Lilian of Turin

Even though she was still young, the girls admired her resolute attitude in not spoiling the atmosphere of the meeting by insisting on receiving an apology or revealing that she was offended.

‘True enough, she looks like a girl who will become a future Grand Duchess.’

‘This should be enough to join our May Lily Sorority.’

Admiration soon turned into goodwill.

“Tea ceremony, I’ve heard of it, but it’s my first time seeing it.”

“You’re making your own tea?

“I don’t know if it’s too much of a treat.”

In fact, everyone had goodwill toward Lily, but more than that, they were exaggerating their expectations in order to rectify the atmosphere that Marianne had ruined.

Unknowingly, Marianne accepted that she had been shunned by everyone.

‘That kid is so annoying…!’

Until now, it was an impulsive hatred stemming from simple jealousy, but now she had a reason to hate Lilian in earnest.

Of course, Lily noticed her too.

‘I have no choice but to pretend not to know.’

It seemed like her relationship with Lady Marianne wasn’t going to improve.

Receiving the curious glances of the majority and the young gaze of one enemy, Lilian cautiously lowered the tray.

She had done it so often that her movements were adept. She didn’t even feel like she was doing chores like a maid, perhaps because all the tools she’s holding were porcelain that was more precious than gold.

“Oh, it smells so good.”

“The tea leaves are aged to infuse a good scent. I don’t know if everyone will like it.”

Lilian added sugar to the tea for the little girls. Each one took a sip of the tea.

‘Hm.’

‘This is a bit…’

The first taste was bitter and sweet. It was unfamiliar.

But once the tea passed through their throat, a pleasant scent rose up in their nose.

“Oh my goodness.”

Even dull men like Cedric and the Great Feudal Lord Hemenlinna saw the charms of tea that they hadn’t discovered before.

In addition, Lily’s tea making skills had recently made some progress after meeting the honest grandmother.

“I really like the scent…!”

“It feels like my mouth is getting cleaner.”

“It goes really well with sweets. I’m not thirsty at all.”

“It was a bit cold to drink lemonade in this weather, but this is nice because it’s warm.”

Although favorable reviews poured in, Marianne didn’t even touch it.

At least the nice Sofia sitting next to her hesitated and gave a small warning.

“…Lady Marianne, if you don’t touch what you’re served…I’m afraid it’ll damage your reputation.”

“…”

The girls were still glancing at Marianne.

‘Aren’t you going to drink even though you haven’t apologized?’

‘I knew you were stubborn, but…’

Seeing the soft reproach in their eyes, Marianne reluctantly took a sip of her tea.

“Eup.”

But since she was already offended, to her, the tea seemed to be nothing but a strange liquid that was bitter, stinky, and even sweet.

As Marianne frowned, the girls sighed inwardly.

‘I don’t know why she’s like that.’

‘A casual compliment here would lighten the mood.’

‘Marianne has been like that since the old days. She doesn’t know how to be considerate of others.’

In the end, her attitude provoked their dissatisfaction with her that was inside the girls’ hearts.

The atmosphere towards Marianne became irreversibly chilly. In the end, Illasia stepped forward this time as well.

“Lady Lily, I’d like to take you through the garden in return for the tea.”

“I’m coming too.”

“Me too.”

Most of the girls stood up. Everyone couldn’t bear Marianne spoiling the mood any longer.

“Hmph!”

Among them, Solaria even pouted her lips and sent the enemy a childish gaze.

‘What’s this…!’

In the end, all that was left was Marianne and the kind hearted girl sitting next to her.

Marianne’s cheeks turned red at the insult. She didn’t even feel grateful to Sophia, the girl who stayed by her side. Rather, she was angrier.

‘You mean I’m in a position to be sympathized by a kid like this? Because of that girl?’

Marianne had been subtly ignoring Sophia, who had a relatively humble family and was just being kind.

“Hey, Lady Marianne…”

“Noisy!”

When she shouted, Sofia hiccupped in surprise and shut her mouth.

Marianne huffed and rose from her seat.

‘This is…’

Seeing the tea set on the table, Marianne got even angrier, then reached out and wiped the table at once.

“Kyaak!”

The tea utensils shattered with a whooshing sound. Sophia’s complexion turned blue.

‘Oh my gosh!’

Marianne still couldn’t calm down and was breathing heavily.

It was then.

“Yeah, I think we went too far.”

“That’s right, Lady Marianne may have had other circumstances…”

The other girls were coming back!

The story was like this.

She ruined the mood, but when Lilian saw Marianne excluded from the meeting, Lilian felt bad for her.

‘I know how hard quiet bullying is like.’

In addition, she had to keep running into her as a member of the sorority, so they couldn’t remain uncomfortable from their first meeting.

Besides, she was worried about the good girl who was left alone next to Marianne.

So Liliane carefully asked the other girls.

When Lilian said that she would like Lady Marianne to go for a walk with them, the girls were taken aback and reflected on themselves.

‘Yes, how inconvenient it would be if they did this from the first day.’

‘We should have made more effort to settle the atmosphere, not the parties involved.’

That’s how everyone returned to find Marianne and Sophia.

However, welcoming the girls was an unexpected mess.

“What is this…”

A frightened Sophia, Marianne in a tea-stained dress, and Lilian’s teacups in a mess.

The situation seemed very clear.

“Lady Marianne, why…”

“For you to do such a bizarre thing…I can’t believe it.”

Whisper whisper, the more everyone said, the more criticism began to form.

Marianne was also sorry. She even tried to lie to defuse the situation.

Right then…

“Apologize to Lady Lily right now, Lady Marianne.”

As the owner of the house, Illasia’s cold commanding voice made Marianne tremble.

“No! Why me?”

Marianne shuddered again and pointed her finger at Lilian.

“Everybody pretended to be proud so I didn’t want to see it, so…”

It was then.

“L-Lady Lilian!”

With a gasp, Lilian collapsed.

***

A major upheaval occurred in Marquis Lannister’s villa. Unfortunately, it was a little different from what the Grandmother expected.

Upon hearing the news that Lily had collapsed, the Marchioness almost fainted.

She invited a precious person who’ll become a Grand Duchess, but she collapsed!!

Everyone was so stunned that they had no time to explain or listen to the circumstances until then.

First of all, the doctor who rushed to the call of the Marchioness examined Lilian.

“For now, there’s no fever and no other signs of illness. However, her energy is very low.”

In this situation, if she overdoes it or something shocked her, she might collapse.

The doctor explained.

Only then did the Marchioness and the Grandmother feel unsure.

She didn’t enjoy rigorous sports like horseback riding or croquet, so she probably didn’t overdo it.

Only then did the Marchioness and the Grandmother recall the messy situation in the drawing room.

“Illasia, what the hell just happened?”

“That…”

The pale eldest daughter couldn’t bear to speak. It was then.

“Lady Marianne has been very rude to Lady Lilian!”

Solaria cried out with her tear stained face. All the adults were surprised.

“What do you mean? Solaria, explain properly!”

However, Solaria was too emotional to give a proper explanation. Eventually, Illasia explained the situation.

Despite being as neutral as possible and excluding personal opinions, Marianne’s excessive behavior was not covered.

“Unbelievable.”

First, the Grand Marchioness was furious.

“Where is Lady Marianne?”

“T-that’s…”

Illasia hesitated before revealing it.

“Home…she went home.”

In the frantic moment of calming the frightened young ladies and sending them back, Marianne also disappeared.

The Grand Marchioness’ lips trembled.

“Did she just go home after doing this?”

If it’s not rudeness, then it’s at the level of lacking common sense!

“I’ve always thought she was a bit arrogant, but today she made a big mess.”

“Calm down, mother.”

The Marchioness stopped her, lest even the elderly woman collapse.

“I will write a letter to the other Madames. We can’t keep Marianne at the sorority any longer.”

“Of course!”

Marianne’s atrocities were against the internal spirit of the sorority, which aimed for a close relationship with each other.

“Bring my pen as well. I’ll have to tell the Great Feudal Lord Hemenlinna about this.”