. Her vision blurred and distorted, and their figures became blurred.
”Did she drink it?”
”Are you kidding me? That tea is so bitter, you know?”
”Oh, my God. I was expecting her to choke herself…”
The ladies were saying something quickly to each other in dismay. Their voices were certainly reaching Monica's ears, but her mind could not perceive their words.
Their voices slipped through her ears as nonsensical sounds.
What… is happening?