The Duke's Passion

Two weeks had passed since Sam set off to the Capital. It was a hell of a week since I had to manage the estate and deal with the letters from the local noble houses. After the success of my son's banquet, the invitations I received from the noble ladies for their tea party and banquet doubled. 

I attended a few tea parties to socialize, and it shocked me. Unlike the usual tea parties where I had to deal with some snide, indirect remarks, everyone was asking for my advice. Yes, advice for which flowers to choose for the theme of the banquet and how I thought of the idea of adorning my letters with small flowers. 

My first tea party after Sam left was... just as exhausting as before. They asked me a plethora of questions, advice, and even suggestions. Some ladies even requested I open a class on how to organize a banquet or how to make teas during tea parties.

That was how I ended up in this situation, by popular demand.

"Uh..." I looked around at the enthusiastic noble ladies sitting around the table in our estate's pavilion. There were six of us, including me. "Thank you all for coming."

"Oh, my! Madam Roux, we should be the one thanking you for choosing us in your first class!" Lady Howard, the pampered daughter of Baron Howard — Sam's business associate — covered her lips with her hand fan to hide her grin.

"Lady Howard is right, Madam Roux. Among all noble ladies who were eager to attend your class, you chose us. Hence, we're grateful. Thank you." The wife of Viscount Jordan, Lady Rosie, voiced out modestly. After her remarks, all other noble ladies chimed in to express their gratitude for being picked by me.

I smiled throughout, used by the long flatteries by now. Although there was only one lady who also just smiled throughout. She only spoke when everyone realized she was silent. 

"I am also pleased that Madam Roux invited me to her class. I am looking forward to what I can learn from here and apply it to our house's banquet in two weeks." Lady Hazel Malum, the queen of tea parties in the south, smiled, which didn't reach her eyes. I smiled back, even though I knew she was displeased that I took away her spotlight. 

"No, Lady Malum. I am honored that you accepted my invitation," I replied politely, gazing at the ladies around. "Since this is my first class, it would be better if someone who is far experienced than I am will be around to impart her wisdom as well."

My response made her brows raise as she nodded. "Madam Roux is indeed wise, just as what my father told me."

'Did she attend just because Jaime told him to?' Fortunately, I knew the Malum liked flattery as my previous remarks made her ease up.

"Thank you, Lady Malum." My polite smile remained, traveling my eyes around the ladies. "So, shall we begin?"

An excited smile dominated their faces as soon as I suggested. With all that being said, my first class began. Thanks to Fabian's help in creating a step-by-step on how to make a lesson plan, it helped me cover the things with the time we had.

I shared my thoughts whenever I was thinking about the event, considered the type of guests, the ambiance I wanted to give, and everything. The noble ladies listened attentively. After that, I shared some of my techniques for making tea. Fabian was my instructor as I got my interest in teas when he was making one. I wouldn't lie, though. Part of me already had an interest in tea because of Zero.

After showing them how I make my tea, we shared it to have a break. Obviously, I was pleased to see their reaction to the tea I made as I added mint and honey into it to fight the heat.

"Madam Roux, this is... refreshing! It's sweet and cool..." Lady Howard's eyes sparkled, looking at me as if I saved the world. Still, I smiled and explained to them what I added to the tea and its uses and benefits. As I did, I would secretly glance at Lady Hazel. She seemed pleased, nodding as she enjoyed the aroma of the tea.

'I'm glad everything is going smoothly,' I thought, smiling before sipping from the teacup. 'Still... I missed Sam. The south had been peaceful. I wonder if Yulis and Silvia were alright.'

"Right. Have you heard about Lady Fletcher?" 

Suddenly, Lady Howard clasped her hands as she was reminded of something. My brows raised, setting my eyes to the lady sitting across from me. The ladies eyes immediately lit up as this was yet another gossip.

"I heard she had been keeping herself in her room!"

"Did you think she contracted a contagious disease?"

A lady gasped, covering her lips. "Is she dying?"

"Tsk tsk." The ladies' attention diverted to Lady Howard clicked her tongue in disappointment. "I think it has something to do with her business in the east."

"Huh?"

Lady Howard crooked her finger, and as if by instinct, we leaned forward. "As far as I know, the House Fletcher tried to set up a business in the east. But just as they were starting, rumors have it that the knights from the Spade Kingdom are marching to the east!" she gossiped, making the other ladies gasp. "I only heard about it last night. Apparently, a large scale was is about to break out in the east!"

"Oh my! A war?"

"Isn't that La Lona March ruled by the Marchioness? She just revived the March after a long drought and now, it will become a battlefield?" 

The ladies' voices started to volume up, raising their concerns even though Minowa was too far from it. I knew Sam stopped this information in the first two weeks, but war as big as this wouldn't go unheard for long. Thus, I wasn't surprised that these ladies already got wind of it.

"Is it possible that because of this, some people will also attack Minowa?" Careless with her words, Lady Howard's theory brought silence in the pavilion. Fear instantly caused their complexion to go pale, already imagining dreadful things.

"Lady Howard, please watch your words. You are scaring everyone." Displeased, Lady Hazel Malum put down her teacup on the saucer with a firm tone. "Even if the enemy soldiers advanced and cross the borders of the March, they won't be able to reach the South unnoticed. The south had always had a strong defense system. So, they can try all they want but it will be futile."

"Apologies, Lady Hazel." Lady Howard lowered her head and frowned. "That's right. Minowa is the safest place in the empire."

"Also, do not underestimate the emperor of the Great Heart Empire. He won't suddenly fall," Lady Hazel added, scanning everyone's faces coldly. "If the emperor is that weak, then the Great Heart Empire would've fallen long ago." 

The ladies tried to calm their hearts, holding on to Lady Hazel's reassurance. I remained silent, eyes on Lady Hazel. I appreciate her trust in the emperor. No wonder she was called the queen of the tea parties and banquets. Being grand was just the added bonus; she knew how to settle the conversation and divert it with class.

'Hazel Malum...' I mentally nodded, keeping my meek smile. '... I heard she is the best candidate to inherit the title of the Viscount, but because she was a woman, she couldn't.. Now I know Jaime Malum is just plain stupid and evil.'